Moderation a vertue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate divines and laity of the Church of England represented in some late immoderate discourses, under the nick-names of Grindalizers and Trimmers / by a lover of moderation, resident upon his cure ; with an appendix, demonstrating that parish-churches are no conventicles ... in answer to a late pamphlet entitled, Parish-churches turned into conventicles, &c. Owen, John, 1616-1683. 1683 Approx. 224 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 45 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A70766 Wing O772 ESTC R11763 13014039 ocm 13014039 29399 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A70766) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29399) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 394:14) Moderation a vertue, or, A vindication of the principles and practices of the moderate divines and laity of the Church of England represented in some late immoderate discourses, under the nick-names of Grindalizers and Trimmers / by a lover of moderation, resident upon his cure ; with an appendix, demonstrating that parish-churches are no conventicles ... in answer to a late pamphlet entitled, Parish-churches turned into conventicles, &c. Owen, John, 1616-1683. [9], 80 p. Printed for Jonathan Robinson ..., London : 1683. Written by John Owen. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.). Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. 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Parish churches turned into conventicles. 2005-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-07 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-08 Andrew Kuster Sampled and proofread 2005-08 Andrew Kuster Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Moderation a Vertue : OR , A VINDICATION OF THE Principles and Practices OF THE Moderate Divines and Laity of the Church of England , Represented in some late Immoderate Discourses , under the Nick-names of GRINDALIZERS and TRIMMERS . By a Lover of Moderation , Resident upon his Cure. With an APPENDIX , demonstrating that Parish-Churches are no Conventicles , particularly for reading the Second Service in the Desk : In Answer to a late Pamphlet , entitled , Parish-Churches turned into Conventicles , &c. LONDON : Printed for Jonathan Robinson , at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard . 1683. To the Reverend Clergy , and Honoured Gentlemen , who are Truly Moderate . Reverend and Honoured Sirs , THE Writer hereof hath such a moderate Opinion and Sense of himself , and this Vindication , that he thinks it too mean a thing to be dedicated to Persons of your Learning , Judgment , and Worth. It is a manifest proof of your eminent Moderation , that none of you hath set himself , either to examine the Accusations , or to eject the Insinuations of some Men , who must needs be either abused by Men of an ill Religion , and as ill a Nature , or else very great Strangers to your Principles , and manner of Conversation . And except this Undertaking find some Approbation from you , I shall wish I had taken direction from your Silence , to have been silent also . How it may operate upon our unkind Exposers , I cannot certainly divine : but that it may not reflect upon more than one , and he of a lower size than hundreds of you , I think it necessary to declare , That as it looks not like a manly Defence , compacted by the Reason of a Combination of famous Men ; so it is not the Apology of a single Person , pointed at by the Accusers above others of his Brethren . Let the whole Blame of it fall upon one only , and such an one as if discovered , that the Aggressors cannot say of him , he had any particular Grudg , or personal Animosity against them . The last Summer , when I saw the Title of the Remarks upon the Growth of Nonconformity , I earnestly desired to read it for my Information . When I came to peruse it carefully , I can say no less , than I think it written both to deceive , and to provoke the Magistrate , in the Spring-time of the Heat and Ferment . And as if the Justices had not Work enough to do in Conventicles , moderate Conformists , under a reverend Nickname of Grindalizers , from the most Reverend Arch-Bishop Grindal , and more odious Marks , are falsly represented , and accused as dangerous to the Government . Some that saw my Marks upon him , dissuaded from publishing due Castigations of him , because there was little or no notice taken of it , ( tho since some give other Accounts of it . ) But since that , I was often and earnestly desired to write a Vindication of moderate Conformists , as being seasonable and desired , as necessary to check the Humour that breaks out about the Mouths of many , opened against moderate Men. When I heard of the Sermon of Moderation before the Lord-Mayor , I did ( as I perceive others did ) desire to see it , and give it welcom , as being a great Stranger , and much beloved , without the least design to take any thing ill . I read it with some pleasure , till I came to the Application , which seems not to be the same Pen ( tho it is ) that wrote the Doctrinal Part , but almost incredible it should be preached and written with the same Spirit that would take that Text in hand . I have read of some eminent Preachers , that first meditated the Application , and took their Aim at that , throughout the Text and Doctrinal Part : I cannot say this was so contrived ; if it was , then we know where the Life of it doth appear . It may seem strange at first sight , that the same Men that magnify the Moderation of the Church of England , in all the parts of its Constitution , Doctrine , Orders , Ceremonies , should from Pulpit and Press report and represent the moderate Members of it to the Jealousy of our Superiours , and Dislike of the Times : But the wonder is over , when we see what manner of Men they make moderate Men to be ; Men uneasy in their Minds , gall'd under their Burthens , lifting at the Government to cast it off , and then tread it down . If they know any such Snakes to lie covered under Conformity , they have not done enough to detect them : if they do not , they have spoken Matter of deep Repentance for themselves . They very warmly urge some Canons , as those for the Bidding of Prayer , for reading all the Service , and observing all the Orders , Rites , and Ceremonies , as well in reading the Scriptures , and saying of Prayers , without either diminishing in regard of Preaching , or adding any thing in the Matter or Form thereof : And yet these very Men can indulge themselves in an Irregularity contrary to other Canons . Not to instance in such as will give them offence , let us see what Inconformity there is , in going beyond the Rubricks , in the very fashion of their Gowns : Are they made with standing Collars ? do they wear in their Journeys , Cloaks with Sleeves and Capes ? Do they wear plain Night-Caps , of black Silk , Satten , or Velvet ? And to imitate some of themselves in their way of arguing : Are not these things indifferent in their own nature ? Are they not commanded us by lawful Authority ? They become necessary by reason of the Command , which they must obey . The Canon saith , These Garments are not enjoined for any Holiness , or special Worthiness , but for Decency , Gravity , and Order : The Reasons of the Injunction are as great for the use of these Garments in our ordinary Conversation , as for others . If they say , We may lawfully suit our Habit to the Fancy and Fashion of the Age wherein we live ; their Argument is answered , Not when we are tied by Canon . They think they have convinced us into an inexcusable Acknowledgment of our Sin , or Silence , by telling us of the Obligation of our Subscriptions , and there is no room for exercising any Moderation ; and yet how could they ever ▪ have subscribed to the Articles of the Church , without a Salvo , an express or tacit qualification or mitigation of Sence , only as Articles of Peace ? If we shew Moderation in Things of an indifferent nature , separate from the Command , and in many occasions of our Ministry inexpedient , we are suspected to overthrow the Government , and to undermine the Church . But if this be the pernicious Effect of Moderation in point of Ceremony , what will their Moderation come to in Articles and Matters of Faith ? How common a thing is it to take the Articles of the Church in a lax Construction , as Articles of Peace ? What Authors are more commonly bought , and at dearer Rates , than those which either depart from , or are most contrary to the professed Doctrines of our Homilies and Articles ? And Men have past with an allowed loose Sence of the Articles , that had not so passed in other Matters of Subscription . A considerable Instance of this deserves our notice . A certain Person came to a Chaplain of great Note and Place , ( the very initial Letters of whose Name would be as much as to name him ) to desire to know if a Friend of his might not subscribe in a large Sence ? No , said the Chaplain with vehemency , we have