The Excellency of the Heavenly Substance, Title page – To the reader
A DISCOURSE OF THE EXCELLENCY OF THE Heavenly Subſtance.
WHICH IS Uſeful for the Preſent, and ſo may be for Future Times.
And every one that hath forſaken Houſes, or Brethren, or Siſters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my Names ſake, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life.
Mat. 19.29.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1673.
AN EPISTLE TO ALL, Both in England and Wales, that have been ſpoiled of their Goods, before, or ſince March 25. laſt; or that may thus ſuffer for that Religion which hath its Foundations only laid in Divine Inſtitutions.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,
IT's not neceſſary that you (or the World) ſhould know the Author of the enſuing Treatiſe; who is deſirous for ſeveral reaſons (not to be mentioned) to conceal his Name. It may ſuffice that he ſhall be known at the day of Judgment, when he hopes …ith boldneſs, and confidence through …he Merits of his Redeemer to own this …ork.
Whilſt others Dedicate their Books to Princes, and Nobles, to obtain their Patronage, and to acquire their Favour, or to procure ſome Profit, and Advantage to themſelves thereby: (though too often to attain their ends, contract the guilt of most ſordid adulations) I thought fit to Dedicate this to you: How poor and deſpicable ſoever you be in the world, yet your owning and defending it, ſhall be judged by me an honor ſufficient put upon it, and it's all the profit I ſhall expect from it; for I have not propounded to my ſelf any emollument or advantage by the publiſhing thereof.
When I heard how barbarouſly, and inhumanely you were uſed; that you who are Proteſtants ſhould ſuffer more by thoſe that pretend to be of the Reformed Religion than Papiſts do, or then in ſome places, Protestants do by Papiſts (who rarelly are defective in Cruelty) it prevailed with me to write what I judg'd might be ſeaſonable in ſome degree, for your ſupport and comfort, and to enable you unto a patient toleration of your deploreable oppreſſions.
Though many have writ well, and ſubſtantially of ſufferings in the general; yet I know none that have treated of this Particular Subject (except in ſome Collateral way) which now I do. For had it been already done, I ſhould not have engaged therein; judging my ſelf unable to add (by way of ſupplement, or amendment) to the work of any other.
I wiſh this work had come into the world more fil'd and poliſhed, and that it were ſo elaborate that none might diſlike it. But as when a man is exceeding hungry, and thirſty, courſe Bread, and impure Liquors are better then none; ſo this Conjuncture, when ſo many are expoſed to ſuch cruel rapine, and ſuch great havock made of their Goods (that it may be difficult without ſuccumbency, and ſinking to ſtand under the burden; or with a ſedate, and compoſed temper of mind to bear the ſame) a few truths (though crudely, and indigeſtedly delivered) concerning the most Excellent Subſtance in another world may be better than none, both for their Conſolation, and Suſtentation
What I have done, had in a very little time both its Conception & Birth, which makes it more without Form; and it may be, expoſe me to ſevere Cenſures for too much raſhneſs, and inconſiderateneſs. But being Alarum'd by ſo many Cryes of Wrong, Injuſtice, and Cruelty (ſuch as most Heathens would abhor) that you labor and groan under, I was reſolved to incur the danger thereof, rather than take much time for its Cultivation, or to ſend it better accompliſhed, and accoultred into the world; leaſt while the Cordial was too long a preparing, too many Spirits might languiſh and faint.
What Common Equity (ſuch as univerſal humane Reaſon conſents to) is in the Late Act against Conventicles; and how agreeable it is to the Fundamental Laws of our Nation, and the Laws of the Supreme Legiſlator (God himſelf) ſhall one day be known, when all Diſputes, and Controverſies concerning the ſame ſhall be concluded, and have an eternal Period put thereunto. But you ſuffer not according to the ſtrictest rigour of that Law only, but far beyond it, and indeed in a way very often moſt Contra-legal, and excentrick to all Law; many Instances whereof might be collected together, and expoſed to publick view, to let the World know, how much his Majesties peaceable Subjects, only for worſhipping God according to his Word, are made a prey to the boundleſs Avorice, and unlimited malice of many Juſtices of the Peace, and beggarly Informers, encouraged by them.
