The Nonconformists Plea for Peace, Section 17
SECT. XVII.
The Caſe of the Miniſters ſince they were ſilenced, and their Practice (with the Peoples.)
WE humbly crave of thoſe narrow Seers, who venture to cenſure the generality, for ſomewhat which they diſlike in ſome perſons that are neereſt to themſelves, that they would truly underſtand the caſe and practice of their Brethren, before they any further in Sermons and Writings provoke the Magiſtrate to execute the Laws upon them, as Schi…maticks, Seditious, or what accuſation is readieſt at hand.
I. That the elder ſort of the Nonconformiſts are ordained by Biſhops, and moſt of the reſt by ſuch Paſtors of Churches, of Cities, Corporations and other Pariſhes aſſociate, as the times then allowed; and that in this Ordination (be the Ceremonious part right or wrong) they are all by Conſent or Covenant devoted to the ſacred Miniſtry, and that not for a time, as hirelings, but for life: this is denied by none that we know of.
II. It is known to all Faithful Miniſters and others, who converſe with the common ſort of men, that a great part of the people of England are ignorant of the very Eſſentials of Chriſtianity, and a great part dull and worldly neglecters of all ſerious religiouſneſs; and a great part ſen…ual, drowned in filthy fleſhly ſins: Beſides the ignorance, weakneſs, and unwarrantable opinions and paſſions of many that are more ſeriouſly religious than the reſt. And that it is a hard work to cure one ignorant, erroneous, vitious ſoul: And each one is precious, and not to to be left in ſin as deſperate; conſidering the everlaſting conſequents.
III. It is certain that moſt great Pariſhes, eſpecially in Cities and great Towns, have more ſouls which call for Miniſterial help, than Conformiſts and Nonconformiſts, if they lovingly joyned, are able well to afford neceſſary help to.
IV. The Miniſters that dwell in Cities or Corporations, when they were caſt out, did quietly ſurrender Temples and Tythes: But many of their people claimed the continuance of their Relation and Miniſtry; and many profeſſed that they could not truſt their ſouls to the Paſtoral guidance and care of many of thoſe who were placed in the Temples in their ſtead; and charged the neglect of their ſouls on ſuch as refuſed.
V. The Bills of Mortality ſhew us that the 7 Pariſhes within the walls of London are not the ſeventh part of the whole, including all the outer Pariſhes: And of the 97 there were very few Churches left unburned; and there are but few that are yet built up; and inſtead of many, there are ſmall Tabernacles, and inſtead of others nothing: And the outer Pariſhes are moſtly ſo great, as that the Temples will hold but a ſmall part of the people: It is conjectured by the Inhabitants, that in Martins Pariſh are about threeſcore thouſand ſouls, and in Stepney and Giles's Cripplegate, each about fifty thouſand, and in Giles's in the Fields between 20000 and 30000, and in Clements Danes, Margarets Weſtminſter, Andrews Holborn, Sepulchres, and the Churches in Southwark, at Aldgate, White-Chappel, Shoreditch, and divers others, there are in ſome ſix times the number that can hear in the Temples, in ſome more, and in others not much leſs. And in moſt Churches the Preachers voice will not extend to above two thouſand, if more can come in. So that take one with another, and it is conjectured that it is not above the ſeventh or eight part of the Inhabitants that can come to hear in the outer Pariſhes: And if the other ſix or ſeven parts ſhould ſeek for room in the emptier Churches of other Pariſhed within the walls, it cannot be ſuppoſed that above one part of theſe ſix or ſeven would find room: So that all ſet together, there is ſuppoſed to be place but for about the fifth, or fourth part at moſt, of all the people within and without the walls: And London is to be denominated rather from three, four or five parts, than from One of theſe: And we all agree, that the famouſeſt and happieſt City for Religion in the world ſhould not be left to turn Infidels, Pagans, Atheiſts, or to be kept from all publick Worſhip of God. And it muſt be conſidered that the great Pariſhes where one of twenty cannot hear, are far off from the Churches that have room; and that ſuch perſons cannot eaſily know before-hand what Churches have room, and where to ſeek it: And that thoſe that have moſt need, have leaſt deſire, and when they cannot be taught near home, will rather ſtay at home, or in the ſtreets, or Ale houſes, than go far to ſeek room in the Alleys of other Churches. And it's known that by this means Papiſts have got opportunity of ſeducing multitudes, and many get them to baptize their children. And whereas it is ſaid that ſome may go one day, and ſome another; it is anſwered, 1. That if they did go half the families by turns, ſtill the greater part would be ſhut out. 2. It is all, that are bound by God conſtantly to hear and worſhip him. 3. And thoſe that moſt value it will ſtill croud in, and keep out the reſt, and will not bargain away their own duties and benefits for other mens ſakes: Nor can Pariſhes come to agree upon ſuch a bargain.
