The Interest of England in the Matter of Religion Part 2, Part 3
Whereupon I paſs to a farther Inquiry, Whether the fomenting of theſe diſcords do not proceed from a carnal deſign? And ſhall argue even upon the caſe of a worldly Intereſt, Whether the way of ſevere Impoſing, or of moderate Condeſcending, be the more adviſable?
If the ſettlement of the Churches Peace, by giving needful ſatisfaction and ſecurity to the Presbyterians, and the inlargement of the Churches Intereſt, by taking in the multitudes of that denomination, be neglected in this diſcerning Age, we muſt needs believe that the root of this diſſention goes deeper then paſſions, prejudices and miſ-apprehenſions, and that ſome carnal and partial Intereſt is that root of bitterneſs that bears this gall and wormwood.
Papiſts themſelves have noted, that the Court of Rome had rather abandon the hopes of regaining three Kingdoms to their pretended Catholique Church, then declare it lawful for the Engliſh Papiſts to take the Oath of Allegiance. When the Council of Trent was held, & moſt of the Princes that ſent Embaſſadors to the Council were inſtant that ſome regard might be had of the Proteſtants, and their recovery endeavoured by moderation and reformation; the Pope knowing that their return upon ſuch tearms could never be hoped for, without the diminution of the Revenue and Authority of his Court, judged it moſt neceſſary for the Intereſt of his pretended Apoſtolique See, to make the diviſion ſtrong and the Parties irreconcilcable, that thoſe Countries and People which continued in obededience to him might be kept intirely Popiſh.
When men contend for the immutability of mutable Orders, and ſtifly oppoſe the due regulation of things exorbitant and exceſſive, and reſolve to give no ground for the gaining of diſſenting brethren, it is not the love of Chriſt, but perverſe ſelf-love, and the love of the world that conſtrains them. Such intereſted perſons are never good Counſellors for the publique weal.
Now in as much as ſome particular carnal Intereſt is juſtly ſuſpected in the impetuous and obſtinate purſuance of the things in controverſie, we are willing here to make it a queſtion of Intereſt, and upon that account to make an addreſs to the Reaſon even of thoſe that are carried forth with greateſt vehemence in favour of the Epiſcopal, and in oppoſition to the Presbyterian Party. All enterpriſes that have their beginning in judgment and not in paſſion, are directed to a certain end ſet up as a mark, and that end is not a buſineſs at rovers, but ſome particular ſteddy iſſue of things certainly or probably apprehended and expected: Wherefore let wiſe men conſider the mark whereat they level, and to what iſſue and ſtate of things their actions tend. Here is a numerous party, not of the dreggs and refuſe of the Nation, but of the judicious and ſerious part thereof: What will they do with them? and how will they order the matter concerning them? Would they deſtroy them? I ſolemnly profeſs that I abhor to think ſo by the generallity of the Epiſcopal perſwaſion: I would diſdain to mention ſuch an unreaſonable impiety, were it not to ſhew the inconſiderate and abſurd proceedings of an unalterable oppoſition, as that it cannot drive to any formed end and iſſue. That Proteſtants ſhould deſtroy Proteſtants for diſſenting in the point of Ceremonies, and ſole juriſdiction of Biſhops, is ſo dreadful a violation of Charity and common honeſty, that it is a moſt uncharitable and diſhoneſt thing to ſuppoſe it of them. What then? would they bear them down, or keep them under hard Conditions? Shall all perſons that cannot yield exact obedience to Eccleſiaſtical injunctions concerning all the parts of the Liturgy, and Ceremonies, be ſuſpended and deprived as formerly? Shall Miniſters of this Judgment be caſt and kept out of Eccleſiaſtical preferment and imployment? Shall all private conferences of godly peaceable Chriſtians, for mutual edification, be held unlawful Conventicles? It hath been thought by wiſe men to be againſt the Rules of Government to hold under a rigid yoke a free people of ſuch a number and quality, and intermingled in all eſtates and ranks, and intimately conjoyned with all parts of the body Politique, that it is almoſt impoſſible to exclude their Intereſt from a conſiderable ſhare in publique actions. Beſides, is it for the ſervice of Chriſt, and the encreaſe of his Kingdom the Church, that ſo many able Divines ſhould be debarred the uſe of their Lords Talents, that ſo many laborious Miniſters ſhould ſit ſtill in ſilence; that when Chriſt teacheth us to pray that the Lord would thruſt forth Labourers into his Harveſt, thoſe Labourers ſhould be thruſt out of his harveſt? Surely this would make a cry in the ears of the Lord of the Harveſt. Let me add this, 'Tis a hard matter to ſilence them that will preach virtually in pious Conferences, whoſe occaſional and table diſcourſes will be a kind of Sermon.
