and the People Which of the Two shall Determine upon That Congruity and Convenience Your Limited Toleration too stands or falls upon the Same Bottem with Your Comprehension That is to say Who shall Iudge of the Sound Belief and Good Life of the Pretendents to That Indulgence As to your Connivence You say Nothing of it your self and I shall Reflect as little upon it Let me only Observe Upon the Whole that if you had really a Mind to set Us right Methinks You should not Trifle Us with these Ambiguities and Amusements But rather endeavour by some Pertinent Intelligible and Practicable Proposition to bring Us to a better Understanding Say What Injunctions You would have abated Name the Parties You would Recommend for their Importance of Interests Congruity of Principles Sound Faith and Good Life Teach us how to know these Qualities Where to look for Them and Who shall Iudge of Them Let it be made out That the Present Sollicitors for Tender Consciences are duly Authorized and Commission'd to Act as the Trustees of the Respective Parties Do This and Matters may be brought yet to a Comfortable Issue But so long as You place the Conditions of your Indulgence out of the Reach of Ordinary Proof and indeed of Humane Knowledg Every Man that is Excluded shall dispute his Title to the Comprehension without any Possibility of being Confuted To the Scandal of Religion and to the Perpetual Trouble Both of King and People N. C. To set forth the Propounded Latitude in the Particular Limits thereof were Presumptuous both in Reference to Superiors and to the Party Concerned in it C. As if it were not a greater Presumption to Alienate the Affections of the People from their Superiors by Reflectings upon the Iniquity of the Government then by the Tender of some Rational Medium of Accord to Dispose the Hearts of Superiors to a Compliance with the Prayers and Necessities of the People But there is more in these Generalities and Râ—…serves then the Multitude are well aware of and I am afraid it will be as hard a matter to bring you to an Agreement about the Pâ—…rticular Parties to be Tolâ—…rated as about the Model it self SECT XI The Non-Conformists demand a Toleration for No Body knows WHOM or WHAT C. THe Non-Conformists are the Party that desire a Toleration Pray let me ask ye What are their Opinions What are their Names For I presume you will not expect a Toleration for No Body knows What or Whom Are they all of a Mind If They were Tolerated Themselves Would They Tolerate One Another Are They come to any Resolution upon Articles Are They agreed upon any Model of Accommodation Do They know What They would be At Or is it in the Wit of Man to Contrive a Common Expedient to Oblige them N. C. There 's no Body says that they are All of a Mind Or that it is pâ—…ssible to please them all Or Reasonable to Endâ—…avour it There are Divers among them whose Principles will never endure any Order either in Church or State But what is the Sober Part the Worse for these Extravagants Those I mean who are ready to Iustifie themselves even according to the Strictness of your own Measures C. If You are for such a Toleration as shall Exclude the Wild and Ungovernable Sects of Dissenters How comes it that in Your Writings and Argumentations You still plead the General Cause of Non-Conformists without any Exception or Distinction N. C. You are not to fasten a Charge of this Quality upon us that have already submitted Our selves Not only to the Moderation of a Limited Indulgence but to your own Conditions also under that very Limitation C. This You have done I must confess in General Terms But still I say as to Particulars Your Discourses are of such a Frame and Biass as to give Credit and Encouragement to Every Sect of the Whole Party N. C. I am of a Perswasion but not of a Party and whatsoever my Perswasion be it is Moderate Catholick and Pacifick C. And so is every Man's if his own Word may be taken for his own Perswasion But why aâ—…e ye so Nicâ—… and Cautious in the owning of a Particular Way and Profession and yet so Frank and Open in a Clamor for the Whole Party You Complain that you are persecuted and yet Obstruct the Means of your own Relief Some Ye say are to be Indulged Others Not. How shall Authority Distinguish of Which Number You your selves are so long as You remain under this Concealment Are You for the Presbyterians N. C. I am not ashamed of their Company that are Commonly called by That Name Yet I have no Pleâ—…sure in such Nâ—…mes of Distinction Neither my Design nor my Principles engage me to maintein the Presbyterial Government C. Are You Inâ—…endent then N. C. Neither But yet I am as I told you for Tolerating Thâ—…se of Sound Faith and Good Life That have taken up sâ—…me Principles of Church-Government lâ—…ss