Apology for Non-Conformists, Text (1 of 3)

Apology for Non-Conformists · Text (1 of 3)

p. 1An humble Apologie for Nonconformiſts, with modeſt and ſerious Reflections on the Friendly Debate, and Continuation thereof, &c.

Queſtion.

WHat Reaſon can be given, if there be no guilt in the Nonconformiſts, that no Anſwer was given to the Friendly Debate, for ſo long a time?

Anſw. Biſhop Bramhal, that learned Prelate, may be their Advocate in this Caſe; (I hope the Sons of the Church will not diſdain to hearken to a Father of the Church) Thoſe who have compoſed minds, free from diſtracting cares, and Means to maintain them, and Friends to aſſiſt them, and their Books and Notes about them; do little imagine with what difficulty poor Exiles ſtruggle, whoſe minds are more intent on what they ſhould eat to morrow, than what they ſhould write. Biſhop Bramhal of Schiſm, pag. 275. Beſides, if an Anſwer had ſtolen forth without Licenſe, would it not have been arreſted for a ſeeming breach of a late Act about Printing; and the Author of it, according to the Divinity and Logick of the Friendly Debate, p. 2pag. 3. concluded to be neither a good Subject, nor a good Chriſtian? (vide Deb. pag. 2. Edit. 4.)

Quest. Whit Anſwer then can be made for printing this preſent Anſwer and Apology?

Anſw. The Intent and Deſign of Laws, is the Conſervation of the Publick Peace. The Law is Juſt, Uniform, and no Reſpecter of Perſons, whether Conformiſts, or Non-Conformiſts, but binds all to the Peace and Good Behaviour alike, doth not hold one Mans Hands, whilſt Another cuts his Throat, or ſtabs him under the fifth Rib. If a Man be once and again violently aſſaulted, he may lawfully defend himſelf. The Author of the Debate hath ſmitten us on the one Cheek, and on the other alſo; hath reviled us, and with his Pen perſecuted us, and ſaid all manner of evil againſt us falſly. In this caſe, a dead and ſtupid ſilence, might argue we were verily guilty concerning the Crimes laid againſt us. If a man that is Charged, Indicted, and Arraigned, refuſeth to plead, the Law adjudgeth him to be preſſed to death. Our bleſſed Saviour himſelf Apologized for himſelf and his Diſciples. So did Juſtin Martyr and Tertullian, for the Primitive Chriſtians. The great and ſoul Blots which have been caſt upon our Names by that Author, would not ſoon out, if no means or endeavors ſhould be uſed to wipe them off.

Quest. But is every Tranſgreſſion of a Humane Law, though but penal, ſo culpable of criminous as is pretended?

p. 3Anſw. I humbly conceive not. And there are thouſands of good Subjects, and good Chriſtians (many of them good Sons and Daughters of the Church of England) who did eat Fleſh laſt Lent, or laſt Fryday, asking no Queſtion for Conſcience-ſake, in reference to any penal Law or Statute in that Caſe; and who have not ſcrupled to bury their Dead in Linen, though contrary to a late Act of Parliament. And if you lay ſo great a Burthen upon every breach of a penal Statute, how ſhall the Carrier long keep his Cart on Wheels, or the Citizen long ſtand on his Legs for want of Trading, by reaſon of an Act of Parliament requiring the Tire of the Wheels to be four Inches wide, under the penalty of forty Shillings for each offence?

Quest. Is it not therefore enough to ſatisfie the Law to pay the Mulct or Penalty required in ſuch Caſes? (Vide Contin. pag. 22.)

Anſw. Mr. Perkins, famous both at Home and Abroad, for his great Piety and Learning, hath amongſt his Caſes of Conſcience, this Caſe: Whether Students in Colledges, and Members of Corporations, are tied to obſervance of their Local Statutes, under pain of Perjury? In reſolving whereof, he hath ſomething uſeful, and pertinent to our purpoſe: He ſaith, That Statutes are of two ſorts, Principal and Fundamental, or leſs principal; the first ſort, belonging to the Being of the Society, are neceſſary to be kept under pain of Perjury: As p. 4to the leſt principal, namely, Statutes that are for Order and Decency, the Founder er Law-Maker exacts not Obedience ſimply, but either Obedience or the Penalty; becauſe the Penalty is as much beneficial to the ſtate of the Body, as the other, that is, as actual Obedience: And in this Caſe, he doth not charge the Breach of any Local Statute with the crime of Perjury. And Biſhop Taylor, in his Rule of holy Living, Chap. 3. pag. 183. ſaith thus: As long as the Law is obligatory, ſo long our Obedience is due; and he that begins a contrary Cuſtom without reaſon, ſinneth: But he that breaks the Law when the Cuſtom is entred and fixed, is excuſed; becauſe 'tis ſuppoſed the Legiſlative Power conſents, when by not puniſhing, it ſuffers Diſobedience to grow up to a Cuſtom. And I have formerly learnt it for good Divinity, That every meer or bare Omiſſion to do a thing required by Law, is not a ſin, (extra caſum ſcandali & contemptus) provided it be not done ſcandalouſly and contemptuouſly, or with offence to our weak Brother, and in contempt of the Magiſtrate.

Queſt. What's all this to the Caſe of the preſent Nonconformiſts? Do not they ſcandalouſly and contemptuouſly break the Laws, in dwelling in and neat London, and holding Religious Meetings, commonly called Conventicles? (Vide Debate, page 2.)

Anſw. Many of them have taken the Oxford Oath, and are legally qualified to live in Corporations. p. 5Others cannot poſſibly live in the Countries, for want of a Livelihood. I have heard of a Reverend Miniſter, that going abroad to ſeek maintenance from well-diſpoſed Chriſtians, being benighted, loſt his Way and his Life both, being through cold ſtarved to death. Others perhaps will plead they cannot live peaceably in the Country: I heard one, and a principal one, ſay, He never looked towards the City, nor ever ſhould, if he had not been driven out of the Country. The Law of Nature teaches the Hart, the Hare, and all Creatures that are purſued, to fly to the neareſt and thickeſt Covert, or hiding place. I have heard Huntſmen talk of giving the Hare Law; I do not well underſtand Forreſt Law: but I believe this is not meant by it, That ſhe ſhall have no mercy if ſhe ſeeks to hide or to ſave her ſelf by flight from thoſe that purſue her. There are alſo ſome amongſt the Nonconformiſts, that think themſelves bound to preach the Goſpel; and though they will not intrude into Churches, which are at the Magiſtrates diſpoſal, yet they look upon it as their Duty to preach in private Houſes: And for that in London and other Cities, the multitude of thoſe that deſire to hear, are greater than in other places, and their Meetings here may be leaſt taken notice of, therfore probably they repair to theſe places of concourſe. And what Fowler had not rather ſhoot at a Flock, than at two or three ſingle Birds? p. 6And what Fiſherman would not chuſe father to caſt his Net into the main Sea, than into a ſmall Brook? The Quarrel of Fimbria againſt Scevola, was, That he would not receive the Weapon of Death far enough into his Body; and the ſame is the Quarrel that ſome of our Brethren have againſt us, That there being ſuch ſharp Laws made againſt us, we are not willing to preſent our naked Breſts to the point of them, and let our Brethren gage us with their Weapons, but chuſe rather to fly from Country to City, and from City to City, to hide our ſelves. Some there are, who can ſay they hold no Meetings contrary to Law. There are that hold ſome private Meetings, but firſt they and their Auditors go to Church, and hear Common-Prayer and Sermon there. Moſt of thoſe that do otherwiſe may be ſuppoſed to be in and about London, where, by reaſon of the burning of above fourſcore Pariſh Churches, the Churches that remain may not be capacious enough to receive or hold all the Inhabitants, and beſides may poſſibly be at inconvenient diſtances from their preſent Habitations. If you ſay, That the Old Nonconformists, when they were ſilenc'd by the Biſhops, forbore to preach, and juſtified their ſilence againſt the Browniſts who accuſed them for it. To this may be replied, That the number of Ejected Miniſters formerly, were not comparable to what i… is now; uſually not one to one hundred, to wha… p. 7it is in our days. Beſides, the People that are diſſatisfied with the Liturgy or Ceremonies now, are ten, if not a hundred to one, to what they were formerly. What ſhall Miniſters do in this Caſe? Our Saviour when he ſaw the multitudes, had compaſſion on them, becauſe they were as Sheep Without a Shepherd. Had you rather that Quakers and Romiſh Seducers ſhould gather up Multitudes; and that Taverns, Alehouſes, and worſe places, ſhould on the Lords day be filled with the number of thoſe that abſent themſelves from the publick Aſſemblies, rather than that they ſhould be tolerated to hear a Sermon of Faith and Repentance, and other Duties towards God, and of Loyalty to the King, of Love and Charity one towards another, in a private houſe? For my own part, I confeſs in this Caſe, I would much rather go learn what that means, The Harveſt truly is great, and the Labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harveſt, that he would ſend forth Labourers into his Harveſt. Again, it is to be conſidered, that Mr. Dod, Mr. Hilderſham, and others, were ſilenced formerly but in ſome Dioceſſes, and for ſome time; afterwards they got diverſe times liberty to preach. Mr. Cotton had a Licenſe to preach, under the Broad Seal of England, procured by Biſhop Williams, then Lord Keeper, notwithſtanding his inconformity. Mr. Cartwright notwithſtanding he had writ ſo much, and ſo ſharply againſt Conformity, was ſuffered p. 8to preach, and enjoyed a place of Maſter of an Hoſpital at Warwick to his dying day. Yea, Mr. Brown, the Father of the Browniſts, if we believe the Hiſtorian, was ſuffered to keep a Living, and that no mean one, (Achurch in Northamptonſhire) to his Death. The Biſhops in thoſe dayes, if they turned Men out of their Pulpits, let them have a Livelihood; either ſome way from their Livings, or elſe permitted them, or connived at leaſt, at their teaching of School. My Schoolmaſter at a Grammar-School, was one that had left a Living, rather man he would Conform. And 'tis ſtoried of old Mr. John Fox, by Doctor Heplin, that though he refuſed to ſubſcribe to any thing but the Greek Teſtament, yet he enjoyed his Prebends place in Salisbury till his dying day.