Let me offer a third way, Will they afford them liberty of Conſcience, and yet ſtave them off, as a divided Party, to ſtand alone in their Principles and Intereſt? Verily I cannot think it is in their heart ſo to do. What then remains but to prepare the way, and to make the path ſtraight for a ſolid and perfect cloſure, by laying aſide thoſe unneceſſary occaſions of ſtumbling.
If the neglect of brotherly Pacification hold on, and the Hierarchy reſolve upon their own advancement to the higheſt pitch, one may well conclude, That they make a full reckoning to wear out the Presbyterians, and to ſwallow up their Intereſt, conceiving they are able to effect it by degrees; and that greater changes then theſe have been wrought without much ado. And we confeſs indeed, that a great change in Religion was made by Qu. ELIZABETH without much diſpute or difficulty: The alteration was not ſudden but gradual. Camden writes, that in the entrance of the Queens Raign, for a whole monethmonth and more, the Roman Religion ſtood as it did at the death of Queen MARY. On the 27. of December the Epiſtles and Goſpels, the Lords Prayer, Creed and Ten Commandements, together with the Letany, were read in the Engliſh Tongue. On the 22. of March the intire uſe of the Sacrament in both kindes was reſtored by Parliament. On the 24. of June the Sacrifice of the Maſs was aboliſhed, and the whole Liturgy reſtored into Engliſh. In July the Oath of Supremacy was given to the Biſhops: And in Auguſt Images were taken out of the Churches and broken or burnt. Why may not the Hierarchical Intereſt ſwallow up the Presbyterian, as eaſily as Proteſtantiſm prevailed over Popery? Surely I take theſe ſeveral caſes to be very different. And firſt, becauſe Queen ELIZABETH had this fundamental maxime as agreeable to her Conſcience and the Intereſt of Her State, to baniſh hence the exerciſe of the Roman Religion. But our Gracious King in His Chriſtian Prudence and Compaſſion ſeeks the uniting of His Proteſtant Subjects, and the healing of their breaches by His Wiſe and Gracious condeſcentions already Declared. Beſides, in the beginning of the Queens Raign the inferiour Clergy of this Kingdom univerſally appeared to be but lukewarm Papiſts, and many of them might be ſuppoſed to be Proteſtants in heart, and the moſt of them very unlearned, and indifferent men in Religion. And a great part of the Hierarchy were not more Zealous than the reſt: For when at that time the Eccleſiaſtical Promotions in England were numbred above nine thouſand four hundred in all, there were not more then fourſcore Rectors of Churches, fifty Prebendaries, fifteen Heads of Colledges, twelve Arch-Deacons, twelve Deans, ſix Abbots and Abbeſſes, and fourteen Biſhops that refuſed the Oath of Supremacy. Alſo the Engliſh Service was ſo prepared that it might be no abomination to the Papiſts, no poſitive thing therein occurring repugnant to their Doctrine; for which cauſe they frequented the ſame for the firſt ten years; and the Pope did not in many years ſend forth his thunder & lightning againſt the Queen. And Popery being in ſubſtance a Religion contrary to what was publickly profeſſed, had no advantage for encreaſe by publick Preaching, or Books publickly allowed. All theſe accidents did help forward to an abſolute ſettlement of the Proteſtant Religion. But we may find the ſtate of things far otherwiſe in point of diſpoſition or inclination toward the Dominion of abſolute Prelacy, and the rigorous impoſition of Ceremonies, and the extirpation of the Diſſenting Party: For there are now in England thouſands of Miniſters diſ-ſatisfied in the Hierarchy and Ceremonies, who are all competently and many of them eminently learned. They are not generally of light ſpirits, but ſteddy and well reſolved, and tenderly affected touching their ſpiritual liberties. The way which in ſcorn is called Puritaniſm, is not another Religion in ſubſtance than Proteſtantiſm, but the very ſame, or one branch thereof diſtinguiſhed from the other by an accidental difference. Proteſtant and Puritane Doctrine and Worſhip, all men may know to be the ſame for ſubſtance; and Puritaniſm will grow up with Proteſtantiſm, notwithſtanding all oppoſition, as I have manifeſted in the former diſcourſe.