Congruous to National Settlement C. What Do you think of the Anabaptists Brownists Quakers c N C. Why truly So it is That Prudent and Pious Men may be of Exceeding Narrow Principles about Church-Order and Fellowship Toward Whom Christian Charity pleadeth for Indulgence and We hope Political Prudence doth not gainsay it C. So that you are FOR All Parties but not OF Any Which Genâ—…rality gives to Understand that your Business is rather a Confederacy then a Scruple N. C. Make That Good if you can SECT XII The Conjunct Importunity of the Non-Conformists for a Toleration is not grounded Upon Matter of CONSCIENCE N. C. YOu are the first Person certainly that ever undertook to make Proof of a Conscience C. And yet Our Saviour tells Us in This very Case of Hypocrisie that the Tree may be known by its Fruits But however the best way of Proving a Thing Feasible is the Doing of it The Non-Conformists refuse Communion with the Church What is it They boggle at N. C. They do esteem the Ceremonies an Excess in the Worship of God Pag. 31. And Dissent from the Present Establishment of Religion only in things relating to Outward Order and Worship Pa. 12 About the Choice of some Peculiar Ways of Worship Pa. 12. But as to the English Reformation Established by Law They heartily Embrace it and Assent to the Doctrine of Faith conteined in the Articles of the Church of England Pa. 22. They have no New Faith to Declare No New Doctrine to Teach No Private Opinions to Divulge No Point or Truth to Profess which hath not been Declared Taught Divulged and Esteemâ—…d as the Common Doctrine of the Church of England ever since the Reformation Pa. 11. They come up to a Full Agreement in all Material Things with Them from Whom they Dissent Pa. 30. C. If They Agree in all Material Things it follows that they Divide about Matters Inconsiderable and Break the Order Peace
and the Wife Presb. These are Objections rather of Passion and Extravagance then of Argument Indep They are no other then such Conclusions as the Premisses will very well bear Presb. I have heard indeed of several Wild and sensless Scruples charg'd upon the Independents As that they have made it a matter of Religion to Piss abed and ride Hobby-Horses because it is said Except ye become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 18. 3. Indep Pray give me leave to requite You with three or four Presbyterian Scruples out of Bancrofts Survey of the Pretended Holy Discipline page 368. Move Mr. Cartwright and some other Our Reverend Brethren to deliver their Iudgments Whether all laying out of Hair be forbidden to all Women especicially at their Repair to the Publick Meetings of the Church A Question riseth in my Mind Whether one that Professeth Christ truly may according to the same Profession delight in and use Hawking and Hunâ—…ing so no Unchristian Behaviour otherwise be joyned therewith Let me know your Iudgment particularly Whether it be in any respect tolerable for Women that profess Religion and the Reformation to Wear Dublets Little Hats with â—…eathers great Gowns after the French and Outlandish Fashion Great Ruffes and Hair either Cuâ—…led or Frisled or set out upon Wires and such like Devices I would be glad to have your Iudgment in the Fourth Commandment Whether the strict Prohibition of not kindling Fire on the Sabbath be of the Substance of the Moral Precept In the same Author you will find a Catalogue of Pleasant Names too The Lord is Near. More Tryal Reformation Discipline Ioy again Sufficient From above Free Gifts More Fruit. Dust. And in the next Page he tells you of one Snape that proceeded toward the Baptizing of a Child till they came to Name it Richard and then brake off for fear it would not have prov'd a Christian if he had so Baptized it I cannot pass from these Phantastical Absurdities in your Practises without some Reflection upon those in your Constitution To say nothing of your Disagreements among your selves about your Officers and Discipline What can be more Ridiculous than to Authorize a Cobler to Correct Majesty Mechanicks to Determine in Points of Faith Are not your Elders joyn'd in Commission with your Ministers for the Examination of the Person that offers himself to the Ministry in all the Chief Points in Controvorsie betwixt us and the Papists Anabaptists Arrians c Are not the Elders and Deacons fit Persons think ye to be made Iudges of Theological Niceties and to Admonish and Reprove a Minister that Propones not faithful Doctrine Has not your General Assembly rather the Face of a Council of State then of a Counsel of the Church And in Truth the Business too Behold the Composition I beseech ye of the Pretended Assembly at Glasgow 1638. Seven Earls Ten Lords Forty Gentlemen And One and Fifty Burgesses to Determine