VI. Experience aſſureth us that men are not uſually brought to knowledge, repentance, faith and holineſs, by the Goſpel ex opere operato, or as by a charm; but as an apt morall cauſe; And that the Preaching of judicious, convincing, ſerious, affectionate Miniſters hath incomparably more ſucceſs, than the affected language, or dull reading ſpeeches of injudicious novices or wordly formaliſts or hypocrites: God uſually worketh according to the morall aptitude of the means (though not alwaies.)
VII. It cannot be denyed but that the number of raw cold, dry, yea and ſcand…lous Miniſters, in many Counties of this Kingdom is too great: And the more ignorant and bad the people are, the abler Miniſters, and more diligent do they need: And thoſe people who feel what profiteth their Souls, will not take up with cold, uneffectual teaching, if they can have better.
VIII. He that hath no Preacher but a Reader in his pariſh, is by the Church Laws forbidden to refuſe his Miniſtry, and all ſuch are forbidden frequent going to other pariſhes, communicating in them: what want ſoever they have at home.
IX. The Nonconformiſts that do but affirm any thing in the Liturgy, Ceremonies, Articles, Government, &c. to be unlawful, and ſuch as they may not ſubſcribe to, are by the Church Laws excommunicate ipſo facto: And all that dare not take the Sacrament kneeling, are to be denyed the Communion of the Church; And all that dare not ſubmit their Children to be baptized by the foredeſcribed undertaking of Godfathers, and to receive the Croſs as a dedicating badg of Chriſtianity, muſt not have their Children Chriſtened; And all that dare not commit their ſouls to the Paſtoral Guidance of ignorant readers, or other men whom they think by their unskilfulneſs, unſoundneſs, averſneſs to a holy life, ſtrangers to intimate caſes of conſcience, or notorious negligence and ſloth, or non-reſidence, to be unmeet for them to truſt themſelves to, in ſo great a matter, in which their ſalvation is ſo much concerned, and ſo dare not take the Sacrament from ſuch as their Paſtors, all theſe are forbidden Communion with any other Pariſh Churches by the Canon, and all Miniſters forbidden to receive them. And if they dare not ſay that they are willing to be co…firmed (in the Engliſh mode) they muſt no where be admitted to communion: And being excommunicate, muſt not be buryed according to the Church-Office when they are dead; ſo that they are caſt out of the Church, before they Congregate in other Aſſemblies.
X. In this caſe the Nonconformiſts are not agreed what to do: One part and the far greateſt ſay, 1. We will forbear affirming the unlawfulneſs of any of the foreſaid impoſitions, till we are called to ſpeak out: And becauſe the caſe of theſe times calls us often to it, we will do it as privately and modeſtly as we can: 2. And though we are excommunicated ipſo facto, yet we are not bound our ſelves to execute their ſentence; but may ſtay in Communion till they prove the fact and do the execution on us themſelves by refuſing us: And this we take to be the moſt peaceable way: But others ſay, That though in ſome caſes for peace this way may be taken, yet ordinarily we are not bound to ſeek and expect Communion with that Church which hath already thus excommunicated us; eſpecially when all the Miniſtry ſubſcribe and declare their Conformity to the Church orders, and ſwear Canonical obedience to the Ordinaries, and are themſelves to be ſuſpended if they give us the Communion: We muſt not, ſay they, ſtrive againſt their Laws, nor ſeek that Miniſters ſhould be perjured, falſe to their promiſes and profeſſions to admit us to Communion againſt their Laws: Nor can any Church that firſt excommunicateth us, call us Schiſmaticks for not communicating with them, unleſs they prove that we give them juſt cauſe to excommunicate us. Here it is ſuppoſed that the Reader underſtandeth that [to be excommunicated ipſo facto,] is ſine ſententia, without any need of a Judges ſentence, to be actually excommunicate upon our fact done, ſo that the bare proof and notice of the fact is enough to warrant the execution (Though a Judge may alſo paſs a ſentence if he ſee cauſe,) vid. Calv. Lexic. Jurid. And others commonly. There are ſome others that go further, and think it unlawful to have Communion with the Pariſh Churches, becauſe they thus excommunicate us firſt, without more cauſe, and becauſe they take the Paſtors to be ſcandalous by the foreſaid Oaths, Declarations and ſubſcriptions, and thoſe that have not the peoples conſent, to be no true Paſtors. But theſe are herein diſowned by the moſt; and very few Miniſters are of their mind that we know of, though many of the people much incline to it; eſpecially they that live where the Prieſts are ignorant, ſcandalous, ſlothful, or malignant; becauſe Pa…l ſaith, [W…h ſ…c…, no not to eat] But others tell them that 1. It is not the Pariſh-Miniſters that made the excommunicating Laws: 2. And if they ſin themſelves, it is ignorantly: 3. And we have not a call and opportunity to hear and judge them.