Commonly thoſe people who try all Doctrines by Scripture, and are ſwayed more by its Authority than by the Ordinances and Cuſtoms of men, do much heſitate and ſtagger concerning the ſole Juriſdiction of Biſhops, the pomp of the Hierarchy, and ſacred myſtical Ceremonies of Humane Inſtitution. And therefore let the Epiſcopal Party never look to be rid of theſe difficulties, till they remove the matters in Queſtion, whereat a knowing people are always ready to ſtumble.
Neither in theſe times are the Presbyterians ſo hateful a generation as ſome would have them: They are odious to none but thoſe to whom they were ever odious, or elſe to ſuch Ignorants as follow the Cry, and ſpeak evil of they know not what. They have had no conſiderable loſs of their number by revolt; and what ever comes to paſs, they think never the worſe of their main Cauſe, which I have expreſſed in the character given of them: And if ſome or many of them have a liberty in their own judgments touching conformity, yet that Conformity will not ſtrengthen the deſigns of thoſe Prelatiſts that are moſt rigid in ſuch impoſitions, and ſeek to tread down the Preſbyterians. It was a notable queſtion which a Carthaginian Senator put to Hanibal's Agents, after the great overthrow given to the Romans at Canna. When they had magnified Hanibal's great Atchievements, Hanno asked them, Whether any of the Romans had come to demand Peace; and whether any Town of the Latines, or any of their Colonies had yet rebelled againſt the Romans? The Agents denying the one and the other, Hanno replied, Then is the War as intire yet as at the firſt. I apply this, to ſhew how eaſily men miſtake the progreſs of their own affairs, and think themſelves to be ready for a triumph, when indeed they have gotten little, and the ſtate of the controverſie is ſtill as intire and firm as ever.
Hitherto I have aſſerted the Interest of the Univerſality in oppoſition to the advancement of a partial Intereſt: I have endeavoured to make it manifeſt, That the ſeveral Parties by a mutual yielding and waving their partial Intereſts, may be united to promote the Intereſt of the Univerſality: for I have layd theſe ground-works, to wit, That the breach is not kept open by any formed Doctrine or Concluſion of either Party, nor (as I trust) by the ſpirit of everlasting enmity; but either by a humour of oppoſition, that may be qualified and ſubdued, or by ſome carnal d…ſign, which may and muſt be denied when its errour and danger is diſcovered.
In the remainder of this Diſcourſe I am to ſhew, That the Presbyterians are fit and worthy to be imbodied with the whole number of the good people of England; in the next place to perſwade the Union by ſeveral Arguments; and then to remove certain impediments, and to argue from the particular Concernments of the King, of the Nobility and Gentry, and of the Epiſcopal Clergy; and laſtly, to offer ſome few eſſays concerning the paths of Peace.
Saint Paul was ſometimes conſtrained by the weakneſs of ſome and the malice of others, to boaſt on his own behalf, and to Apologize again and again for ſpeaking as a fool: I truſt therefore that wiſe men will bear with that unto which the like neceſſity compels me, on the behalf of the people that are now denominated Presbyterian. In eſtimating the numbers of this perſwaſion, it is not the right way to go by the Poll throughout all ſorts promiſcuouſly; but to take a ſurvey of the intelligent and active ſort of the people, and in that ſort to compare their number with others. Howbeit in any way of reckoning ſuppoſe them the leſſer, yet they may be found a balancing number. But I am willing to paſs from number to weight. They that will not acknowledge them to be ſincere, cannot deny them to be ſerious perſons; they that will not acknowledg them to be ſober in their judgments, cannot deny them to be ſober in their converſations. But we know they are both ſerious, and ſincere, and ſober, as well in Religion as in Morality: and a few ſober people are more valuable, both for Religious and Civil concernments, than a multitude of diſſolute or vain and empty perſons. One ſerious rational man will carry more in fit opportunities, than al the vapourers in the neighbourhood. Thoſe that are ill affected to the Presbyterians commonly deſpiſe them as an unlearned dull ſort of men knowing nothing. Truly we will not herein boaſt beyond our line, nor magnifie thoſe of our own perſwaſion, in derogation to any others; but we think that this diſparagement is caſt upon them becauſe they are commonly no vapourers: Surely they have amongſt them both Divines and Gentlemen, who do not uſe to turn their backs upon gainſayers, but have been and will be ready to render a reaſon of their judgment and practice to any that ſhall demand it of them.
