A Plea for the Non-Conformists, Conclusion – Title page 2
The CONCLUSION.
THus, Sir, you have at your Friendly Call and Invitation, a fair and impartial Examination of the Merits of the Cauſe, giving you the different Sentiments of the Guides on both ſides, in the moſt material Objections made by the one, and the candid Anſwers of the other, and how far your own Principles and Practice in ſeparating from Superſtitious, Idolatrous and Perſecuting Bloody Rome, juſtifies in many things, their Principles, as well as Practice, in ſeparation from you walking in their ſteps. The ſubſtance whereof, for a concluſion I ſhall briefly ſum up, with ſome Reflections thereon in the following Queries, (viz.)
1. Quaery If your Anſwer to the Papiſts *Coſterus Inſt. Chriſt. l. 2o. c. 1o. Haec Sacris Literis non prohiberi at que …ine peccato fieri poſſit, quia ubi non eſt Lex ibi nec prevaricatio.calling for your Negative Proof from the Scriptures, againſt their Molatrous Foppiſh and unwritten Traditions be good againſt them, viz. That there needs no Negative Proof to diſprove them, becauſe they are not contain'd in OƲR ONLY RƲLE OF FAITH, THE BIBLE, as pag. 5. Then whether the ſame Anſwer is not good from the Diſſenters, when you ask them the very ſame Queſtion (which carries it in the whole of the Controverſie, …s Dr. Stillingfleet obſerves, p. 4) viz. That there needs no Negative Proofs to diſprove all the Rites, Services and Ceremonies inqueſtion, becauſe none of them are contained in our ONLY RULE OF FAITH, where they ſay, They no more …nd National Provincial Dioc…ſan Churches (your Government by) Lord Arch-Biſhops and Biſhops, Deans, Arch-Deacons, Parſons, Vicars, Curats, Chancellors, Officials, your Conſecration of Churches and Prieſts, your Prieſts Garments, Altars, Liturgies, Singing-Service, Letanies, Bowing, Croſſing, Kneeling at Sacrament, Holy-dayes, Faſts, Feaſts, Vigils; Then, the Popiſh Holy Water, Salt, Oyl, Spittle, Baptizing of Bells, Exorciſms, Conjurations, Bowing to Images and Altars, and other ſuch li…e Fopperies▪ pag. 6, 7, 8.
2. Query. If your own Pens do declare, that to enjoyn unneceſſary or indifferent things, viz. things not contained in the Scripture, in Gods Worſhip and Service, as neceſſary, ought to be reputed an adding to Gods Word, a teaching for Doctrine the Commands of men, Superſtition, Will-Worſhip, or worſhipping God in vein, as pag. 12. then how can you avoid the ſame charge brought againſt you by the Diſſenters, when you, (as ſel…-judged and condemned) do the ſame things? For are not your Rites and Ceremonies confeſſed by you to be Indifferent things, as pag. 9, 10. impoſed upon Diſſenters, as abſolutely neceſſary to the Excommunicating, or as much as lies in you, daming their Souls, ruining their Bodies and Eſtates, who conſcientiouſly ſcruple and refuſe them, as page …1, 12, 13.
3. Quaery. If you do declare the Rites, Services, and Ceremonies in the Liturgy are of Primitive Antiquity, and not of Popiſh Novelty, as pag. 14, 15. and that you have left (or ſeparated from) the Church of Rome, becauſe they have left Primitive Antiquity, and therefore the Diſſenters have no cauſe to boggle at, or ſcruple them as Popiſh. But if it appear to be quite otherwiſe, as▪ the Examination of each particular ſeems to demonſtrate, as p. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, &c. viz That they are not of Primitive Antiquity, but of Popiſh Novelty, and all of them fe…ch't from the Inſtitution of Popes and Popiſh Councils, and Canons, and not from Jeſus Chriſt and his New-Teſtament Canons: If ſo, then firſt, Whether you do not betray much Raſhneſs and Weakneſs, (not to ſay with the Proteſtant Reconciler, one of your own) Falſhood and Hypocriſie? And, Secondly, Whether you do not thereby juſtifie the Diſſenters Separation from you, as warrantable, becauſe they ſeparate from you for being in the practice of Popiſh Superſtition and unwritten Tradition, becauſe they are expreſly commanded by Chriſt, To ſeparate and come out from ſuch unwarrantable Practices, 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Rev. 18. 4. Leſt partaking of ſuch Sins, they ſhare of the threatned Judgments? It being very diſhonourable as well as dangerous to halt betwixt two. If God be God, he (but if Baal, he) is to be ſerved and followed.