too many such in the Church already . Nay , Sir , mistake me not , said the Person , I mean as to the Doctrines ; as for the Ceremonies , he can subscribe to them in the strictest Sence , bow , cringe , &c. O , said the Doctor , he can subscribe no way to the Doctrines , but as Articles of Peace . Sir , said the Person , one Mr. D. in his Book of Conformity , saith , We must subscribe to the Articles in a Grammatical Sence ; and gives an Instance of a Minister in Queen Elizabeth's Time , who because he would not subscribe them so , but as Articles of Peace , lost his Living . D. said the Doctor , is a Coxc — , and will ere long be suspended . This Doctor may be supposed to have known the Sence of some of the greatest Men , as intimately as any Man , and hath not a little presumed upon it . If they make use of Meanings in the greatest Matters , it is too unkind a partiality to allow no Latitude in the mutable and lesser Matters . To be short , we have conformed , and if there be not Nonconformists too many already made and ejected , they may take counsel , and contrive to make many more : but what will the End of these Things be ? We are sure that the Enemies of Moderation are the Enemies of our Government and Peace , which is built upon it , and kept together by it . If Moderation had presided over all our Parties , we had never been thus broken ; it is that little that is left of it , that keeps us from tottering into a sudden Ruin ; and when other hands have made deeper Wounds , the moderate Samaritan is the Man , and Moderation the Oil , that must heal us . What hurt did Gamaliel in the Council ? Acts 5. Or Peter and James in the first Council of the Apostles ? chap. 15. Or the Apostle Paul , in becoming all Things to all ? If our displeased Brethren should prevail to strike us out , as long as the New Testament obtains the place of a Rule , there will be a Teacher of Moderation , or a Witness and Judg to condemn the Immoderate . If they cannot draw together with us , but kick and fight , and run at us , when they should labour , and tread down the Corn , they will not endure the easy Yoke of Christ upon their Necks . It is the evil Spirit that makes Men rage and run mad , that casts into the Fire and Water , and makes poor possest Creatures to foam . The very Children of this World , that are wise in their Generation , are wise for their being moderate in their Exactions . The Children of Wisdom , that are led by the Spirit of God , are to be known to be the Disciples of our Lord Jesus , by loving one another , and by shewing their Moderation to all Men , and by that to shew what they are , and that the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in them . Let us labour to excell in this Grace , which is both our Character and our Glory , our Duty , and our Reward , in its sweet Fruit of Contentment , Patience , and Peace . And by what odious Names soever we are branded and distinguished from others , let us approve our selves as true Christians in the extent of Christianity ; and we are sure , that if ever decayed and languishing Christianity revive , recover strength , and be in health , it must be by Moderation . What a lamentable sadning Object is Religion in some Parts of the World ! a very Skeleton , drest up in Ceremonies ! In other Parts of the World , it dares hardly shew its face , except it puts on the Harlot's Dress ; in other Places , languishing and exhausted ; in other Places , torn and persecuted , suppress'd , and in Bondage ; in too many Places , disputed and controverted into next to nothing , but Faction , and Names of Opposition . How it is at home at this time , you cannot but see , and be affected with it . And be it known to our Censors , that that Soundness , Life , Zeal , and Answerableness to our holy and heavenly Calling , which remains as a holy Seed in the Land , is to be found among the Moderate , of every Denomination , that holds the Head , and is built upon the Foundation . And if some among us will not slack the Fire , which they kindle and blow for others , as they think , a Wind from Rome may blow it upon themselves ; and when they suffer in it , they will have cause to say , the Fire was too hot and raging , and will be glad to save a little by the helping hand of Moderation . But whatever others do , our Duty lies plain before us , Let us shew our Moderation towards all Men , as knowing the Lord to be at hand ; to whose Protection I desire to be commended by you , and in whom I rest , Your unworthy Fellow-Servant , and of all that serve him , and love him in Sincerity . POST-SCRIPT . BEfore I had quite finished this Vindication , there came to my hand a Pamphlet , pretending to prove that all our Parish-Churches are Conventicles , where the Communion-Service is not read at the North Side of the Lord's Table . If I have not sufficiertly answered him , it would do well , if some of you would maintain your Legal Title to your Churches , and recover from that Error those whom his Arguments have convinced and converted , as he vainly boasts . We see , whether Mens Heads run round or not , Controversies run round . The Appendix also is humbly submitted to your Judgment . A VINDICATION OF Moderate Church-men , SUpposing Moderation to be a Duty , Every Christian ought to be zealous for this Grace , and against all such Persons and Things as are Enemies of it , said the Reverend and Worthy Bishop Wilkins , answering an Objection in his Sermon of Moderation , pag. 416. Our Archers that handle the Bow , shoot at three Marks : 1. The Pope , and his Legion . 2. The Dissenter , and his Divisions . 3. The Moderate Conformist . They have shot through the Triple-Crown , pull'd out his Eye , disarmed him of his two Swords , spoil'd him of his Keys and Pontificals ; in a word , as good as killed him , and buried him with White-bread , and the Popish Plot : Yet from an old Antipathy against him , we make an historical Remembrance of him ; and that which remains of him alive , is confin'd to his own Territories , or so obnoxious to the Penalties of the Law , that he will keep away for his own Safety , or use a Temper , out of a sense of his Impotence and Interest . He cannot do us a Mischief , with any safety to himself . 2. The Danger is greatest from the Dissenter : Because , ( 1. ) An Enemy in our own Bowels . ( 2. ) By a long Indulgence grown numerous and head-strong . ( 3. ) By subtil Insinuations got the repute to be a Protestant . ( 4. ) Hath so great a share in the Vessel of Trade , that he can remove the Mart where almost he pleaseth : And by this 't is thought necessary to forbear him , lest we lose by breaking him ; and this makes him proud and insolent , until he be grown intolerable , because great and dangerous . The Schism is pernicious to the Church , and the Republican Principle to the Government . The Shower of the barbed Arrows , with the Thunderbolts , are poured upon them ; there is no relaxation of the Bow , unless they submit , or leave a Church to which they cannot conform , to them that can , to enjoy her own Peace and Order . 3. There is another pernicious Party , of ambiguous Men , that are listed under our Banner , and receive the Churches Pay , but serve our dangerous Enemy , the Fanatick and Dissenter . These are they that will betray the Church , that are making Terms for themselves , and will , by their Compliance with the Dissenter , bring in the Papist , which might despair of entring in , if these two did not open him the Door . These are pointed out , that the Rulers may know them , and cashier them , or not trust them , and by some stronger Test deliver us from them . You may know them by their halting Moderation , and many other Marks affix'd upon them , to be seen by and by . It is too visible , that some Men can never be quiet as long as there is a moderate Man left in the Church . These very Men admire and commend the Moderation of the Church , and yet declaim against Moderation in them that conform to it , whether they be Clergy or Laity . And really , if Moderation were dress'd up , and disguised upon the Stage , and hiss'd at , it were more excusable , for Men of little Vertue to represent it as a Vice , than to see it painted according to the Fancy of prejudiced Preachers , and hung out of the Pulpit , as an odious or a loathsom Monster ; or by Head and Ears forced into a Discourse , and brought forth before the Magistrate , as a Cheat , or Underminer of the Government , to be watched , and severely inspected , as an Enemy in the Loyal Churchman's Habit. I have long observed a Displeasure against Men of this Character of Moderation , and past it by , being as unwilling to engage against them , as I would be to draw a Company of Boys about me , by throwing back their Crabs at them , which they wantonly throw about , and hit me with by chance . But now hearing the Warning-piece shot off , to awaken the Magistrate to stand up in defence of the Church , and warned of this intestine Church-Traitor , and feeling the Heat and Sharpness of this flashy Zeal , why should we lie under the