Some of you have had your ſtanding Corn, ſome your dwelling Houſes, your Work Tools, your wearing Apparrel; yea your very food ſeiz'd, and deſtain'd. Some of you have had your Houſes rifled, and emptyed of all that you were poſſeſſed of, leaving you neither Bed, Stool, Chair, Pot, Pan, or Spoon, &c.
Many of you have been fin'd for others that are not poor, and when destreſſes have been Levyed upon your Goods, they have been most unreaſonable, by many degrees in worth exceeding your Fines, and then ſold at an under value; as Cows, and Bullocks for 2 s. 6 d. and Sheep for 12 d, 6 d, and … d. a piece: many of you have had your Doors, with great force and violence, broken open to take Deſtreſs, though the Act against Cnventicles doth not Authorize, and Warrant Officers to do. All which (with many more things that might be enumerated, and ſpecified) are ſufficient to demonstrate to the world how injuriouſly, and mercileſsly, you are dealt with.
This is the Aggravation of your affliction, and makes the burden thereof more ponderous and heavy, that when you become Complainants you can have no redreſs, or relief. If you appeal to the General Seſſions, there your Judges (as the major part) are both Enemies, and parties concerned; and what Juries ar a, woful experience tells you. If you Sue at Commom Law, you uſually find great addition made to your preſſures. All ſorts of Officers are uſually your violent and impetuous oppoſers. Grand-juries, and Petty-juries (if your concerns lie before them) are commonly your implacable Enemies, and are ſtrongly reſolved to ruine and deſtroy you: So that with the Prophet you may complain (after all endeavours to have right) That Juſtice ſtandeth a far off, and Equity cannot enter, Iſa. 59.14. And with the Poet, — terras Aſtraea reliquit.
From whence all this wrong, and violence proceeds you well know. Were the Crown as cruel as the Mitre no doubt, not only your Eſtates, but your Lives would be taken from you: which ſhews how little it partakes of the Divine Nature whilſt it ſports it ſelf, and laughs at the miſeries of the innocent, and is continually contriving their Deſtruction.
What ſhall you do in theſe doleful Circumstances but look up unto Heaven, and derive joy from that Subſtance which is inviſible, and immortal there. And whilst your perſecuting Adverſaries are not aſhamed ſcoffingly to ſay (when they have made great havock of, and moſt unmercifully torn away your eſtates from you)▪ Take now joyfully the ſpoyling of your Goods. Perridiculus erat Julianus ille Apoſtata, qum hunc locū exagitans, quaerere…num centum etiam Uxores habitur… eſſent Chriſtiani. Beza in Loc.(As that grand Apoſtate Julian ſaid to the Primitive Chriſtians, as a diſhonorable reflexion upon Mat. 19.29. Have you an hundred Wives, &c. (when he had deprived them of thoſe outward comforts) Let them ſee and know that you can do it.
What you have ſuffered (which God in his infinite Mercies pardon them for) from thoſe that boaſt themſelves to be of the Church of England, and glory in that denomination excluſively of all others (to whom that Scripture may be moſt aptly, and properly applyed, Iſa. 66.5. — Your Brethren that hated you, that caſt you out for my Names ſake, ſaid, Let the Lord be glorifyed; but he ſhall appear to your joy, and they ſhall be aſhamed.) you know; but what you may ſuffer frow thoſe that are of the Church of Rome you know not. Expect, and prepare for fiery trials from them, endure and conquer them all from the fore-views of the future immortal Glory, from the proſpect of this Heavenly Subſtance. Let it encourage to take jayfully, not only the ſpoiling of your Goods, but your Lives alſo, if God call you to it.
