The Nonconformists Plea for Peace, Section 7
SECT. VII.
Some Matters of Fact preparatory to the true Application of what is before laid down.
WE muſt crave that juſtice of the Reader as to note, that hither to we have ſpoken but of the Doctrinal part about Schiſm, not applying it to England or any others: Nor ſhall we now any otherwiſe apply it, than to lay down ſome little part of the Matters of Fact, which the Nonconformiſts are conſidering to help others to apply it without miſtake, as they ſhall ſee cauſe.
We intend not, in this, the determination of the points in matter of right; nor do we here tell men (unleſs on the by in the ſtating of ſome few queſtions,) what it is that we account good or evil, much leſs do we here give the proofs or reaſons of our Cauſe: That is the thing for which we greatly deſire the allowance of our Superiours; But muſt not unneceſſarily preſume to do it, leſt we diſpleaſe them; though we hear that ſome of them take us as not ſincere, for keeping up a difference, and giving no more reaſons of it: The thing which we ſo greatly deſire leave to do, but dare not be ſo bold yet as to venture by it to diſpleaſe them, who condemn us for not doing it, leſt their anger would be ſharper to us if we do it: ſo great is our difficulty between this Soylla and Charybdis.
But we hope we may adventure to open ſome part of the Matter of Fact, which Conformity and Nonconformity are concerned in, that ſo men may conjecture at the Caſe themſelves; which will be no reflexion on the Government (barely to tell what they command,) nor a challenging any of our Superiours to a diſputation, nor a charging them as faulty that cannot bear it.
1. Matters of Fact to be foreknown, to the true underſtanding of the Cauſe.
1. THE root of the difference between the Old Nonconformiſts and the Conformiſts, was that one ſort thought they ſhould ſtick to the meer Scripture Rule and ſimplicity, and go far from all additions which were found invented or abuſed by the Papiſts, in Doctrine, Worſhip and Government; and the other ſide thought that they ſhould ſhew more reverence to the cuſtoms of the ancient Church, and retain that which was not forbidden in the Scripture, which was introduced before the ripeneſs of the Papacy, or before the year 600 at leaſt, and which was found lawful in the Roman Church, and common to them with the Greek, that we might not ſeem ſingular, odd and humorous, or to go further from the Papiſts than reaſon and neceſſity drave us. And the Laity ſeemed no where ſo ſenſible of the difference, as between the way of Ceremony, and unceremonious ſimplicity, and the way of our many ſhort Liturgick Prayers and Offices, and the way of free-praying from the preſent ſenſe and habits of the ſpeaker; while pacificators thought both ſeaſonably good.
2. The ſad eruption of this difference among the Exiles at Frankford while Dr. Cox and Mr. Horn and their party, ſtrove for the Engliſh Liturgie, and the other party ſtrove againſt it for the freer way, is at large reported in a book called the troubles at Frankford.
3. Queen Elizabeth and King James diſcountenancing and ſuppreſſing the Nonconformiſts, they attempted in Northamtonſhire and Warwickſhire a little while to have ſet and kept up private Churches and governed them in the Presbyterian way; But that attempt was ſoon broken and fruſtrate by the induſtry of Biſhop Whitguift and Banctoft: And the Nonconformiſts lived according to their various opportunities: ſome of them conformed: ſome were by connivence permitted in peculiars and ſmall impropriate places, or Chappels that had little maintenance, in the publick Miniſtry, which kept them from gathering ſecret Churches: ſome of them had this liberty a great part of their lives, as Mr. Hilderſham, Mr. Dod, Mr. Hering, Mr. Paget, Mr. Midſley ſenior and junior, Mr. Langley, Mr. Slater, and Mr. Aſh at Bremicham Mr. Tailor, Mr. Pateman, Mr. Paul Bayne, Mr. Fox of Tewksbury, John Fox, and many more. Some had this liberty all their lives, as Mr. Knewſtubs, Dr. Chadderton, Dr. Reignolds Dr. Humphrey, Mr. Perkins, Mr. John Ball, Mr. Barnet, Mr. Geeree, Mr. Root, Mr. Atkins Mr. Gilpin, John Rogers and