'Tis worthy our notice, that theſe mens Yoak was more eaſie than ours: And that notwithſtanding they are thought to be of different Principles from the preſent Nonconformiſts, yet certain it is, that they held it lawful to preach and pray, and keep days of Humiliation in private Houſes. And I was told by one Mr. W. That he never had any other Ordination but Prayers and Impoſition of hand… by old Mr. Dod, and ſome other Miniſters his Friends, in a private Houſe.

Upon the conſideration of the Premiſes, my hearts deſire is, That the preſent Age may labour to imitate and ſurpaſs the Age paſt; the Right Reverend the Biſhops, their Predeceſſors, p. 9in their Forbearance and Moderation; and the Nonconformiſts theirs, in their Meekneſs and Peaceableneſs: That the Biſhops would endeavour to be Reconcilers, and Repairers of out Breaches, and Reſtorers of our Pulpits to preach in; and that the Nonconformiſts would deſire nothing but what may become Sons of Peace, and ſuch as earneſtly long after Unity, and had much rather, as becomes Labourers, be admitted to work in the Vineyard, than to ſtand any longer idle in the Market-place: Or, as becomes Fiſhers of Men, to be caſting their Nets on the right ſide of the Ship, than to ſit any longer mending their Nets on the Shore. That ſo the Ages to come, when they ſhall read the Hiſtory of this Generation, when we all (Conformiſts and Nonconformiſts) are laid down to reſt quietly together in our Graves, may have no occaſion to riſe up and ſay, That whereas the late War had made its thouſands of Separatiſts, Rigid Conformity had made its ten thouſands; And all this too, during the peaceable Reign of our moſt Gracious Soveraign, (a Son of Peace) CHARLES the Clement; as he hath manifeſted himſelf, by his Royal Letters and Declaration from Breda, his Royal Declarations ſince, and his preſent Princely Clemency: And this too, notwithſtanding great Animoſities, Exaſperations, and Irritations of ſome, on the one hand, out of an inordinate Zeal; and many Weakneſſes, Follies, and Provocations p. 10of ſome on the other, for lack of Knowledge.

Queſt. Are not the Non-conforming-Miniſters, who hold Private Meetings, Schiſmaticks, and Sectaries, and Breakers of the Peace and Unity of the Church? Vide Deb. p. 211.

Anſw. 'Tis a ſign of exaſperation (ſaith my Lord Bacon, upon the like difference) to condemn the contrary part as a Sect; yea, and ſome indiſcreet perſons have been bold in open preaching, to uſe diſhonourable and derogative ſpeech and cenſure of the Churches abroad; and that ſo far, at that ſome of our Men (as I have heard) ordained in forraign Parts, have been pronounced to be no lawful Miniſters So he. And further, Let's remember (ſaith the ſame judicious Author) that the ancient and true Bonds of Unity, are, One Faith, one Baptiſm; and not, One Ceremony, one Policy: And endeavour to comprehend that ſaying, Differentia Rituum commendat unitatem Doctrinae; Chriſts Coat was indeed without Seam, yet the Churches Garment was of divers Colours. The Presbyterian and Congregational Nonconformiſts do profeſs to agree in the main Doctrine with the Church of England, contained in her Articles of Religion, ſo as fully to embrace, and conſtantly to adhere unto what is purely Doctrinal in them. Beſides, the Presbyterians do not ſeparate from the Church, ſo as to ſet up Church againſt Church, Altar againſt Altar; but being thruſt out of the Church themſelves, and the number of men and women diſſatisfied p. 11about either ſome paſſages or Ceremonies in the Lyturgy, ſo that they dare not receive the Sacrament in the way required in the publick Aſſemblies, being very great; they take occaſion to meet for Religious Exerciſes in private, for a time onelyonly, till a door be opened for them in the Church, by the removal of ſome ſupsoſed or real Corruptions in the publick Worſhip. And the reaſon why ſome (whilſt they continue in the City) do not frequent the Publick Aſſemblies, may be this; Becauſe they are here by connivance onelyonly, and dare not be ſeen openly to out-face a Law: But when they are in the Countrey, they joyn with the Congregation where they reſide protempore, to ſhew their Union with the Church, and Conformity to the Laws. Nor are they therefore to be judged Schiſmaticks, becauſe they ſtill hold internal Communion with all Chriſtians, and ſo with the Church of England, with whom in ſome things they conceive they cannot communicate externally. And there is not (ſaith a Learned Biſhop) ſo great Conformity to be expected in Ceremonies, as in the Eſſentials of Sacraments. The Separation of the N.C. from the Ch. of Engl. is not total, nor perpetual; and a man may remove from his Fathers Houſe, it being infected, with a purpoſe to come thither when all is clear and well again. And their deſire and prayer is ſtill, That they that went forth of their Churches weeping (yet bearing p. 12good Seed, viz. the Doctrine of Faith, Repentance, and Obedience to God, and his Vicegerent) may come again rejoycing, bringing their Sheaves (that is, their Congregations) with them.

Queſt. But is not this partial and occaſiona… withdrawing of ſome Non-conforming Miniſters and people, from the publick Legal Aſſemblies, juſtly charged with Schiſm?

Anſw. Hear what a Romiſh Doctor ſaith, which is cited by Biſhop Bramhal, in his Treatiſe of Schiſm, pag. 7, 8. When there is a mutual diviſion of two parts or Members of the Myſtical Body of the Church, one from the other, yet both retaining Communion with the Univerſal Church, (which for the moſt part ſprings from ſome doubtful Opinion, or leſs neceſſary part of Divine Worſhip) quam cunque partem amplexus fueris Schiſmaticus non audies, quippe quod Univerſa Eccleſia neutiam damnarit; what ſide ſoever you take, you are not a Schiſmatick, &c.

Quest. Sith that divers of the Non-conforming Miniſters had no Ordination but by thei… Brethren the Presbyters, Can they be eſteemed lawful Miniſters? Is ſuch Ordination valid, without Re-Ordination by the Biſhops?