XI. Even thoſe called Independents hold (if Mr. Ph. Nyes Manuſcript to that end may tell us their minds) that it is lawful to hear the publick Pariſh Miniſters, becauſe the Magiſtrate may ſet Teachers over the People, and require them to hear them: Though they hold that the People ſhould chooſe their Paſtors, and that the Sacraments ſhould be adminiſtred and received freely, and not by force. Yea ſuch Anabaptiſts as Mr. Tombes (as is viſible in his Book) hold that Communion with the Pariſh-Church is lawful, in the Word▪ Prayer, and Lords Supper.
XII. We commonly hold that men unjaſtly excommunicated, are not thereby diſobliged from publick worſhiping of God, and living under Paſtoral overſight and Church diſcipline, nor are bound to endanger their own ſalvation by neglecting ſuch duties, and loſing ſuch helps and priviledges; and therefore muſt be of ſuch Churches as they can, if they cannot be of ſuch as they would, or as are allowed by the Magiſtrate.
XIII. It is not in the power of our ſelves to eſcape ſuch excommunications: For we are not able to change our own underſtandings, ſo far as to hold every thing before named, to be lawful: Some of us are able to ſay that we have with a willingneſs to ſee the truth, ſtudied the caſe of the old Conformity above forty years, and the caſe of the New-conformity now above ſeventeen years, and read almoſt all that hath been written for them, which we thought might add to our information, and prayed earneſtly that God would not ſuffer us to erre; and the longer we ſtudy it, the more we are confirmed: In this caſe we ſuffer publick and private obloquy and reproach, and not only theſe ſeventeen years the loſs of all Miniſterial Maintenance, but the danger of 40 l. a Sermon, and impriſonment in common Gaols, and the ruine of our eſtates and health: And in reaſon its as eaſie to think that they that hold their opinion on ſuch terms, are like to be as impartial in their ſtudies, as they whoſe way leadeth to preferment, wealth and honour; of which we were capable of a part: We ſay therefore again, that to Conſ…m, or prevent the Canons Excommunication ipſo facto, is not in our power. And they that ſay, God will not condemn men for that which they were not able to avoid or help, ſhould not do otherwiſe themſelves.
XIV. When the 1800 or 2000 Miniſters were ſilenced, the far greateſt part of them forbore all publick Preaching, and only taught ſome few in private at ſuch hours as hindered not the publick Aſſemblies, and many of them lived as private men.
XV. To this day it is ſo with many of the Nonconformiſts: Thoſe that live where they find ſmall need of their Preaching, or elſe have no call or opportunity, and cannot remove their dwellings, do hold no Aſſemblies, but as other men content themſelves to be Auditors. Thoſe that live where are godly and peaceable Miniſters in Publick, who yet need help, do lead the people conſtantly to the Pariſh-Churches, and teach them themſelves at other hours, and help them from houſe to houſe: This is ordinary in the Countries, and even in London, with many Miniſters that hold no Aſſemblies; yea many that were ejected out of City Pariſh-Churches.
