his proceedings herein are reflected on by persons Sober and Learned who have any respect to modesty or sobriety or any reverence for the things of God as debated among men he would abate somewhat of that self-delight and satisfaction which he seems to take in his Achievement Neither is it in the matter of Dissent alone from the established Forms of Worship that this Author and some others endeavour by their Revilings and Scoffings to expose Non-Conformists to scorn and violence but a semblance at least is made of the like Reflections on their whole Profession of the Gospel and their Worship of God Yea these are the special subjects of those swelling words of contempt those farcastical invidious Representations of what they oppose which they seem to place their confidence of success in But what do they think to effect by this Course of proceedure do they suppose that by crying out canting phrases silly non-sense Metaphors they shall shame the Non-Conformists out of the Profession of the Gospel or make them foregoe the course of their Ministry or alienate one soul from the Truth taught and profest amongst them They know how their Predecessours in the faith thereof have been formerly entertained in the World St. Paul himself falling among the Gentlemen Philosophers of those dayes was termed by them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Babler or one that Canted his Doctrine despised as silly and foolish and his Phrase's pretended to be Unintelligible These things move not the Non-Conformists unless it be to a Compassion for them whom they fee to press their Wits and Parts to so wretched an employment If they have any thing to charge on them with respect to gospel-Gospel-truths as that they own teach preach or publish any Doctrines or Opinions that are not agreeable thereunto and Doctrine of the Antient and late Reformed Churches let them come forth if they are men of Learning Reading and Ingenuity and in wayes used and approved from the beginning of Christianity for such ends and Purposes endeavour their Confutation and Conviction let them I say with the Skill and Confidence of Men and according to all rules of Method and Art state the matters in difference between themselves and their Adversaries confirm their own judgements with such Reasons and Arguments as they think pleadable in their behalf and oppose the Opinions they condemn with testimonies and reasons suited to their Eversion The course at present steered and engaged in to carpe at phrases expressions manners of the Declaration of mens conceptions collected from or falsly fathered upon particular persons thence intimated to be common to the whole party of Non-Conformists the greatest guilt of some whereof it may be is only their too near approach to the expressions used in the Scripture to the same purpose and the evidence of their being educed from thence is unmanly unbecoming persons of any philosophick generosity much more Christians and Ministers nay some of the things or sayings reflected on and carped at by a late Author are such as those who have used or asserted them dare modestly challenge him in their defence to make good his charge in a personal conference provided it may be Scholastical or Logical not Dramatick or Romantick And surely were it not for their Confidence in that Tame and Patient Humour which this Author so tramples upon p. 15. they could not but fear that some or other by these disingenuous proceedings might be provoked to a Recrimination and to give in a Charge against the cursed Oaths Debaucheries Profaneness various Immoralities and sottish Ignorance that are openly and notoriously known to have taken up their residence among some of those persons whom the Railleries of this and some other Authors are designed to countenance and secure Because we may not concern our selves again in things of this nature let us take an Instance or two of the manner of the dealing of our Author with Non-conformists and those as to their Preaching and Praying which of all things they are principally maligned about For their Preaching he thus sets it out p. 75. Whoever among them can Invent any new Language presently sets up for a Man of new Discoveries and he that lights upon the prettyest non-sense is thought by the Ignorant Rabble to unfold new Gospel Mysteries and thus is the Nation shattered into infinite factions with senseless and phantastick phrases and the most fatal miscarriage of them all lyes in abusing Scripture expressions not only without but in contradiction to their sense so that had we but an Act of Parliament to abridge Preachers the use of fulsome and luscious Metaphors it might perhaps be an effectual cure of all our present Distempers Let not the Reader smile at the Oddness of the proposal for were men obliged to speak sense as well as Truth all the swelling mysteries of Phanaticism would then sink into flat and empty non-sense and they would be ashamed of such jejune and ridioulous stuff as their admired and most profound nations would appear to be Certainly there are few who read these expressions that can retain themselves from smiling at the pittiful phantastick souls that are here characterized or from loathing their way of Preaching here represented But yet if any should by a surprizal indulge themselves herein and one should seriously enquire what it is that stirred those humours in them it may be they could scarce return a rational account of their Commotions For