many others: ſome were fain to ſhift up and down by hiding themſelves, and by flight, and theſe preached ſometimes ſecretly in the houſes where they were, and ſometime publickly for a day and away, where they could be admitted: ſo did Mr. Parker, Mr. Bradſhaw, Mr. Nicols, Mr. Brightman, Mr. Brumskil, Mr. Humphrey Fen, Mr. Sutchff, Mr. Thomas, and many more; and after their ſilencing Mr▪ Cotton, Mr. Hooker, and many more that went to America, Mr. Cartwright was permitted in the Hoſpital at Warwick, Mr. Harvey, and Mr. Hind at Bunbery in Cheſhire, and many more kept in (having ſmall maintenance) being in peculiar or priviledged places: Mr. Rathband, Mr. Angier, Mr. Johnſon, Mr. Gee, Mr. Hancock, and many others oft ſilenced, had after liberty by fits. Mr. Bowrne of Mancheſter, Mr. Broxholm in Darbyſhire Mr. Cooper of Huntingtonſhire (at Elton) and many others ſuffered more, and laboured more privately. Dr. Ames was invited to Franekera, ſome were further alienated from the Engliſh Prelacie, and ſeparated from their Churches, and ſome of them called Browniſts, were ſo hot at home, that they were put to death; Mr. Ainſworth, Johnſon, Robinſon and others fled beyond ſeas, and there gathered Churches of thoſe that followed them; and broke by diviſions among themſelves. The old Nonconformiſts being moſt dead, and the later gone moſt to America, we cannot learn that in 1640 there were many more Nonconformiſt Miniſters in England, than there be Counties, if ſo many.
4. The Conformiſts ſhortly fell into diſſenſion among themſelves, eſpecially about three things, Arminianiſm (as it was called) and Conciliation with the Church of Rome, and Prerogative: Dr. Heylin in the Life of ArchBiſhop Laud doth fully open all theſe differences, and tells us that Archbiſhop Abbot was the Head of one party, and in point of Antiarminianiſm even Archbiſhop Whitgiſt before him, with Whitaker and others had made the Lambeth Articles, driven the Arminians from Cambridge: King James had diſcountenanced them in Holland, and ſent ſix Divines to the Synod of Dort, who owned and helpt to form thoſe Articles: And he tells us that Biſhop Laud had no Biſhops on his ſide but Biſhop Neale, Biſhop Buckeridge, Biſhop Corbet, and Biſhop Howſon, and after Biſhop Mountague, and thought it not ſafe to truſt his Cauſe to a Convocation; the major part called then The Church of England, 1. Cryed down Arminianiſm as dangerous Doctrine; 2. Cryed down any neerer approach to the Papiſts, and the Toleration of them; 3. And were much for the Law againſt abſoluteneſs in the King; and Dr. Heylins and Ruſhworth's Collect. will tell you the full ſtory of Manwaring & Sibthorp, and Archbiſhop Abbots refuſing to licenſe Sibthorp's Book, and the Conſequents of all. Thus theſe two Parties grew into jealouſies, the Old Church-men accuſing the New on theſe three accounts, and the New ones ſtriving, as Dr. Heylin deſcribeth them, to get into power and overturn the Old.
5. In this contention the Parliaments alſo involved themſelves and the Majority ſtill clave to the Majority of the Biſhops and Clergy (then called the Church of England:) And in all or moſt Parliaments cried up Religion, Law and Propriety and the Liberty of Subjects, and cried down Arminianiſm, Monopolies, Connivence and Favouring of Papiſts, and their increaſe thereby; expreſſing by Speeches, and Remonſtrances, their jealouſies in all theſe points, till they were diſſolved.
6. The writings of Biſhop Jewel, and much more Biſhop Bilſon, and moſt of all Mr. Richard Hooker, and ſuch as were of their mind, ſhew us what Principles there, and then were by the Laiety that followed them, received. We will not recite their words, leſt our intent be miſunderſtood; neither Biſhop Bilſons inſtances in what caſes Kings may be reſiſted by armes Nor Mr. Hookers that maketh Legiſlation the natural right of the Body politick, and governing power to be thence derived, to depend upon the Body, and to returne to it by eſcheats, when heirs fail, and that the King is ſingulis Major and univerſis Minor, &c. (His eighth Book was in print long before Biſhop Gauden publiſhed it, who yet vindicateth it to be Hookers own.)
