The Healing Attempt, Introduction
The Introduction.
THoſe, who are moſt ſenſible of the late Deliverance from the Dangers we were in of being overturn'd by the Papists, muſt be of an Opinion, that the many Diviſions, amongſt our ſelves, had too great a hand in bringing on us what was the true Ground of our Danger; that we can never be perfectly free from the Fears of a Return, ſo long as our Breaches remain Uncured; and, that, it's abſolutely neceſſary, that every one do his Part towards the Settlement of a laſting Ʋnion amongſt Proteſtants, as the ſtrongeſt Bulwark againſt Popery.
Thus much I count is very manifeſt to every Conſidering Mind; for, at this time, Proteſtants, of all Perſwaſions, ſeem to be deſirous of it.
Although there are different Apprehenſions about the Means of attaining it, as, whether by an Indulgence only; or, whether by Indulgence, and Comprehenſion, yet is there no doubt, that I know, about the Ʋnion it ſelf; and ſeeing an Indulgence is already given, Extending Liberty of Conſcience even to the Quakers, and a Bill of Comprehenſion is at this time on the Anvil, I will humbly offer my thoughts concerning it.
That ſuch as are only for an Indulgence will be angry with this Eſſay, is no other than I expect. However, the Arguments for a well-Eſtabliſh'd Comprehenſion influencing me more than the Diſpleaſure of any Party of Men on Earth, I am reſolv'd in God's ſtrength, to do the uttermoſt in me lyeth towards the obtaining it.
It is a Concernment for the Proteſtant Faith, the Salvation of Souls, the Glory of God, that puts me on this work; all which have been Endangered through that want of Powerful Preachers in Pariſh Churches, which hath been the Effect of our Diviſions.
I bleſs God, there are ſo many Faithful and Laborious Miniſters in Publick Places, and yet, conſidering how few theſe are in compariſon of the Churches wants, I cannot but lament the Deplorable Condition of Thouſands in this Nation, who on this occaſion are like Eternally to Periſh, and pray the Lord of the Harveſt to Open the Door, that more Labourers may enter in, even men of the moſt Tender Conſciences, who, no doubt. will be the moſt ſucceſsful in their Miniſtry.
In Queen Elizabeths, and James the Firſt's days, it ſo fell out, that a ſtrict Injunction of Subſcription Depriv'd the Church of the Labours of ſeveral Divines eminent for their Learning, Holineſs of Life, and Converſation.
Conſult the Complaint, Preſented to the Right Honourable the Lords of Her Majeſties Council, and their Lordſhips Anſwer: The Copy of a Letter, written by a Gentleman in the Countrey to a Londoner, touching the Anſwer to the Archbiſhop's Articles: The Lamentable Complaint of the Commonalty by way of Supplication to the High Court of Parliament for a Learned Miniſtry, and you'l ſee, that for Non-conformity ſome of the moſt Conſcientious, and Painful Preachers were brought to the Barr, Marſhalled with the worſt Malefactors, Indicted, Arraigned, Condemned, New Chriſtned with the odious name of Puritan, Depriv'd, to the Advancement of Popery, Debauchery, Atheiſm, and to the great Declenſion of the Power of Godlineſs.
A Diſgracing thoſe Miniſters, that are ſound in the Faith and Induſtrious in their Work, hath been one of the moſt ſucceſsful Engines the Antichriſtian Party have uſed.
The firſt Ten years of Queen Elizabeths Reign, the Papiſts kept to our Churches, and if Saunders, and ſome others, had not with an unexpected ſucceſs nick-named ſome of the moſt Valiant Oppoſers of Popery, and Painful Preachers with the odious names of Puritan and Preciſian, to the good liking of ſome amongſt our ſelves, they might have ſtill continued their Communion with us.
This is not the Obſervation of ſome Nonconformiſts only,The N. C. in their Complaint to the Queens Council humbly advertiſe their Lordſhips, that the Adverſary very cunningly new Chriſtned them with an odious name of Puritan, that whilſt they were occupied in the Defence of their Innocency the Adverſary might have greater freedom to go about their hateful Treachery. Part of the Regiſt. pag. 129. but of the Wiſe and Judicious Sir Robert Cotton, who aſſures us, that the Reaſon of the Papiſts ſeparating from our Church, and returning to their old Apoſtacy, was not the Bull of Pius Quintus on the Biſhop of London's Door (as the Lord Chief Juſtice Coke apprehended) or the forbearing to hang up Prieſts, but in conjunction with the Idleneſs and Inſufficiency of many Teachers conſpiring with the Peoples cold Zeal, Saunders his pinning the name of Puritan on ſome of the moſt Learned and couragious Proteſtants, gave life to that Faction.