XVI. Thoſe called Independents do keep up ſuch Churches as they had gathered before; when none of our preſent oaths, declarations, ſubſcriptions or practices were impoſed on them; which is not therefore to be taken as new.
XVII. As to the reſt, it was the great and terrible Plague in 1665. which made this change in their Aſſembling and Miniſtration. When the publick Miniſters forſook the City, and the rich left the poor to miſery and death, and people lookt every day for their laſt; when they that heard a Sermon one day, were buried the next; when death had awakened the people to Repentance, and a regard of their everlaſting ſtate, divers Nonconformable Miniſters reſolved to ſtay with them; They begg'd money out of the Countries for the poor, and relieved them: They got into the empty Pulpits, and preached to them: And when Preachers and Hearers lookt every day for their laſt, it is eaſie to conceive that there was ſerious Preaching, and ſerious Hearing: By this many that died were helpt in their preparations; and through God's great mercies, multitudes that ſurvived, repented and became the ſerious ſeekers of a better world. The men that did this were moſtly unmarried, and could eaſilier venture their own lives, than ſuch as had families; and ſome of them that had families, yet truſted God, and moſt did ſcape. We know but of one (pious Germane Miniſter that died of the Plague in the City (and one of another Diſeaſe, if not through want) and two that fled from it in the Country.) And when God had bleſt theſe mens faithful labours with the converſion of many ſouls (eſpecially Apprentices and young people,) the experience ſo engaged their mutual affections, that the Miniſters reſolved that they would live and die in ſuch ſervice as God had ſo bleſſed and preſerved them in; and their hearers reſolved that they would not forſake their Teachers: And thus the dreadful Plague began that which ſo much now offendeth men, as a dangerous Schiſm.
XVIII. And when ſome men out of exceſſive caution, were ready to think that when that Plague was ceaſed (having killed about an hundred thouſand) the Miniſters ſhould lay by that publick work, and retire again into ſecret corners, God confuted them by his next dreadful judgement, burning down the City the next year, 1666: So that there were neither Churches to go to, nor Miniſters in the Pariſhes to Preach, nor rich men to maintain them: And could any ſoul that hated not Chriſt and mens ſalvation, have wiſhed the Nonconformiſts then to deſert the miſerable people. When they newly came from under the terrour of ſuch a dreadful Plague, and when ſucceſs and Gods protection had ſo greatly encouraged them, and when preſently they were deprived of their worldly treaſure, and had not houſes, or goods, or mony, but thouſands utterly ruined in the world, and crept into holes and lived in poverty, when it was a wonder that they dyed not by hundreds of famine, and when ſuch a ſight as London in its ruines was before mens eyes, (which he that ſaw ſure can never forget,) If then men, becauſe that the Biſhops or Parliament forbad them, ſhould have refuſed to Preach the Goſpel of Chriſt, and to teach men to lay up a treaſure in Heaven, and to comfort ſuch a ruined City, what excuſe would ſuch unfaithfull ſervants have had at the bar of their great Judge?
XIX. Theſe two great and notorious neceſſities ſucceeding in thoſe two dreadful years 1665 1666. calling the Nonconformable Miniſters out of their retirements, and latitant and ſilent ſtate, reſolved them to ſerve God more diligently and openly than they had done, whatever it coſt them: And many Country Miniſters were awakened to the like by the examples of thoſe in London: Though yet a great number who are in places of leſs need, or not called out as aforeſaid, ſtill lie much ſilent.
XX. WHILE THE DREADFUL FIRE WAS WASTING LONDON and OTHER CORPORATIONS, THE PARLIAMENT and BISHOPS WERE AT OXFORD MAKING AN OATH TO DRIVE ALL NONCONFORMISTS ABOVE FIVE MILES FROM ALL CITIES and CORPORATIONS that ſend Burgeſſes to Parliament, and all other places where ever they had Preached ſince the act of oblivion. So that, had they obeyed the Laws, London had been deſerted in the Plague and in the ruines, and few people ſuffered publickly to worſhip God: At the mention of which the heart of the writer of this trembleth; eſpecially to think how much further the Biſhops went in this then the Synod of Ithacius and Idacius went, from which Martin ſeparated to the death by Gods miraculous inſtruction.