Anſw. Ordination by Presbyters without Biſhops, was adjudged valid by our former Biſhops; witneſs the Caſe of three Scottiſh Biſhops, conſecrated in England in King James his dayes: p. 13Take the Hiſtory of it from Archbiſhop Spotſ…ood, who relateth the matter and manner of it …hus: A Queſtion, ſaith he, was moved by Doctor Andrews, Biſhop of Ely, touching the Conſecration …f the Scottiſh Biſhops, who as he ſaid, muſt firſt be …rdained Presbyters, at having received no Ordina…ion by a Biſhop; the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Doctor Bancroft, who was by, ſaid, That thereof …here was no neceſſity; ſeeing where Biſhops could not …e had, the Ordination of or by Presbyters, muſt be eſteemed lawful: This applauded to by the other Biſhops, Ely acquieſc'd; and at the day and place appointed, the three Biſhops were conſecrated. A. Spotſ. Hiſt. Book 7. p. 514. Dr. Field in his Book of the Church, holds the Miniſters lawful Miniſters in the Tranſmarine Churches, though ordained without Biſhops; and Dr. Thorndike, in his Treatiſe relating to the Primitive Government of Churches, hath ſo much charity as not to unchurch the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas, who have no Biſhops, pag. 202. The pious, learned, and famous Mr. Gataker, never had any Epiſcopal Ordination, but was ordained by Dr. Stern, Suffragan of Colcheſter. The Religious and Renowned Archbiſhop Uſher, in his Reduction ſet forth by Dean Barnard, was of the Judgement, that the Chor-Epiſcopi, or Rural Deans, might lawfully Ordain: And this his Judgement was atteſted by Doctor Holſworth, yea and very probably too, by Biſhop Brownrig, p. 14and others of the Sub-Committee for Eccleſiaſtical Affairs, in the beginning of the Long Parliament. The Atteſtation is as followeth: We are of the Judgment that the form of Government here propoſed, is not in any point repugnant to the Scripture, and that the Suffragans mentioned in the ſecond Propoſition, may lawfully uſe both the power of Juriſdiction and Ordination, according to the Word of God, and the Practice of the Ancient Church.

Queſt. But what great matter is it what the Modern Biſhops or Doctors do or ſay in this Affair? Is it not ſufficiently known that Aerius is reputed an Heretick for this Tenet, viz. For denying a ſuperiority of Biſhops above Presbyters? And was not Ordination by Presbyters condemned by a Councel of the Ancient Church?

Anſw. Aerius is counted an Heretick for other Opinions alſo, by Epiphanius, for which our Brethren that Conform will acquit him of Hereſie. And the Reverend, Learned, and Laborious Dr. Stillingfleet hath given ſeveral Reaſons why thoſe Ordinations might be lawfully made void by the Councel, in caſe they had been performed by a Biſhop; as becauſe in another Biſhops Dioceſs, becauſe ſine Titulo, &c.

Queſt. If the Presbyterians can be freed from Schiſm, yet what can be ſaid to clear them from the ſin of Sacriledge, either as Principals or Acceſſories? Did not the Aſſembly put out Annotations p. 15on the Bible in thoſe times, and for fear of diſpleaſing their Maſters, never meddle with condemning of Sacriledge?

Anſw. I anſwer: The Notes commonly called the Aſſemblies Notes, came out before the Aſſembly was convened, and was none of their Act: And this is taken notice of, by ſome very conſiderable Perſons in their Preface to the Reader before the Morning-Exerciſes, printed 1659. …n theſe words: We have (not without ſome regret) …bſerved that the Large Engliſh Annotations, in …hich but ſome few onelyonly of the late Aſſembly, toge…her with ſome others, had an hand, are generally ſcribed unto the whole Aſſembly, and uſually carry …e Name of the Aſſemblies Annotations, as if done …y the joynt Advice of that Grave and Learned Con…ention. Yet further, as to the places mention…d in the Debate, they were commented upon by …e perſons here mentioned: That of Rom. 2.22. …y Dr. Featly, an Epiſcopal Doctor, and a Reve…nd man, a great Sufferer for his Majeſty in the …te times: That of Ezek. by Dr. Richardſon, Bi…hop of Ardagh in Ireland, a perſon of great Lear…ing and worth; and that in Geneſis by Mr. Leigh, …ho was Sub-Dean of Chester. As for the Aſ…embly, when they ſat and acted as an Aſſembly, …en in thoſe days, they did dare to condemn …mony and Sacriledge both, as Sins againſt the ſe…ond Commandment; as you may read in the …rger Catechiſm; and they cite thoſe two Scriptures p. 16for the proof thereof, Romans 2.22. Malachy 3.8.

And as theſe were their Principles againſt the Alienation of Church-Means, ſo they made it their buſineſs to preſerve the Lands and Revenues of the Church from Spoil and Rapine The Biſhops Temporalties were engaged fo… great Sums of Money before ever the Aſſembly met, and I never heard that the Parliament adviſed with the Aſſembly about the ſale of them. Yet this is certain, that the Tythes belonging to the Biſhops were kept unſold, and reſerved fo… the Churches uſe; and all the Dean and Chapters Lands left untouched, even by that Parliament, which (if over any) Was the Presbyterian Parliament, until their Members were ſeized on, ſecluded, impriſoned, and driven away b… the Army. They were not Friends to the Hierarchy, if we believe Dr. Heylin in his Cyp. Ang… who deſigned the buying in of all Impropriations; and if we credit Dr. Fuller, in fifty year they would have bought them all in. And in after times, when great Attempts were made t… ſell the Tythes and Glebe Lands, it was withſtood zealouſly and effectually, for it was prevented, under God, chiefly by the means of the Presbyterians, and their Friends in the City and Country. To conclude, will you have Mr. Kno… the Fore-man of the Presbyterians, his Judgement about Sacriledge: For John Knox, (as ſait… p. 17Archbiſhop Spotſwood) 'tis clear by his Sermons and Writings ſtill extant, that he held it a point of high Sacriledge to rob and ſpoyl the Church of Tythes.

Queſt. Is it not very pride, ſelf-conceitedneſs, humour, peeviſhneſs, yea, and very obſtinacy, that occaſions their Non-conformity?

Anſw. Some of the Nonconformiſts of old, and of late, have offered to purge themſelves by Oath from ſo great Crimes in the Caſe. And others have in the Pulpit in their Farewel Sermons proteſted the contrary, and that it was meet Conſcience of Duty, and fear of Sin, which cauſed their Inconformity.

Queſt. Are the Nonconformiſts juſtly compared to the Phariſes? (See Cont. p. 138.)

Anſw. No: The Phariſees in our Saviours time were great Zealots and Sticklers for the Ceremonies of the Jewiſh Religion, and particularly for mens Traditions and Humane Inventions; were high Conformiſts themſelves, men in Power and Place in the Church, and great Haters and Perſecutors of the Nonconformiſts of their times.

Queſt. Can any man that is not either very ſimple, or very ſcrupulous, queſtion any thing in the publick Worſhip, in the Liturgy, or Ceremonies? Is not the Liturgy ſo perfect, that nothing can be added to it, or taken from it?