It was not (ſaith this Noble Baronet) the Bull of Pius Quintus on the Biſhop of London's Doors,Poſth. Cotton. p. 147, 148. or the forbearing to hang up Prieſts, that have wrought this Apoſtacy, but the Idleneſs and Inſufficiency of many Teachers, conſpiring with the Peoples cold Zeal, that hath been the Contriver of this Web. Until the Eleventh year of Queen Elizabeths Reign, Recuſants name was ſcarcely known, the Reaſon was, becauſe the Zeal, begotten in the time of the Marian Perſecution, was yet freſh in Memory, and the late Perſecutors were ſo amazed with the ſudden alteration of Religion, that they could not chuſe but ſay, Digitus Dei eſt hîc. In thoſe days there was an Emulation between the Clergy, and the Laity; and a ſtrife aroſe whether of them ſhould ſhew themſelves moſt affectionate to the Goſpel: Miniſters haunted the Houſes of worthieſt Men, where Jeſuits now build their Tabernacles, and poor Country Churches were frequented with the beſt of the Shire, the Word of God was precious, Prayer and Preaching went hand in hand together, until Archbiſhop Grindal's Diſgrace, and Hatfield's hard conceit of Prophecying, brought the flowing of thoſe good Graces to a ſtill water; the name of a Papiſt ſmelt rank even in their own Noſtrils, and for pure ſhame to be accounted ſuch they reforted duly both to our Churches, and Exerciſes; But when they ſaw their great Coryphaeus Saunders had ſlily pinned the name of Puritan upon the ſleeves of the Proteſtants that encountred them with moſt Courage, and perceiv'd that the Word was pleaſing to ſome of our own ſide, they took heart at Graſs, to ſet little by the Service of God, and Duty to their Soveraign—moſt Men grew to be frozen in Zeal and benummed, that whoſoever (as the worthy Lord Keeper Bacon obſerv'd in thoſe days) pretended a little ſpark of Earneſtneſs, he ſeemed no leſs than red fire hot, in compariſon of the other. And as ſome fare the worſe for an ill Neighbour's ſake dwelling beſide them; ſo did it betide the Proteſtants, who, ſeeking to curb the the Papiſts, or reprove an idle Drone, were incontinently branded with the Ignominious note of Preciſian, all which wind brought plenty of water to the Pope's Mill, and there will moſt Men grind where they ſee Appearance to be well ſerved: So far Sir Robert Cotton.
And as the diſgracing Godly-Miniſters by faſtning the names of Puritan, Preciſian, &c. on 'em, and the laying 'em aſide from the publick exerciſe of their Miniſtry, did in the Reign of Elizabeth give life to Popery, ſo 'twill ſtill, and all thoſe Proteſtant Miniſters that are now denied entrance into the Pariſh Churches will be in diſgrace amongſt the People and their Miniſtry not half ſo ſucceſsful amongſt thoſe that moſtly need it.
The wider therefore the Church Doors are made, the greater will be the number of Pious and Painful Preachers, the greater the Advantage on Truth's ſide, and the greater Diſcouragement on the other hand.
But that the Door may be made wide enough to anſwer the deſired End, ſeeing our Governours are inclin'd to lay aſide the ſtrict uſe of Ceremonies, with ſome more offenſive Impoſitions there is this one thing, to wit, The Ordering, and Declaring the Government of the Church to be now no other, but what it was held, and intended to be by the firſt Reformers, will, as I humbly apprehend, be the moſt Effectual Expedient of any elſe in the World.
Some of our Clergy have Notions about Church-Government, very Diſſonant from what the Gentry, and Parliament Men have, and the firſt Reformers heretofore had, and it's feared by ſome thinking Perſons, that the Laws, yet in Being, have Eſtabliſhed a Government in the Church, very different from what the Legiſlators, I mean, the King, the Temporal Lords and Commons generally deſigned.
The Government ſettled in the Church by the firſt Reformers, and ſtill ſuppoſed by our Gentry to continue, is conſiſtent enough with the Church ſtate of all other Proteſtants; but that, which is really Eſtabliſhed by Law is Inconſiſtent with, and Deſtructive of it, driving many Learned Godly Proteſtant Divines from that Conformity which is at this time made neceſſary to the Exerciſe of their Miniſtry in Pariſh Churches.
To clear thus much is (methinks) one of the moſt neceſſary things to be attempted, and the very next ſtep to be taken towards the ſetling a Comprehenſion, which will be of validity with Judicious Men.
What were the Sentiments of the Firſt-Reformers about Epiſcopacy, and Church Government, during Queen Elizabeths Reign, I will with the greateſt impartiality declare, as near as poſſibly I can in their own words, and add ſome Arguments to ſhew, that the moſt effectual way to ſettle ſuch a Comprehenſion as will beſt ſecure the Proteſtant Religion, is the Forming and Framing the Government of the Church, according to the Sentiments of our Firſt-Reformers; which in the Learned Archbiſhop Ʋſher's Reduction of Epiſcopacy, I take to be very happily copied out unto us.
I will begin with thoſe who liv'd in Henry the Eighth's days; for then began the Reformation.