We do not envy the learning of any Epiſcopal Divines, but gladly acknowledge it, and deſire to partake in the benefit of it, and wiſh that whatſoever gift is received by any, may be more and more ſerviceable to the Church of God: Neither are they an ignoble abject ſort; it hath not at all appeared that they have degenerated from the Engliſh Virtue and Valour. They have for common tranquility and ſafety cloſed with the firſt opportunity for a general accord, and ſo have knowingly made way for the reviving of the other Party, ſuppoſing that the former enmity would ceaſe. And they had reaſon to hope, that amidſt the joy of the Nation, they ſhould not be left in ſadneſs. The preſent interruption and check given to this expected reconciliation, we attribute to the hurry of mens minds upon this great and unexexpected change, by which it happeneth that they ſcarce know where they are, and hardly contain themſelves within due bounds. But we truſt that theſe paſſions will be over & the ſpirits of all will ſettle in a calm and good temper. Hitherto the contradictions may paſs for the effects of paſſion, not of inveterate malice, wherefore, dum res est integra, let ſecond thoughts be milder. A quick paſſage of Count Oli…res touching the right way of Accommodation, may be pertinent to this buſineſs. Our late Soveraign, when Prince of Wales, being in the Spaniſh Court in purſuance of the marriage with the Infanta of Spain, and the Negotiation being clogged with many interruptions, diſcontents and jealouſies, and all being like to fall aſunder, Olivares whether in humour or earneſt propounded theſe three ways; The firſt, That Prince Charles ſhould become a Catholique; The ſecond, That the Infanta ſhould be delivered unto him upon the former ſecurity without further Condition; The third was, To bind him as faſt as they could, and not to truſt him with any thing. Of theſe three ways, he ſaid, the two former were good; but the laſt was a bad one. In like manner might a diſcerning Prelatiſt reſolve, that there be three ways of bringing theſe diſputes to an iſſue; The firſt, That the Presbyterians ſhould voluntarily become Epiſcopal, and thorowly conformable; The ſecond, That the way of brotherly accord ſhould be held open and ſecure to them by an equal Accommodation; The third, That they be truſted in nothing, but bound up fast by the hardeſt Condition that can be impoſed. Of theſe three ways let him conclude with reſpect to his own intereſt, that the two former are good, but the laſt very bad.
Much partiality and prejudice hath gotten the ſway in thoſe men that ſpeak and act, as if there were cauſe to fear none, to curbe none, to provide remedies againſt none but Presbyterians: Was England acquainted with no troubles, or infeſted with no inteſtine broyls before this kind of men aroſe? Are theſe the proper Enemies of England? Let them know, that the true inteſtine Enemies of any State are thoſe within it, that depend upon Forreign Intereſts, and on whom Forreign States have influence.
A great Stateſ-man makes it one fundamental maxime of Queen ELIZABETH to baniſh hence the exerciſe of the Roman Religion, becauſe it was the only means to break all the plots of the Spaniards, who under this pretext did here foment Rebellion. Upon the ſame ground the Law baniſheth Popiſh Prieſts, that Forreign influences might not diſtemper this Kingdom: But the Presbyterians can have no temptation to tamper with Forreign Combinations; for their Intereſt is preciſely and perfectly Proteſtant, and for their unreconcilableneſs to the Church of Rome, their greateſt adverſaries will bear them witneſs: And when ever this Land ſhall have need of help againſt its chiefeſt Enemies, they will be found ſo true to the Intereſt of England, as none more, and conſequently muſt and will be intereſſed in its defence. Wherefore let England have regard to thoſe that muſt be her faſt friends, not only for good will, but alſo for perpetual neceſſity.
Moreover, a wiſe State is buſie in finding out, but not in making Enemies. Who can produce one ſolid reaſon, that renders this Party Enemies to the Government, or the Perſon Governing? They are lovers of Monarchy, and of the Royal Family. From neither of theſe have they any cauſe of diſtruſt or diſ-ſatisfaction. They have nothing to hold in derogation to His Majeſties Authority, ſafety, or benefit; and His Majeſty hath nothing to hold that ſtands in oppoſition to their ſecurity. There have been indeed unhappy differences; but whence proceeding? Not from any thing intrinſecal to His Majeſties Government or to their condition; but from things very remote from the Intereſt of Soveraignty. The Kings Affairs do allow Him to extend Favour and Clemency to them, as to any other of His Subjects; and His Condeſcention towards them will work as happy effects to His ſatisfaction.