XXI. The Plague, Fire, Poverty, which have ſeized not only on London, but on many other Corporations of England, more than other places, and more than hath been known in our forefathers daies, make many wiſh that the Corporation-Oath and Declaration might be reviewed and that Gods Judgments as a T…empet ſounding REPENT O ENGLAND were heard by all the Corporations of the Land, before we hear that time is paſt: And that it might be conſidered whether either an Unlawful Impoſing, or an Unlawful taking, or the neighbourhood of any Vnlawful particulars, can warrant any man to declare that neither he nor any other perſon, is obliged by that Vow, to Repent of his ſin, or to oppoſe prophaneneſs, Popery or Schiſm, or any thing contrary to ſound Doctrine and Godlineſs. And to enquire in what Countrey or age of the world, Chriſtian, Mahometan, or Heathen, there was ever ſuch a Law before. It was that age of the Church in which Hell ruled moſt on earth, even in the Wars between Pope Gregory 7th. and the Emperour, when the Pope ſwore them on one ſide, and the Emperour on the other; and men ſwore, and unſwore, and forſwore, as the powers that they were under bid them; which made Abbas Urſperg…nſi…; Chron p. 32. ſay [Ut omnis homo jam ſit perjurus & praedictis facinoribus implicatus, ut vix excuſari poſſit quin ſit in his, ſicut pop…lus ſic & Sacerdos. And that pleaſant man (who knoweth his own name) who merrily derideth his adverſaries, for gathering a doubt of our fundamentals from our differences, may more feelingly know one day that God will not hold him guiltleſs that taketh his name in vain: And may conſider that it was no more preciſe a man than Cotta in C…cero (de Nat. Deor. l. 1.) that would prove men did not believe that there was a God, becauſe they durſt be perjured; inſtancing in perjured and ungodly Carbo: It was not a ſign of Schiſmaticks, but of very charitable moderate men, that could hear and regard ſuch a perjured Miniſtry, as Urſpergenſis ſaith was then in the Roman Church, eſpecially in Germany, where the temptation lay.
XXII. A little after the Plague and Fire, ſome Nonconformable Miniſters about London, met, to conſider whether our actuall forbearance to joyn with the Pariſh Churches in the Sacrament, might not tend to deceive men and make them believe that we were for ſeparation from them, and took their Communion to be unlawful: And upon the Reaſons given in, they agreed that ſuch Communion was lawful and meet, when it would not do more harm than good: But becauſe at that time a ſtorm was coming on men, from the Act againſt Conventicles, and their judgment was againſt ruining thoſe that in this were not of their minds (on the reaſons aforeſaid) and being credibly informed that their communicating at ſuch an unſeaſonable time would not only perſwade men that force compelled them, but alſo draw them to ruine others that durſt not imitate them, they reſolved to delay for a fitter opportunity, becauſe God will have mercy and not ſacrifice; and our Liberty is not alwaies our Duty, nor muſt be uſed to other mens deſtruction. Thus violence croſſeth the Authors ends.
XXIII. Shortly after, when ſuch thoughts returned, and many thought it meet to joyn in the publick Aſſemblies, the Oxford Oath and Act of Confinement was put in execution, and drove them all away: For the reaſons aforeſaid had ſatisfied them not to deſert the ſouls in all Cities, Corporations and places where they had Preached; and ſo they were fain to hide themſelves to avoid ſix months impriſonment in the common Gaols (whither ſome of us were ſent;) ſo that if they had come to the Pariſh-Churches, to Common-prayer or Sacraments, they had expoſed themſelves to multitudes of witneſſes, and ſo to certain impriſonment: Except in ſome odd corners of the Country where they were ſtrangers (about five miles from Corporations or acquaintance) where their example would have wrought little on any in the Cities, or that had known them: So that the Oxford Act moſt effectually forbad them coming to Church, or holding Communion with any Pariſh-Churches within five miles of any ſuch City, Corporation or Village where they had Preached ſince the Act of Oblivion: This they could not avoid.
