A Second Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 19
SECT. XIX.
It behoves both the Comprehended and the Tolerated, to prefer the common Interest of Religion, and the setling of the Nation, before their own particular Perswasions.
AS those Dissenters, whose Consciences will permit, will best comply with their own good, by entring into the Establishment, if a door be open for their access: So they of Narrower Principles, that cannot enter into it, will be safest within the Limits of such Indulgence as Authority would vouchsafe to grant them, with respect to the Common Good. Men of all Perswasions should rather chuse to be limited by Publike Rules, with mutual Confidence between their Governors and Themselves, then to be left to the liberty of their own Affections, upon terms uncertain and unsecure.
Besides the Concernment of their own Peace, there is this great Perswasive, That this Advice is a compliance with that state of things which will best satisfie and settle the Nation, and maintain Reformed Religion against Popery, and Christianity against Atheism and Infidelity.
True Englishmen, and Lovers of their dear Countrey, which is impaired and reproached by these breaches, should yeeld as much to its Wealth and Honour, as their Consciences can allow. Loyal Subjects and good Patriots should consider what the Kingdom will bear, and prefer such bounded Liberty of Comprehension and Indulgence, as tends to Union, before a loose, though larger Liberty, that will keep the Breaches open, and the Minds of People unquiet and unsetled. And it is not of little moment to mind this, That the high Concerns of Conscience cannot be better secured then in the Peace and Safety of the excellent Constitution of this Kingdom.
For the Amplitude of Reformed Religion, all true Protestants should promote an ample Establishme…t thereof, both for the incompassing of all that be sound in that Profession, as also for the more capacious reception of those that may become Converts thereunto. And not onelyonly the encrease and glory thereof, but its stability in these Dominions, is promoted by such an ample Establishment. Witness our great Defence against Popery, by the common zeal of all Protestants of the several Perswasions, for Protestancy in general. By this concurrent Zeal, the insolencies of the Papists have been repressed, and their Confidences defeated. Could the Protestant Conformists or Nonconformists, either of them upon their own single account, if one should exterminate, or utterly disable the other, be so well secured against Popery, as now they are by their common Interest? And to imagine by rigor to compel the depressed Party to incorporate with the Party advanced, so that one should acquire the Strength of both, would in the issue be found a great Error. By such proceeding▪ indeed, a Party may be wounded and broken, and rendred unserviceable to the common good, but shall never be gained as an addition of Strength to those who have so handled them. But an Accommodation would make both to be as one. And seeing in their present divided state, the concurrent Zeal of Both hath been so formidable, as to dash the hopes of the Popish Party, how much more in a state of Union, might their Strength increase against their common Adversaries! Wherefore, the One should open the Way, and the Other should readily come in upon just Terms. This should be the rather minded on both sides, because the Considerate Nonconformists will never promote their own Liberty by such ways and means as would bring in a Toleration of Popery; yea, they would rather help to bear up the present Ecclesiastical state, then that Popery should break in by Anarchy, or the Dissolution of all Church-Government.
Moreover, an ample, fixed state Ecclesiastical, is necessary to uphold and encrease true Religion, as well against Infidelity, as against Popery. The loose part of the World would turn to a weariness and contempt of Divine Institutions, and Christianity it self would be much endangered in a state of Ataxy and unfixedness. By what ordinary means hath the Doctrine and Institution of Christ been propagated and perpetuated in large Kingdoms and Nations, and in the Universe, but by incompassing under its external Rule and Order, great Multitudes that may fall short of the Life and Power thereof. And it doth not root and spread in any sort considerable, in a Region, where the external Order is set by the Rigid and Narrow Principles of a small Party, and the general Multitude lyes open as wast ground, for any to invade or occupy. Let considerate men judg how much the ample state of a meer Orthodox Profession, is to be preferred before Infidelity, or Popery, or any other Sect of the Christian Name, that is Idolatrous or Heretical. There be few Converts to the Power of Godliness, from Infidelity or Popery, or any Heresie, but they are generally made out of the Mass of People of an Orthodox Profession.
If it be the will of God that one must suffer for the Cause of Religion, it is more for the Honour of Christianity to suffer from Infidels, then from Papists; likewise it is more for the Honour of Reformed Religion, to suffer from Papists, then from Protestants. And if it were at ones own choice, One should much rather (caeteris paribus) suffer in defence of the main Truths of Christianity, then for refusing a Ceremony, or for any other part of Inconformity. For this cause a Union is so desirable, that these Bitternesses, Reproaches and Scandals, might cease from among us.
Lastly, Whatsoever Enlargement we have granted by the Favour of our Lawful Superiors, we have it in the best way, and a Blessing is in it.