I never expect that thoſe that are ſuch incompaſsionate and mercyleſs Perſecutors of you now (whatever Sphere they move in, whether Mageſtratical or Sacerdotal, or have a much lower ſtation) will be perſecuted with you for Divine Truth. It's very probable that perſecuting Proteſtants will (when it's conducive and ſubſervient to their Interest) prove perſecuting Papists. But yet I hope that many of the Church of England (whoſe laudable Calmneſs, and Moderation is known, and whom I believe to be ſeriously Religious, and principally mind and intend the Salvation of their Souls) will ſuffer the loſs of all things with you, rather than comply with the Romiſh Superstitions, and Heretical Doctrines. The enſuing Diſcourſe is not Calculated only for theſe preſent days wherein you ſuffer, but for the future, wherein both you (who are diſſenters in ſome things from them) and they may equally be concern'd.
Though the immediate, and direct intention of this Treatiſe is for thoſe that are, or may be impoveriſhed for Religions ſake, yet it may be of uſe likewiſe to all Gods Children, who by ſome croſs afflicting Providences (and not by their wickedneſs) are reduced to a low condition in the World. That as the Prophet Habbakkuk ſaith, ch. 3.17. Although (in reſpect of them) the Fig-tree ſhall not bloſſome, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vines: the Labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the Fields ſhall yield no meat; the Flock ſhall be cut off from the Fold, and there ſhall be no Herds in the Stalls. Yet their hearts may be ſupported, and comforted from the expectation of this Better and Enduring Subſtance Poverty, like an Armed Man comes both into the City and Countrey, and many of the Heirs of Heaven are involved, in this Common Calamity. God teacheth them by his Providences every day, that Riches are uncertain things, as his ſacred Word tells us, 1 Tim 6.17. and ſhews them good reaſon for that expoſtulation of his, Prov. 25.5. Wilt thou ſet thine eyes upon that which is not? for Riches certainly make themſelves wings, and fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven. And ſeeing this is become ſuch a Common, and General Experience, how ſtrongly, and powerfully ſhould it invite and perſwade all that hope for the Treaſures of Eternity, to advance and raiſe up their Souls to a fixed view, and frequently to revolve the ſerious thoughts thereof in them, that they may be ſolaced and refreſhed therewith.
I earnestly wiſh that the enſuing Diſcourſe may be a Spring of Joy, a Breaſt of Conſolation, a pregnant Honey-comb of Sweetneſs to all your Souls and mine (which hath, I bleſs God, in ſome meaſure, often been relieved by it) for which he ſhall pray to Almighty God, who hath ſuffer'd in various kinds, and to high degrees, and who am ſtill your Fellow-Sufferer for that, which I do not in the leaſt doubt in the moſt Terrible-joyful-day of the laſt Judgment, will appear to be the verity of Heaven, frr that Truth which is the Off-ſrring of the moſt Veracious God, even the Truth as it is in Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 4.21.
I have not the Confidence to recommend this Treatiſe to the reading and peruſal of men that are of refined Reaſon, of Sublimated Intellect, of Acute Wits, and Profound Judgments, of Enlarged, and Comprehenſive Capacities: It's only fitted and accommodated to the Vulgar and Common: yet I deſire ſuch would ſeriouſly ſtudy the Text that is the Foundation of it out of the teeming Womb whereof this weak imperfect Infant is taken, that they would penetrate into its Bowels, that they would by a most ſerious, and industrious investigation, and ſearch, find out the Heavenly Mine, and Rich Treaſure that is in it; that hereby they may be brought to diſeſteem all Earthly Treaſure in Compariſon thereof, and may get their Affectiens weaned from all mertal, and earthly Good-things, and may live as thoſe that are Mortifyed, and Crucified to this dying, deceitful World.