Anſw. It was not always ſo. Time was, and p. 18that but in the year 1644. when learned Mr. Chillingworth preaching before King Charles the Firſt at Reading, uſed theſe words: At what time, ſoever a Sinner doth repent him of his Sins from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickedneſs out of my remembrance, ſaith the Lord: ſaith thus: The plain truth (if you will hear it) is, The Lord hath not ſaid ſo; theſe are not the very words of God, but the paraphraſe of men; and (by reaſon of the miſtake to which it is ſubject) I fear very often a pernicious paraphraſe. The Right Reverend the Biſhops have done very well to remove this ſtumbling block at the beginning of the Liturgy; O that they would go on to remove out of the way every thing that offends! That the Leſſons out of the Apocrypha-Books might be either exchanged altogether for the Canonical Scripture, or at leaſt reduced to that ſmall number that was appointed in the late Scottiſh Liturgy, where were appointed onelyonly two Chapters out of the Apocrypha, one out of Eccleſiasticus, the other out of the Book of Wiſdom. That the new Tranſlation of the Pſalms might be read, as well as of the Epiſtles and Goſpels: That the three Ceremonies, the Croſs in Baptiſm, the Surplice, and Kneeling at the Sacrament, whether nocent or innocent, night be removed out of this, as out of divers other Reformed Churches, by means of the Biſhops Mediation with his Majeſty and the Parliament, on that behalf, as was thought adviſable p. 19by the Sub-Committee for Religion, whereof the Biſhop of Lincoln had the Chair, and Biſhop Brownrig, Dr. Holſworth, Biſhop Hacket, &c. were Members: Or at leaſt, that the uſe of them might be free, according to his Majeſties gracious Declaration about Eccleſiaſtical Affairs. I wiſh that of my Lord Verulam might be always ſounding in the Ears of the Fathers, and the Sons and Daughters of the Church, till they give ear to it, That a contenti…us retaining of Cuſtom, is a turbulent thing, as …ell as Innovation. Methinks 'tis as poſſible for Nonconformiſts and Conformiſts to be reconciled, …s for the Church of England to be reconciled with Rome; and yet that great learned Biſhop Bramhal thought that not altogether impoſſible: …uppoſing (ſaith he) that ſomething from whence. Offences either given or taken, which (whether right … wrong) do not weigh half ſo much as the Unity of Chriſtians, were put out of Divine Offices, which …ould not be refuſed, if animoſities were taken away. Bramh. of Sch. p. 280. To this, let me add that Golden Saying of Mr. Hales, in his little piece …f Schiſm: Prayer, Confeſſion, Thankſgiving, Reading of Scripture, Adminiſtration of Sacraments … the plaineſt and ſimpleſt manner, were matter …ough to furniſh out a Liturgy; though nothing ei…her of private Opinion, or of Church Pomp, of …arments, or preſcribed Geſtures, of Imagery, or Muſick, of matter concerning the Dead, of many p. 20superfluities which creep into the Church under the name of Order and Decency, did interpoſe it ſelf.

Queſt. Is there any thing that can reaſonably or modeſtly be deſired to be amended or bettered in the managery of the Eccleſiaſtical Government or Diſcipline?

Anſw. The Rubrick before the Commination in the Liturgy, ſuppoſes it deſirable, that the Primitive Diſcipline uſed in the beginning of Lent, might be reſtored; when notorious Sinners were put to open penance. Is nothing amiſs? (ſaith my Lord Bacon) Can any man defend the uſe of Excommunication as a bare proceſs to lacquey up and down for Duties and for Fees; it being the greateſt Judgement next unto the General at the la… day? Lord Bacon his Diſcourſe about Church-Affairs, p. 32. And might we not ſay, That it ſeems liable to exception, that Chancellors, and Commiſſaries, and Officials, perſons not in holy Orders, ſhould have power of Excommunication? I have read indeed that the French King hath the power of Excommunication; but it may be conſidered that a Chriſtian King is mixt… Perſona, & cuſtos utriuſque Tabulae, and is o… Right, ſupreme Governour over all perſons, a… well Eccleſiaſtical as Civil. Beſides, it were … be wiſhed in reaſon by the Biſhops themſelves, that the Biſhops might not be control'd by thei… Chancellors, and their Sentence and Order, o… Judgment one day in Court, be reverſed or made p. 21inſignificant by a contrary Order or Judgement of the Chancellor, the next.

Queſt. But what's the reaſon that now adayes their is ſuch Alteration and Innovation in Worſhip and Diſcipline deſired and laboured for?

Anſw. Divers things have along time, even all along more or leſs, been complained of, as grievous; and the Removal of them have been requeſted from our Kings and Parliaments almoſt ever ſince the Reformation. Some of the Biſhops, and other men in great place, have felt the burden of ſome things required of them; Biſhop Hooper would willingly have been diſpenced withal, as to ſome of the Epiſcopal Habits. Dr. Sampſon, Dean of Chriſt-Church in Oxford, was turned out of his place for Inconformity. Peter Martyr profeſſor, and a Canon of Chriſt-Church, could yet never be perſwaded to put on a Surplice all the time be was in Oxford. The Commons in Parliament, in the thirtieth year of Queen Elizabeth, preſented a Petition to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, for the Redreſs of ſixteen Grievances: The ſix firſt, ſaith the Hiſtorrian, were againſt inſufficient Miniſters: The ſeventh, That no Oath or Subſcription might be tendered to any at the entrance into Miniſtry, but ſuch as is expreſly preſcribed by the Statutes of this Realm, except the Oath againſt corrupt Entering. The eighth, That they may not be troubled for the omiſſion of ſome Rites or Portions preſcribed in the Book of p. 22Common-Prayer. The ninth, That they may not be called and urged to anſwer before the Officials and Commiſſaries, but before the Biſhops themſelves. The tenth, That ſuch as had been ſuſpended or deprived for no other offence, but onelyonly for not☞ ſubſcribnig, might be reſtored; and that the Biſhops would forbear their Excommunication ex Officio mero, of Godly and Learned Preachers, not detected for open offence of Life, or apparent Error in Doctrine. The thirteenth, That the high Cenſure of Excommunication may not be denounced or executed for ſmall matters, nor by Chancellours, Commiſſaries, or Officials, but by the Biſhops themſelves, with the aſsiſtance of ſome grave Perſons. Di. Full. Ch. Hiſt.

Queſt. How can the Nonconformiſts reaſonably expect any alterations and condeſcentions now for their ſakes? Did not they deny a toleration to the Epiſcopal Clergy but lately? And did not the Elder Brother, Presbytery, deny to bear with the Younger, Independency? And were they not very ſevere and ſtrict in puniſhing all Diſſenters from their way? See Cont. p. 124, 125.

Anſw. The Nonconformiſts of the Congregational way were then, and ſtill are for Liberty of Conſcience; and the Presbyterians humbly move for the like Favour and Liberty which others had in thoſe days, different as to Government from them in the like Circumſtances. They forbore the impoſing of unneceſſary things, or ſuch things p. 23as were doubtful, in and about the ſervice of God, as terms and conditions of Communion with them. Beſides, they ſuffered many of the Epiſcopal perſwaſion without ever taking the Covenant to enjoy places in Churches, Colledges, and Schools. And 'tis notoriouſly known, That Dr. Wild, afterward Biſhop Wild, Dr. Gunning, and others, had numerous Meetings for Common Prayer and Preaching, at London; and Dr. Hyde, Dr. Fell, and others, at Oxford, in thoſe days. As to the five poor men (as the Author calls the Apologiſts) they had liberty to preach, and enjoyed the fatteſt and richeſt publick Lectures in London. Give me leave to add too, that the Parliament by their Ordinance allowed the Biſhops 200 l. per annum for their Lives; and I find in the Life of Biſhop Morton, that he had an Order to have 1000 l. out of the Treaſury at Goldſmiths-Hall, with which he paid his Debts, and purchaſed to himſelf an Annuity of 200 l. per annum during his Life. And a fifth part of Livings, where the Miniſter was ejected, for maintenance of Wife and Children: And ſcarce any man in thoſe days, that was able, ſober, and peaceable, but might, if he had pleaſed, have Employment and a Livelyhood. The Parliament made no Act for Baniſhment of them from Corporations, forbad them not to teach Schools, or entertain Boarders in their Houſes, impoſed no Oath on Women that taught School, to capacitate p. 24them for that Calling, or elſe left them lialbe to puniſhment for ſo doing. And although they made two Ordinances againſt the uſe of the Common Prayer, I never knew one that ſuffered the penalty of them.

Queſt. Were there no Ceremonies impoſed by the Presbyterians in any part of the Worſhip of God? Did they not require men to be bareheaded at the reading of the Covenant, and that they ſhould all take it lifting up their right hand to heaven? Are not theſe Ceremonies? And is not an Oath a ſpecial part of Divine Worſhip? (See Debate, p. 166. Ed. 4.)