Reproach and Jealousy of these Watchmen , and not be as zealous for Moderation , as any of them can be against us ? And why should we not appear for it , in its just defence , seeing it so publickly traduced , presented , and indicted . It were much to be wished , that such a Man as the Reverend Dr. Tillotson would undertake the Vindication , who hath adventured to commend the excellent Bishop Wilkins for his Moderation , and to say : Notwithstanding that this Vertue , so much esteemed and magnified by wise Men in all Ages , hath of late been declaimed against with so much zeal and fierceness , and yet with that good grace and confidence , as if it were not only no Vertue , but even the Sum and Abridgment of all Vices ; I say , notwithstanding all this , I am still of the old Opinion , that Moderation is a Vertue , and one of the peculiar Ornaments and Advantages of the excellent Constitution of our Church , and must at last be the Temper of her Members , especially the Clergy , if ever we seriously intend the firm Establishment of our Church , and do not industriously design , by cherishing Heats and Divisions among our selves , to let in Popery at these Breaches . So far that great Man , who observes how Moderation is used in these Days . But it is not necessary so great a Champion should maintain this Cause ; for Moderation is qualified with Wisdom , Fortitude , and Patience to defend it self , even silent ; and a Man of a lower Size is tall enough to look the Opposers in the Face ; and to put them to prove their Accusations , is to put them to silence . Yet that we may not pay them in their own kind , and shoot in their Bow , they do not shoot at Moderation , but pelt the moderate Men ; they do not expose the Vertue , but the Men that are denominated from it . If you would see the Effigies which they hang , take a Copy of it out of some Pieces of Tapestry , and Oratorical Painting , and the Picture is a Chimaera , a Draught of meer Invention and Fancy . Is there such a Man in the Church ? If there be , tire him with Apparitors , and make some real Being of him , something existent , either a Conformist , or a Nonconformist . We have a sort of Men , who are neither for Liturgy nor Directory , Canon nor Covenant , ( sweet harmonious Jingle ! ) part Church-man , and part Schismatical ; having one Leg for a Tub , and another for the Pulpit ; one Hand subscribing to separate Worship , and the other to the Church of England ; such who conform to the Benefice , ( not to the Canon ) and , Pope-like , cancell all their solemn Obligations to the Laws , and give themselves a Pardon for their barbarous Irregularity against the Ecclesiastical Constitutions . Ex animo in their Subscriptions , signifies Lukewarmness and Neutrality ; an unfeigned Assent and Consent , is a deep Hypocrisy ; decently , is a Compliance with a Faction ; and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , according to Moderation , and ( too frequently ) according to Subscription . — He is your only Man of moderate Principles , whose Conscience is a Composition of five precious Ingredients , the Pride of Diotrephes , the Interest of Demas , the Treachery of Judas , the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees , and the Disobedience of Devils . — ( I dare not reprint the rest . ) — These are your blessed Episcopal Covenanters , Canonical Comprehenders , Clergy-Merchants , and Regular Renegadoes . — ( Now for sound-sake , why not Read me a Riddle , or Rattle , rattle , rattle ? ) — Again , their Religion consists in the Overthrow of Church-Discipline and Government ; and their Moderation is a wilful Omission of the Rites and Offices of the Church of England . The same again repeated , pag. 18. Thus some Men pourtrayed by Rhetorical Oppositions , the Creatures of an unhallowed Imagination , and I think not to be found , by Mr. Will. Gould , preached at a Visitation in Exon , dedicated to Bishop Sp. and for the goodness of it twice printed , or for the badness of the Sale , the second Edition of the Title-Page put out before it ; but whether printed the second time or no , concerns the Bookseller more than any other Man. I will only answer what I have transcribed , by denying the Accusation , and look upon it as a publick Pulpit-Slander . It is pity ( tho it contains some Threads of Gold , and Shreds of richer Stuff , ) that a great deal of it was ever thought of ; or if invented , ever put to Paper ; or studied , that it was ever preached ; or preached , that it was ever printed ; or printed , that it was ever sold or read , except to bewail that any Preacher should speak so unlike an Oracle of God. If moderate Men could not contain , they might anger Mr. Gould , and others , by shewing their Hands and their Legs , some not having as much as one Leg for a Pulpit , &c. But I will not irritate , but wish we were all Followers of Christ , qui fecit quod docuit , as Cyprian speaks . There are many others that send about their Characters , to provoke the Magistrate to a Jealousy of their own Friends ; and it is time to offer a Vindication , if it will be admitted . And that I may contain my self within some Bounds of Method , I will , I. Vindicate the moderate Clergy and Laity , from the fanciful Aspersions cast upon them by some . II. I will endeavour a true Character of a moderate Conformist . III. Vindicate him from the Censures of those that are offended with him . Sect. I. I. Having done with Mr. Gould , with little more than a Repetition , I will consider a Charge against us , as formed into a Party , under a venerable Nick-name of Grindalizers . This Name is imprinted on us by the Author of the Remarks upon the Growth of Nonconformity . I know not the Author , and can have no pique at him for any private Offence ; I cannot conceal my Wishes of him , whoever he be ; I had rather he should prove to be a Lay-Person than a Preacher , and a Papist than a Protestant . He may be taken for an Author of Reading and Credit , by such as cannot trace and detect him . He handleth those Weapons against our Dissenters , which the Papists thrust at the Protestants in the former Generation , and which the Leaders in our Militant Church have twisted and wreathed like Bulrushes . For instance , his Imputations upon Calvin and Beza , are the very same which Bishop Bilson doth vindicate , in his Answer to the Jesuit , ( True Difference between Christian Subjection , and Antichristian Rebellion , part 3. p. 509. ) and other of our Protestant Fathers . He produceth those very Stories against the Nonconformists , which Parsons the Jesuit , Sylvester , Petra sancta , Barclay , Paraenesis ad Scotos , lib. 1. c. 3. Philanax Anglicus , and that cheating Author , called , The Image of both Churches , dedicated to Charles the First , when Prince of Wales , printed at Tournay , 1623 , written ( as 't is said ) by Pateson . While he exposeth the Nonconformist to open Shame , he brings upon the Stage what , and the very same Things , that the Papists fathered upon the Protestants , and Reformed Churches ; and they are cleared of those Forgeries by our eminent Writers : And so the Case of the Nonconformists so far is vindicated , by Bishop Bilson , Morton's Justification of the Protestants from the Charge of Rebellion ; in his Full Satisfaction concerning a double Romish Iniquity ; by Dr. Andr. Rivet ; Jesuit a vapulans ; and Du-Moulin . Who suffers most by these Slanders , a Party of Dissenting Protestants , or the Protestant Reformed Churches ? Now whether this Work be more proper for a Papist , or a Protestant , not to say a Minister of the Church of England , as some say the Author is , let the Reader judg by his own Words , from pag. 14 , to 17. A second thing that promotes the Interest and Increase of Separation , is Grindallizing . By Grindallizers , I mean the Conforming Nonconformists , or rather such as are Conformists in their Profession , Half-Conformists in their Practice . Nonconformists in their Judgment , like the old Gnostick Separatists , which the Apostle calls , double-minded Men ; or like the Sinner in Eccl. 2.13 . that looks two manner of ways ; or like the Haven in Creet , Acts 27.12 . that bows and bends to the South , and to the North , to the Church of England , and to the Kirk of Scotland , as Interest and Opportunity shall incline . These are they which down with all Oaths and Subscriptions required , tho what they swallow whole in their Subscriptions , they mince and mangle in their Practice ; they conform to all seemingly , but hypocritically ; mangle the Common-Prayer , handle the Surplice gently , plow so cunningly with their Ox and Ass together , carry it so cunningly , that they can scarce be known , but per modum opinionis , by their open Compliances with the Enemies of the Church , by their Gallionism in defending the Orders and Ceremonies of the Church , and other Matters of Conformity , which require their proportion of Zeal and Resolution ; by their hearing with patience and unconcernedness , the Interest , Honour , and Peace of the Church run down by swaggering