7. In 1637, 1638, 1639. A. Biſhop Land uſeing more ſeverity againſt diſſenters than had been uſed of late before, and the viſitations more enquiring after private faſts and meetings and going out of mens own Pariſhes to hear, and ſuch like, and alſo the Book for ſports on the Lords daies being neceſſarily to be read by all the Conformable Miniſters in the Churches, and Altars, Railes and Bowing towards them being brought in, and in many places afternoon Sermons and Lectures put down, the minds of men before filled with the aforementioned jealouſies, were made much more jealous than before. And after the impriſonment of ſome, the ſtigmatizing of ſome, and the removall of many beyond the Seas, and the death of more, the Nonconformable Miniſters were reduced to the paucity before mentioned; but the minds of many people were more alienated from the later ſet of Biſhops, and the old ſort of Conformiſts more jealous of them, and more afraid of Popery, &c. than before.
8. The new Liturgy then impoſed on the Scots, with the other changes there attempted, the deſignes charged on the Marq. of Hamilton, the fear of the Lords loſing the Tyths, &c. which Dr. Heylin mentioneth as the cauſes or occaſions of their arming there, with the progreſs thereof, and their entring into England, and the advantage thence taken by ſome Engliſh Lords, to adviſe the King to call a Parliament once and again, and the diſcontents and proceedings of that Parliament againſt the two Miniſters of the King; for former things with ſuch other matters we had rather the reader took from others, than from us. We are unwilling to be the mentioners of any more than concerneth our preſent cauſe, and the things are very commonly known.
9. On the 23. of October, 1641. The Iriſh ſuddenly roſe, and murdered no leſs than two hundred thouſand perſons, and Dublin narrowly eſcaped them, of which we refer the Reader to the examinations publiſhed by Dr. Henry Jones, ſince a Biſhop in Ireland, and to the hiſtory of Sir John Temple, and to the Earl of Orery's Anſwer to Mr. Welſh.
10. The dreadfulneſs of this Maſſacre (ſo far exceeding the French) & the news ſent over that the Iriſh ſaid that they had the Kings Commiſſion and the foregoing jealouſies of the people and the Parliaments Declarations, raiſed in multitudes of the people a fear that the Iriſh when they had ended their work there would come over hither and do the like; and that they had partakers in England of whom we were in danger, and that there was no way of ſafety but to adhere to the Parliament for their own defence, or elſe it would quickly be too late to complain.
11. In 1642. the lamentable Civil Warr brake out: At which time as far as ever we could learn by acquaintance with ſome of them and report of others, excepting an inconſiderable number, the Houſes of Lords and Commons conſiſted of thoſe that had ſtill lived in conformity to the Church of England and the Epiſcopal Government and were ſuch Conformiſts as Dr. Heylin deſcribeth Archbiſhop Abbot and the Clergy and Parliaments of his times to have been, Crying out of the danger of a new partie, that ſaid they would ſhake our Religion, Liberties and Property. And ſuch were they when the War began, Presbytery being then little known among them.
12. Their fear of being overpowred by the party of whom they ſeemed to think themſelves in ſudden danger, cauſed ſome of them to countenance ſuch Petitionings and clamours of the Londoners, Apprentices, and others, as we think diſorders and provocation of the King.
13. The firſt open beginning was about the Militia: And whether the Lord Lieutenants whom the Parliament choſe, were not almoſt all Epiſcopal Conformiſts, we intreat the Reader but to peruſe the Catalogue in the ordinance for that Militia, and to ask any that well knew them (as ſome of us did many of them) and he may certainly be ſatisfied.
14. The ſame we ſay 1. Of the far greateſt part of the General Officers, Collonels, Lieutenant-Collonels, and Majors of the Earl of Eſſex's Army. 2. And of the Sea-Captains. 3. And of the Major Generals of Brigades, and Counties through the Land.