of Faith and Church Censures Now to take a Brief View of the whole What greater Slavery in the world can be imagined then to live in Subjection to a Government where you shall have neither Freedom of Conscience Law Person or Fortune Where you shall not Speak Look Move Eat Drink Dress your self Nay not so much as entertein a Thought but at your Peril And to be in This Bondage too unto the Meanest and most Insolent of your Fellows For none but such will ever engage themselves in the Exercise of so Inhumane a Tyranny And for a further Aggravation of the Shame and Guilt of the Faction Let me desire you but to cast an eye upon their Proceedings under King Iames in Scotland and here under Queen Elizabeth where you shall find that they were never so Impetuous and Bold as when they found the King and the State in Distress upon the Apprehension of Forreign Dangers And so for the Queen upon the business of Eighty Eight Whereas the Independents never so confined themselves to the Prosecution of their Private Interests as to Hazard the Betraying of their Countrey to Forreigners And particularly in the Late Engagements at Sea against the French and Dutch many of them have given Signal Testimony and Proof of their Fidelity and Valour I should not have Engross'd This whole Discourse to my self but in Persuance of a Point wherein you have Confest before-hand that you had nothing further to oppose That is to say Concerning the Principles of the Parties in Question Neither is any thing I have hitherto deliver'd to be taken as a Challenge and Claim of a Toleration of such a Quality as to enter into a Competition with the Peace and Security of the Publique But This I prâ—…mise my self that if it shall appear reasonable to Authority to allow of any Relaxation The Independents Plea upon all Considerations of Common Equity and Safety will stand good against That of the Presbyterians From whose Triple-Crown'd Consistory that Lords it Over Souls Bodies and Estates Over Kings Nobles and Commons Over Laws Magistrates and all Sorts and Ranks of Men and Interests That turns Gospel into Law Communities into Deserts Men into Beasts GOOD LORD DELIVER US THE END a Amesius de Consci b Indulg Toler p. 13. c Liberty of Conscience upon its true and proper Grounds p 3. d Free Disputation p. 3. Indulg Toler p. 13. Rom. 2. 14. Laud against Fisher p. 197. Rom. 7. 7. Rom. 4. 15. Rom. 5. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Indulg Toler p. 13 14. Mat. 5. 5. Luke 19. 27. * In his Book of the Covenant Mat. 24. Sleydan's Comment l. 4. Davila delle Guer. Civ di Fran. l. 10. Ibid. Lib. 14. Strada de Bello Belgieo l. 5. Liberty of Consc. upon its true and proper Grounds p. 12. Disc. of Relig. Preface Institur de Libertate Christiana 1 Joh. 4. 3. â—…5 Lib. of Consc. p. 37. Lib. of Consc. p. 38. Liâ—… of Consc. p. 24. Lib. of Consc. p. 13 14. Lib. of Consc. p. 27. Lib. of Consc. p. 56. Ex. Coll. p. 2. 3. a Ex. Coll. p 84. b p. 339. c p. 609. d p. 764. e p 392. Ex. Coll. p. 533. p. 494. Spotswood Hist. Scotl. p. 487. Ibid. p 479 Mr. Baxter's Holy Common-wealth Printed 1659. Robert Douglass his Serm. Preach't at Scoone Ian. 1. 1651. Printed 1660. I. Goodwin's Anti-Cavalerism The Observator Right and Might well met Anno 1648. Parliament Physick Ahab's Fall Interest of England in the matter of Religion 1660. The Peoples Cause stated An. 1662. Lex Rex An. 1644. Ius Populi 1644. Declarat touching the 4 Bills March 13. 1647. Viâ—…dicia contra Tyrannos Printed 1648. Tenure of Kings 1649. Goodwin's Defence of the King's Sentence Mr. Baxter's Holy Common-wealth Tenure of Kings 1649. A Survey of the Grand Case Printed 1663. Mr. Baxter's Holy Common-wealth Mr. Faircloth before the Commons Mr. Sympson Scripture and Reason for Defensive Arms. 1643. English 〈◊〉
Wicked Governour But that the Universality of the People may Lawfully do it I think no Body questions Fixum Ratúmque habeatur Populi semper esse debere Supremam Majestatem P. 9. VII The People may enter into a Covenant for Reformation without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate There is much Sin in making a Covenant on Sinful Grounds and there is more Sin in Keeping it But when the Preservation of true Religion and the Vindication of Just Liberties meet in the Ground Ye may Swear and not Repent Yea if Ye Swear Ye must not Repent P. 18. Not only is That Covenant which God hath made with Us founded in the Blood of Christ but That also which We make with God P. 33. The Breach of the National Covenant is a Greater Sin then a Sin against a Commandment or against an Ordinance 158. A Sin of so high a Nature that God cannot in Honour but be avenged upon 't 159. VIII RELIGION may be Propagated by the SWORD The Question in England is Whether Christ or Anti-Christ shall be Lord or King Go on therefore Couragiously Never can ye lay out your Blood in such a Quarrel Christ shed all his Blood to save You from Hell Venture All Yours to set Him upon his Throne P. 23. Cursed be he that withholdeth his Sword from Blood that spares when God saith Strike that suffers those to escape whom God has appointed to Destruction P. 24. In the 10 of Numbers you shall read that there were Two Silver Trumpets and as there were Priests appointed for the Convocation of their Assemblies so there were Priests to sound the Silver Trumpets to Proclaim the War And likewise in the 20 of Deuteronomy you shall find there that when the Children of Israel would go out to War the Sons of Levi one of the Priests was to make a Speech to Encourage them And certainly if this were the Way of God in the Old Testament certainly much more in such a Cause as This in which Cause Religion is so entwin'd and indeed so enterlac'd that Religion and This Cause are like Hippocrates his Twins they must live and dye together You have vowed in This Covenant to Assist the Forces raised by the Parliament according to your Power and Vocation and not to Assist the Forces raised by the King neither Directly nor Indirectly P. 45. Now let me exhort you not only to chuse to serve God and to serve his Church and his Cause in this most Iust Defensive War c. 46. In vain shall you in your Fasts with Josua ly on your Faces unless you lay your Achans on their Backs In vain are the High Praises of God in your Mouthes without a Two-edged Sword in your Hands P. 31. The Execution of Iudgment is the Lords Work and they shall be Cursed that do it Negligently and Cursed shall they be that keep back their Sword from Blood in this Cause You know the Story of Gods Message unto Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition P. 26. Whensoever you shall behold the hand of God in the Fall of Babylon say â—…rue Here is a Babylonish Priest crying out Alas Alas My Living I have Wife and Children to Maintein I but all this is to perform the Iudgment of the Lord. P. 30. Though as Little Ones they call for Pitty yet as Babylonish they call for Iustice even to Blood IX There lies an Appeal from the Letter of the Law to the EQUITY of it And from the Law Written to the Law of NATURE The Commander going against the EQUITY of the Law gives Liberty to the Commanded to refuse Obedience to the Letter of it There is a Court of Necessity no less then a Court of Justice and the Fundamental Laws must then speak and it is with a People in this Extremity as if they had no Ruler P. 113. The People have given the Politique Power to the King and the NATURAL Power they Reserve to Themselves 151. All Humane Laws and Constitutions are made with Knees to bend to the Law of NATURE and NECESSITY P. 85. Here is more then enough said already and to go on as far as the Matter would carry us there would be no End on 't You are now at â—…berty either to deny These to be the Positions of the Non-Conâ—… or to justifie the Positions themselves or to lay down your Plea for Toleration upon the Innocency of their Principles N. C. I am no Friend to These Positions Neither can I yet quit my Claiâ—… unless you make it out that These are the Principles of the Party which I take to be only the Errours of Individuals C. Shew me the Party and let me alone to prove These to be Their Principles But if you will not acknowledge a Party they are as you say but the Errours of Individuals though all the Non-Conformists in the Three Kingdoms should own them under their Hands You call your selves Non-Confermists and so were they that both began and carried on the Late War Great Apprehensions they had of the Designs of the Popish Party So have you Mightily offended they were at the Immoderate Power of the Bishops You again Petitioners for the taking away such Oppressions in Religion Church Government and Discipline as had been brought in and Fomented by them Your very Picture still And for Uniting all such together as joyn in the same Fundamental Truths against the Papists â—…hy removing some Oppressions and Unnecessary Ceremonies by which Divers weak Consciences have been scrupled and seem to be divided from the rest The very Platform of your Comprehension Thus far You march Hand in Hand I need not tell you what followed upon 't but Your Parts are so much alike that it looks as if We were now again upon the first Seene of the same Tragedy For a Conclusion Conformity or In-Conformity seem'd at first to be the Sum of the Question and the Discipline of the Church was made the Ground of the Quarrel The Ruâ—…ing Party in the Pretended Parliament were Non-Conformists The Army Non-Conformists The Preâ—…ended Assembly of Divines were Non Conformists The City-Ministers and Lecturers