Sectaries ; by their talking Conformity and Nonconformity , with such compassionate and serious Innuendo's , as may sufficiently signify their favourable opinion of , if not good-will to their Cause ; by their defending the popular Election of Bishops ; by ambiguously representing the Separation , as if it were no Schism ; by their writing fraudulent Pleas for the Nonconformists ; by endeavouring to acquit the Presbyterians and Independents of the King's Murther ; and in statu quo , by their Votes in chusing Parliaments and Convocations ; by their being a secretis with profest Nonconformists ; by their self-designing Compliances with them , under pretence of Moderation , & similibus : Whereby they contribute as much to the encouragement of Dissenters , as the professed Encouragers themselves ; like King Charles's Presbyterian Murtherers , who had the Villany to manage the Contrivance , but the Cunning to disappear in the Execution . These Half-Conformists are the veriest Church-Moles , that by their blind Principles , and undermining Practices , contribute little less to the Increase and Interest of Nonconformity , to the danger and dishonour of the Church , than the open Enemy , whether Popish or Peevish . And of this we have frequent Instances , particularly in Arch-bishop Grindal , whose Indulgence to that Party gave them the first revival in England , by his conniving at the Half-Conformists of York-shire , by his complying first with Beza , in procuring a French Church setled in London , on the Geneva-Principle ; and afterwards with those , who upon their return from Geneva , Franckford , and other Places , ( where they lived during the Marian Persecution ) were preferred in the Church , where they lived for some time Half-Conformists ; as Cartwright , Minister in Warwick ; Whittingham , Dean of Durham ; Sampson , Dean of Christ-Church , afterwards turned out for Nonconformity , with great Numbers preferred to Cures in City and Country ; where they were not wanting to prepare the People for such Innovations , as were in after-Times to be brought into the Church , and by the profest Nonconformists . As soon as Safety and Impunity permitted , they broke out into open Schism ; and still when the Law 's just Severity frighted them , they crept within the Pale of the Church , seeming to conform , that they might have the Law 's Protection to shelter their Contempt of Authority , and under the Wing of Episcopaey to breed up their Presbytery . When Arch-bishop Whitgift's Zeal and Industry had reduced them to that , that in all probability their Ruptures were crumbling to nothing , their then Refuge was , ( as Beza advised in his Letter to Cartwright ) to unite themselves again to the main Body of the Church , there to be nurtured into contempt of the Churches Government , under the Indulgence of its Governors . And of this kind of Half-Conformists are those , who at this very day , by outward Conformity have Opportunity , and by masked Nonconformity want not Will , through sneaking Compliance , to betray the Church into her Enemies hands , and themselves ( tho they know it not ) into the veriest Contempt and Slavery . So that in this Contemplation we might ( as the Church of old did by the Waters of Babylon ) sit down and weep when we remember Zion , Zion ( saith the Prophet ) tearing her self with her own hands ; or as the Tree in the Apologue , that was rent , and splint , and torn asunder by Wedges that came out of its own sides . Therefore as we would not hypocritize and dissemble with God and Man ; as we would not be found Church-Traytors , that have espoused a Cause which we are afraid to defend , and ashamed to own ; as we would not be found in Conspiracy against our selves , and in Breach of those solemn Oaths took at our entrance into the Ministry , by a dastardly Compliance with our own and the Churches Enemies ; Let us every Man to his Tents , O Israel , with resolution and courage in gain-saying saying Seducers , in daring to look Faction in the face , and opposing it , tho never so insolent and domineering ; according to the advice of Mr. Calvin to Bucer , that he should take care to avoid moderate Counsels in Matters of Religion , intimating the intense Zeal that is required in Ministers , in order to the Interest and Honour of the Church : remembring that of the Wise Man , Eccles. 2.13 . Wo unto them that have a fearful Heart , and to the faint Hands , and to the Sinner that goeth two manner of ways . Pag. 51. That the Grindallizers and Half-Conformists threaten little less to the danger and dishonour of the Church , than the open and profest Nonconformists ; that their great familiarity and intimacy with , their complying and conniving at , and ( instead of zealous , prudent opposition ) their halting and sneaking to them , is that which cannot but work in People a love and liking to their Persons , and their Ways ; and so by their Treachery within the Pale , like Moles , undermine the Foundation , when the other , like Wolves and Foxes , can but howl and foam without , the Mound and Fence of the Church being strong enough against them . And that therefore the Eye of Government had need be watchful over these Half-Conformists , as well as over the professed Nonconformists . We moderate Conformists come , in the second place , as faulty in contributing to the Growth of Nonconformity . But who went before us in a far greater Guilt ? Who but Archbishop Grindal , Queen Elizabeth , King James , yea , King Charles the First ? saying , That martyred King did meerly comply himself into nothing , by his Toleration and Indulgences towards that Party , pag. 8. And goes on to shew , that Indulgence and Toleration gave growth to Nonconformity ; and prescribed Means to pluck it up again , &c. And then , A second way of adding to its Growth , is Grindalizing . Seeing the Gentleman hath set his Marking-Iron upon us , we have cause to thank him for an Honour and Dignity bestowed on us against his Will. Grindal was a most Reverend Arch-bishop , and I will not be ashamed to wear the Letters of his Name upon my Coat , tho my Coat were made of Silk ; and I hope it would be not the less Canonical , I am sure not the less holy , for Grindal's Name . But whether this be more to that excellent Man's Dishonour , or to our Honour , was not so well considered of by the Imposer of it . Grindalizer is the Badg and Cognizance , but what is the Coat ? He makes us a Coat of very Rags , and the Sleeves and parts of it do not hang together by any coherent Pin or Point ; it is a loose Coat , made up of Pieces of Wit and Nonsence , some taken from under the Stall , some from the Dunghill . He sets us out by many rare Qualities , which sit about us as exactly , as if thrown on us with a Fork . I hope a moderate Man may be moderately merry , and therefore there being more of spiteful Raillery , than Logick or Coherence , in the Description of Grindalizers , I 'll conform a while to the humor of the Man , and talk a little idly and loosly too ; and I entreat the Reader to be merry with us , and lay aside the Sourness of an Artist in Grammar , Logick , Rhetorick . By Grindalizers I mean the Conforming Nonconformists , or rather , &c. A most clear and ingenious Entrance , to explain what he means by the Name ! But there is quid nominis , and quid rei : If he give the quid nominis , then Grindalizer signifies in plain English a Conforming Nonconformist . Against the next Edition of the Signification of Words , let this Author be consulted . If the quid rei , here 's a Question starts up pertly , Whether Arch-bishop Grindal was a Conforming Nonconformist , &c. like the old Gnostick Separatist ? &c. Or whether the Nonconformists be such as Grindal was ? ( I do not mean Arch-Bishops as he was , but such Conformists as he was . ) If either he was not like us , or we like him , then Harp and Harrow agree as well as Grindal and Grindalizers . But perhaps the Learned Author intended not a Logical Description of a Grindalizer , but a Poetical and Fabulous . And this I rather think , because of the Similitudes , by his Like the old Gnostick Separatist ; or , like the Sinner ; or , like the Haven of Creet . Now if a Man may be so bold as to look into the Mouth of this Description , here 's a Set of Teeth in it , but very broken and rotten . He bites the Grindalizers on one side of his Mouth , but it slips like Brawn from between them on that side ; he bites it with the other , and it shews him a slippery Trick on that side , he cannot fasten upon him there neither . A Grindalizer is like something which he never saw , but like what he doth not know . — He compares a Grindalizer to the Title of the Book of pious and worthy Mr. Cheney , the Conforming Nonconformist : Sometimes , if a Man may guess , as it were , to Men that make a Figure of a Half-Moon in the Church , such a Face is the Face of a Half-Conformist : Sometimes to a very Haven ; sometimes to a Plowman , with his Ox and his Ass. But upon better study , I see he is more accurate than a Man would expect . Here 's a full Description