Anſw. An Oath being an immediate and ſolemn Appeal to God, and having ſomething of Invocation, of the Divine Majeſty in it, doth therefore require ſome Geſture or Poſtute, that is naturally expreſſive of Reverence, at the taking of it. Beſides, the lifting up the right hand to Heaven,Rev. 10.5, 6.Rev 10:5Rev 10:6 was that, which the Angel did, when he ſware-Bring as good reaſon, and as good a preſident fox all the Ceremonies impoſed in the Liturgy, and they will be more eaſily conformed unto.

Queſt. Are not the Nonconformiſts diſobedient to Governours, no Friends to Caeſar, Unpeaceable, Refractory? Hath not this been their practiſe alway, and do pot they teach men ſo?

Anſw. His moſt Excellent Majeſty had knowledge p. 25of divers of that way, who were commiſſioned by him for the Review and Alteration of the Liturgy; and his Majeſty is pleaſed to give them a better Character in his Gracious Declaration about Eccleſiaſtical Affairs. His Royal Expreſſions are theſe: We muſt for the honour of all thoſe of either Perſwaſion, with whom We have conferred. Declare, That their Profeſſions and Deſires of true Piety and Godlineſs, are the ſame; their profeſsions of Zeal for the Peace of the Church, the ſame; of Affection and Duty to Us, the ſame: They all approve Epiſcopacy, they all approve a ſet Form of Liturgy, and they diſprove and diſlike the Sin of Sacriledge and Alienation of the Revenues of the Church. And now his Majeſty hath ſo far teſtified for them their, good Behaviour; Hear them ſpeak for themſelves, and that when they were in Council too. "Tis the Duty of People to pray for Magiſtrates, to honour their Perſons, to pay them Tribute and other Dues, to obey their lawful Commands, to be ſubject to their Authority for Conſcience-ſake. This they teach as Doctors in Synod in their Confeſſion of Faith, and this they would have other Teachers teach all others in their Larger Catechiſe, and in part by their own example, in the Directory for publick Worſhip. And as for their practiſe, I ſay, greater Loyalty than this hath no man, than that a man lay down his life for his Soveraign; and yet ſuch were ſome of them; (as Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons.) p. 26Some of them alſo had tryal of cruel Mocking for their Loyalty; ſome of them of Bonds and Impriſonments, of Sequeſtration and Baniſhments. There are to be found among the preſent Nonconformists, who ſollicited Heaven and Earth with their Prayers and Tears, for the ſaving of the Life of his late Majeſty of Bleſſed Memory. And whereas there were threeſcore and three unjuſt Judges that condemned his Majeſty, there were juſt as many Miniſter, all except two, accounted Presbyterians, who appeared with the hazard of their Livings and Liberties, (if no alſo of their Lives) with Scripture-Reaſons, and moſt earneſt Entreaties, to diſſwade men from and to declare againſt, ſo horrid a wickedneſs Which very thing was the occaſion that afterward ſome of them were driven from their Houſes others impriſoned, ſequeſtred, an… threatned to be hanged.Mr. H. Dr. W. Mr. A. That theſe perſons were real, cordial, and conſcientious too, (and that of th… Oaths they had taken to his Majeſty) you may in charity judge, if you take a taſte of one of thoſe Papers to the General, and the General Council of War, Preſented and Printed during his Majeſties Tryal. In it they declare againſt all Proceedings againſt his Majeſties Crown and Life upon grounds of Conſcience and Prudence: Which when they had laid down, &c. they conclude ſaying, It was the Conſcience of the many Oaths … p. 27God its which you, we, and the generality of the Kingdom indiſpenſibly ſtand bound before God, Angels, and Men; which made them thus to declare themſelves. That we deſire to waſh our hands, as from the Blood of all men, ſo eſpecially of our Dread Soveraign; and to approve our ſelves innocent of all that blood and miſery, the Depoſing and taking away his Majesties Life, will in our apprehenſion involve us, our Posterity, and all men profeſſing Godlineſs in the three Kingdoms. We do therefere from our Soul beſeech and importune you and every one of you, as Men, Gentlemen, and Christian Souldiers, by all that can be dear to good men, as you deſire to render a good account of your actions at the great day, to the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, That you will forbear doing ought in the Premiſes, which may wound the Conſcience, or pierce the Hearts of any of Gods People, (who are all alike with you, or any of you, precious to him as the Apple of his Eye) which may rend and tear the Bowels of this your and our native Countreys; and occaſion the common Enemy to blaſpheme the Majeſty, Truth, and Cauſe of our God: And further to contribute the utmoſt skill, study, and endeavours of you, and every of you in your proper places (and the great Counſellor and mighty GOD direct you all) to remove ours and the Kingdoms fears, to remedy the preſent abounding Diſtempers, and preſent and univerſal Deſtruction: That we and the Generations to come, may riſe up and call you Bleſſed; and ſo eminent a preſervation p. 28of the Kingdom in ſuch an extremity, may be had in everlaſting Remembrance.

And as for their Loyalty to our moſt Gracious Soveraign that now is, (and long, and long may God continue Him, and bleſs Him with all the Bleſſings of Heaven and Earth, both in his Perſon and Government!) the Presbyterians have given good Proof thereof: Mr. Cawten prayed for his Majeſty, with his Royal Titles, in publick; and for his ſo doing, was accuſed and arraigned of High-Treaſon. Others of them in private Houſes prayed for him, would not own the Government that then uſurped over us, nor keep their Days of Thankſgiving for the Victory at Dunbar or Worceſter, nor publiſh their Declarations againſt his Majeſty or Sir George Booth, and thoſe that endeavoured his Reſtauration; yea, there are to be found amongſt the preſent Nonconforming-Miniſters, who had like to have been hang'd for engaging with Sir George Booth, and hardly eſcaped with their Lives then, who have ſince loſt their Livings: Yea, ſo zealous were the Presbyterian Miniſters for his Majeſties Reſtauration, that the chief Quarrel in reaſon of the high Hierarchiſts againſt them, ſhould have been no other than that of the men of Iſrael againſt the men of Judah, Becauſe they were the firſt in bringing the King back.

Queſt. Can any man believe that the High Conformiſts were not the great Doers and Sufferers p. 29both, for his Majeſty, and that meerly out of Principles of Conſcience?

Anſw. I acknowledge there were divers amongſt the Biſhops and the Conforming-Clergy, that did both do and ſuffer really out of principles of Conſcience; yet that their own Intereſt had ſome conſiderable influence into the Loyalty of many of them, may be ſuſpected; for that they ſeem to expreſs more and greater Zeal againſt the Presbyterians, who yet endeavoured to ſave the King's Life, than againſt the Regicides themſelves that put him to death; and more frequently and more fiercely every where charge, arraign, and condemn the Covenant, than the Engagement; as if they judged it was a more unpardonable crime to endeavour to extirpate Prelacy, than actually to take away King and Houſe of Lords, more heinous to diveſt a Prelate of his Pontificalibus, than to cut off the Head of the Lords Anointed. This may poſſibly occaſion many ſober perſons to query, If the Tables had been turn'd, and that his Majeſty bad been for the extirpation of Prelacy, and the removal of Liturgy and Ceremonies, and the Parliament for the continuance and upholding of them, whether many that were very hot, would not have been lukewarm, if not key-cold in his Majeſties cauſe? I conclude the Anſwer to this Queſtion, when I have laid down this great Truth; That the Mitre is more beholden to the Crown, p. 30than the Crown to the Miter; and that it wit his Majeſty that reſtored the Biſhops, and not the Biſhops which reſtored his Majeſty.

Queſt. Is not this then a true Maxim in Policy, That Monarchy is greatly ſupported by Prelacy; and that the greateſt Hectors for Uniformity ſerve his Majeſties Intereſt and Government moſt and beſt?

Anſ. The Lord Falkland (either then or a while after Secretary of State) ſaid in Parliament of ſome ſtirring and leading Prelates before the War, as followeth; A little ſearch will find them to have been the deſtruction of Unity under pretence of Uniformity: to have brought in Superſtition and Scandal, under titles of Reverence and Decency, &c: In which they have abuſed his Majeſtie as well as his People. Heyl Cyp. Ang. p. 408.

