The Interest of England in the Matter of Religion, Title page 1 – Essays 1
THE INTEREST OF ENGLAND In the Matter of Religion, The First and Second Parts. Unfolded in the SOLVTION Of Three QVESTIONS.
The Second Impression.
Written by John Corbet.
LONDON, Printed for George Thomason, and are to be sold at the Rose and Crown in St Pauls Church-yard, 1661.
The Preface.
THe Indeavours of Pacification between the Subjects of the Prince of Peace, and the Children of the God of Peace, may be well taken from one who hath obtained mercy to be an Embassadour of Peace, in the Ministry of Reconciliation. Likewise it may well become any sincere Protestant, Loyal Subject, and true Lover of dear England, to study and bring forth whatsoever hath a tendency to Reconcile those Parties in whom both the King, and the Kingdom, and the Protestant Cause are so highly concerned. I am therefore encouraged upon this confidence, That the offer of a willing mind in this service is acceptable to God and good men. The Peace here propounded is the Friend and Sister of Truth: It offers not to inthrall or burden Consciences of either Perswasion: By allowing some diversity of Opinion, it takes away the difference of Parties, and permits the Points of Difference to be matters of Speculation but not of Practice: As to give an instance, Some of the Episcopal way hold, that a Bishop differs from a Presbyter in regard of Order; that he is ordained ad speciale Ministerium. Others of the same way do hold, That they differ not in Order but Degree: The Presbyterians believe they are the same in regard of Order, yet that a difference in Degree may be admitted; and so they accept of a President-Bishop. Nevertheless, all the Episcopal Divines do judg it ordinarily necessary, that a Presbyter be ordained by a Bishop in conjunction with Presbyters; and none of them (as far as I understand) do judge it unlawful that Acts of Church-Discipline and Government be administred by a Bishop in the like conjunction: And consequently the persons of these several Perswasions need not divide, but may easily be made one in practice, by the regular consociation of Episcopacy and Presbytery. The Peace here pursued was earnestly expected and promised in the late great Revolution. Christian Charity, common Honesty, yea, Necessity pleads for this Peace: They who now contemn it, if there be any such, may come to know the want of it as well as others. Let them who have gotten the advantage rejoyce with trembling: for who knows what he is doing, and where is the end of his working, whose judgments are unsearchable, and whose ways are past finding out? The most subtile Politician, whose Writings are not held to savour much of Religion, hath this Religious Observation,—If we consider the course of humane Affairs, we shall many times see things come to pass, and chances happen, for the preventing of which the heavens altogether would not that any order should be taken. Mach.—And for example he alleadgeth the great miscarriages of the Roman Common-wealth, in the War with the French, insomuch that they did nothing like to themselves, nor worthy of the Roman Discipline, either for equity, or industry, or courage, or foresight, even until they were brought to the brink of utter ruine. Certainly if the voice of Peace cannot be heard in this remarkable time, when it calls and cries unto us by so manifold pressing engagements, it is of the Lord, who hath not given an ear to hear, nor an heart to consider. I am far from presuming upon the force of my own reasoning in this matter; it is the subject it self that is my confidence, and my heart is in it. Let the God of Heaven inspire and prosper the King in His Gracious Inclinations to the work of Peace, that all who fear Gods Name may see that in Him the Sun of Righteousness is risen upon them, with healing in his wings. Let the Interest of the Protestant Religion, and the Kingdom of England, prevail with a Protestant English Parliament. Let all Ecclesiastical persons, being the servants of Christ by special Office, cease from seeking their own things, and let them seek the things which are Jesus Christs: Be it far from any of them to smite their fellow-servants whilest they are doing their Masters work. If there be any consolation in Christ, any comfort of Love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies, let all good Christians in their several places promote the Peace of Christs Kingdom and Family by all the ways of equal and reasonable Condescention and Forbearance. Lastly, Let the Candid Reader accept this Labour of Love, and not undervalue the weight and worth of the Cause, for the defects of these Discourses.
J. C.
I. Q. Whether the Presbyterian Party should in Justice or Reason of State be Rejected and Depressed, or Protected and Incouraged.
II. Q. Whether the Presbyterian Party may be Protected and Incouraged, and the Episcopal not Deserted nor Disobliged.
III. Q. Whether the Vpholding of both Parties by a just and equal Accommodation, be not in it self more desirable and more agreeable to the State of England, than the absolute Exalting of the one Party, and the total Subversion of the other.