15. When the Parliament's Armies were worſted and weakened by the King, and they found themſelves in danger of being overcome, they intreated help from the Scots, who taking the advantage of their ſtraits, brought in the Covenant as the Condition of their help; which the Parliament rather accepted than they would loſe them, which at firſt was impoſed on none by force: But (to paſs by all other Conſiderations) was judged by many wiſe men, to be an occaſion of diviſion, as making the oppoſition to Prelacy, to be the terms of the Kingdoms Unity and Concord, when they might know that the King and a great, if not the greateſt part of the Kingdom, were of the contrary mind, and ſo it was thought to be (as the Papal terms of Unity) a means of unavoidable diviſion: But others thought that becauſe it tied them to no endeavours, but in their Places and Callings, they might take it.
16. The Aſſembly of Divines at Weſtminſter were men that had lived in Conformity, except about eight or nine of them and the Scots: But being ſuch as thought Conformity lawful in caſe of deprivation, but the things impoſed to be a ſnare, which ſhould be removed if it could be lawfully done, they alſo received the Covenant, but were divided about the ſenſe of the word [Prelacy,] many profeſſing their Judgment to be for Moderate Epiſcopacy; whereupon the deſcribing additions [Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Deans, Archdeacons] were added. And upon ſuch a Profeſſion that it diſclaimed not all Epiſcopacy, Mr. Coleman is ſaid to have given the Covenant to the Houſe of Lords. And they complained of the Parliament which tied them to meddle with nothing but what they offered to them.
17. This Covenant and Vow was taken by the Parliament, and by their Garriſons and Souldiers that would volunrarily take it, as a teſt whom they would truſt; the reſt being had in ſuſpenſion: And after the wars; by ſuch as were ordained Miniſters, and by the Kings adherents when they made their compoſitions; ſo far was it afterward impoſed. But many Miniſters and Gentlemen refuſed it, and ſo did Cromwel's Souldiers, and in many Counties few did take it.
18. How far the Parliament was from being Presbyterians, may partly be ſeen in the Propoſitions ſent from them by the Earl of Eſſex to the King at Nottingham, and partly by their defeating all the deſires and endeavours of thoſe that would have Presbytery ſetled through the Land: We know of no places but London and Lancaſhire where it was commonly taken up, and ſome little of it at Coventry, and ſome few ſuch places. And that was only as a tolerated or commended thing, without any impoſition that ever we knew of: And accordingly it came to nothing in a ſhort time.
17. Till their new modelling their Army, the Parliament had given out all Commiſſions to their Souldiers to fight for [King and Parliament.] But then the King's name was leſt out; which ſeeming to many thouſands an utter change of the Cauſe, from that time many did deſert them: And thereupon the Party called Sectaries flowing in to Cromwel, and his Army conquering, the power fell into their hands, who impriſoned the King, accuſed and drove away eleven Members of the Parliament, and afterward impriſoned and excluded the major part of the remaining Houſe, and with the reſt cut off the King, caſt down the Houſe of Lords, pretended a while to ſet up a Commonwealth (as they called it) impoſed an Engagement to that Commonwealth as eſtabliſhed without King and Houſe of Lords; ordered the ſequeſtration of the Miniſters that refuſed it, and of thoſe that kept not their daies of faſting and thankſgiving, for the Scotiſh wars which then they made. After which they caſt out with ſcorn that remnant of the Commons that had joyned with them; and choſe themſelves ſome men called a Parliament, who attempting to put down all Pariſh-Miniſters, Tythes and Univerſities (the firſt put to the Vote, and carried but by a few againſt them) they were broke up by delivering up their Commiſſion to Oliver, who was made Protector, and had the honour deſigned of ſaving the Miniſtry, Tythes and Univerſities from the Sectaries; even from that danger into which he had brought them.
20. From the time of theſe New Cauſes and Changes, eſpecially the deſtroying the King, violating and caſting out the Parliament men, impoſing the engagement &c. the Miniſters called Presbyterian in England, ſome few compliers excepted (many of whom ſince Conform) declared themſelves againſt all this, and were lookt upon as enemies; though kindneſs was offered to reconcile them. Some were impriſoned, many caſt out of their places in the Univerſities, ſome ſequeſtred, and Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons (a Gentleman) beheaded. Mr. Gee with the Lancaſhire Miniſters, with ſome of us, wrote againſt theſe proceedings of the then Power: Many Preacht againſt them, ſo that the ſober Religious people of the land grew commonly diſaffected to them: And what the Scots did and how they were conquered, we need not here relate.
