A Plea for the Non-Conformists, Title page 1 – Testimonial
A PLEA FOR THE Non-Conformiſts, GIVING The true State of the Diſſenters Caſe. And how far the Conformiſts Separation from the Church of Rome, for their Popiſh Superſtitions and Traditions introduced into the Service of God, juſtifies the Non-Conformiſts Separation from them for the ſame.
In a Letter to Dr. Benjamin Calamy, upon his Sermon, called, Scrupulous Conſcience, inviting hereto.
To which is added, A Parallel Scheme of the Pagan Papal and Chriſtian Rites and Ceremonies. With a Narrative of the Sufferings underwent for Writing, Printing and Publiſher hereof.
By Thomas De Laune
Could we prevail with the People diligently to examine the Merits of the Cauſe [and equally to hear both Parties upon the different determination of the Guides on both ſides] our Church would every day gain more ground amongſt all wiſe men;
Dr. Calamy's Scrup. Conſc. page 24, 25.
Nihil Sine, Nihil Contra, Nihil Praeter, Nihil Ultra divinam Scripturam a…mittendum eſſe;
Pet. Mart. on 2 Sam 6, p 212.
Prov. 31. 8, 9.
Open thy Mouth, plead the Cauſe of the Poor, and ſuch as are … for Deſtruction.
Rom. 2. 1.
Wherein thou judgeſt another, thou condemneſt thy … thou that judgeſt, … the ſame things.
Eſay 8. 20.
To the Law and to the Teſtimony
Mark 7. …3.
making the Word of God of none Effect through your Tradition.
Mit. 19. 8.
From the beginning it was not ſo.
1 King. 18. 21.
How long halt we between two Opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if Baal, follow him.
London, Printed for the Author, 1684.
A Royal Witneſs to the Diſſenters Cauſe.
Being ſome Gleanings of ſome of thoſe Weighty and worthy Sayings of the late King, in his Conference with the Popiſh Marqueſs of Worceſter, 1646. in Ragland Caſtle, out of Certamen Religioſum.
1ſt. In behalf of the Scripture, which the Papiſts ſlight for their Tradition.
2dly. Againſt their Primitive Antiquity, which they adore and fetch their vain Worſhip from.
1ſt. FOr the Scripture, he ſaith, p. 11…. That the Scripture is the Rule by which all Differences may be compoſed; it is the Light wherein we muſt walk, the Foo… of our Souls, an Antidote that expelleth any Infection, the only Sword that kills the Enemy, the only Plaiſter that can cure our Wounds, the only Documents to attain Eternal Life. And p. 116. That the Evidences which are in Scripture cannot be manifeſted but out of the ſame Scripture, and quotes for the ſame, Ironaeas lib. 3. 12.
2dly. Againſt their Antiquities, p. 111. Our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, We muſt not ſo much hearken to what has been ſaid by them of old time, Mat. 5. 38, 39. as to that which he ſhall tell you. Where Auditis dictum eſſe Antiquitatis is expelled, and Ego dico vobis is come in its place. And ſpeaking of that King of Phrigia, that was about to be baptized, ask't the Biſhop What was become of all his Anceſtors? He told him they were gone to He…l, flang away, and ſaid, Thither then will I go unto them; ſaith, No leſs wiſe are they who had rather err with their Fathers and Councils, than recti…ie their Underſtandings by the Word of God, and ſquare their Faith according to its Rules.
And ſpeaking of the Fathers, ſaith, p. 114. I diſcover no Fathers Nakedneſs, but deplore their Infirmities, that we ſhould not truſt in Arms of Fleſh. Tertullian ſaith he was a Montaniſt, Cyprian, a Rebaptiſt or Anabaptiſt; Origins an Antropomo…p…iſt, Jerom, a Monogoniſt, Nazianzen, an Angaliſt, Euſebius, an Arrian: St. Auſtin had writ ſo many Errors, that he writ a Book of Retractations, that they have often contradicted one another, and ſometimes themſelves.
That it was no ſtrange thing to ſee Error triumph in Antiquity, and flouriſh their Enſigns of Univerſality, Succeſſion, &c. in the face of Truth; and nothing ſo familiar of old as to beſmear the face of Truth with ſpots of Novelty; for this was Jeremiah's caſe, Jer. 44. 16▪ 17. &c.
If you vaunt never ſo much of your Roman Catholick-Church, we can tell you, out of St. John▪ That ſhe is become the Synagogue of Satan; neither is it impoſſible but the Houſe of Prayers may be made a Den of Thieves. You call us Hereticks; we anſwer you with St. Paul, Acts 2…. 14. In the way you call Hereſie, worſhip we the God of our Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets.
And the better to teſtifie his Piety and Compaſſion to peaceable Diſſenters, (having himſelf found the Inconveniency of the contrary) ſpeaks to his Son, our preſent King, in his foreign, p. 217. thus, viz.
My counſel and charge to you is, That you beware of exaſperating any Factions by the Croſneſs and Aſperity of ſome mens Paſſions▪ Humours or private Opinions …mployed by you, grounded only upon Differences in leſſer matters, which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion, wherein a Charitable Co…nivance and Chriſtian Toleration often diſſipates their ſtrength, when rougher Oppoſition fortiſies.
And p. 164. That his Prerogative is beſt ſhewed and exerciſe in remitting, rather than exacting the Rigour of the Law, there being nothing worſe tha… legal Tyran…y.