when they have done their utmost to countenance themselves in their scorn and derision they have nothing but the bare Assertions of this Author for the proof of what is here charged on those whom they deride And how if these things are most of them if not all of them absolutely false how if he be not able to prove any of them by any considerable avowed instance How if all the things intended whether they be so or no as here represented depend meerly on the judgement and fancy of this Author and it should prove in the issue that they are no such rules measures or standards of mens rational expressions of their Conceptions but that they may be justly appealed from and how if sundry things so odiously here expressed be proved to have been sober Truths declared in words of Wisdom and Sobriety What if the things condemned as fulsome Metaphors prove to be Scriptural expressions of Gospel Mysteries What if the principal Doctrines of the Gospel about the grace of God the Mediation of Christ of Faith Justification Gospel-obedience Communion with God and Union with Christ are esteemed and stigmatized by some as swelling Mysteries of Fanaticism and the whole work of our Redemption by the blood of Christ as expressed in the Scripture be deemed Metaphorical In brief What if all this Discourse concerning the Preachings of Non-Conformists be as unto the sense of the words here used false and the Crimes in them injuriously charged upon them What if the Metaphors they are charged with are no other but
the Treatise we have had under consideration and it is that given by a King unto those that should pertake of the like Royal Authority with himself Psalm 2. 10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Kiss the Son left he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him And he who can inform me how they can render themselves more like unto God more acceptable unto him and more the Concern and Delight of mankind than by relieving peaceable and innocent persons from their Fears Cares and Solicitousness about undeserved evils or from the suffering of such things which no mortal man can convince them that they have merited to undergo or suffer he shall have my thanks for his discovery And what is it that we treat about What is it that a little Truce and Peace is desired unto and pleaded for What are the concerns of publick good therein Let a little sedate consideration be exercised about these things and the causelesness of all the Wrath we have been conversing withall will quickly appear That there is a sad degeneracy of Christianity in the world amongst the Professors of Christian Religion from the Rule Spirit Worship and Conversation of the first Christians who in all things observed and expressed the Nature Vertue and Power of the Gospel all must acknowledge and many do complain Whatever of this kind comes to pass and by what means soever it is the interest and design of them who are present gainers by it in the world to keep all things in the posture that yields them their advantage Hence upon every Appearance of an Alteration or Apprehension that any will desert the Wayes of Worship wherein they have been engaged they are cast into a storm of passion and outrage like Demetrius and the rest of the Silver-smiths pretending divisions present settlement ancient veneration and the like when their gain and advantage whether known or unknown to themselves is that which both influenceth them with such a frame of Spirit and animates them to actings suitable thereunto Thus in the Ages past there was so great and universal an Apostacy long before fore-told overspreading Christianity that by innumerable sober persons it was judged intolerable and that if men had any regard to the Gospel of Christ their own freedom in the world or everlasting blessedness there was a necessity of a Reformation and the reduction of the profession of Christian Religion unto some nearer conformity to the Primitive times and pattern Into this design sundry Kings Princes and whole Nations engaged themselves namely what lay in them and according to the sentiments of Truth they had received to reduce Religion unto its pristine Glory What Wrath Clamours Fury Indignation Revenge Malice this occasioned in them whose Subsistence Wealth Advantages Honour and Reputation all lay in preserving things in their state of defection and Apostacy is known to all the world Hence therefore arose bloody persecutions in all and fierce Wars in many Nations where this thing was attempted stirred up by the craft and cruelty of them who had mastered and managed the former declensions of Religion to their own use and advantage The guilt of which mischiefs and miseries unto mankind is by a late Writer amongst our selves contrary to all the monuments of times past and confessions of the Adversaries themselves endeavoured to be cast on the Reformers However a work of Reformation was carried on in the world and succeeded in many places in none more eminently than in this Nation wherein we live That the end aimed at which was professedly the Reduction of Religion to its antient Beauty and Glory in Truth and Worship is attained amongst us some perhaps do judge and absolutely acquiesce therein and for my part I wish we had more did so For be it spoken as I hope without offence on the part of others so without fear of giving it or having it taken on my own there are among many such evident Declensions from the first established Reformation