21. The Miniſters who were then in poſſeſſion of the Pariſh Churches were of many minds about Church Government. 1. Many were for the old Epiſcopacy and Liturgie 2. Many were for a reformed Epiſcopacy: 3. Many were for Presbytery (that is, Church Government by Presbyteries, Claſſes and National aſſemblies, of Teaching and of Governing unordained Elders Conjunct, as jure divino) 4. Some were for that which is called Independency. 5. Some thought that no form of Church Government was jure divino. 6 But the moſt of our acquaintance were peaceable, moderate men that thought ſeveral parties had ſomewhat of the right, and that the points of difference were ſo few and ſmall, that they might well live in peace and love, and that none of the parties was ſo right as that in all things they ſhould be followed, and others trod down to ſet them up: And many of theſe were young men that, being at the Schools, had not been engaged in the firſt quarrels, and deſired not to ſide with any dividing parties, and modeſtly profeſſed that they had not maturity enough to ſtudy themſelves to any great confidence in the Controverſies.
22. This laſt ſort of men beginning in Worceſt:-ſhire ſet on foot a work of reconciling Aſſociation, in which the Epiſcopal, Presbyterians and Independants, agreed to practiſe ſo much of Church Government and Miniſtration as they were all agreed in, with mutual Love and aſſiſting concord, and to forbear one another in the reſt, till God ſhould bring us neerer. (And after they added another Agreement, to Catechiſe every perſon in their Pariſhes old and young, that would come to them, or receive them thereto; and perſonally to inſtruct and exhort them about the practicals of Religion, and preparation for death and the life to come) This example was preſently followed by the Miniſters in Cumberland and Weſtmorland, Wiltſhire, Dorſetſhire, Eſſex, and going on in other Counties, till the confuſions 1659 interrupted it, and the return of the Prelacie ended it and many ſuch endeavours.
23. When Oliver was dead, many ſorts of Government were ſet up in one year: Firſt his ſon Richard (who having never been in Arms, and being famed to be for the King, many thought he would have been ready, when he could, to reſign the Kingdom to him, and ſpoke him fair on that account, and others becauſe they thought he would quiet the violent, and keep out utter confuſion:) After his ejection the Remnant of the Commons called the Commonwealth was reſtored. After this they were caſt out again, and a Council of State Choſen by the Army; till the Kingdom grew to ſcorn them all, and was weary and aſhamed of the confuſions, and revived their deſigns to reſtore the King.
24. The firſt open attempt of united endeavours againſt the Army, to reſtore the King, was by the Cheſhire, Lancaſhire, and Northwales men, under Sr. Georg Booth (now Lord De lamere) and Sir T…o. Middle…on, who had been commanders for the Parliament; and was broken by the Armies Conquering them. Mr. Cook, Mr. Harriſon, Mr. Kirby, Mr. Seddan, ſent up Priſoners, and in danger of death, and other Miniſters, who ſince are ſilenced and ruined by thoſe they helpt.
25. But the attempts being renewed, at the ſame time, the diviſion of the Oppoſers (the Army and the Commonwealth Members) ſhook them all to pieces, and ruined them, and the new cloſure of the Old Parliamentarians, and the Royaliſts, and the Presbyterians, and other Miniſters with the Epiſcopal, ſtrengthened them, and reſtored the King: The Presbyterian Officers and Souldiers of General Monk's Army concurring with the reſt, and Sir Thomas Allen then Lord Mayor (many London Miniſters on their part counſelling him thereto) with the Aldermen and others, inviting General Monk to joyn with the City herein againſt the Oppoſers; from which very day, the ſcales were turned, and all went on without any conſiderable ſtop, and the old ejected Members of Parliament firſt, and the Council ſetled protempore after, prepared for His Majeſties return; and Dr. Gauden, Mr. Calamy, and Mr. B…xter Preaching at the Faſt of the next Parliament, (as their Printed Sermons ſhew) the King the next morning was voted to return, and to be invited to his Fathers Throne.
