The Mischief of Impositions, Section 12
SECT. XII. The Doctors Conſiderations conſidered.
HE that had ſcarce half a word to thoſe in Communion with the Church, who were preſent, has for thoſe that are out of the Churches Communion, though at the time abſent: Firſt a Squadron of Conſiderations; and ſecondly, a Pacquet of Advices. His Conſiderations are now to be conſidered, which are preciſely four.
(1.) The firſt thing we are to conſider, is, How many things muſt be born in the Conſtitution of a Church? A world, no doubt in ſome Conſtitutions, by thoſe that are ambitious of their Communion. Now that we may not be in arrere in civility, we humbly deſire all thoſe whom it may concern to conſider: 1. What our conſideration will ſignifie, unleſs we had a Commiſſion of Terminer as well as Oyer? If we might bear what we could, and forbear what we could not, it might be worth the while to conſider what muſt be born: but if the Impoſers will conſider what they pleaſe to lay on our ſhoulders, and we have no conſideration left us, but whether we will bow or break under the burden, what place for conſideration? 2. We deſire it may be conſidered alſo, what may be forborn by them, as well as born by us; and that in order to Peace and Union: but it's plain, they are all for our bearing, and nothing for their own forbearing; which yet had been more proper to his Text, had he conſidered that it is the will of God that they that have not attained to the ſame ſtrength, ſhould not be charged with the ſame burden. 3. It ought to be conſidered alſo, how many things may not be born, as well as how many muſt; for when the Intolerable are removed, we ſhall the better bear the reſt; but if we muſt bear either all, or none; to what purpoſe is our Conſideration? 4. We have conſidered again and again, both the tolerabiles & intolerabiles Ineptias; which I Engliſh the tolerable and intolerable unfitneſſes, and know not how to bear either of them. And 5. it's more our intereſt to conſider how we may get ſtrength to bear the diſpleaſure of the Impoſers, than the l…ad of the Impoſitions, ſeeing we could eaſily avoid the one, if we could but eſcape the other. 6. We deſire it may be conſidered a little, that there are different degrees of ſtrength in Chriſtians, all have not the ſame Bajulatory backs, nor the ſame Herculean ſhoulders; and therefore it might become Church-Governours to ſit down and conſider, whether it be agreeable to the mind of Chriſt, that the weak ſhould bear the Imperious paſſions of the ſtrong, and not the ſtrong bear the infirmities of the weak, Rom. 15.1.
(2.) The Doctor would have us conſider, how impoſſible it is to give ſatisfaction to all. We have conſidered that too! and hope he will conſider whether there may not be found a Medium between giving ſatisfaction to all, and to none. Methinks this might ſatisfie all, if they that are ſo zealous for Ceremonies might have their belly-fulls of 'em; and they that are more indifferent for 'em, might not have 'em cram'd down their throats. He was reputed a wiſe Countrey-Juſtice in his time, who ſatisfied all his Neighbours contending about the old Ceremony of Chaucers Ale-ſtake, and determined it thus: Neighbours! you that are for a May-pole, ſhall have a May-pole; and you that are for no May-pole, ſhall have no May-pole. Chriſtians that have out-grown their Juvenile-vanities, can be ſatisfied with a worſhip adorned with Goſpel-ſimplicity; but if any muſt have a better, let the children be ſatisfied, rather than bawl and diſturb the family.
But the Doctor would have us conſider further, How many things muſt be allow'd a favourable Interpretation? how many things muſt be born? how many things muſt be allow'd a favourable conſtruction? I fear they are Sans number. Now if our Interpretation might ſtand for Authentick, and they would allow us to add our Interpretation to their Text, this were ſomething. In the mean time, let them be pleaſed to conſider, whether a more favourable Interpretation ought not to be put upon the principles and practiſes of Diſſenters, without wreſting, vexing, torturing them to a ſenſe beyond, and againſt their intentions? And further may it pleaſe them to conſider, whether a more favourable Interpretation ought not to be put upon their own Conſtitutions: for it cannot be expected that any ſhould interpret them favourably, if they themſelves Interpret them rigidly: And the execution of Laws and Canons will tell us what conſtruction they put upon them that beſt underſtand 'em. It cannot be hidden what an Interpretation has been made of the Statute againſt Popiſh Recuſants, to torment poor Proteſtants, who are brought within the laſh of it, though out of the Reaſon of it. And laſtly, we humbly deſire it may be a little better conſidered, that the Impoſed matters are in their judgments indifferent, in ours ſinful, which is like the Quid ſi? to an Atheiſt, that can never be anſwered; And ſeeing (as the Doctor ſays) ſomething will be amiſs either in Doctrine, Diſcipline, Ceremonies or Manners (he might have added, or in all) that they who have the power in their hands, would either rectifie what is amiſs, or however not compel others to comply with what they themſelves confeſs to be ſo.