Non-Conformists And by the Solâ—…mn League and Covenant every Man that took it was to be a Non-Conformist upon pain of Damnation Now take Your Choice since Non-Conformists you are Whether you 'l Range your selves under the Parliament Your Army Your Assembly Your City-Ministers Or Your Solemn League and Covenant And let me bear the Blame if I make it not as clear as the Day That the Principles charg'd upon You are the Principles of Your Party As to your PRACTISES They haue been suitable to your POSITIONS and All those Violences have been Exercised upon the Government that were first Dictated in the Pulpit The Lawfulness of Popular Insurrections Of Deposing and Putting Kings to Death under the Cloak of Reformation has been vented as the Doctrine of Iesus Christ even
cast out in England and are like in England Scotland and Ireland to be cast out if the Old Conformity be still urged Ours is not a Wicked Prophane Drunken Ministry C. That is by Interpretation God We thank Thee that We are not as other Men are Nor even as these Publicans But to the Matter These People that you speak of are set aside for not Obeying the Law But What do you think of those that were turn'd out of their Livings because they would not Oppose it And they were dispossest too by some of the present Complainants themselves Who first came in at the Window and now are turn'd out at the Door No less then a Hundred and fifteen were Ejected here in London within the Bills of Mortality besides Paul's and Westminster And the rest of the Kingdom throughout was purged after that Proportion Nor was it thought enough to Sequester unless they starv'd them too for they were not allow'd to take the Employment either of School-Masters or Chaplains but under Heavy Penalties In South Wales the Gospel was as well Persecuted as the Ministry The Churches shut up and the People let loose to the Lusts and Corruptions of Unbridled Nature The Only Pretence of Iustification that the Reformers had was That Unchristian and Unmanly Libel WHITE' 's CENTURIES of Scandalous Ministers wherein without any Respect either to Truth or Modesty They have Exposed so many Reverend Names to Infamy and Dishonour for the better Colour of their own Sacrilegious Usurpations But take This along with you that Loyalty in those Days past for a Punishable and Notorious Scandal N. C. These were Acts of Policy and let Statesmen answer for them But to have Men cast out of the Church because they will not Subscribe and Declare contrary to their Consciences is doubtless a most Unconscionable Severity C. And What is it in the Subsciption I beseech you that you stumble at As to the Acknowledgment of his Majesties Supremacy I suppose you would not be thought to stick at That And in Matters of Doctrine you make Profession to joyn with us So that about the Lawfulness of using the Book of Common-Prayer and your own Submission to the Use of it is the Only Question Your Exceptions likewise to the Declarations seem to be very weakly grounded unless you make a Scruple of Declaring your selves for the Uniformity of the Church Or for the Peace of the Civil Government In which Cases you cannot fairly pretend to be trusted in Either But not to Extravagate You are against the Imposing of Subscriptions and Declarations you say N. C. I am against the very Imposition it self upon any Terms But when They are prest upon Grievous Penalties They are utterly Intolerable C. And yet when the Common-Prayer was abolish't There was a PENALTY of Five Pound for the first Offence Ten for the Second And a Years Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize for the Third Offence upon any Man that should use it So that Here was an Interdiction of Our Way of Worship upon a PENALTY and No notice taken of Invading the Liberty of Our Consciences By the same Ordinance of August 23. 1645. was also commanded the Exercise and Order of the Directory and That upon a FORFEITURE too With a PENALTY from Five Pound to Fifty upon any Man that should Preach Write or Print any thing to the Derogation of it Now Here was Rigor you see on Both Sides But no Clamor upon the Matter of Conscience in This Case neither How many of Our Ministers were Poyson'd in Peter-House And Other Prisons either for Worshipping according to their Consciences or refusing to Act against Them No Man was admitted to his Composition without SWEARING No Man to live in the Parliaments Quarters without SWEARING Neither were We only debarr'd the Common Rights of Subjects and the Benefits of Society But the Comforts of Religion were denied Us And an Anathema pronounced upon Us for Our Fidelity The General Assembly in Scotland Ordain'd That known Compliers with the Rebells and such as Procured Protections from the Enemy or kept Correspondence or Intelligence with Him should be Suspended from the Loâ—…d's Supper till they manifested their Repentance before the Congregation â—…illespy's Useful Cases of Conscience Pag. 19 20. His late Majesty in his Large Declaration of the Affairs of Scotland Pag. 199. tells you That Men were beaten turn'd out of their Livings Reviled Excommunicated Process'd for NOT SUBSCRIBING the Covenant And again Pa. 202. That there was an OATH given at a Communion at Fâ—…fe Not to take the King's Covenant Nor any other but their own Now hear the Commissioners of the General Assembly Iuly 25. 