I know there are many Miniſters in theſe Nations who have ſuffered the loſs of their Goods (not for a ſullen peeviſh humor as many are pleaſed to charg them ſeverely with, and caluminate them for) but for Conſcience ſake; & I acknowledg theſe men much more Worthy and Learned than my ſelf, and that their Parts and Abilities would have fabriated a much more curious and amiable Piece (for the honor of that Cauſe for which they ſuffer) than this is, and I heartily wiſh ſome one of them had ſeaſonably done, that ſo it might have come abroad into the world in a better dreſs, with fewer defects, & imperfections, leſs crude & immature, and ſo might have been food ſuited to the most Critical, Curious and Generous Palates. That it is not embelliſhed and enriched with the Gold of Learned Mens Mines, renderd delectable and pleaſant with many of their Flowers, that it is not beautified with the Ornaments of various Readings out of Fathers and Schoolmen, and Claſſick Authors, the many Avocations that I have had from my Studies to my great grief) muſt make an Apologie, and plead excuſe, having not known for above ten years (by reaſon of almost conſtant and unceſſant ſtorms I have been toſt and hurried up and down with, though bleſſed be God not for Wickedneſs ſcarſe what it is to converſe with my Books, and yet I am ſcarce arrived at declining years, or come to withering and wrinkling Old-age. But however, if any of theſe faithful Servants of Jeſus Chriſt ſhall honor me ſo far as to cast an eye upon my imbecil Labours, or read them thorow, I earneſtly wiſh God Almighty may bleſs the ſame to them, and make (as many times he doth weak means) effectual to accompliſh a moſt high, and noble end (ſubordinate to the Glory of himſelf) viz. their ſteddy, invariable, and uninterrupted courſe, and motions in the way of truth and Holineſs (wherein I am fully ſatisfied they are) that their Retroceſſions and Defections from ſo good and honorable a Cauſe may be prevented notwitstanding the higheſt degree, and longeſt duration of their Trials and Troubles.
I know ſome may ſcornfully, and ſcoffingly ſay, what need is there for theſe Nonconformists to read ſuch a Subject for their encouragement; What have they lost? do they not live better, and more plentifully than ever they did? This is uſual and frequent language diffus'd through England, and other places: to which it may briefly be replyed, there is no thanks due to thoſe that aſſert it for the ſame. Have not they, and their party taken the most effectual courſe, and means they could to ſtarve, and famiſh thoſe above mentioned? They ſhewed them not ſo much mercy as was ſhewed to them in the late times of Ʋſurpation: For they tear away all from them, allowing them not the fifths of their Benefices, (as then was, whether ſmall or great) not ſuffering them to teach School, to get bread for their Wives & Children; not to live in, or come within five miles of a Corporation, or place where they had preached, to cut them off from all relief; not to Preach privately to their Friends (by one Law if they were above five, by another if above four, & above the Age of 16. the Iron Yoke whereof many have ſufficiently felt) a Cruelty they felt not under the Government of thoſe, it's acknowledged were Tyrants & Ʋſurpers: For ſeveral of them had their Conventicles (ſome whereof conſiſted of conſiderable Numbers, witneſs the Canary Houſe in the Strand, privately and peaceably. It's Notoriouſly known that thoſe very men who in thoſe times were ejected for moſt Enormous Scandals, as Drunkenneſs, Ʋncleanneſs, Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and for Ignorance a large Catalogue whereof can be yet produced) had more mercy & favor ſhewed them, than theſe men that cannot be proved guilty of any ſuch things, nor were they the Crimes layed to their charge, for which they were laid aſide. It's known, and can be proved that ſeveral of the more ſober Epiſcopal Ministers, or if you will (as they term themſelves) Priests, though they were cast out of one Benefice, they were put into the poſſeſſion of another, & that ſomtimes of equal profits, and if not ſo, yet what did afford them a preſent Livelihood, & Subſtance. It can never be proved (tho it's frequently aſſerted) that this mercileſs and bowelleſs uſage is Lex talionis, the Law of Retaliation, for ſuch Laws were never made againſt them, as have been (by their procurement, and wherein they greatly rejoyce) againſt theſe. And if there were any ſuch Laws then, they were either good or evil; if they were good, why do they condemn them; if they were evil, why do they imitate them?