26. In preparation for this, ſome Miniſters now ſilenced, had trcated with ſome Gentlemen firm to the King, and with Biſhop Uſher, Biſhop Browrig, Dr. Hammond, and others, who all encouraged them (though ſome much more, than others) by proſeſſing moderate, healing principles and intentions…: And in London, and ſeveral Counties, the Noblemen, Knights, and Gentlemen that had ſtill adhered to the King, profeſt and publiſhed their peaceable deſires of Concord, and reſolution againſt revenge; And Letters were written from France to divers here, to take off all the unjuſt ſuſpicions that ſome had raiſed about the Kings Religion; all which promoted the Concord that accompliſhed the Change.
27. Thoſe that ſaw the marvelous ſucceſs of this reconciliation and concord, and knew that the Clergies diſtance was moſt likely, if any thing, to hinder the happy perfection and ſettlement of a full deſired peace, did preſently attempt an agreement among them: And upon the motion of ſome of the ſince ſilenced Miniſters, the Earl of Mancheſter, and the Earl of Orery mentioning it to the King, they told us, that it was well pleaſing to His Majeſty: Whereupon His Majeſty vouchſafing them audience, and great encouragement, ſeveral perſons on each ſide were appointed to treat of the neceſſary terms of ſetled Concord and to yield to each other as far as they could, and offer their mutual conceſſions: What was done in this is not now to be mentioned, ſave that part of it was publiſhed by ſome body, which declareth it, and the firſt part being about Church Government and worſhip, iſſued in the publication of His Majeſties Gracious Declaration about Eccleſiaſtical Affairs, by which all our breaches ſeemed at the preſent to be almoſt healed, and the Houſe of Commons gave His MAJESTY Publick thanks.
28 At this time the Lord Chancellor as a token of His Majeſties Gracious favour and acceptance, offered Biſhopricks to three that then treated for Reconciliation, and Deanries to two or three of them. Of the three firſt, one did the next day ſave one refuſe it, but in a letter to him profeſſing his gratitude, and that he was ſo rejoiced in His Majeſties Gracious Declaration, that if it might but be ſetled by Law, he reſolved to uſe his utmoſt endeavours to perſwade all men to conformity on thoſe terms, and therefore would not diſable himſelf thereto by taking a Biſhoprick, and making men think that it was not for juſt concord, but his own intereſt that he wrote or pleaded: Another of them ſoon accepted: The third and the two or three that had Deanries offered them, only ſuſpended till they ſaw whether His Majeſties Declaration would live or dye.
29. what was done in the next attempt upon His Majeſties Commiſſion to agree on ſuch alterations of the Liturgie as were neceſſary to tender Conſciences, &c. we are to make no further mention of, then is made by the writings given, in which ſome body ſhortly after (in part and with many falſe printings) publiſhed; An Addition to the Liturgie, A Reply to ſome former Papers of the Biſhops, and an Earneſt Petition to them for the Churches Peace, which were given in and never anſwered by them (that we know of) ſome one printed. And being in writing required by a Right reverend Biſhop then in the Chair, as from ſuperiours to lay by meer Inconveniences, and to give in thoſe points which we took to be flat ſin, we gave in eight particulars the next day as part; and by that time but one of our arguments about one of them was half handled, and the reſt of the arguments untouched, and the reſt of the Controverted inſtances not medled with, our Commiſſion was expired: And the Biſhops argumentation as Opponents, afterward, on another occaſion printed.
30. Shortly after the convocation of the Clergie ſetled the Liturgie as now it is ſetled: The Kings Declaration dyed: The Parliament made the Act of Vniformity, by which many Miniſters for not conforming to that Law were on Auguſt. 24. 1662 ejected and ſilenced, on ſevere penalties. About Eighteen hundred of their names from ſeveral Counties were ſhewed Mr. Calamy and others; and ſome ſay about 200 were omitted, and that they were in all above 2000.
31. They that had treated for Reconciliation foreſaw what ſad diviſions were like to follow, if we were not healed and united; and therefore in their Petition made a ſolemn Proteſtation that nothing but the fear of ſin and Gods diſpleaſure ſhould hinder them from Conformity, deprecating the woful effects of the diviſion, which could not poſſibly be otherwiſe avoided, than by ſome neceſſary abatements of the Impoſitions: and fore telling much that hath ſince come to paſs, which common underſtanding might eaſily ſee in the Cauſes.