towards the old or a new and it may be worse Apostacy such an apparent weariness of the principal Doctrines and practices which enlivened the Reformation as I cannot but be troubled at and wherewith many are offended For although I do own a dissent from some present establishments in the Church of England yet I have that honour for the first Reformers of it and Reformation it self that love to the Truth declared and established in it that respect to the Work and Grace of God in the conversion of the souls of thousands by the Ministry of the word in these Nations that I cannot but grieve continually to see the acknowledged Doctrines of it deserted its ancient principles and practices derided its pristine zeal despised by some who make advantage of its outward constitution inheriting the profits emoluments and wealth which the bounty of our Kings have endowed it withal but not its Spirit its Love its stedfastness in owning the Protestant Truth and Cause But to return for these things may better elsewhere be complained of seeing they relate only to particular persons That what is done in Reformation be established that any farther publick work of the same nature be attempted or the retrivement of what is done to its original condition and estate belongs to the determination of the Supream Magistrate and to that alone Private persons have no Call no Warrant to attempt any thing unto those purposes However many there are who dislike some Ecclestastical Constitutions and Modes of outward Worship which have been the matter of great contests from the first Reformation but much more dislike the degeneracy from the Spirit way and principles of the first Reformers before mentioned which in some at present they apprehend And therefore though many seem to be at a great distance from the present established Forms of the Church of England yet certainly all who are humble and peaceable when they shall see the Ministry of the Church as in former dayes in some measure acted rightly and zealously towards the known ends of it and such as are undeniably by all acknowledged namely the Conviction of the World the Conversion of Souls and Edification of them that do believe and the discipline of it exercised in a conformily at least to the Rule of the Discipline of the secular powers of the earth not to be a terrour to the good but to them that do evil and in these things a demonstration of the Meekness Humility Patience forbearance condescension to the weakness mistakes errings and wandrings of others which the Gospel doth as plainly and evidently require of us as it doth that we should believe in Jesus Christ will continually pray for its prosperity though they cannot themselves joyn with it in sundry of its practices and wayes In the
TRUTH AND INNOCENCE VINDICATED IN A SURVEY OF A DISCOURSE Concerning Ecclesiastical Polity And the Authority of the Civil Magistrate over the Consciences of Subjects in Matters of Religion Non Partum studiis agimur sed sumsimus arma Consiliis innimica tuis Discordia Vaecors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clemens Alexand. London Printed 1669. REVIEW OF THE PREFACE AMong the many Disadvantages which those who plead in any sense for Liberty of Conscience are exposed unto it is not the least that in their arguings and Pleas they are enforced to admit a Supposition That those whom they plead for are indeed really mistaken in their Apprehensions about the matters concerning which they yet desire to be indulged in their practice For unless they will give place to such a supposition or if they will rigidly contend that what they plead in the behalf of is absolutely the Truth and that obedience thereunto is the direct Will and Command of God there remains no proper field for the Debate about Indulgence to be mannaged in For things acknowledged to be such are not capable of an Indulgence properly so called because the utmost Liberty that is necessary unto them is their Right and Due in strict Justice and Law Men therefore in such Discourses speak not to the nature of the things themselves but to the Apprehensions of them with whom they have to do But yet against this Disadvantage every Party which plead for themselves are relieved by that secret reserve that they have in the perswasion of the Truth and Goodness of what they profess and desire to be indulged in the practice of And this also as occasion doth offer it self and in the defence of themselves from the charge of their Adversaries they openly contend and avow Neither was it judged formerly that there was any way to deprive them of this Reserve and Relief but by a direct and particular Debate of the matters specially in difference carried on unto their Conviction by evidence of Truth managed from the Common Principles of it But after Tryal made this way to convince men of their errors and mistakes who stand in need of Indulgence with respect unto the outward Administration of the powers that they are under is found as it should seem tedious unreasonable and ineffectual A new way therefore to this purpose is fixed on and it is earnestly pleaded That there needs no other Argument or Medium to prove men to be mistaken in their Apprehensions and to miscarry in their practice of Religious duties than that at any time or in any place they stand in need of Indulgence To Dissent at all adventures is a crime and he whom others persecute tacitly at least confesseth himself guilty For it is said That the