If it be ſaid that ſuch Prieſts, and ſome that were accounted Fathers of the Church, begg'd in thoſe times their bread, had ſcarce cloaths to cover their Nakedneſs, & ſhelter them from the Storms and Cold, travel'd up & down a foot, and had ſcarce beds to lie upon, and that ſome of them dyed for want; whereas the Nonconformists are full fed, their Cheeks are plump (though few, or none of their Noſes be very red and fiery, their Faces (except what's occaſioned by natural infirmities and diſtempers) of a deep Scarlet dye, or look most formidablly as if they were waſh'd and ſteept in the Sanguine juice, or blood of the Grape) their Aſpects and looks brisk and lively, they wear good Cloaths, and ride good Horſes To this it may be replyed, that one Reaſon why many of them were reduced to ſuch ſcarcity & want, was their intemperance, their exceſſive drinking, being ſworn Slaves to Pots of good Ale, and Bottles of Wine and indeed moſt of what they got was Sacrificed ſometimes to Bacchus, and ſometimes to Venus (which two will devour and drink up an Ocean of Treaſure, and conſume vast Mountains of Gold and Silver) but thoſe that were not guilty of ſuch beſtial lives and converſations, but were men of great Sobriety and Civility, and yet ſuffered ſuch want; it ſhews that God did not take that care of them that now he doth of others, and that there is not ſo much Religion (which makes mens bowels tender, and their Charity diffuſive and extenſive) to be found among the Sons and Daughters of the Church, as among thoſe that are diſſenters from her, and too frequently (though injuriouſly) branded with Schiſm.
But however plentifully now they live, was this by an eye of ſence, and reaſon foreſeen when they voluntarily left their livelyhoods and Benefices rather than make Naufrage, & Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conſcience. Certainly they did not then conſult with fleſh and blood, or act like men whoſe Souls are under the Dominion of their Senſes, for theſe would ſtrenuouſly argue, and plead againſt their practice, againſt their Nonconformity, telling them the many difficulties and ſtraits and hardſhips they muſt expoſe themſelves to paſs thorow, and make their lives miſerable and wretched with. Ʋnſanctified Reaſon (which always oppoſeth the Interest of God in the world when abſtracted from a mans own) would never plead for this, or paſs an Approbative judgment upon it. Such Queſtions would be put thereby, and by unbelief, if thou laieſt down thy Ministry, and leaveſt thy Parſonage, or Vic…rage, &c. how wilt thou ſubſiſt, how will thy Wife and Children be maintain'd and provided for; or how will thy Children be faſhionably bred, and well educated? thou haſt no eſtate, thou art not before hand with the world, there are no probable ways in view how thou ſhouldest be ſupplyed with thy daily bread. I have known theſe things frequently urged by Friends and Relations, to make many Miniſters Conform, who could not be conquered thereby, but moſt Heroickly and reſolutely reſiſted the temptation. And that ſuch carnal reaſonings muſt in all probability be in moſt Nonconformiſts, appears from the Confeſſions of ſeveral that this was the ground of their Conformity. They knew not how they and their Families ſhould be maintained without it, or if they did not what would become of their Wives and Children and witneſs for one Ma… D. of … in De…
If I miſtake …t, the… …are neer 300 Miniſters in England & Wales …, and …j…cted out of their Living and deprived of Maintanance …n one day, and the great ſt…p…rt of theſe by …ar were Married … and young men, and wi… be…g…d. who had … Children, and not grown up, & provided for in the world their Wives the …ing and pro…eck … most of them had no … nor larg… ſtocks of Money, moſt of them liued in Countrey … and ab…nd … of them were in one Count…y … if … not miſtaken in … above in … in the little County of … Now conſider …em in all the … … ces, what could … are … them as an encouragement to None informity; what was there viſible to ground and bottom their hopes upon that they ſhould be either … vided for at all, or better than when they had their publick Maintenance. If it: be ſaid that they hoped to find many Friends, it must be ſaid of them as of Abraham in another caſe, Rom. 4.18. that againſt hope, they believed in hope.
That God hath raiſed them on many Friends is certainly true what doth this prove, but that though they be ejected, and caſt out by imcompaſſionate men, yet they are not rejected & caſt out by God; and if it be not an infallible Demonſtration, yet it's a good Argument to prove that their cauſe is well-pleaſing unto, and approved of by God; that it hath the ſtrength of Divinity in it.