XXIV. Yet many Miniſters were afraid of introducing unwarrantable ſeparations, by avoiding the ſeverities of the Law and Biſhops; and many that did retire to Country-Villages five miles diſtant, as confined, did there conſtantly joyn with the Pariſh-Churches in Liturgy and Sacrament: But this being far from Cities, and not in the ſight of the people that were moſt diſaffected to the Prelates and Liturgy, did little with them; and ſo they were diſabled by the Biſhops or Rulers to do what they deſired againſt other mens extreams.
XXV. Before this, many Miniſters had offered thankfully to accept the Liberty of Preaching in the Pariſh Churches where the Liturgy is uſed, and being preſent at it: And ſome to this day that live in the Country, where they can get ſo much favour, preach in the Pariſh-Churches, and joyn in the Liturgy, and draw others to it, and go from place to place thus to avoid being taken.
XXVI. Many, ſeeing how we were thus driven not only from Preaching, but ſuch Pariſh-Communion, were tempted to hard thoughts of ſuch affairs, as if it came from the Papiſts, who would have equalled, and maſs'd us up with themſelves.
XXVII. Shortly after this, the Kings Clemency ſaw cauſe to make an alteration and to give us his gracious indulgence by his Licenſes for places and perſons; Upon this, Miniſters boldly ſet up Chappels under the Pariſh Churches; and in all the time of this their Liberty, when there were witneſſes enough, if they had offended, we remember not that any were ever convict of any word of ſeditious or unſound doctrine, or any unpeaceable attempts. But while they had this leave to Preach themſelves, they thought beſt to take it at the ſame convenient hours that the Pariſh Churches meet at: Other times being ſo inconvenient, as that families cannot obſerve them without hurt. And they could not Preach, and hear in the Pariſh-Churches at once.
XXVIII. All this while, though they had the Kings authority for their Aſſemblies, ſome Clergy men ceaſed not to accuſe them of Schiſm; ſhewing that it is the want of ſomething elſe rather than the Kings authority on which they ground their accuſation.
XXIX. Some Nonconformiſts have theſe 17 years forborn to baptize or adminiſter the Lords Supper, or to be Paſtors of any Churches, but only Preached occaſionally where the Pariſhes were ſo great, that one of ten or twenty had no room in the Church; and where ſome of many years had heard no publick worſhip of God: And they have publiſhed to the people that they aſſembled them not to ſeparate from the Pariſh Churches or their worſhip, but for their meer neceſſity, perſwading none to come to hear them, but ſuch as cannot come into the Pariſh Churches to hear: Yet are they accuſed for drawing men from the Church.
XXX. Theſe Miniſters in theſe places have been proſecuted more ſeverely than the reſt, by impriſonments, fines and guards againſt their meetings; which induced others to Preach in the City where there ſeemed leſs need, becauſe they found quietneſs no where elſe, and becauſe ſome out of the remoter needy Pariſhes might come thither to them.
XXXI. Though they have loſt all Miniſterial maintenance, and are lyable to pay 20 l. the firſt Sermon, and 40 l. the reſt, and 20 l. for the ground for all that they Preach, beſides ſix months impriſonment in the common goals, and poverty diſableth City and Countrey to maintain them; and ſome with Wives and Children have long lived on little beſides brown Rye Bread and Water; and others, that can live of their own, expend all in the charges of the places and adjuncts where they Preach for nothing; and ſome never took any pay, from the firſt theſe 17 years, but patiently ſerve God and waſt their ſtrength under mens obloquy and reproach; yet are there not wanting perſons of the Clergy, who repreſent their greateſt and deareſt ſervices as their greateſt ſins, and accuſe them as enemies of the Churches peace, and the leaders of Schiſm, and in pulpit and print provoke authority to execute the Laws more ſeverely on them; Though the execution hath coſt ſome excellent men their lives already, and they may know that no execution ſhort of death or utter diſablement will make the moſt conſcionable forſake their duty, and ſacrilegiouſly deſert the Office to which they were dedicated and ordained: (As the late caſe of the Hungarian Miniſters declareth:) And ſuch courſes never ended in the honour of thoſe of the Clergy that procured them: Yea ſome as going to the bar of God, have undertaken to prove, that it is through pride and covetouſneſs that we conform not. And becauſe ſome Churches called Independent withdraw not their maintenance from their Paſtors, and ſome few others have maintenance of their own, or friends that will not ſee them want, they would make ſtrangers believe that the common ſort of Nonconformiſts, whoſe families live in ſufferings and wants, are gainers by their Nonconformity Though themſelves that have the moſt and richeſt on their ſide, would be loth to take up with ſuch maintenance, and often Preach, how ſad a caſe the Church would be in, if Miniſters were left to the peoples charity: While they live in fulneſs thus they envy their poor brethren, who that they may finiſh their courſe, would be glad of leave to labour for nothing, and live on alms, taking Gods favour for their reward.