Quest. But if it be granted that the Presbyterians have any Loyalty to his Majeſty, have they alſo any love to the peace of the Church, and to Diſſenters from their Government? Do they not implacably hate the Epiſcopal Clergy, and ſtand irreconciliable to all Uniformity and Liturgy?

Anſw. In the Presbyterians Addreſs to his Majeſty they aſſert the lawfulneſs of Epiſcopacy, and of a Liturgy. The mention of the names of many Biſhops both in the beginning of Reformation, and of later times, are precious to them, p. 31like an Oyntment poured forth; the memory of them is and ſhall be in Benedictione: And there have been never any ſo bad ſince, as to make ſo…er perſons to condemn all. There are ſtill of the Hierarchy men of that piety, learning, temperance, meekneſs and moderation, that we deſpair not (if ſome Boutefeau's and Incendiaries would ceaſe blowing the coals) might be the happy Inſtruments to quench the Fire, and be like the good Shepherds, who bring home their Sheep when gone aſtray, in their very boſoms, and with their Benedictions. There are alſo amongſt Diſſenters many ſons of peace, who love not to fiſh in troubled waters, or to blow the coals; great friends to Unity, Peace and Order, and no enemies to Biſhops; who either keep no Private-Meetings, or therein diſſwade not the people from frequenting the Publick-Aſſemblies, or hearing their Miniſters or Liturgy.

Queſt. Have not they that took the Covenant …bjured all Epiſcopacy?

Anſw. It was declared in the Aſſembly before the Covenant was taken, that the Covenant did not bind againſt a Primitive-Epiſcopacy; and at the time of taking the Covenant) this was frequently declared in private conference, and ſome did it from the Preſs and Pulpit. However, the Covenant obliges men, to act only in their places and callings and ſo far as lawfully they may; it doth not … men to be ſeditious p. 32in the State, or ſchiſmatical in the Church, t… bring about any alteration or reformation of Government: We are far from thinking (ſay the Presbyterians in their Paper of Propoſals to his Majeſty, ſpeaking of the Covenant) that it obligeth us to any evil, or to go beyond, our places and callings to do good, much leſs to reſist Authority, t… which it doth oblige us, (p. 13.) We ought not to uſe violent, tumultuous, ſeditious, or any unlawful mean to bring about a Reformation. Notwithſtanding the Covenant, we acknowledge it belongs to his Majeſty with the advice of the Parliament, to ſettle and regulate the Church. Government. And it may be remembred, that Presbyterian Parliament voted his Majeſties Conceſſions a ground of Peace, although he never conſented to the extirpation o… Epiſcopal-Government.

Quest. Were the Presbyterians bound by the Covenant to diveſt his Majeſty of his ſupremac… in Eccleſiaſtical Affairs? See Debate, pag. 168 4. Ed.

Anſw. An Oath for confirmation ought to be an end of all ſtrife. They have ſince generally taken the Oaths of Supremacy and Alleagiance not above ſix (that I hear of) refuſed it in all Scotland. And on the other ſide, 'tis not unknown to ſome, that a very learned and great Clerk, a Dignitary of this Church, of no ſmall note, was hardly perſwaded to take down this bitter Pill (according to his guſt) though it was p. 33double gilt with a Prebend of 200 l. per annum. His Majeſties Commiſſioner preſides to the General Aſſembly of the Church of Scotland. They willingly and heartily give unto the Kings Majeſty the chief Government of all Eſtates of this Realm, whether they be Eccleſiaſtical or Civil. The Covenant binding men to reform according to the Word of God, could not reaſonably or charitably be conſtrued ro take away that Prerogative which we ſee to have been given always to godly Princes in holy Scriptures, by God himſelf: i. e: That they ſhould rule all Eſtates and Degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Eccleſiaſtical or Temporal, and reſtrain with the Civil Sword the ſtubborn and evil Doers. Yea, they are ſo far from waſting or clipping this his Majeſties Royal Prerogative that they would not be offended; if the Statute of King Edward the Sixth, was again revived, whereby all Citations in the Courts Spiritual, ſhould iſſue out in the Kings Name, and be ſealed with his Seal. And if it ſhould once pleaſe his Majeſty, it would not diſpleaſe them (no, though they themſelves were admitted into the Church) to have a Vicar General in Spiritualibus.

Queſt. Are the high Sons of the Church advanced ſo many degrees as is pretended above the poor Nonconformists in their Charity? See Debate, p. 20. Ed. 1.

p. 34Anſw. There is juſt cauſe to fear that amongſt them, ſome there are, who have a greater Charity for the Church of Rome, than for the Presbyterians; that is, for them that differ from the Church of England in Subſtantials, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline, and Government; that for them who differ from them onelyonly or chiefly in Circumſtantials, in leſſer and lighter matters, not of the Foundation of Religion, but belonging onelyonly to the Superſtructure; or if you pleaſe, at beſt to the adorning of it. For my own part (and for all the Nonconforming-Miniſters) I may ſay, for ought I know, That we would ſooner give the Right Hand of Fellowſhip to the higheſt and moſt rigid Father or Son of the Church of England, than joyn hands with Rome. That ſome of our Brethren of the other ſide have not a heart ſo inlarged with Charity to all men, and particularly to Diſſenters, as is pretended and boaſted, may be evinced by the Treatiſe under conſideration; which may ſeem to be deſigned to render their Brethren, and Miniſters of the Goſpel too, ridiculous, if not odious. I heard no mean man ſay, That the deſign was, To put the Beaſts Skin upon us, and then to cry, Ha-loo! Ha-loo! I muſt needs confeſs, it appears to me at leaſt very uncivil, if not uncharitable alſo, to go about to pluck off the Healing and Soveraign Playſter, which his Majeſties Royal Hands, with the Advice of his Parliament (a whole Colledge p. 35of Phyſitians) in the Act of Indempnity had laid on the bleeding Wounds which the late War had made amongſt us. I might add alſo, that there are ſome paſſages ſo full of Lightneſs and Drollery, that they might better become ſome Eccleſiaſtical Hudibras; or a Ben-Johnſon, a Doctor of the Stage, than a Rabbi, or a grave Doctor of the Church.

Quest. Are men of the high Prelacy, or high and rigid Sons of the Church, men of the higheſt form in Religion, and of a more perfect, ſerious and ſolid Godlineſs, than the poor ſilly ſcrupulous Nonconforming-Turn-ours? (See Debate, p. 155.)

Anſw. 'Tis very ſtrange if Preferment, if great places of Power and Profit ſhould indeed make men more truly and ſeriouſly godly, and particularly ſhould by an Antipariſtaſis produce the great work of Self-denyal, Mortification, &c. We will not at preſent compare Godlineſs; but this I think, That 'tis no demonſtration of a higher degree of Godlineſs to jeer at Godlineſs, though in a Diſſenter, and accompanied with ſome Weakneſſes and imperfections, to make the door to the Theatre and Stage ſo wide, and to the Church and Pulpit ſo ſtrait and narrow: Cer…inly the true right perfect godly man, is neither your Nonconformist godly man, nor Conformiſt as deſcribed in the Debate; but made up of both put together: whoſe Character we p. 36have in a great meaſure in the 165th page of the Treatiſe, in my opinion the beſt page in the Book: Where the Power of Godlineſs is ſet forth after this manner:

A truly godly man, (who hath not only a name to live, &c is dead; who is a Jew not only outwardly in the fleſh, but inwardly in the Spirit; who hath not only the Form, but the Power of Godlineſs in him) is ſuch a one as denies himſelf for God and his neighbour; that ſets not his heart upon getting Riches, and is humble and modeſt; that reverencet… his Governours, and ſtudies in word and deed to preſerve their Authority; that humours his Parent though not of their Opinion, or perhaps ungodly that is ſenſible of Benefits, and grateful to Bent factors; that ſtudies Purity and Chaſtity; that … kind and tenderly affected to his Relations; th… keeps his Faith, and performs his Promiſes, thoug… to his own damage; that is eaſily reconciled, if … have been groſly injured; that ſpeaks well (if he can) of his Neighbour, and is not ready to believe ever Story of them; that endeavours to preſerve an ev… temper; that commands his Paſſions; that is ſtea… and uniform in his Actions; that is meek, and ſu… miſſive, peaceable and humble; that loves Vert… whore-ever he ſees it, and doth not deſpiſe or reproad it under the name of meer Morality; that is faithful to his truſt, ſober, adviſed, and conſiderate in his undertakings; that hath no opinion of himſelf, at loves God above all things; that chuſ…th rather… p. 37keep at home, and mind his own Concernments, than to be prying into the ſecrets of his Neighbours houſe; that has no other deſign upon any, either man or waman, than to make them good, and further their increaſe in true Wiſdom.