What ſhall we think of that Religion that flouriſhes in the midſt of flames, and the highest oppoſitions, that the more fe…ere Laws be multiplyed againſt it, the more it lifts up its head with Triumph, the more it dilates and ſpreads it ſelf. Long and great Perſecutions have at laſt diſcomfeited and ſupprest Errours, and Hereſies; but Truth after all hath prevailed, and appeared to the oppoſing world; and like the Sun after a ſhort Eclipſe, or ſome black Vizard, and dark vailing cloud cast over his Face, hath effulg'd and ſhin'd forth with greater Beauty and Glory, and pou…ed forth more plentifully his brighteſt Beams. We know that in the late times Prelatiſm, and a Ceremonial Religion could not ſtand before Humane Power, and Penal Laws (though nothing ſo ſevere, nor ſo many as are now made againſt that Thing, and that Religion which hath been branded, and ſtigmatized with the moſt odious Nick-Names) how did they fall before them, like Dagon before the Ark: how quickly did they ſhrink into nothing, and diſappear; ſeem'd to be annihilated, or at least exanimated; and like ſome ſmaller Animals (that lye as dead in the Winter, till they feel the power of the Vernal Sun, and its vivifying and enlivening heat) did thoſe things lye dead in the cold winter of Adverſity, and ſo continued till the benign Raies and Influences of Regal Authority (at his Majeſties happy Reſtauration) did reanimate, and inſpire them with a new life; which if they were but once ſuſpended, we ſhould quickly ſee them dye again. They can only live in the warm Sunſhine of his Majeſties Royal Favour: Let that be withdrawn, and the Civil Power ſet againſt them, and they will ſoon be liveleſs, and ſo deeply buried in the Grave of Oblivion, and Contempt, as never to have a Reſurrection to any Grandeur, or Glory more.
Though it's Confeſs'd that many Nonconformiſts are bountifully provided for; eſpecially ſuch as live in Wealthy and Populous Cities, Corporations and Towns, where they have larg Congregations to Preach to; or if they be debarr'd from this, yet loſe not their hearts and reſpects (and I wiſh ſuch may not too little Sympathize with others, and have too few & ſlender compaſſionate reſentments of their low conditions, look too loftily and ſuperciliouſly and diſdainfully upon them, be of too Magisterial a de-deportment towards them; or grudg too much their Neighborhood, and coming to live (when neceſſitated thereunto) where they do. If God ſee ſuch Ambition, Pride, and Selfiſhneſs among, and ſo much of Prelatical Spirit pearking up in Nonconformiſts he may make them yet paſs through a hotter fire to refine them, and prepare a narrower and finer ſieve to fiſt them with.) I ſay, though this be ſo, yet there are many (and Men of great Worth both for Learning and Piety) that have been, and yet are much pincht with poverty, are reduced to great Straits and dolorous wants, expoſed unto which yet bleſſed be God they stoutly, and reſolutely endure) great hardſhips: and yet the ſewie… complain not ſo much as many Conformiſts, who have ſome of them …00 …. 300 l. per Annum, &c. who (as they ſay) run into Debt, cannot make both ends meet; and ſome of them are now, and then jogging along unto, and taking up their reſidence in ſome Goal, for not paying to a very man what they ow him. Somet… they are haunted (as with evil Spirits, and Frends of Hell) with the …de and boiſterous Bayliffs which affright them more than Hobgoblings in the night, who make them ſober, and good Husbands (and perhaps keep them in their ſtudies) againſt their wills, and for a long time by reaſon of thoſe Diligent and Hawk-ey'd Attendants, they, are made ſo happy as not to go to Gods Houſe, and not ſo miſerable as not to go to an Ale-houſe, that Joan may fill them the other Jugg. But theſe afflictions and troubles, I do not here the poorest Nonconformists meet with. Sometimes not only the inferiour, but the dignified Clergy complain they want money, notwithstanding their great Revenues and large In-comes, while the pooreſt Nonconformiſts are not querulous, but ſtill and ſilent, (being contented with & thankful unto God for that modicum, that little which they have) whats the Reaſon of this, but beſides that which is natural their toping, their exhauſting and emptying of Bottles of Sack & Claret till 10 or 12 a Clock at Night, and ſometimes longer, their ingurgitating and ſwallowing down ſo much Wine, and strong Liquors too frequently to Ebriation, their Luxury, and Profuſeneſs, their Courting now and then a Madam (who muſt be generouſly and nobly treated, and who becauſe ſhe is Morally light, muſt be made Phyſically