(3.) He would have us conſider, How Separation of the people from our Churches comes to be more lawful now, than in the days of our Fathers? But had it not been more becoming a rational Divine firſt to conſider, whether it be ſo or no, before it be conſidered how it came to be ſo? Many men are ſo haſty, they leap over the ſtile before they come at it. 1. Then, Separation was as lawful then, as 'tis now, had they ſeen with our eyes; and as unlawful now, as then, if we ſaw with their eyes, I mean the eyes of Conformiſts; for ſuch are they who are produced againſt us. And what an odd argument is it to quote them for our Fathers, who were their own Grandfathers? 2. It would be conſidered whether the Separation of former times was not much greater than that of the preſent time, for they proceeded to ſet up their Presbyteries, their Synods, their Provincial and National Aſſemblies, formed themſelves into ſeparate bodies for Government, and were ſoundly ſmok't for it in the high Commiſſion. 3. And yet if in any reſpect the Separation be greater now than it was then, it is becauſe there are more ſevere terms put upon the Paſtors of Churches; and they being removed from the Benefices, the Flock did not judg that a ſufficient diſcharge from, nor diſſolution of their relation, and therefore adhered to their true and only lawful Paſtor, and by conſequence a Separation followed: Nor were the Miniſters of old haggled off their legs with a quarter of the Oaths, Subſcriptions, Declarations, Renunciations, that now they are; and they that took ſuch care to throw the Paſtors out of Churches, muſt be reſponſible to Chriſt, if the people follow'd them. And in thoſe former days there was much connivence and Indulgence exerciſed towards the Nonconformiſts in ſome obſcure places, where lay no temptation to a quare Impedit; but we have mended the matter, as ſowr Ale does in Summer.
(4.) Laſtly, He would have us conſider, The common danger that threatens us all by our diviſions; which if ſome late Preachers had well conſidered, they had never blown up the ſparks of perſecution againſt Proteſtant Diſſenters; we are willing to conſider the common danger that threatens us by our Diviſions; Are they as willing to conſider and remove the Cauſes of the Diviſions which heighten the common danger? If the danger be common to both, why is not the ſecurity ſo too? Muſt the Diſſenters only be in danger on all hands? Wiſe men, that can foreſee a common danger, ſhould not deſtroy one half of their friends, that the common enemy may with more eaſe deſtroy the other. The firſt Conqueſt Rome made of Brittain, was by this error of the Natives, Dum ſinguli pugnant omnes vincantur; and we heartily wiſh that in their next attempt, they proceed not upon the encouragement of the ſame Maxim. In which Devaſtation, though all are like enough to ſhare in the common miſery, yet their ſhare of the ſin will be the greateſt, that would hazard every thing, rather than part with any thing: that would loſe the Horſe to ſave the Saddle, or perhaps one hair of the Horſes tail. They that are ſuch admirers of Ʋnity, and will yeild nothing to procure it; and have ſuch apprehenſions of Popery, and yet will do nothing to prevent it, muſt preſume ſtrangely of the ſtrength of their Rhetorick, or think meanly of the weakneſs of our Reaſons, if ever they hope to Proſelyte us into the faith of it. As for Diſſenters, how vigilant and active they have been againſt the Deſigns of Rome; how Cordially they have eſpouſed the common Engliſh Proteſtant Intereſt, without regard to their private pretenſions; how zealous they have been for His Majeſties Perſon, Government and Intereſt, let others ſpeak, we ſhall be ſilent.