Quest. Are not the Presbyterians, Changelings, men of very limber Conſciences, who inſtead of being call'd Turn-outs, may better be call'd Turn-coats? See Cont. p. 29.

Anſw. One would think in reaſon, that thoſe that are charged to be ſo rigid, ſcrupulous, ſuper…titious, tenacious of their own Opinions, obſti…ate in their own way, ſhould not eaſily turn with every wind. Amongſt the Miniſters, 'tis true, there have been Willows, as well as Oaks; amongſt our Parſons, we have had ſome Vicars of Brailas, who have turned in their Pulpits as well as the Weathercock on their Steeples. Some Miniſters indeed would not turn, and for that treaſon are turn'd out. Confident I am, that the greateſt number of them that were Sufferers for refuſing the Engagement, and non-comply…nce in the late times, were of thoſe that, are or have been Sufferers ſince for Non-conformity.

Queſt. Are not the Nonconformiſts men of narrow Souls, and of a narrow Charity, confined to a Party, within a few private Walls or Conventicles; whereas the high Sons of the Church their Charity is as large as their Churches, p. 38even as their CATHEDRALS

Anſw. Sure I am their Charity is not ſo large as St. Paul's, Rom. 14. There was before th… Wars a Lady (as I have heard from Perſons … Quality) not very many years ſince, wrote t… the Biſhop of Lincoln, on the behalf of a Nonconformiſt that was in trouble for ſome ſmall Omiſſion or Inconformity: To whom the Biſhop replied, If the Perſon your Ladiſhip wrot for, had been a Drunkard or a Whoremonger, I could have ſhewed him favour; but in this caſe, no… at all. It is marvellous to think, but ſo it is, that Church-Charity ſhould not be ſo large as Civil. The Members of the Long Parliament, who too… the Covenant, and impos'd it upon others, ſit quietly in This, without having that impoſed on them, the refuſal whereof, might occaſion their Ejectment out of the Houſe. The Nobles and others about the Court, that were divided in the the late Wars, are ſodered again, love one another, and (which is a good and pleaſant thing) dw…l together in Unity. The Lawyers in the Inns … Court, unite, cement, and plead together; do not, for the old Quarrel, turn one another over the Bar, or out of Doors. The Knights and Gentlemen in the Countrey, that fought on ſeyerul ſides, are reconciled, and act together as one man for the good of his Majeſty and his Kingdom, notwithſtanding what paſſed in the late differences. OnelyOnly the Miniſters and Ambaſſadors p. 39of the Goſpel of Peace, who ſay and do not, will as yet have no peace, clapping their Wings to ſtir and beat up their Mettal, and crowing to ſound an Alarm to a Paper Combate. This is a Lamentation, and ought to be for a Lamentation. Pudet hoc opprobria nobis, &c.

Queſt. It the Nonconformists are ſo charitable, ſo willing to forgive what is paſt, and to receive Diſſenters into their own Boſoms, or to come themſelves into the Boſom of their Mother again, (though ſhe may poſſibly be charged to have thruſt them out of doors, becauſe they have narrow Throats, and could not ſwallow a Pompion inſtead of a Maſtick Pill, or a Hedghog in ſtead of an Oyſter) what's the Reaſon then that of old in their publick Churches, and now-a-days in their private Conventicles, they uſe not the Lords Prayer? Was it not becauſe of that Petition, Forgive us our Treſpaſſes as we forgive them that treſpaſs againſt us? Debate, p. 95. 1 Ed.

Anſw. There were thoſe who are now Nonconformiſts, that in former times uſed it conſtantly; and ſome who wrot Apologies for it: And divers Miniſters now-a-days who do keep private Meetings, do ſtill uſe the Lords Prayer in their private Congregations.

Queſt. Can they be thought charitable, eſpecially to Diſſenters, that cry out of the Pope as Antichriſt, and the Popiſh Religion as Antichriſtian?

p. 40Anſw. King James called the Pope Antichrist in his Writings. The Homilies call him ſo. Hom. Tom. 1. p. 17. Edit.. and again p. 38. & p. 70. Yea, the publick Prayers for the 5th of Novemb. before Archbiſhop Laud's time, ſaid of the Ramanists, that their Faith was Faction, and their Religion Rebellion.

Queſt. Have the Nonconformiſts nothing momentous againſt the Common-Prayer and Ceremonies, but only to cry out, that it was taken o… of the Maſs-Book, and that they are Reliques of Rome, and Popiſh Superſtitions? Deb. p. 97. ed. 1.

Anſw. I do know ſcarce one intelligent Nonconformist who refuſes to uſe the Liturgy, upon this account, only, or chiefly, becauſe taken out of the Maſs-Book. My Gold is not therefore ſtraight become droſs, becauſe ſtolen out of my Cheſt, and found in the houſe of a Thief; when 'tis legally reſtored to me again, what is it the worſe? The Common-Prayer is older than the Maſs, as we uſually take the word Maſs now adayes: but the Maſs, by the corruption of the Times, getting by degrees inſenſibly, by little and little, into the Liturgy, the Reformers finding things ſo, owned and adhered to the Liturgy as good Gold, but rejected the Maſs as very Droſs and Tin. Yet foraſmuch as we cannot win the Papiſts to joyn with us in our Liturgy, as they did the firſt ten or eleven years of Q, Elizabeth; and that ſome of our own Church p. 41are ready to run away and ſeparate from us, pretending we comply too much with Rome, in ſome of our Forms or Ceremonies: If if ſhould pleaſe his moſt excellent Majeſty and the Parliament, to cauſe the Liturgy to be reviſed, and ſome greater Alterations to be made for the better, than was of late; it ſhould not offend, but rather much rejoyce the Presbyterians. I have read that the Archbiſhop of Armagh declared his Judgment, when time was, againſt the introducing of the Engliſh Ceremonies into the Church of Ireland. And I have been told that the Right Reverend the Biſhop of Hereford that now is, upon another occaſion, expreſſed his Opinion to be, That the further of we keep from the Church of Rome, the better. I might add this alſo (which I had from a credible perſon preſently after it was ſpoken) That the late Archbiſhop of Canterbury was very willing to have had, though a Liturgy, yet one that might not be ſo much diſpleaſing, or diſſatisfactory, as this was to many. I confeſs there are ſome well-meaning people who forbear to uſe the names of Altar, Priest Chriſtmaſs, &c. or to call Feſtival dayes (wherein the Church of England commemorates the Saints, and bleſſeth God for their example) by the names of thoſe Saints dayes; yet they are not altogether without all excuſe in this their Scrupuloſity, if we conſider what a bad uſe they of the Church of Rome make of out keeping and p. 42continuing old words; Let us keep our forefathers words (ſay the Annotations on the Rhe…iſt Teſtament, on 1 Tim. chap. 6.) — and w… ſhall eaſily keep our old and true Faith we had of the first Chriſtians; Let them ſay Amendment. Abſtinence, the Lords Supper, the Communion. Table, Elders, Miniſters, Superintendents, Congregation, ſo be it. — Let tee keep the old terms, Penance, Faſting, Prieſt, Charity, Biſhop, Maſs, Mattins, Even ſong, the bleſſed Sacrament, Altar, Oblation, Holt, Sacrifice, Alleluja, Amen, Lent, Palmſunday, Chriſtmſs, &c. and the very words will bring us to the faith of our first Apoſtles, and condemn theſe new Apoſtates, their new faith and phraſes. If we conſider further what is reported of Biſhop Bonner, namely, that when he ſaw the Reformation, and how many of their Ceremonies were retained, being asked what he thought of it? If they like (ſaid he) to taſt of our Broth ſo well, they will eat of our Beef ſhortly. I dare ſay the Church ſince the Reformation never intended any adoration of the Bread by our kneeling in the act of receiving, and yet Biſhop Hall ſaith thus; I had a dangerous conflict with a Sorbonist, who took occaſion by our kneeling at the receipt of the Euchariſt, to perſwade all the company of our acknowledgment of a tranſubſtantiation. It muſt be confeſt further, that, amongſt well-meaning people, ſome there are (though ſcarce any among the Miniſtry) who ſcruple the naming p. 43the Apoſtles and other Saints, whether real or imaginary, by the name of Saints; and their plea may be, they cannot ſee any ſufficient reaſon (ſetting aſide the Authority of our Governors and the Cuſtom of the Times and Places we live in) why we ſhould ſay St. Matthew and St. Andrew, Debate, pag. 64, 65.rather than St. Moſes and St. Aaron; and why they ſhould call David a Biſhop in Wales, St. David, rather than K. David King in Jeruſalem, the one being truly a Saint and the Lords Anointed, and the other canonized by the Pope. Yet doubtleſs there are none ſo ſcrupulous amongſt us but had as leave ſay St. Michael as St. George. As for the Nonconformiſts-Miniſters, it was the practice of Dr. Thomas Goodwin (as I am informed) and was all along the late time… to ſay ſuch a Chapter, or ſuch a Verſe of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Paul. &c. That 'tis not alway neceſſary to mention the Apoſtles with the title of Saint, for fear of ſin in the Judgement of our Church, may hence be concluded, that in all the Collects for the dayes ſet apart to commemorate the Holy Apoſtles in, there ate but two wherein they ate ſtiled Saints.