Law of the Magistrate being the sole Rule of Obedience in Religious Worship their Non-complyance with any Law by him established evidencing it self in their desire of Exemption is a sufficient conviction yea a self-acknowledgement not only of their Errors and Mistakes in what they apprehend of their Duty in these things and of their Miscarriages in what they practise but also that themselves are persons Turbulent and Seditious in withdrawing Obedience from the Laws which are justly imposed on them With what Restrictions and Limitations or whether with any or no these Assertions are maintained we shall afterward enquire The Management of this Plea if I greatly mistake him not is one of the principal Designs of the Author of that Discourse a brief Survey whereof is here proposed The Principle which he proceeds herein upon himself it seems knew to be Novel and Uncouth and therefore thought it incumbent on him that both the manner of its handling and the other Principles that he judged meet to associate with it or annex unto it should be of the same kind and complexion This Design hath at length produced us this Discourse which of what use it may prove to the Church of God what tendency it may have to retrive or promote Love and Peace among Christians I know not This I know that it hath filled many persons of all sorts with manifold surprizals and some with amazement I have therefore on sundry Considerations prevailed with my self much against my inclinations for the sake of Truth and Peace to spend a few hours in the examination of the principal parts and seeming pillars of the whole Fabrick And this I was in my own mind the more easily indueed unto because there is no concernment either of the Church or State in the things here under debate unless it be that they should be vindicated from having any concern in the things and opinions here pleaded and argued For as to the present Church if the Principles and reasonings here maintained and managed are agreeable unto her Sentiments and allowed by her yet there can be no offence given in their Examination because she hath no where yet declared them so to be And the truth is if they are once owned and espoused by her to the ends for which they are asserted as the Christians of old triumphed in the thoughts of him who first engaged in wayes of violence against them among the Nations in the world so the Non-Conformists will have no small relief to their minds in their sufferings when they understand these to be the avowed Principles and Grounds on which they are to be persecuted and destroyed And for the power of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction belonging to the Kings of this Nation as it hath been claimed and exercised by them in all ages since the establishment of Christian Religion among us as it is declared in the Laws Statutes and Customs of the Kingdom and prescribed unto an Acknowledgement in the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy it and steddiness of expression which we shall be farther accustomed unto But in what here he avers of himself he seems to have the advantage of our Lord Jesus Christ who upon less provocations than he hath undertaken the consideration of for the Pharisees with whom he had to deal were Gentlemen be tells us unto those with whom himself hath to do as he saith fell into an hot fit of Zeal yea into an height of Impatience which made him act with a seeming fury and transport of passion pag. 7. And if that be indeed his temper which he commends in himself he seems to me to be obliged for it unto his Constitution and Complexion as he speaks and not to his Age seeing his juvenile expressions and confidence will not allow us to think that he suffers under any defervescency of spirit by his years The Philosopher tells us that old men in matters dubious and weighty are not over-forward to be Positive but ready to cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perhaps and it may be so and this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they have experience of the uncertainty of things in this world As indeed those who know what entanglements all humane Affairs are attended withal what appearing
their expression of Gospel Mysteries not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy-Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with Spiritual As these things may and will be made evident when particulars shall be instanced in When I say these things are discovered and laid open there will be a composure possibly of those affections and disdainful thoughts which these swelling words may have moved in weak and unexperienced minds It may be also it will appear that upon a due consideration there will be little subject matter remaining to be Enacted in that Law or Act of Parliament which he moves for unless it be from that uncouth motion that men may be obliged to speak sense as well as truth seeing hitherto it hath been supposed that every Proposition that is either true or false hath a proper and determinate sense and if sense it have not it can be neither I shall only crave leave to say that as to the Doctrine which they Preach and the manner of their Preaching or the way of expressing those Doctrines or Truths which they believe and teach the Non-Conformists appeal from the rash false and invidious charge of this Author to the judgement of all learned judicious and pious men in the world and are ready to defend them against himself and