XXXII. And to compleat all, ſome bluſh not to accuſe them, as the bringers in of Popery, by deſiring Liberty; as if Preaching the Goſpel did not do more to keep out Popery, than the ignorance of untaught people: As if our earneſt requeſts eighteen years ago, that we might not be maſs'd up with the Papiſts, nor a door opened to them by our diviſions and ſufferings, were all forgotten: As if the Nonconformiſts were neerer Popery than they that would have the Pope to be Principium Unitatis to the Univerſal Church: As if their Printed Morning Lectures againſt Popery, and many other Writings, did not ſufficiently ſhew their diſtance from it: As if the Papiſts deſired the Liberty, rather than the ſilencing of the Nonconformiſts; or deſired any thing more than that ſo many hundred adverſaries to Popery, and all the Proteſtants of England who adhere to them, might be caſt out, and brought as low as themſelves, and put into the ſame condition, that they might ſtand or fall together. Nay, what if on ſuch neceſſity they ſhould accept of favour from any Papiſts that would ſave them? If one Party would bring men to ſuch a paſs that they muſt be hanged, impriſoned, ruined, or worſe, unleſs the favour of the Papiſts deliver them; and the other Party had rather be ſaved by Papiſts, than be hanged or ruined by Proteſtants, which of theſe were more to be ſuſpected of Popery? eſpecially if the ſame men that give us the Alarm that Popery is coming in, undertook the ſole teaching of thoſe by whom they ſuſpect its entrance, and yet would not abate a needleſs Oath, or covenant or ceremony to keep it out, or ſtrengthen the Proteſtants by the Union, for which we have ſo long patiently begg'd and waited.
XXXIII. The moſt of our acquaintance take it for their duty to do their beſt to keep up the reputation of the publick Conformable Miniſtry, that it may further Love and Concord, and the ſucceſs of their labours with the people; and they profeſs to take their own Aſſemblies but as Chapels, and not as diſtinct, much leſs as ſeparated Churches: And thoſe of them who do adminiſter the Sacraments, and do that which is like the Separatiſts way, yet do it nor on their principles, but pro tempore, till God ſhall give them opportunity to ſerve him in the eſtabliſhed way (if ever it may be hoped for:) it being reformed or well ordered Pariſh-Churches under the Government and countenance of the Chriſtian Magiſtrates, which are moſt agreeable to their deſires.
XXXIV. When we go into the Pariſh-Churches, we find thoſe that have able godly Miniſters uſually to be as full as will conſiſt with the peoples hearing the voice (which in many places will not reach to a great part of the Congregation:) we find ſuch Preachers, whether Conformable, or Nonconformable, every where almoſt crouded after; which ſhews that it is not meer faction that moveth the hearers; and that worthy men have no cauſe of diſcouragement: And if none of either ſide be valued much above their worth (for the bare Office ſake) we cannot help it; nor would it be helped if there were no Nonconformiſts: Some of us well remembring the time (1632. till 1640.) when we were troubled or threatned alſo for going out of our own Pariſhes to hear worthy, able men that were very conformable.
XXXV. It is very ordinary with Gentlemen and others that are zealous for the preſent Church State in London, to go from their own Pariſhes, though the Canon be againſt it: ſo that it is not, ſure, the breach of the Canon that they ſtick at.
XXXVI. We ſhall never diſſwade men from making the ſtricteſt Laws to puniſh any Nonconformiſt that ſhall be proved guilty of Sedition, Diſloyalty, Drunkenneſs, Fornication, Swearing, and any other immorality; but we know of none of them that was ſilenced, ejected, or puniſhed on any ſuch account: Nay, if they Preach againſt their Church Government, Liturgy, or Ceremonies, we muſt expect that they ſhould be reſtrained. Our earneſt deſire is, that the Magiſtrate would keep up Peace and Order in the Church, that Popiſh Clergy men may not think that it belongeth to them alone to do it.