To which purpoſe we find in that moſt remarkable Letter of Biſhop Hall to Dr. Laud, afterward Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, that which is very inſtructive upon this account, whereof therefore, I ſhall preſume to give you this following part of it, viz. Reſolve (ſaith he) one way, and know at laſt what you do hold, and what you ſhould caſt off, either your Wings or your Teeth; and lo…thing this Bate, like Nature, be either … Bird or a Beaſt: If you muſt begin, why not now? it is dangerous deferring that whoſe Want is deadly, and whoſe Opportunity is doubtful. God cryeth out with …eh…, Who is on my ſide? Who? Look at leaſt out of your Window to him, and in a reſolute Courage caſt down this Jezebel, &c. Thus far the good Biſhop; which is a good caution againſt Indifferency and Luke warmneſs in the ſervice of Chriſt, agreeable to our Saviour, Rev. 3. to Laodicea, I would thou wert either cold or hot, &c.
4. Quaery. If your ſelves have judged Popiſh Impoſition and Perſecution for Conſcience, to be Antichriſtian, Wolfiſh and Beaſtly, wholly contrary to Chriſtianity, and the Lamb like Nature of Chriſt; and that it is Injuſtice and barbarous Cruelty to afflict men for what they cannot help, and a plain Rebellion againſt God, by wreſting his Scepter and uſurping his Empire over Conſcience, out of his hand, the Principle it ſelf being ſo much decryed by ſo many of your great men, as well King's as Parliaments, as page 51, 52.
Then whether you doing the ſame thing, viz. Impoſing upon the Conſciences of your Brethren, and perſecuting them with ſo much Cruelty, to the ruining, as much as lies in you, both their Souls, Bodies, Liberties and Eſtates, be not to be Self-judged with a Witneſs? 2dly, Doth it not greatly juſtifie the former Popiſh Cruelties (and make way for new ones) over Proteſtants, as well as contract their Guilt, appearing thus in their Spirit and Practice, as Chriſt told the perſecuting Jews in that day, that they thereby filled up the meaſure of their Fathers, &c. and brought the guilt of the former Blood upon themſelves, even from the Blood of Righteous Abel, &c.?
Thirdly, Is it not wonderful Contradiction to abet, ſuccour and relieve the French Preſ…yterian Diſſenters, under their cruel Perſecutions for their Nonconformity, and yet at the ſame time to exerciſe all that Cruelty, Ruin and Deſtruction to the Engliſh Presbyterian Nonconformiſts, like the Scribes and Phariſees, who built the Tombs of the Prophets, and at the ſame time killed the Prophets.
And, Fourthly, Whether you do not hereby raiſe a mighty cry of Chriſt's poor Lambs (appointed by you to the Slaughter) againſt you to their Lord and Maſter, and who may thereupon ſay to you, as to perſecuting Saul of Old, Why do you Perſecute me, it is hard for you to kick againſt the Pricks?
But 'tis poſſible you may ſay, That the Perſecution is not from you, but barely the proſecution of the Laws we tranſgreſs, which if we break we muſt thank our ſelves, and not complain of you.