of Something . Here 's a Conforming Nonconformist described , by his Profession a whole Conformist ; as if a Man would take a C and a C , and turn them face to face , they will make a round O : Described , secondly , by their Practice , and then the O is slit as it were in two , and there is left but C for a Half-Conformist . Thirdly , he describes him by his Judgment , and dissects his very Soul : He is a Nonconformist in Judgment , like the old Gnostick Separatists . If he had called us by another Name , and not by a Name of Sanctity and Reverence , as the Name of Grindal is , I had not been so moved to tell him , this is like that Inhumanity of the Papists , to rake into the Ashes of Venerable Grindal , and worse , and make Dirt of his Ashes , to bespatter us with his Memory , and to shovel up the Dirt of the filthy Gnosticks , called Borboritae from their Filthiness , upon the Grave of that holy Man , and upon our Holy Profession . If this Dirt were like to stick , I would wipe it off . I pass it over . But what a monstrous Fancy hath the Man ! A Half-Conformist is described by his Inside , as having two Souls ; so the Gnosticks held that Man had : Secondly , by his Eyes , looking two manner of ways : Thirdly , by his Legs , bending like the Haven of Creet , to two contrary Quarters of the World. This great Wit , not having Comparisons at hand , travels a great way to fetch one , and talks like a Man of Creet , ( who are always Liars , as said their own Poet. ) But this is but an imperfect Piece , for all his pains . Let us borrow Hands and Legs from Mr. Gould , and then take this Half-Conformist within and without , from head to foot . A Half-Conformist hath two Souls , like the Gnosticks , but one Body ; observe that : Two Eyes , or two Pair ; but how placed , whether all in his Face , or one in his Neck , he doth not tell us : Two Hands , to subscribe two manner of ways : Two Legs , one for a Tub , another for a Pulpit ; one to bend to the North , the other to the South . And if a Man would know how this Half-Conformist bends and bows , it is for all the World like the Haven of Creet . But if a Man may so bold as to examine the Comparison , and stay at the Haven , he might have left out the Comparison . He quotes Scripture , Acts 27.12 . where we read of a Haven in Creet , which lies towards the South-West , and the North-West ; the Word is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , translated in English , that lieth towards , or looking towards the South-West , and the North-West . Well , but what is that to us , which way the Haven bends or bows ? Yes it is , for it shews us how we bow ; a Man may see it in the Haven , as in an Emblem , or in a Glass , as it were . Now who would take the Haven of Creet for the Emblem of a Grindalizer ? As it bows , just so do we , to the Church of England , and to the Kirk of Scotland , as Interest and Opportunity shall incline . Now to speak , if a Man can speak seriously , we may bow as well towards Ireland , if we bow to the South-West or North-West , as the Haven of Creet doth , as well as towards Scotland , if Interest and Opportunity incline . But I cannot go along , but Questions interrupt ▪ well , Question , what have you to say ? why this : May not a Man bow towards Scotland , and be a good Church-man ? And doth not the Kirk come to Church , and bow as formally to the South , as if it were towards the rising Sun ? But to leave off this Bowing , by the Points to which he saith we bow , and because he and we do not bow one way , let him divide the Points , and take two to himself , as he assigns two to us : To us , the South and North ; to himself , the East and West : The East , because both to the Altar and the rising Sun with one Bow , and the same Labour and Devotion ; and if Interest and Opportunity incline , bow to St. Peter's Chair , and Church in the West . We thank him for observing our Inclinations to the South , because the Church of England is there ; to the Kirk , because the Protestant Religion is there : And whether ever we bow to the East , which was idolatrous in the Persians , we will so f●●bow , or rather look towards the West , as the Ethiopians do , when in their Baptism they renounce the Devil . We have staid long enough in the Haven , let us now launch out into the open Sea of his Discourse , and wish a safe Passage , for indeed the Water is very shallow . These are they ( saith he ) which down with Oaths , &c. No Sir , not down with all Oaths ; Oaths to the Pope will not down , nor of Canonical Obedience to Italian Bishops , or any like them , nor Subscriptions to the Trent-Council . I hope , Sir , we have swallowed none yet but what you think safe and wholesom : and I beseech you , most candid and charitable Sir , be pleased to give me leave to ask you , Whether we swallow first , and mince afterwards ? or do we mince first , and swallow afterwards ? We swallow all whole , say you , in Subscriptions ; All what ? All Oaths and Subscriptions . By what Hocus Pocus , I pray , swallow all whole , in Subscriptions ? what our Hands , Pen , Ink , Paper ? what all whole , without dividing Letters , Syllables , Words , Sentences ? You say , we conform to all seemingly , but hypocritically ▪ Now really , forgetful Sir , if we conform to all seemingly , we conform to all visibly and apparently ; and if we down with all that is required , and conform to all seemingly , what 's the reason why you call us Half-Conformists , and but half ? Because we conform to all seemingly , but hypocritically ? If we do all seemingly , how do you know it is hypocritically ? But now , Mr. Acuteness , if seemingly 〈◊〉 more than hypocritically , why have you made an opposition between them by your But ? If they are opposite , then seemingly is 〈◊〉 really , and if I may so speak , outwardly sincere ; and so it must be , or else your But is no Adversative . Seemingly is sufficiently for the cognizance of your Court. We mangle the Common-Prayer , &c. Then first , we do not mince it : We mangle ! let all Men judg who are the greatest Manglers , you or we : We read all entirely , except the Peoples Part ; you read Venite , Te Deum , and the Psalms by parts ; you take one Verse , or a piece of an entire Sentence , and the Clark , and a few Men and Women , and Children , take the other , and share it among themselves , hindring the rest of the Congregation , especially them who cannot read , or go along with them , from edifying by a distinct and audible reading of them . This is a plain Disorder in many Congregations , and therefore to be forborn . We read entirely ; and you , and perhaps a few in some great Congregations , go away with a Wing or Leg of a Sentence ; which is likest mangling ? We handle the Surplice gently say you : Is that a Fault ? How should it be handled , if not gently ? what rudely ; scoursely ? what , Carter-like ! like Canvass or Fustian ? The Surplice is a tender , gentle Thing , and it must be handled according to its Nature and Use. If it be clean , it must be gently touched , that it may not be defiled ; if it be foul , that it may not defile . Once I was forced gently to lay by a nasty mouldy Surplice , which made me sicki●● and ill ; a Surplice wash'd with Lincolnshire Soap , dried at a Tur● Fire , laid up in a mouldy Chest , and strewed with Mice-T — , instead of Lavender-Flowers , very grateful to the Nose , and comfortable for the Head. Gently handled ! Is that a Fault ? It should be so , for the signification of it , which is Authority and Pleasure : It is made of fine Cloth , gentle Holland , or Scotch-cloth , and must last long ; to handle it gently , is to handle it respectfully . But pray , Sir , how do you handle it ? As some of our Brethren do , who have altered the fashion of it , from being whole before , to be open before , and button'd at the Collar , in the fashion of a Morning-Gown , turning it from a close Garment , into an Ecclesiastical Manta . And what doth that signify , but that it hangs loose upon your Brethrens Shoulders , and that it is to be laid aside ? Yet that it should be thus , is not only convenient , but in some degree necessary ; for else a Brother of the whole Head , in the mode of a long , decent , fashionable Perriwig , may , in pulling it over his Head , pluck off his Wig , and shew the Indecency of a bald , or a shaven Crown to his Congregation . Such Accidents have happened . It is true , that you great Men , that have Ten-Pound Men under you , as Mr. G. calls them , and the Conveniency of Vestries , may avoid that danger of a bald Discovery ; but where there is none , either the Surplice must open to the right and left , to make way for the fashionable Head ; or the Head gently come out of the same Neck-hole it crept in at . And yet to continue a gentle Discourse upon this soft Place , give me leave to address to you by way of Conference . If you and I should discourse the Commodity of a Periwig , and the Decency of the Alb , I grant , you may discourse with a Mouth full of many Reasons for the Cap of Hair : We can produce nothing for the one , but what is old ; but for the other , there are many Topicks pretty full of Arguments : As , 1. The Wig is good for Health , it may be made cool for Summer , it is warm in Winter ; it makes a Man look young , when he is old ; it is unlike the old Puritan and Presbyterian fashion , of wrought Caps , of double Caps , of black upon white , &c. and besides all this , it being so much in fashion , a Man looks something indecent without it : It promotes a new Trade of Hair , ( Hair and Wit being great Commodities in our Days , and look how much the Hairy Cap conduceth to the service of the Head , so much it conduceth to the growth of Wit. ) If a Man have a mind to hide his Head , it doth it , and so it gives a Man a kind of Protection : If a Massacre should happen , ( quod avertat Deus ) our Enemies may kill their Friends , and miss their Enemies . And lastly , if Interest and Opportunity shall incline , a Man may throw off his Wig , and wear his Hair , and for a time be as little known without it , as he was before with it . But what can be said for the old-fashion'd Garment ? If Decency , the Periwig is decent also ; it is hot in Summer , it is cold in Winter ; it is chargeable to the Parish , not very profitable to the Common ; one gently handled will serve an Age : It saves no Man Clothes ; and there is no such need of hiding our Garments at the Parish-Charge , as there was when it had its Name of Super-pellicium , because worn over Garments made of the Skins of dead Beasts , as Durandus writes in his Rationale , lib. 3. And saith he , It is used still in some Churches , to represent Adam cloathed in Leather Garments . And it would be noted , that Durand saith , super tunicas de pellibus mortuorum animalium factas induebantur : That they did not wear them over their Leather Garments , made of the Skins of live Beasts , but dead ; and gives us this for a Rationale , because the Beasts wore their own Skins as long as they were alive . But , Sir , to conclude , having gently handled this Point long enough , I ask you , What think you ? when we wear the Surplice , do we wear it seemingly ? if seemingly , whether we do not wear it really ? if really , whether hypocritically ? And now let us put off the Surplice , and see how cunningly we plow with our Ox , and our Ass. What! with the Ox and Ass in the same Yoak ? What if the Ox be taller than the Ass ? Why then if we cannot put them into the same Yoke , plow with them , as the old Irish were wont to do , tie them by their Tails . But pray , Sir , how do you use to plow in your Country ? with what Ass , and whose Heiser ? We in the Country of Moderation plow with Oxen altogether , and hold the Plow our selves , thresh out our own Corn , winnow it clean , and sow our Land with clean Seed , and pray for a good Harvest : And this we do sincerely , with our whole Soul , and seemingly too , because apparently . An Ass may serve to carry an honest Prophet a short Journey , but having no need of Asses for the Plow , we would accommodate you with them , if we thought you had not enow of them . We are scarce known but per modum opinionis ; we plow cunningly , and carry it cunningly , yet as cunning as we are , you are more cunning , ever to find us out per one modum or other : And for all our Cunning , you declare how we may be known : 1. Per modum Opinionis . 2. Per modum of open Compliances with the Enemies . Now here we fail in our Cunning , that we carry it openly . 3. Per modum of Gallionism . You tell us what you mean by Gallionism , and I tell you , that when we come into the Place of Gallio , to be Deputies , we will take care that there be no Insurrections against Paul ; and if any Sosthenes be beaten , he shall be heard and vindicated : But we are almost all laid aside , and if Paul and Sosthenes , we cannot help them . When the proportion of Zeal is stated due to Ceremonies , we will be just , and pay it to an hair ; but we cannot rail for Ceremonies , nor divide the Church for them , nor raise a War for them , nor cast our Brethren into Prisons for them , nor die Martyrs for them . 4. We are known , by our hearing with patience the Interest , Honour , and Peace of the Church run down by swaggering Sectaries . Sir , is this an Indictment , or an Accusation against us ? If it be , wo ask , Will you swear to the Truth of it ? or will you pawn your Verbum Sacerdotis upon it ? Were you ever a Witness of our Patience , &c. in this Case ? or can you produce Witnesses of it ? If you can , inform against particular Persons ; if not , we know upon what foot to charge this Account of us . As cunning as we are , we will not conceal , that we can distinguish between the true and real Interest of the Church , and the private Interest of some particular Men ; we can distinguish between the Honour of the Church , and the Humor of some who honour themselves with the Stile and Title of the Church . We can with patience hear or read what Dissenters have to say , and think Swaggering on either side is not the way to defend or overcome . We are heartly concerned for the Peace of the Church , which we seek by Moderation , by qualifying Heats , and taking away all Matters of Contention , if it were in our Power . We think the Peace too great and precious a Thing to be hung and ventured upon Goats-hair , or any Cobweb-Devices spun out of some Mens Brains , or hung at the rotten Girdle of the Superstitious . We are for Peace upon Catholick Terms , of our Lord 's making , and not private Articles of dogmatizing , proud , or melancholy Men. Diotrephes knows we concur not with him . We are careful to maintain the just Bounds of Authority , and if ever we sit upon , we will with patience bear all just Claims to Liberty . We would not lay the Vineyard waste , nor open , nor enclose it with a Thorn Hedg , to make a Separation , or exclude any that have good Right to inter-commune with us . We are for following Peace with all Men , and for parting with all that may well be spared , for precious Peace , which is of greater worth and vertue . We are so earnest to maintain the Civil Peace , that we are grieved at the unkind remembrance of our unnatural Wars , except for Caution , or Humiliation ; and had rather sit cold in our Studies , than inflame our Auditors into blind Passion and Fury , or hope to warm our selves in Preferments , by temporizing Declamations . If at any time we hear Sectaries swagger , as you call it , we rebuke them : We ought with weight of Reason and Divinity to humble such , with Meekness to instruct and satisfy the Doubting ; to be fearful to offend the Weak , and judg them , and heartily to wish them Soundness of Judgment , to direct honest and tender Affections . We would gladly gain and save them , and become one , and carry it to the worst of them , as St. Augustin , whom you quote , did to the Augustines . 5. You say , We are known by our talking , &c. If we talk thus , then we are known more perfectly than per modum Opinionis . Sir , we endeavour to speak of Conformity , and Nonconformity , &c. according to the true state of the Questions : and if Compassion and Seriousness be our Faults , we guess what you account Vertues , by such Innuendo's as these . For popular Elections of Bishops ; we know a difference between the Election of the People , and the Consent of the People , and refer our selves to St. Cyprian , St. Augustin , and to Tertullian , &c. But as long as we submit to an Episcopacy , as chosen among us , it is sufficient , tho we may have different Opinions : And this particular is cast in , ( tell true if it be not ) to flatter your Patron , for an additional Corps , if you are a Church-man . And as for the Notion of Schism , we consent to the Notion of the Church , Can. 9. and Protestant solid Writers . 6. A sixth way whereby the Grindalizers contribute to Nonconformity , is by their writing fraudulent Pleas for them . Their writing ! how many of them wrote the Pleas ? Were they written by a Club , or an Association ? I know some who had no hand in them . But why fraudulent ? Either because of a mind to deceive , which you cannot know , nor bring to your Visitation ? or because of the fallacious Management of them ? If they plead Things upleadable , then shew them no Kindness ; if things pleadable , they shew their Moderation , and a desire of Union and Reconciliation of the Difference . And let it be consider'd , the time when some of the Pleas were printed , even then Union and Moderation were coming into Fashion , I mean , when the House of Commons ordered a Bill to be brought in for Union of Protestants , and for taking away some Penal Laws . 