heavy; their Complementing, in a private receſs, ſome pretty Miſs, (who though a beautiful, yet a chargeable Creature; for theſe are the Inſatiably voracious Barathrams, the deep Ditches and Pits that abſorp and ſwallow up all; the Idols that devour whatever is ſacrificed to them, whoſe flaming luſt conſumes more treaſure and wealth than all (eſpecially the late) moſt violent eruptions of Aetna's fiery ſubterranean Furnace, or all the fires that have waſted and deſtroyed Houſes, Ships, and Cities, ſince the Creation of the World, or fire was firſt kindled upon Earth.) Their only cloſe and comfortable importance; I ſay beſides that which is natural, the want of the ſecret bleſſing of the Almighty, that ſacred Text in Job 20.22. being verified and fulfill'd ſignally in them; In the fulneſs of their ſufficiency they are in ſtraits; while the others by the Danation of his bleſſing, in the midst of ſtraits have what is ſufficient for them. As the Apoſtle ſaith, in 2 Cor. 6.10. As having nothing, yet poſſeſſing all things. No doubt thoſe that talk ſo much of the Non-Conformiſts living ſo well, grudg them the bread they eat, and ſome of them are fill'd with malice, and madneſs that they are not starv'd: An eminent inſtance hereof, we have in a Biſhop, who when he went his Viſitation in his Dioceſs, was very inquiſitive to know how the Non-Conformists were maintain'd, and who ſupply'd them? In purſuance of his end, he employed ſeveral to ſearch it out. One of them when he was upon the ſcent, not being able to underſtand where the Game did lie, comes to a Miniſter (whoſe learning and parts are ſufficiently known in the Country where he lives) to be informed of this thing, declaring to him that he was commanded ſo to do by the Biſhop? To whom the Minister replies, come, and I will ſhew thee how I live: Look into this Pot and ſee a piece of good Beef boyling, go and tell the Biſhop I live by eating ſuch good Beef.
Whether the Non-Conformiſts have more or leſs, bleſſed be the Self-ſufficient, and All-ſufficient Jehovah, that they stand not to the mercies of their Enemies for their preſent ſustenance, and comforts: Let his Name be magnified and celebrated for ever: Let Heaven and Earth be filled with his Praiſes: Let ſacrifices of thanksgiving be continually offer'd up, and ſongs of the higheſt gratitude and thankfulneſs continually poured forth unto him; that they are not neceſſitated to beg their bread from door to door, and especially at the doors of their Enemies, (ſome whereof have heretofore begg'd their bread at theirs) and are not complaining and crying out for want of bread, and no friends to ſupply them with it.
I do not doubt but the ſame Principle of Religion which at first (when they could have no rational prospect of a livelihood and ſubſiſtance in the world) obliged them unto, and engag'd them in the way of Non-Conformity, doth ſtill, as another ſoul, act the Generality of them unto perpetual and conſtantly progreſſive Motions, a steady and reſolute perſeverance therein, and produce an invincible and inflexible non-compliance with (till they ſee better grounds, and clearer reaſon for the contrary than yet they have done) an apprehended error and evil.
All the Non-conforming Party are not men of ſneaking and ſordid Spirits, ſome are as highly and truly generous and noble, as thoſe that do moſt debaſe and vilifie them; and it's very irkſome and ingrateful unto ſuch to live after an Eleemoſynary manner, dependently upon others, which too frequently proſtitutes and expoſeth them to a contemptuous and ſlighting carriage of ſome even among their own Party, very unbecoming and unſuitable to the notions of their Function, which God never appointed to be either conſtituted or ſupported by riches, or to be built upon ſome lofty (though quickly depreſt and level'd) Mountain and Pyramid of worldly dignities and Grandeurs, or the higheſt coacervation of any earthly fading Glories. I know the Conſideration of this hath been more a temptation to ſome of them to conform, than all their other ſufferings, or any avaritious greedy deſire to accumulate and heap up theſe lower periſhing Treaſures, but the conſideration of their auty to God, the fear of diſpleaſing and diſhonoring him, the reſignation of their Wills, not onelyonly to his preceptive, but providential Will to be diſpoſed of by him, and provided for in ſuch a way as he in his infinite and unerring Wiſdom thinks beſt and fitteſt for them, hath efficaciouſly attemper'd and fram'd their ſpirits hereto, and wrought a complacential acquicſcence in the ſame, whereby they ſtill conquer the Temptation.