So ſaid Bonner of old to the Martyrs in Queen Mary's days, and ſo ſaid the Scribes and Phariſees of Chriſt, They had a Law, and by their Law he ought to dye. But you know it is a Maxim in the Engliſh Law, 28 H. 8. That if any Law, Ʋſuage or Cuſtom be contrary to God's Law, they are null and void in themſelves. And how much ſuch Laws ſo rigorouſly put in force againſt the Diſſenters, are againſt both the Law of God and Nature, you have by your own Pens decided, and do alſo know what the proper Interpreters of the Law have ſaid of them, viz. that Proteſtant Diſſenters are not intended by them, but the Popiſh only, as pag. 47, 48, 49, 50.
And as for the ſevere Penalties inflicted upon Diſſenters as Seditious and Riotous for their Aſſembling together to worſhip God, as though they thereby infringed the Law, and violated the publick Peace; and for which they have in theſe three laſt Years ſuffered in their Eſtates and Trades, at leaſt two Millions (as ſuppoſed) contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of thoſe Statutes, if the Maxim of the Law be true, that the Intention makes the legal Treſpaſs, both as to TREASON, Fellony, Murder and Riot, Twenty Three Years Experience evidencing their quiet and peaceable Behaviour, and that they have been as far from Sedition and Riot (as the Law defines) as any in the Nation.
Lamb. …jrenarcha▪ p. 175. ch. 4.Lambard our great Engliſh Lawyer, defining a Riot, tells us, It is where three or more Perſons be diſorderly aſſembled in Armour, with an intent to commit with Force & Violence an unlawful act; and that great Numbers being aſſembled together make no Riot, till ſuch a Riotous Intent be known; quoting theſe following Statutes, ſo defining it, 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H. 5. c. 8. 4 H. 7. c. 13. 2 Ed. 3. c. 3. 2 R. 2. c. 6.
But have you diſowned and witneſſed againſt the Cruelties exerciſed? and done what you could to prevent them? or rather with Edom ſtood on the other ſide? Obed. v▪ 11. and help'… forward your Brethren's Affliction, and by your Preſſes, Pulpits and Addreſſes, and cruel Courts, furthered it all that lies in you.
5. Quaery. If you declare, that it is no ſinful ſeparation to ſeparate from thoſe who ſeparate from Truth and true Chruch, but a Duty to God and our ſelves, to free us from Sin and Suffering, as pag. 71. Then if you your ſelves have made a ſeparation from the Truth and true Church, you not only reproach your own Separation from Rome, but juſtifie your Brethrens from you, as warrantable by your own Principles; Who art thou that judgeſt another, and doſt the ſame things, &c.?
6. Quaery. If by your own, as well as Scripture Rules, it is no Sedition nor Contempt to Authority, not to obey the unlawful Commands of Magiſtrates in the things of God, as pag. 64, 65, 66. Then whether your diſſenting Brethren are not moſt injuriouſly dealt with by you, for that great Out-cry gone out againſt them from your Pulpits and Preſſes, for Sedition and Rebellion? when it is only in the matter of their God you have to accuſe them, and for their ſaying with the Apoſtles, It is better to obey God than Men, there being in truth no more Sedition nor Rebellion to be found either in their Principles or Practice, than your own.
7. Quaery. If all this be true, then whether it doth not very much explain that uſual ſaying, That Popery is rather to be choſen than Presbytery; and that it is better to be a Papiſt than a Presbyter?