7. By endeavouring to acquit the Presbyterians and Independents of the King's Murder . To this we say in short , We know no Man who ever endeavoured to acquit any kind of Men from that ever to be lamented Murder , that ever imagined , thought , spoke , or acted the least in it , or towards it . And for you to make a Party , and call them Grindalizers , and charge the whole Party with this , and other things , according to your fancy , is , to abuse your faculty of writing , and turn it into an angry impertinent scribble . If you will know us , and believe us , you may know us by our hearty wishing , that the Act of Indempnity , would also prove an Act of Oblivion , and that none that ever were called Christians , had at any time sinn'd against the 13 th to the Romans . Were it possible for us , we had rather acquit the Romanists of the Doctrine and Practices of Rebellion , than charge them with it : and do heartily wish there may never be again such occasion or reason for an Act of Grace to any Protestants , either at home or abroad , as there was for ours . If you will not believe us , we cannot help your unbelief , but do again say , We do condemn the Criminals , as , all such were who promoted that horrid Fact , though in the remotest Circumstances ; but let not all be blamed for some : at that rate the sacred Office of Apostleship shall be arraigned as guilty , because Judas was a Traitor , and Demus an Apostate . 8. ( So I divide your Semi-colons ) In statu quo , &c. We say we are for Persons of unstained Loyalty , of greatest Estates , and consequently of standing Interest in the Publick Good , and above the Temptations of Pensions or Honours ; of Wisdom suitable to their Places ; of Experience , Courage , and Conscience , that value Religion above their Lives and Fortunes . If we had our choice of Convocation-Men , we would chuse Men sincere in Faith , conspicuous for Holiness of Conversation , sound Learning , who place their Hopes , Interest and Treasure in Heaven ; who preach Christ , the Doctrine according to Godliness ; who take heed to themselves and to the Doctrine , to save themselves , and them that hear them ; who preach not themselves , but Christ , seek not their own , but the Things of Christ. And if I may in so serious a Point , mix your Fancy , that bend and bow not , like the Haven of Creet , to either South or North , East or West , for Dignities or Preferments ; he would have Men that maintain Foundations , other than which no Man can lay ; that lay the Churche's Peace and Union upon these Foundations , of one Faith , one Baptism , &c. and not upon Wires , and Pins , and Laces , and such Formalities . 9. The ninth Mark of a Grindalizer , according to my Division , is , their being a secretis , &c. There is a great cause to think this Author doth reflect upon the Debates of some of our great Divines , who have christianly joined honest Hearts to wise Heads to close up our Breaches . But what doth the Author do by this Innuendo , but discover his own schismatical Nature , against all Consultation with Nonconformists for Peace and Communion . But how are they a secretis ? How doth he know it ? Was his Soul ever with them ? By what per modum doth he know the secret Counsels ? per modum Visionis ? simplices Intelligentiae ? Suspicionis ? Revelationis ? or per modum Observatoris ? Or how come you to know these close Cabals ? Speak your own Knowledg , or upon certain Information ; Have any of them blabb'd any thing to you ? or told you all , under an Obligation of Secrecy , which you keep by printing it ? Up what Chimney did you creep ? behind what Curtain ? under what Bed ? thorow what Hole did you hear the Consultation ? Have you intercepted Letters ? broken open Seals , and discovered us ? Sir , we can see into the bottom of your Inclination ; no doubt but you would suggest the Nonconformists to be big with Evil Purposes against Church and State ; and that we are in with them ; we can english your a secretis to be so ; but we will answer to any charge against us of any evil Conspiracy at any time . 10. By their Self-designing , &c. Sir , Moderation is the Temper we would attain to ; it is the Duty we study , and our sincere Exercise , and not Pretence . But what are our Self-designs by Moderation and similibus ? Do we design to make Nonconforming Arch-bishops and Bishops , and hope to be their Sons in Law , their Chaplains , or to rise with them ? You said we plowed cunningly , carried it cunningly ; but now it is not as much as seemingly cunning ; we have not as much as one Ox in our Team , but all Asses ; if this be our Design , we shew our selves to be half-witted as well as Half-Conformists ; by this self-designing , were we self-designing-Men , we would write as you do ; we understand the way on 't , but you know and take it . And because Similitudes do illustrate , he compares us to King Charle's Murderers , &c. You know you dare not name one Man alive , of those you call Grindalizers , for it will bear an Action too heavy for your Shoulders . We had been sorry , if the Papists had done such a Fact open-faced , more sorry that any English-man , under any Denomination whatsoever , did contribute a Word to it , or think a Thought of it . And we are desirous to acquit all that can be acquitted from so scarlet a Sin and no more . Who were in the Contrivance and Execution , who disappeared , and who appeared , was best known to his Gracious Majesty , Privy Council , Parliament , and Honourable Court that sat at Hicks's Hall , upon the Trial of the Regicides , Octob. 1660. And according to the degrees of Guilt , we find some excepted , and some prosecuted , condemned , and executed ; and if there had been but One , that One had been too many . And it would well become us to be as tender of Mens Honour , as our merciful King , and wise and just Judges , were of the Lives , Fortunes , and Honour of Offenders . If there be any sence in this Paragraph , the sence of this short cut-throat Sentence would be this , if there be any thing in it beside slander upon slander , malice upon malice , to make the odious Comparison perfect ; 1. The Dissenters are without distinction , Presbyterian . 2. All the Dissenters are Presbyterian Regicides , or like them . 3. There are some that contribute to the encouragement of these Dissenters , and others are profess'd encouragers of them . 4. Either one or both of these , are like those Presbyterian Murderers of King Charles . 5. Those had the villany to manage the Contrivance , but the cunning to disappear in the Execution . The Apodosis or reddition of this Comparison , should be some such thing as this . 1. The Grindalizers do either contribute to the encouragement or are profess'd encouragers of these disloyal ill-principled Dissenters : But how ? By their moderation & similibus . But , pray Sir , in what capacity do we Church-Moles contribute to their encouragement ? In the capacity of Church-Moles in black Coats , or in some other colour ? In the capacity of Subterraneous Moles , throwing up the Mole-hills for the Dissenters to build Garrisons , Forts , and Castles upon , or at least to build Meeting-places upon ? 2. These Grindalizers have only the villany to manage the Contrivance : But , good Sir , of what ? To disappear in the Execution ; but still , Sir , of what ? Is it left to the Reader 's understanding , and charity , to make what he pleases of it ? Now here 's cunning and no cunning in the Church-Moles ; cunning to disappear , and no cunning in disappearing ; for the cunning would be not to appear at all , and then they could not disappear : but to disappear , and for this quick-sighted Friend to see them disappear , is too open a disappearance . The Comparison is lame : but what is wanting in the Square of the Comparison , is made perfect by his great love and kindness to us . But , Sir , for all love , be pleased to discover the Contrivance , and then to follow the Disappearing , till you make it to appear . And further , either you know the Contrivance , or do not know it ? if you do , and have been a false Contriver with us , be honest and spare not : if you have not , let the Reader make his Consequence . Either you know the Encouragers , or the Contrivers , or do not know them ? If you know them , tell ; if you do not know them , keep silence hereafter . We Moles have Noses though we have no Eyes ; we smell your rank Uncharitableness , though we cannot see your Art : but we never yet did smell those Foxes that you pretend to unkennel ; and so in one respect we have neither Eyes nor Noses like yours : and we hope we shall make better use of such Senses we have , than you have done . But whether your Comparisons hit or miss , smite or smite not , be sure to beat out this Conclusion , That there are no Villains , much more villanous , than the new Sect of Grindalizers , that 's the scope of all your Comparisons . But , Sir , if a Man were to thatch a House , if he lay on , like a Thatcher , too great a Burden , the Timber will fail him , and either down comes Thatch upon the Thatcher , or the Thatcher upon his Thatch : Even so if a Man lay on great and heavy Comparisons upon crazy or rotten Spars and Timber , down comes the Comparisons , and the maker of them . Build with better Timber , before you venture to thatch and cover your Building with Comparisons . If all these Lines were Non-sence , we could laugh at his Childishness ; but containing Slander , Jealousy , and Malignity , we will pray to be deliver'd from such Men , and wish him a better Mind . After a long-winded draught of Poison , vomited upon us , he takes breath in a shorter Sentence ; wherein we are dignified and distinguish'd with other Names , and represented as little better than popish or peevish ; and what should the Scope of this Period be , but that Mole-catchers , and Mole-Traps be provided for us ? We thank him however for his great care of the Church , whatever become of us . But I go on , And of this , &c. Now what should be the Substantive to this Article this , is hard for us blind Moles to find . It should be some Word or Sentence supplying the place of a Substantive of the singular Number , but half-Conformists , Church-Moles , blind Principles , undermining Practices , the plural Number ; nor contribute , a Verb , cannot agree with it : What then ? what shall it be ? Nonconformity , Danger , Dishonour , open Enemy , or what should be the Substantive , or Antecedent to the Article or Demonstrative , This ? But we will not stand upon This , but follow him through his History , as a Mole-catcher doth his Mole . And refer all he hath said ; 1. To his Matters of Tale-telling , instead of History . 