A Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. I. The Religion of this Realm, and three different Parties of most important consideration; The Protestants of the Church of England, the Protestant Nonconformists, and the Papists.
THE Religion of England considered, not only as established by Law, but as rooted in the Nation, and generally embraced, is that which is called Protestant, and is no other then Christianity recovered out of the Antichristian Apostacy, and reformed from the Corruptions of later Ages, after the Primitive Purity; receiving the holy Scriptures as the perfect Rule of Christian Faith and Life.
How beit, in this Realm there be three different Parties of most important consideration: The first consists of those Protestants that zealously adhere to the English Ecclesiastical Polity, and call themselves the Church of England. The second sort is of those Protestants that receive the Doctrine of Faith contained in the Articles of Religion, but are dissatisfied in the form of Ecclesiastical Polity. These by their Adversaries have been usually called Puritans. The third is of those that utterly reject the Reformation, and remain united to the Pope as their Spiritual Head, and call themselves Roman-Catholicks.
Hereupon an impartial serious Observer, respecting the Common Good, may be induced to make inquiry, How agreeable or dis-harmonious each of these Three are to the Publick Weal; as also, What proportion they bear to each other; and whether those under the Legal Establishment, or the Dissenters, preponderate in the Ballance of the Nation; or whether the Established preponderate in that degree which is requisite in true reason of Government.
SECT. II. The Behaviour and Pretensions of the POPISH Party in these Times.
THE Roman-Catholicks in England, considered not barely in their Number, but in their Rank and Quality, being Rich and Powerful, and Strong in Alliances, are very momentous, and seem to be capable of great Designs, especially in conjunction with Foreign Interests.
In these times they have taken much Liberty and Boldness, with an undisturbed Security, and lately have been observed to be more then ordinarily active, jocund and confident of the effect of their Mutual Correspondencies; and manifold passages of dangerous appearance have been every where spoken of; in so much that the Nation hath taken an Alarm, and the PARLIAMENT judged the Matter worthy of their Search, and appointed a Committee to receive Informations.
This Party hath high pretensions of Merit towards the King, and all that are called Royallists; and they seek apparently more then Indulgence and Safety, even High Power and Trust, as if they were the true and sure Confidents of this State. Such Claims as these, challenge a serious Debate. For a Charge of a high nature (as themselves have taken notice) hath been of a long time prosecuted against Popery, viz. That it disposeth Subjects to Rebellion. That it persecutes all other Religions within its reach. That wheresoever it finds incouragement, it is restless, till it bear down all, or hath put all in Disorder. Till they make a better Defence then the world hath yet seen, we take the just liberty of insisting upon this Charge, and examining first, How benign or safe the influence of Popery is upon any State or Kingdom whatsoever; and then how it doth comport with the State of England, whose Basis is the Protestant Religion, setled by Law, and by length of time generally spred, and deeply rooted in the Nation, and solemnly and constantly avowed by Prince and People.