Some men reſolving in all things to detract from the Presbyterians, have ſaid, That they promoted the Kings Return, not out of good will to His Majeſty, or a love of Order and Unity; but out of fear of being deſtroyed by the Phanaticks. Upon the occaſion of this ſurmiſe, and the evil deſign thereof, I am willing to debate this Queſtion,
Whether the Presbyterians cloſure with the King in all avowed ſubjection and ſervice be ſincere and ſolid, that His Majeſty may ſafely confide in them?
The pretended reaſon of their inſincerity ſeems to me to add much to their reputation in that behalf: For if the Phanaticks would deſtroy them, it is manifeſt that they are none of them. Panaticks would not deſtroy themſelves willingly. The ſeveral various Sects will wrangle with each other in verbal conteſts; but they never knowingly plotted or banded againſt each other upon the account of their different Opinions, but did all unite in one common Principle of pretended liberty of Conſcience, and in one common cauſe of Univerſal Toleration. Be it alſo granted, that ſelf-preſervation engaged the Presbyterians by any means to obviate and overturn the deſigns of the Sectaries, it ſhews that the Sectarian Intereſt and theirs are inconſiſtent, as alſo that they are not unreconcilable to the Epiſcopal part of Proteſtants; and that they had pacifick inclinations, willing to put a period to theſe contentions. Let men ſurmiſe the worſt they can of their intentions in declaring for the King; yet in as much as they had a choice before them, to turn this way or that way, it is evident they would betake themſelves to that way that had the leſſer evil and the fairer ſhew of good. And could any think that they would knowingly make a choice of that which ſhould deſtroy their juſt liberty: wherefore were it no more than this, it might gain them ſome regard, for that they hoped for ſome good in this way, when they could hope for none at all from the wilde ways and fancies of Phanaticks: But the truth is, they turned not to a leſſer evil, but to a thing in it ſelf deſirable; for it was a clear caſe to men of ſound minds and ſober Principles, that there was no way to lead us out of that wilderneſs wherein we wandred, but the uniting of all ſound and ſober Proteſtants in things wherein all agree, and a mutual forbearance in things not neceſſary to peace and edification. The Presbyterians knew their ſingle Intereſt would not ſettle the Nation: And the Epiſcopalians may know as well that their ſingle Intereſt will prove deficient. In ſuch a caſe what well-minded perſons affecting the peace of the Church and Kingdom would not promote the reſtitution of the Royal Family, that the King, in whom alone the whole Nation can ſettle, may pare off the ſuperfluities of particular partial Intereſts, and make a Union in the general Intereſt of the Proteſtant Religion, and of Great Brittain? This was the ſcope of the Presbyterian deſign in that particular: And as touching their cordial affection to His Majeſties Perſon and Government, we have their own more affectionate and ſolemn profeſſions for it, which are graciouſly owned by His Majeſty. And if any perſiſt to gainſay thoſe expreſſions, ſeeing they are not ſearchers of hearts, it lies upon them to prove this pretended diſaffection by ſomthing diſcernable in the outward behaviour. But ſuppoſe that a peoples Conſcience and good inclination and diſpoſition be called into queſtion, yet this is a maxime unqueſtionable, That the main ground of ſure and constant benevolence between Prince and People, is a firm perſwaſion, that they are the mutual Intereſt of each other. His Majeſties Royal Perſon and His Princely Virtues are amiable to us; He is a Crown of Glory to the Engliſh Nation: But that which got the maſtery over all difficulties, in reſtoring Him to His Dominions, was an undoubted knowledge that the Nations Intereſt was bound up in Him our indubitable Sovereign Lord. There is a neceſſity of meer compulſion that drives the unwilling, and there is a neceſſity of Intereſt that draws a willing people: When this latter neceſſity doth bring a Prince and People together, ingenuous minds will turn this neceſsity into a virtue; and ſo the joyning of Intereſts draws after it the joyning of hearts. The Presbyterians enjoying the ſame protection and benefit with other ſober Proteſtants and Loyal Subjects, will ſee no other probable nor poſſible way of repoſe and ſafety but under His Majeſties happy Government. It is not therefore a neceſſity of preſent force, but of conſtant Intereſt, which is here commended, as ſo great a bond of loyalty, and which Princes uſe to take for their beſt ſecurity. The wiſeſt way is, not to reject and ſlight a party that are brought to hand, and made for a Princes Intereſt, upon a ſuſpition that they may prove inconſtant; but to uſe the known means of preventing ſuch inconſtancy as is pretended, and to manifeſt that regard to their encouragement and ſatisfaction, as that they may reſt aſſured, that their own and the publick peace do run in the ſame channel.