Thus, Sir, you have ſomething which the Diſſenters have to ſay for themſelves, hoping i… ſhall not be …udge… either Unreaſonable or Unſeaſonable, to preſent to you this their juſt Defence, and give you thus the Merits of the Cauſe, not only from your Call ſo to do (and a Silence thereupon might either beſpeak conſenting Guilt, or prevent a ſatisfying Reply to our Conſcientious Scruples) but alſo the many ſevere Preſſures and Sufferings we …le under from you for our Nonconformity, which may plead ſome excuſe for this modeſt Plea; And Looſers being admitted the liberty of Speech, as Sick men to groan, and the Afflicted to cry; Therefore may we not hope for a fair Admiſſion of our Plaint for preſent, as better Uſage for the future, ſince we have not to do with ſavage Indians, not brutiſh Iriſh Maſſacring-Cut-Throats, worſe than Canibals (to whom all Reaſon, Right and Truth is unacceſſable) but with our own Country men, Neighbours, Fellow-Citizens, Acquaintance, Relations, Gentlemen, Scholars, with men profeſſing the ſame Proteſtant Religion with our ſelves, and with ſo many who have offered Reaſons and Arguments to us, and may therefore hope they will receive it from us (how elſe can they anſwer our Scruples) …nd not ſtop our Mouthes with Goals, Pillories and Halters (ſay what they pleaſe to render us and our Principles obnoxious, and refuſe and reject our juſt Defence, it being below common Ingennity to challenge an Adverſary to the Field, and when he appears, cauſe him to be diſarm'd, gagg'd and bound, and then manfully cudgel him, and boaſt of a Conqueſt, far be it from us ſo to think) and particularly ſince you your ſelves lie under the ſame Cenſure of Schiſm, Hereſie and Sedition from the Popiſh party, as we from you, and have given the ſame Arguments to juſtifie your Separation from them, as we from you, ſo that there wants nothing but Demonſtration, Candor and Charity to ſet all honeſt Proteſtants to rights.
But eſpecially living under a Prince, who hath expreſſed ſo much tender Regard, and ſo many Promiſes to tender Conſciences, who live peaceably, and who is of that Sagacity and Prudence to judge whether it will be more for his Intereſt and Profit to root up and deſtroy ſuch an innocent peaceable and profitable People, and ſuffer their ſubſtance to be taken from them (as ſome wicked Hamans may ſuggeſt and provoke) or with the Eaſtern Mo narchs (in like caſe) to let ſuch cruel Harpyes and bloody Incendiaries againſt the Innocent Nonconformiſts of the day, feel his juſt Rebukes, as Eſth. 7. 10. 8. 11, &c. Dan. 3. 29. 6. 24. And as to enrich the Treaſury, whether it is not like to be more effectual and more juſt, to do it with Popiſh Emoluments yet remaining in the Nation, and to take up where H. 8. left, and make thorow work of it?
Laſtly, To conclude; be pleaſed in your own words to be exhorted, That laying aſide all Prejudices, Favour to, or Admiration of Mens Perſons, evil Affection, love of a Party, or carnal Intereſt to byaſs your Judgment, you would impartially weigh and conſider the Arguments herein propoſed, being diffident of your own Apprehenſion, and indifferent to either part of the Queſtion; and think it no ſhame to change your mind when better Reaſon is offered you; for the diſſenters deſire none to be their Proſelites any further than they give Scripture and Reaſon for it; Reſting very confident that if they could prevail with People equally to hear both ſides, and diligently to examine to Merits of the Cauſe, their Churches would every day gain more ground amongſt all wiſe men; ſo ſaith alſo
Your Friend and Servant, Thomas De Laune.
εἰκων το̂υ θερίου OR The IMAGE of the BEAST, Shewing, by a Paralell Scheme, what a CONFORMIST the Church of ROME is to the PAGAN, and what a NONCONFORMIST to the CHRISTIAN CHURCH, in i'ts Rites, Service and Ceremonys, the better to Exemplify the True and Falſe CHURCH.
By T. D.
Obed. 6.
How are the hidden things of Eſau ſought out?
Dan. 3. 17. 18.
Our God whome we Serve, is able to Deliver us, and he will Deliver us: But if not, be it known that we will not Serve your Gods, Nor Worſhip the Golden Image that ye have ſet up.
Rev. 14. 9.
And the Angel ſaid with a Loud Voyce, If any man worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, and Recive his mark in his Forehead, or in his Hand, the ſame ſhall Drink of the Wine of the wrath of God, which ſhall be poured out without Mixture, in the Cup of his Indignation.
Printed in the Year, 1684.