32. The perſons that were ſilenced were not of one mind and meaſure about all the things impoſed on them. 1. Some of them were Epiſcopal, and for as much as Richard Hooker writeth for, and were againſt the Covenant (and never took it) and the Parliaments War, and were for the Liturgie and Ceremonies and had Conformed had theſe been all that had been impoſed, who yet were caſt out of Fellowſhips and Miniſtry: Yea ſome had ſuffered for the King, and been ruined in their patrimony, ſome impriſoned for him, and ſome had been in arms for him. 2. Beſides theſe, and other Epiſcopal Nonconformiſts, ſome and very many, and we think the greateſt part of any one, were ſuch diſengaged pacificators as we before mentioned about aſſociations: 3. Some were for the Presbyterian Government, and 4. Some for that called Independent, which were comparatively but few.
Alſo ſome were (as heretofore Dr. John Reynolds, Dr. Humpbrey, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Paul Bayn, &c. for ſome part of Conformity (Kneeling and Lit…rgie, and ſome for the Surplice) & againſt other parts: Many would have come in to all the old Conformity, had it not been for that one ſentence in the Canon-ſubſcription [Nothing Contrary to the word of God] (which kept out Mr. Chil…ingworth himſelf, as is reported, till ſome diſpenſation let him in. But the New Conformity was ſuch as ſatisfied them all againſt it. Many purpoſed to have yielded to Prelacy, Liturgie and Ceremonies, and gone to the utmoſt that Conſcience would tolerate, rather than lay by their Miniſtry. But when they ſaw the new Act for Uniformity, their deliberations were at an end.
33. Their intereſt, honour or ſomewhat elſe led many perſons of thoſe times, when they had made the name of Presbyterians odious, to call all the Nonconformiſts that were Epiſcopal or neutral, by the name of Presbyterians, even thoſe that had declared themſelves againſt the Presbyterian frame, ſo they were not Independents. And they continue that practice to ſerve their ends to this day.
34. The elder ſort of the Nonconformiſts were ordained by Dioceſan Biſhops: The younger ſort were ordained by Aſſemblies of the Pariſh Paſtors of Cities and Countries, no other ordination being then allowed by thoſe in Power.
35. As to the late Civil Wars which ſome moſt lowdly charge on the Nonconformiſts, this is the truth, that the ſeveral parties charge the beginning of that war on one another: One party ſaith that the Presbyterians begun it in England: Another party lay it on the old Church of England men that followed Archbiſhop Abbot, and ſuch like: Both theſe accuſed Parties laid the beginning on Archbiſhop Laud as an Innovator, and thoſe that followed him: And ſome think that every ſide had too much hand in it, and were to be blamed. The truth is, 1. That more by far of the Nonconformiſts than of the late ſort of the Prelatiſts were for the Parliament in thoſe times: 2. That ſome that were Sectaries, and ſome that were hot for the Parliament did conform: 3. That ſome few that had been in the King's Army or Cauſe, and that were ſufferers for him, and were againſt the Covenant and the Parliaments War, were Nonconformiſts: 4. That many more of the old Epiſcopal Comformiſts, than of the later ſort of them were for the Parliament: 5. That the Archbiſhop of York (Williams) who had ſome time been Lord Keeper, was one of the Parliaments Commanders in North-Wales (as it is reported without denial.) 6. That moſt Miniſters are dead that were in that War. 7. That the Weſtminſter Aſſembly, as is ſaid, came thither almoſt all Conformiſts. 8. That ſo ſmall is the number of the preſent ſilenced Miniſters who had any hand in thoſe Wars, that if no other were ejected and ſilenced but they, the caſe would be judged comparatively very eaſie, and it would be thankfully accepted, as hath oft been told. For moſt were then youths at School, and in the Univerſities, and many lived in the King's quarters and garriſons, and many other never medled with Wars at all; it being now about thirty four, or five years ſince the War began. 9. That all the Wars that have been ſince their oppoſition to the Parliament and violence done to the perſon of the King, were far from being owned by the common ſort of the now Nonconformiſts, as was ſaid. 10. The Doctrine of Bilſon, Hooker, and ſuch like, containing ſuch Principles as Parliament men then uſually profeſſed is before mentioned, though not fully recited, and is commonly known; and that the main body of the Parliament, Aſſembly, Army, Commanders, Lord Lieutenants, M…jor Generals of Bragades, and Sea-Captains, were profeſſed Conformiſts of the Church of England. 11. Laſtly, We had hoped that His M…jeſties prudence had by the Act of Oblivion long ſince ended this part of the Contention; but we find ſtill ſome conformable Miniſters whom in other reſpects we much eſteem and love, who (as if Truth, Charity, Juſtice and Humanity had been forgotten by them) affirm in print that All the Nonconformiſts were guilty of the King's Death; paſſing over what is aforeſaid of the Conformiſts; and others of them crying out to Magiſtrates to execute the Laws on us, by the urged Motive of their late ſequeſtrations and ſufferings: as if they knew not, or would not have others to know, how few Nonconformiſts in Parliament or Militia there were at the beginning of the War in compariſon of the Conformiſts; and how much the ſecond, third and following Cauſes, Parties, and Tragedies in that War, were diſliked by the now Epiſcopal and Presbyterian Nonconformiſts.