But to cloſe up this Diſcourſe (which I ſuppoſe is not pleaſing to the Palate, nor grateful to the Gusto of every one) would we be ſatisfied with ſome rational account how theſe Non-conformiſts came with ſo much Promptitude and Readineſs, with ſo much Alacrity and Cheerfulneſs to forſake their Benefices and preſent Livelyhoods; when Senſe and carnal Reaſon could make no diſcovery of, and way wherein they ſhould be provided for: I ſhall only briefly offer this; that as they were men that had Preacht up frequently, and zealouſly preſt and urg'd others to live by Faith (a life ſo vilyſied and contemn'd by, and unknown (as to its excellency and uſefulneſs) unto many, yea the far greateſt part of the World) ſo that they would hereby give a clear demonſtration that they could live upon their own Doctrine, that they were no ſtrangers to this moſt ſweet and ſure, and noble conquering life. That they have their own ſouls principled with that faith which is The Subſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeen. That they can fixedly depend upon, and confidently truſt the infinitely who knows how, the Almighty, and All-ſufficient, who can and is able, the moſt merciful and faithful God who will certainly take care of, and provide for them. By this Faith can they ſuck in the exuberant ſweetneſs of his most precious promiſes. And would you farther know how they came to find ſo many bountiful Friends and Benefactors; I may tell you: one reaſon is Gods bleſſing his Word and Doctrine which they Preach, making it take place in the hearts of ſo many which begets a fervent and pure love towards them; and likewiſe His Truth, which obligeth him ſo eminently to fulfil that Promiſe (which is worth more than all the Crowns, and Kingdoms in the world) Mat. 19.29. with many others that are their choiſeſt and chiefeſt Cordials, as Pſal. 3 …, 19, 34. Pſal. 33.18, 19. Job 5.22. At deſtruction and famine ſhalt thou laugh. Heb. 13.5. — for he ſaid I will never leave thee nor forſake thee.
Now I hope that you to whom I Dedicate this Diſcourſe (many of you being a poor and an afflicted people as the Prophet ſpeaketh, Zeph. 3.12.) as you will rejoyce in the ſpoiling of your Goods from the conſideration of this excellent Heavenly Subſtance, ſo you will live above, and not be diſcouraged with the opprobries and obloquies, the inſolencies and inſultations of all your Enemies. That whatever be their moſt con…itiating language, dirty detractations, diſhonorable reflexions, ſcornful & diſdainful conculcations of your Good Name, you will not value them. How little ſhould Rhetorical Railery, the Extracts and Quinteſcence of Billinſgate, traſh and trumpery; the froth and foam of the black-ſoul-mouth'd Female Scolds there, ſuckt in and ſpew'd up again with all the envenom'd Darts of Apoſtatical Malice (the beſt Ornaments of many Books the Authors whereof are the Degenerate Off ſprings of pious Parents) ſignifie to thoſe who have the lively hope of this Subſtance, in the poſſeſſion whereof they ſhall be Crowned with immortal Honour.
Poſſibly after your preſent ſufferings you may have a Calm; a lucid Interval; ſome Sun ſhine, ſome intermiſſion of your pains and grievances: But though this ſhould be ſo, yet look and prepare for Storms and Tempests; black and diſmaying clouds and darkneſs; a return with double rage and fury of your Torments. You have not yet reſisted unto bloud for Truth. God grant both you and I by this Better, and Enduring Subſtance may be ſo fortifyed and encouraged to be faithful to the Death, that according to Gods Promiſe, Rev. 2.10. we may by him have given to us, the ever-flowriſhing, and flouriſhing Crown of Life: for which I bow my knees unto the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Farewel.