XXXVII. Whereas there is a ſort of ignorant or ill meaning men, that ſtill ſay [we know not what the Nonconformiſts would have, and why will they not tell us what would ſatisfie them,] While we offer to beg on our Knees for leave to do it; we humbly intreat them to weary men awake no more with that canting. 1. As long as the Kings Declaration about Eccleſiaſtical affairs is viſible. 2. And as long as our Reply and our Reformed additions to the Liturgy, and our Petition for Peace which reſpected the old Conformity remain unanſwered by thoſe to whom in 1660 we did preſent them: 3. And till we are once called or allowed to ſpeak for our ſelves againſt the new conformity; a favour which the juſtice of old Romane Heathens, yea and ſplenetick Jews did grant to all that were accuſed before they puniſhed them, but ſince Popery prevailed in the world is become a thing among them not to be expected. 4. And as long as men know that Biſhop Wilkins and Dr. Burton appointed by the Lord Keeper Bridgman to treat with ſome of us of the terms of Union, (ſaying it was His Majeſties Pleaſure,) did come to a full agreement with us in terminis, which was drawn up into the form of an Act by no worſe a man than that PILLAR OF JUSTICE the excellent Judge Hale, and the Parliament preſently Voted that no ſuch Act ſhould be brought in and offered. Dear Brethren, God is the father of Lights and with him is no darkneſs: Men may be mocked, but God is not mocked: If the day that will bring works of darkneſs to light, and finally clear the Innocent, be not the object of certain faith and hope, let our cauſe be bad, and let us as fools be judged ſuch as have forſaken our beſt hopes: But that it is otherwiſe we believe, and therefore appeal to a righteous God from an unrighteous world.
XXXVIII. What harm our Preaching the doctrine of ſalvation can do to the Biſhops or people of the Land (while they may puniſh us for any word that we ſpeak amiſs:) And why we ſhould not rather ſpeak openly (where men may bear witneſs of our errours,) than in ſecret (where men are tempted to too much boldneſs:) And what but a ſpirit of envy, or a carnal intereſt croſs to the intereſt of Chriſt and mens ſalvation, ſhould grudge at ſuch Preaching, while we are reſponſible for all that we ſay or do amiſs, we cannot tell.
XXXIX. Nor can we tell, if our not ſwearing, or not entering into the Biſhops National Covenant, be as great a crime as our penalties import, why no other mulct or penalty will ſerve turn to expiate ſuch crimes, but our ceaſing to preach the Goſpel of Salvation, while we are willing to do it under the ſtricteſt Laws of Peace and Order.
XL. It is viſible that the Pariſh-Churches of thoſe Miniſters (caeteris paribus) are fulleſt of Auditors, who are moſt willing that the Nonconformiſts help them in due time and place, and deſire to live with them in Love and Concord: For all that have the ſpirit of holy love and peace, do love thoſe that have the ſame ſpirit: And ſuch ſerious, holy Conformiſts as Bolton, Whately, Fenner, Preſton, Sibbs, Stoughton, Gouge, and ſuch other, were formerly as much crouded after as Nonconformiſts: But it is thoſe that Preach againſt holy Love and Concord, and wrangle with the moſt Religious ſort whom they ſhould encourage, whoſe Congregations are thineſt (uſually) through the tepidity of their followers, and the diſtaſte of others.
XLI. When we read in the Council of Calced. the Egyptian Biſhops crying ſo long miſeremini, miſerimini, lying proſtrate on the earth, even when they could ſay, Non diſſentimus, and beging of their fellow Biſhops for their lives and conſciences, and their Brethren crying againſt all [Away with them, They are Hereticks] while they profeſſed the ſame Faith; while the men that with ſuch out-crys were condemning thoſe of their own confeſſion, had newly cryed, Omnes peccavimus, for condemning Flavianus, and the Truth, and ſaying, that they did it for fear, and owned that Eutychianiſm, which yet theſe Egyptian Biſhops now diſowned, it mindeth us that even Biſhops had need to be remembred; that while the wheel is turning, the upper ſide ſhould not tempt men to forget what ſide will be uppermoſt ſhortly and for ever.