whosoever he shall take to be his Patrons or his Associates before any equal competent and impartial Tribunal under Heaven It is far from me to undertake the absolute defence of any party of men or of any man because he is of any party whatever much less shall I do so of all the individual persons of any party and least of all as to all their Expressions private Opinions and peculiar ways of declaring them which too much abound among persons of all sorts I know there is no party but have weak men belonging to it nor any men amongst them but have their weaknesses failings and mistakes And if there are none such in the Churcb of England I mean those that universally comply with all the Observances at present used therein I am sure enough that there are so amongst all other parties that dissent from it But such as these are not principally intended in these aspersioâ—s nor would their Adversaries much rejoyce to have them known to be and esteemed of all what they are But it is others whom they aim to expose unto contempt and in the behalf of them not the mistakes misapprehensions or undue expressions of any private persons these things are pleaded But let us see if their Prayers meet with any better entertainment an Account of his thoughts about them he gives us p. 19. It is the most solemn strain of their devotion to vilifie themselves with large Confessions of the hainousest and most aggravated sins They will freely acknowledge their Offences against all the Commands and that with the foulest and most enhancing circumstances they can rake together and confess their injustice uncleanness and extortion and all the Publican and Harlot sins in the world In brief in all their Confessions they stick not to charge themselves with such large Catalogues of sin and to amass together such as heap of Impieties as would make up the compleatest character of lewdness and villany and if their Consciences do really arraign them of all those crimes whereof they so familiarly indite themselves there are no such guilty and unpardonable Wretches as they So that their Confessions are either true or false if false then they fool and trifle with the Almighty if true then I could easily tell them the fittest place to say their prayers in I confess this passage at its first perusal surprized me with some amazement It was unexpected to me that he who designed all along to charge his Adversaries with Pharisaism and to render them like unto them should instance in their Confession of Sin in their prayers when it is even a Characteristical note of the Pharisees that in their prayers they made no confession of sin at all But it was far more strange to me that any man durst undertake the reproaching of poor sinners with the deepest acknowledgement of their sins before the holy God that they are capable to conceive or utter Is this thought I the Spirit of the men with whom the Non-Conformists do contend and upon whose Instance alone they suffer Are these their Apprehensions concerning God sin themselves and others Is this the Spirit wherewith the Children of the Church are acted Are these things suited to the principles Doctrines practices of the Church of England Such reproaches and reflections indeed might have been justly expected from those poor deluded souls who dream themselves perfect and free from sin but to meet with such a Treaty from them who say or sing O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners at least three times a Week was some surprizal However I am sure the Non-Conformists need return no other answer to them who reproach them for vilifying themselves in their Confessions to God but that of David to Michal It is before the Lord and we will yet be more vile than thus and will be base in our own sight Our Author makes no small stir with the pretended censures of some whom he opposes namely that they should esteem themselves and their Party to be the Elect of God all others to be reprobates themselves and theirs to be godly and all others ungodly wherein I am satisfied that he unduely chargeth those whom he intends to reflect upon However I am none of them I do not judge any Party to be All the Elect of God or all the Elect of God to be confined unto any Party I judge no man living to be a Reprobate though I doubt not but that there are living men in that condition I confine not holiness or godliness to any Party not to the Church of England nor to any of those who dissent from it but am perswaded that in all Societies of Christians that are under Heaven that hold the head there are some really fearing God working righteousness and accepted with him But yet neither my own judgement nor the Reflections of this Author can restrain me from professing that I fear that he who can thus trample upon men scoff at and deride them for the deepest Confessions of their sins before God which they are capable of making is scarce either well acquainted with the holiness of God the evil of sin or the deceitfulness of his own heart or did not in his so doing take them into sufficient consideration The Church of England it self requires its Children to acknowledge their manifold sins and wickednesses which from time to time they have grievously committed by thought word and deed against the Divine Majesty and what in general others can confess more I know not If men that are through the light of Gods Spirit and Grace brought to an acquaintance with the deceitful workings of sin in their own hearts