1648. His Majestie 's Concessions and Offers from the Isle of Wight are to be by the Parliament Declared Unsatisfactory Unless his Majesty give Assurance by SOLEMN OATH under his Hand and Seal for Settling Religion according to the Covenant before his Râ—…stitution to his Royal Power But that I am loth to overcharge you I could give you the History of the Spiritting several Persons of Honour for Slaves The Sale of Three or Four Score Gentlemen to the Barbadoes beside Plunders Decimations and infinite other Outrages both Publique and Private Give me leave to mind you now a littleâ—… of some few of Your General Provisions for the Destruction of the King's Party and the Extirpation of that Family and Government to which Providence has once again Subjected you An Ordinance for Sequestration of Delinquents Estates Delinquents Disabled to bear any Office or have any Vote in Election of any Major c. Here 's Estate and Legal Freedom gone already Now follows Banishment from One Place and Confinement to Another Delinquents must be removed from London and Westminster and Confined within five Mâ—…es of their own Dwelling Correspondency with Charles Stuart or his Parâ—…y prohibited under Pain of High Treason and Death to any Man that shall attempt the Revival of his Glaim or that shall be Aiding Assisting Comforting or Abetting unto any Person endeavouring to set up the Title of Any of the Issueâ—… of the Late King Where were the ABLE HOLY FAITHFUL LABORIOUS and TRULY PEACEABLE Preachers of the Gospel with the Tender Consciences you talk of when These Things were a Doing Truly Neither Better nor Worse then up to the very Ears a great many of them in the Main Action Some Preaching up the Conscience of the War Others Wheedling the City out of their Money to Maintain it and Calling for more Blood in Prosecution of it Till in the Conclusion The King and the Government fell in the Quarrel And the Pulpits all this while at hand to Patronize the Reformation N. C. This Ripping up of Old Stories does but widen the Breach without doing any Good at all C. If you would not hear of these things again you should not do them again N. C. Then it seems the Whole must suffer for some Particulars C. No not so But neither
the Effects of a Relaxation which abundantly satisfies me That UNIFORMITY is the true Interest of This Government and not TOLERATION N. C. Uniformity is the Interest of This Kingdom as it is of any other where there is any fair Possibility of Procuring it But the Principles of Dissent have taken such Root in this Land that you may as well think of Depopulating the Nation as of Uniting it upon the Points in Question C. But I am otherwise perswaded and that the Party of Non-Conformists is not so considerable as you make it SECT XVIII The Party of Scrupulous and Conscientious Non-Conformists is neither NUMEROUS nor DANGEROUS C. I Am apt to believe that Party is not so Numerous as you represent it for many Reasons First I take English Mens Consciences and their Neighbours to be much of a Make And I do not find the Subject of Our Controversie to be made Matter of Conscience by any other sort of Christians whatsoever out of his Majesties Dominions N. C. 'T is well we have Good Authority to the Contrary The Preface to the Directory assures us that The Liturgy used in the Church of England hath proved an Offence not only to the Godly at Home but also to the Reformed Churches Abroad And Smectymnuus tells the Parliament Pag. 10. that there is such a vast difference between It and the Liturgies of all other Reformed Churches as that it keeps them at a Distance from us C. We 'l talk of That anon and in the mean time with your good leave pursue what we have now before us Another thing that peswades me the Conscientious number of Dissenters cannot be very great is This. The Law has made an Ample Provision for their Relief Leaving every Houshold with Four more at Liberty to Worship according to their own way So that the Laity has no Pretense of Compleint Especially those that plead for the Ordination of their own Ministers and maintein that Seven Persons make a Full Ministerial and Completely Organiz'd Church A Man might make an Exception to