Quest. Do the Nonconformiſts hold it utterly unlawful to keep dayes in remembrance of what the holy Apoſtles,Deb. p. 73. 1. Ed. and other Saints have done or ſuffered? and had they much rather keep a day of p. 44Thankſgiving for O. C. his defeating his Majeſty at Worceſter, than for Michael the Archangel his victory over the Devil and his Angels?

Anſw. Some think it impoſſible for a man, without ſpecial warrant from God, to ſanctifie ſo that the ſervice performed unto God upon that day ſhould be more acceptable than on any other. Some think the abuſes of thoſe Feſtival dayes are ſo great, common and cuſtomary, that if his Majeſty and the Parliament ſaw good, it would be better and more eaſie, to aboliſh the Obſervation of them, than to take away the Abuſes, which they think cleaves to them like the Leproſie in the wall of the houſe. That theſe Feaſts were of Apoſtolical inſtitution, or obſerved by the Apoſtles, any except Eaſter, is not ſo much as pretended unto that I read of; Hoſpinian hath told us the Original of them, to be of a much later date: And as for the obſervation of Eaſter it ſelf, Mr. Hales is of opinion that it was an Error to hold it neceſſary to obſerve ſuch a Feaſt; and the Controverſie about the Time (which ſet all the World in a Combuſtion; and were it not that both ſides pretended Conſcience in the caſe,Hales of Schiſm, p. 5. he thinks them all guilty of Schiſm) he ſaith was a matter moſt unneceſſary and vaine, The old Nonconforming Miniſters did uſe to take the opportunity of thoſe dayes to p. 45preach in to the people. Some Reformed Churches have no Saints dayes, but only keep ſome few dayes Holy in remembrance of our Saviour, or relating to the bleſſed Trinity: So as I take it, doth the Church of Scotland even at this day. For my own part I think the Church of England is well juſtified by Mr. Perkins from Superſtition in her obſervance of the Feſtival dayes ſhe obſerves. I can aſſure you there are that can obſerve a day to give thanks for the victory of Michael over the Devil, which neither did, nor could, nor would keep a day to give thanks for the victory of O. C. over the King at Worceſter, or of Lambert over Sir George Booth in Cheſhire. As for occaſional dayes of Faſting and Humiliation, they have not been ſo much ſcrupled in the World by ſober men, nor may be ſo liable to exception or abuſe, as the ſtated Faſts and Feaſts may; and I think uſually they are mote ſtrictly obſerved. As for the Nonconformiſts private dayes, which the Author of the Debate ſpeaks of, if they keep them no better (thoſe that do keep them) than many, if not moſt do, the ordinary ſtated Faſts and Feaſts, I think they may do every whit as well to lay them aſide.

Quest. Next to Holy-dayes, what do the Nonconforming-Miniſters think of the Surplice, and the reſt, commonly called Holy Garments; Is it not a ſuperſtitious and a very ſuperfluous zeal which boyls over ſo againſt theſe things?

p. 46Anſw. Some I confeſs are offended the Surplice becauſe abuſed in the time, of Popery to ſuperſtition; and conceive poſſibly, that becauſe Queen Elizabeth's In junctions or Articles ſay, that the gray Amice ſhall not be uſed, becauſe it hath been ſo abuſed to Superſtition; that there is the like equity for the diſuſe of the Surplice. There was a Learned, and Pious Perſon, once ſaid, He had often worn the Surplice, but he thought he ſhould rather be hang'd than wear it again. For my own part, I ſhould be loth to be a Martyr for or againſt the Surplice; being commanded to be uſed by the Church, not as having any holineſs in it, but onelyonly as a decent Garment: Yea, I ſhould be loth to be kept out of the Church or Pulpit by Suilling. The truth is, the Surplice is little beholding to thoſe Doctors, that are the Champions for its uſe, when they tell us that it may teach us purity and holineſs, wherewith we are to be cloathed: And may it not as well mind us of the leproſie of ſin wherewith we come into the World Lepers as white as Snow? Or when they tell us that the Saints that follow the Lamb in the Revelations, were all cloathed with long White Robes; for by this reaſon all the People, men and women, as well as the Miniſter, ſhould wear Surplices; and this too would make more for Uniformity.

Whereas 'tis ſaid, That there it at much to be ſaid for a Miniſters wearing a Surplice, at for his p. 47wearing a white Cap; and that there is no more reaſon for any to be offended to ſee a Miniſter wear a black Hood, or a Surplice, than to ſee him wear a white Cap under a black.

It may be anſwered, That the Surplice is a Garment commanded to be worn by the Miniſter in Chapel or Church, and for the time of his Adminiſtration onelyonly: The Cap is ad libitum, at his choice, and worn at all times, and places, and employments alike; and not appropriated to holy perſons or holy ſervices; and what more reaſon why any man ſhould be offended to ſee a white Cap under a black, than to ſee a little black Jack tipp'd with Silver? As for the Biſhops Lawn Sleeves, (whatever the Judge ſaid) I hope they ſhall not choak me. The Caſſock was a Garment for a Souldier, and may well enough become thoſe of the Spiritual Militia. The Cirſingle, as 'tis call'd, is not for us Nonconformiſts, being turn'd out to Graſs: Yet I would much rather chuſe to have it about my Middle, than my Neck; and to wear a Girdle, than to want a Bleſſing.

But now ſeriouſly to addreſs my ſelf to the Author of the Friendly Debate: I think an indifferent temper about indifferent things, is the beſt; my Religion ſtands not in crying them up or down; I cannot be very zealous for or againſt them: Yet methinks it doth not argue much skill or cunning in a Chapman that hath Wares to ſell, p. 48to tell his Cuſtomers, when they enquire and would be ſatisfied about the goodneſs of them, They are indifferent, they are indifferent. Theſe things of themſelves, and in themſelves conſidered, with other humane Ceremonies, are but lawful, or indifferent, not neceſſary, in the Judgment of the Fathers and Sons of the Church. They are held, the Surplice and other Ceremonies, utterly unlawful in the Judgments and Conſciences of many on whom they are impoſed. Now grant it be their weakneſs ſo ſtrongly and zealouſly to oppoſe theſe things; yet I moſt humbly beſeech the Moſt Reverend and Right Reverend Fathers of the Church, ſeriouſly to weigh and conſider what that Great Apoſtle St. Paul, the Great Doctor of the Gentiles, would have done in that caſe.