36. The people who now adhere to the Nonconformiſts, who were at age before the Wars (whom we that write this were acquainted with) had very hard thoughts of the Biſhops perſons, and ſome of Epiſcopacy it ſelf, becauſe of the foreſaid ſilencing of Miniſters, and ruining of honeſt men, about Sunday-ſports, Reading that Book, and other ſuch things, beſides Nonconformity: But when the Miniſters that guided them, began to ſeem more reconciled to the Epiſcopal Party, and upon the reports and promiſes which they had heard, had put them in hope that the next Biſhops would prove more moderate, peaceable and pious, than the former, and would by experience avoid diviſions and perſecution, the ſaid people began to be enclined to more reverent and favourable thoughts of Epiſcopacy and the Biſhops; and were, upon experience of the late confuſions, in a far fairer way to union & ſubmiſſion to them than before. But when they ſaw their Teachers taken from them, and ſome ſuch ſet over them againſt their wills, who were better known to them than to the obtruders; and when they heard of about 2000 ſilenced at once, this ſo much alienated them from the Biſhops, that it was never ſince in our power to bring them to ſo much eſteem of them, and reverence to them, as might have been; but multitudes by this were driven further from Conformity than the ſilenced Miniſters.
37. The 2000 ſilenced were not a quarter of the Miniſters of England, who were in poſſeſſion before the return of the Biſhops: ſo that it is evident, that above three fourth parts of the Miniſters that kept in under the Parliament and Protector (notwithſtanding Covenant, Directory and all) did prove Conformiſts.
38. The New-altered Liturgy was not printed and publiſhed till Auguſt 24. or near it, when the Miniſters were to be ſilenced that ſubſcribed not, and conſented not: ſo that we muſt needs ſuppoſe that they were but few Miniſters in England in compariſon of the reſt, who ever ſaw and read (much leſs long conſidered) that Book before they declared their Aſſent and Conſent to all things in it. Sure we are, that we that lived in London, who had it at the firſt publiſhing, found the time paſt, or ſo ſhort to examine all things in it with due deliberation, that had it been blameleſs, we muſt have been ſilenced, unleſs we had conſented upon an implicit faith.
39. Since we were ſilenced, His Majeſties Declaration for more Liberty in Religion came out 1673. but ſoon died: And ſince then we have been called to many attempts for Unity, in which we have twice come to an agreement with thoſe honeſt, peaceable, pious and learned Divines of the Church of England, who were appointed to treat of it with us. But that ſignified nothing as to our healing, while Reaſons unknown to us, or ineffable prevailed.
40. Yet ſtill we have been called on to Tell what we ſ…ck at, and what we deſired, and what would ſatisfie us, (who deſire nothing but leave to excerciſe the Miniſtry to which we were ordained) and the Cant ſtill goeth on among the ignorant at leaſt, as if we had never told them to this day; or as if ſince the new conformity we had ever been called or had leave to tell them, or as if the ſame men would endure us to tell them our caſe of, diſſent and the reaſons of it to this day. But the Judg is at the door.