your Accompt too upon the score of Old Reckonings for you have ever had the faculty of Multiplication Your Thousands at Hampton-Court came to a matter of Nine and Forty And we remember very well your old way of Personating Petitions from Multitudes of the Godly and Well-affected in both City and Country when effectually the poor Innocent Papers never Travell'd farther then from the Close Committee to the Lobby N. C. If you will not Credit Report believe your Eyes Do you not find our Meetings Thronged and many of your Churches Empty C. Somewhat of Both I must Confess but yet I am likewise inform'd that you shew divers of these Meetings as Peters did his Rings and Bodkins at several Places several times over and over to make a Noise ond increase the Reputation of your Party To contract the Discourse There is a loud Clamour and the Ministers make it And These too that stickle in the Cause none of the most Conscientious neither unless they have a Gospel we never heard of to Iustifie Disobedience in Themselves the Provoking of it in Others The Disturbing of the Publique Peace and the Sowing of Dissention betwixt Prince and People Which is manifestly the Scope of their Writings and Designs N. C. That Undertaking goes somewhat too far to pronounce upon their Designs Do you pretend to know their Hearts then C. Yes and with very good Authority If a Man may be allow'd to judge what Reasonable Men aim at from deliberate Words and Actions that lead naturally to such and such Certain Ends. And this Humour I tell ye of Aspersing the Government and Teizing the Multitude runs through all their Papers I durst appeal to your own Soul Whether you your self can Imagine that a Twentieth Part of the present Plaintiffs in Matter of Conscience are truly acted and possest with that Scrupulosity they pretend to Alas Alas You talk of Conscience 'T is not what every Man Thinks or Says that is presently Conscience We are impos'd upon by Phansie Artifice or Delusion Some Deceive Themselves and Others Cousen Us. In one Word Whatsoever is not of Conscience in this Medly is Faction And undoubtedly the Conscientious Party has but a slender share in the Mixture As That Party is not Numerous so neither is it Dangerous upon a Principle of Honesty and Religion No Man of Conscience can either desire to Embroyl the Kingdom or expect to be the Better for 't But still have a care how ye take every thing for Gold that Glisters Conscience was the Subject of the last Quarrel Religion the Pretext Popery the Bug-bear And the Issue of it was Dreadful Consider with your selves You have many of the same Persons to lead you on And They have the very same Matter too to work upon You meant no hurt to the last King you say And yet you ruin'd him You may perchance Intend as little Harm to This and yet do him as much And what amends is it when the Government is laid again in Dust and Desolation to cry You were Overseen If you had thought it should ever have come to This you would have cut off your Hands or Tongues and I know not what Look Back and Tremble at the Course you are now upon for you are Questionless in the very Track of the late Rebellion And one may without Breach of Charity conclude that No Man that was an Active Instrument in the last War can acquit himself of a most Prodigious Impiety and Ingratitude in reviving and prosecuting the same Interest and Method now against the SON by which he notoriously contributed toward the Death of the FATHER SECT XIX The Non-Conformists Appeal from the Government and Discipline of the Church of England to the Judgment and Practise of the Reformed Churches BEYOND THE SEAS Examined and Submitted to Censure C. IT is observable that throughout the whole Quarrel against the Orders and Government of the Church of England the Non-Conformists still fly for Countenance to the Iudgment of the Reformed Churches Abroad And so likewise in the Question of Toleration they Insist much upon the Practise and Tenderness of Other Churches As if the Ecclesiastical State of This Kingdom were as Singular for Tyranny and Corruption as in Truth the Litigants Themselves are for Contumacy and Disobedience In the Answer of the Two Houses to the Scots Declaration 164â—… This Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops c. is Declared to be Evil justly Offensive and Burdensom to the Kingdom a great Impediment to the Reformation and Growth of Religion and Resolved it is that it shall be taken away With a Regard to the Introducing of another Government more apt to procure an Union with the Church of Scotland and OTHER REFORMED CHURCHES ABROAD And the Ministers in the Petition for Peace sing the same Note too If Men say they must be cast out of the Church and Ministry because they are not wiser then the Pastors of