A Second Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 1 – Section 2
A Second Discourse OF THE RELIGION OF ENGLAND: Further Asserting, That REFORMED CHRISTIANITY, Setled in its Due Latitude, is the Stability and Advancement of this KINGDOM. Wherein is included, An ANSWER to a late Book, ENTITVLED, A Discourse of TOLERATION.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1668.
A Second DISCOURSE OF THE RELIGION of ENGLAND.
SECT. I.
Of the Foundation of our Peace already laid in the Religion of the Nation, and the Structure thereof, to be perfected by the Vnity of that Profession.
COncerning Religion in this Kingdom, there have been, and still are great thoughts of heart, and the troubled state thereof hath much disturbed the Minds of Men, and the whole course of Human Affairs. Doubtless, Religion it self is not in fault, which in its right and sound state, being an Institution holy, just and good, must needs be of great efficacy to compose and quiet our minds, and to heal and settle the Nations. But that which in it self is Excellent, is by the Errors and Corruptions of men, made subject to much vanity. And the Adversary of Mankind being not able to raze out the deep impressions thereof that are in our Nature, hath made it his Masterpiece so to corrupt or discompose it, as to disorder the Passions of Men, and the Affairs of the World about it.
Concerning the Cure of these Distempers, and the Redress of the Evils thence arising, there is no cause of Despair or Despondency, if Men cease from their high Provocations, and God from his righteous Indignation. The most effectual means of Reconciliation between the Disagreeing Parties, is, For all of them to be reconciled to God. Then would that Spirit of Perversness, which by the Divine Displeasure hath been mingled in the midst of us, be controled and vanquished; and Offences and Prejudices being removed, we might discern the Way of Peace. God forbid that Sentence should pass upon this Generation, Destruction and misery is in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known.
Next, under the Divine Favour and Blessing, our Help standeth in the Wisdom and Piety of our SOVEREIGN and His PARLIAMENT. But this Grand Affair is acknowledged to be full of difficulties, caused by the Passions, Prejudices and Interests of the several Parties. Nevertheless, the Prudence and Patience of those that sit at the Helm of Government, is able to Master it: For, the Ground-work of Peace is laid to their hands, in the Religion of the Nation; and the Impartial may descry the opportunity of such a Settlement as may accommodate all those Parties in which the Nation's Peace is bound up.
The true Interest of Soveraignty, is the self-same with that of the Universality, or whole Body of the Kingdom; and this is founded in such a Common-Good, as belongs to all sorts of men, by whom the Publike Weal consists. And where there are, and inevitably will be different Perswasions among them, the Wisdom of the Government is to contract and lessen their differences, as much as it is possible; but, howsoever, to prevent or heal divisions, and to hold them united among themselves, in the common Benefit, and all of them necessarily dependant upon the State. This is a firm Basis of the perpetual stability of Empire, as also of the Subjects Tranquility and Prosperity; and the present Discourse rests upon this Principle as its sure Foundation.
Now in this Realm, the joint Stock of those several Parties, for matter of Religion, is REFORMED CHRISTIANITY, for which they are all jealous, even unto discomposure, upon any Encroachments of the Popish Party. Wherefore, it is the Wisdom of this Government, to remove or lessen the Differences, and to cure the Divisions which now disturb and divide the Protestants, and to hold them united among themselves, and all of them in firm dependance upon this State, and consequently, to give them all their due encouragement, not indeed in loose and irregular wayes, but in a ruled Order, consistent with stable Polity, and agreeable to the Government of this Kingdom.
The Ground-work being already laid in the Protestant Religion, which is the general and grand Interest of this Nation, the Structure and Fabrick of the Unity and Peace of this Realm, is more or less perfected, as the Unity of this Profession, and the Peace and Concord of its Professors, is more or less acquired. And now this great Question lyes before us, Whether the Vnity of Religion be obtained by requiring a Conformity of Judgment and Practice in matters of perpetual difference from the beginning of the Reformation unto this very day; or, by permitting a latitude of Opinion and Practice in those points; and that not infinite and inordinate, but limited by the Publike Rule.
SECT. II.
The Good of the several Parties is best secured by common Equity, and the good of the Vniversality.
HOw happy might the disposition of Human Affairs be, if that were acknowledged in mens Practice, which is most clear and obvious to Human Understanding, That things of common Equity and regard to all sorts, who are necessarily included in the Publike State, be preferred by each particular Party, before great Advantages to themselves apart, with disregard of all others. For, all particular Interests which are uncorrupt, and will hold firm, are imbarked in the Interest of the Universality, and must sink or swim therewith: Whereupon, not onelyonly the Commonwealth, but the more appropriate Concernments of men, are better secured for continuance, by this Moderation and common Equity.
There lye before us the Protestant Religion, (which is the true Primitive Christianity) and the Ancient, Equal and Happy Constitution of the Government of this Kingdom. The Conservation and Advancement of both These, are infinitely more valuable than the prevalence of Parties, by all true Protestants, and true English men. A publike Spirit is that which is truly pious and generous. But, over and above this Noble and Christian Consideration, this also should be very prevalent, That those Two great things before named, in which all do share, and by which all subsist, are the Basis even of the more private and contracted Benefits of the several Parties; and by disturbing these, they weaken their own hold, and disturb their own safety. Those that hate Moderation, and follow Extremes on either hand, consider not the true state of England. It is an unhappy Error when divided Parties, who when all is done, in their divided state, can be but Parties, and not the Whole, shall so act in their turns, as if they took themselves to be the whole Body of the Nation, or equivalent thereunto. And it is a calamitous aversness, when such as must live together either as Friends or Enemies, shall refuse lawful and safe terms of mutual agreement.
As for Conscience, and its high Concernments, if it be guided by that Wisdom which is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, it puts in no caution against the healing of this breach: For, Order and Peace may be obtained upon terms not repugnant to the Principles of either Party. His Majesty's Wisdom hath rightly comprehended this matter, in His Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs, where He saith, We are the rather induced to take this upon VsUs, (that is, to give some determination to the matters in difference) by finding upon a full Conference that we have had with the Learned men of several Perswasions, That the Mischiefs under which both Church and State do at present suffer, do not result from any formed Doctrine or Conclusion which either Party maintains or avows; but from the Passion, Appetite, and Interest of particular persons, which contract greater prejudice to each other by those Affections, than would naturally arise from their Opinions. It is apparent, that the avowed Doctrines on either side, could not set the Parties at this distance, if their Spirits and Interests were reconciled.