2. To his Application . 1. And in this oppose Truth to his Falshood . Altho we are not baptized in the Name of most Reverend Grindal ; we honour his Name and Memory , and take this true account of him : Had King Edward the sixth lived , he had been Bishop of London , upon the Translation of Bishop Ridley to Durham . He was a Confessor in Queen Mary's Reign ; he was a Disputant for his Religion in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign , and promoted by her first to London , then to the Arch-bishoprick of York , and thence to Canterbury ; he was a right , famous , and worthy Prelate ; his care was great to further the Glory of God ; but through envy of Ill-willers , his Power was but small ; his Place was high , but himself made low by some Disgrace by Potent Adversaries , which he meekly and patiently endured to his dying day . ( Mark ) during the space of this Man's Troubles , Jesuits slocked into the Kingdom , and the Faction at home grew bold . This is the Testimony which is given him by Mr. Tho. Rogers's Preface to his Exposition of the Articles to Arch-bishop Bancroft : How Grindal contributed you see by this Testimony . Hear Mr. Cambden's Character and Report of him ; Edmundus Grindallus Vir pius & gravis . He flourished a good while in the Queen's Favour , until he fell quite out of it by cunning undermining Arts , as if he favoured the Conventicles , and Prophesyings of turbulent Ministers , but indeed , the true Cause was , because he condemned the unlawful Marriage of Julius an Italian Physician with another Man's Wife , the Earl of Leicester vainly labouring to the contrary : Camb. Ann. 1583. What those Prophesyings were , and what an excellent Mind he had , may be seen in his long and good Epistle to Queen Elizabeth , in Fuller's Church History : Also you may see in what Honour he stood in the Minds of the Fathers and Clergy of the Church of England , by a Letter written by Toby Mathew afterwards Arch-bishop of York , in the Name of both Houses of Convocation to the Queen , humbly beseeching the Restauration of the Arch-bishop . But had those Bishops and Members of that Convocation known as much as the Author of these Remarks , or cared as much as he doth for the Danger and Honour of the Church , they h●d not written on his behalf certainly . Grindal had such an Estimation of Bishop Whitgift , then in the time of his Troubles , that he with other great Men were desirous of his Promotion to Canterbury , and Grindal would be content with a Pension , but Arch-bishop Whitgift utterly refused so to do ; Sir George Paul in the Life of Arch-bishop Whitgift , p. 26. See now how the whole Convocation by their Letter , and Whitgift by his refusal , did contribute to the Indulgence , by desiring the Restauration and Continuance of Grindal in his Place ; and for all I see , if Grindalizers do no worse than Grindal , the Church may be safe enough . Ay , but this Remarker sees more into the ways of the Church-Moles , than they themselves do ; and more into the Church-story of those times , than we do . Grindal's fault was , first in complying with Beza in procuring the Settlement of the French Church in London . Where note , if it was a fault to admit a Church on the Geneva Principle , is it not a Grindalizing in our Arch-bishops and Bishops to suffer it now ? Here 's Charity to reformed Protestants ! 2. In complying with the Protestants that returned from Frankford ; but did he promote Whittingham to be Dean of Durham , Sampson to be Dean of Christ-Church ? was he Patron of all the Preferments ? &c. But it 's remarkable , how closely he follows the Clew of History . Cartwright was none of the Exiles in Frankford . 2. Was not preferred to Warwick , neither by him , nor in his time , but by Arch-bishop Whitgift : And if Grindal was a Grindalizer , Whitgift was , for he plac'd Cartwright in Warwick , and was by his Connivance , a cause of what Mischief Mr. Cartwright did ; and the Queen was offended with Whitgift for conniving at Cartwright , as Sir George Paul writes in the Life of Arch-bishop Whitg . p. 55. And now we Church-Moles have by the Candle-light of History found , that Whitgift was no better than a Grindalizer , and so one of us . But saith our Author , that when Arch-bishop Whitgift's Zeal had almost crumbled their Ruptures into nothing , then their Refuge was , ( as Beza advised Cartwright in his Letter ) to unite themselves again to the main Body of the Church , &c. Whereas indeed upon Examination , I find two Letters written by Beza to Cartwright , in my Edit . of his Epist. From former times he descends to ours , and in Contemplation of our betraying the Church to our Enemies , and our selves into the veriest Contempt and Slavery , he might , as the Church by the Waters of Babylon , sit down and weep when he remembers Zion . But Sir , you say , you might sit down ; but have you sate down and wept ? and wept to remember Sion ? wept at the Waters of Babylon ; or sate down with Pleasure to drink of the Cup — ? I can find no sign of Harp upon the Willows , that dance after a Pipe , &c. Thus for your Historical Pains . 2. The Application follows . Therefore as we would not Hypocritize , &c. and why not Grindalize ? waving little things , we say , 1. To your Tents O Israel , was the Speech of Jeroboam casting off the House of David : And therefore , If Grindalizers must be our Name ; We Grindalizers declare this to you , that we will not to our Tents , 1 for we have a Portion in David , and an Inheritance in the Son of Jesse . We will not follow Jeroboam , and worship his Golden Calves ? Are you thereabouts with your Calves ? The Oath which we have sworn unto David , we will by God's Grace perform ; we will not comply with our Enemies , nor cut off our Friends ; we will gain-say seducing Spirits , and look Faction in the Face : We will follow the Advice of Calvin to Bucer , in the things he wrote of , which were not to avoid moderate Counsels in matters of Religion . To endeavour by all means , ut ritus qui superstitionis aliquid redolent tollantur medio ; to take away all Rites that favoured any thing of Superstition . This I commend unto thee by Name , that you may free your self from Envy , with which many lead you , for they do always entitle you either Author or Approver in all moderate and middle Counsels . Nam mediis Consiliis , vel Authorem , vel Approbatorem semper inscribunt Calvin Bucero . And therefore we will let our Moderation be known to all Men , altho we will never reconcile the Articles of the Church to the Council of Trent , according to sancta Clara , no Cassandrian Grotian , Consultation and Reduction . And now I must leap over the rest of your Book to your Conclusion , where you give a kind Farewel . In your Conclusion , you thus commend us to the Eye of the Government , not for Favour and Preferment , except it be that which the Nonconformists are dignified with , and distinguished by ; which being dissected , presents to our View , 1. The profest Nonconformists threaten Danger and Dishonour to the Church . 2. Grindalizers and Half-Conformists threaten little less . 3. That their Halting and sneaking works in the People a Love to their Persons and Ways . 4. By their Treachery , like Moles , undermine the Foundation within the Pale ; when the other , like Wolves and Foxes , can but howle and foam without the Mound and Fence of the Church , being strong enough against them . Whence the Inference is plain , that if it be time to use the utmost Severity of the Laws against the Nonconformists , some Course must be taken with Grindalizers , as really more dangerous , as undermining the Foundation within , when the others do but foam and howl without . But what can be done with us without another Act of Parliament ? And how can that be without a new Parliament ? For we conform seemingly , and what can be done with such ? But behold the Spirit of the Man ! To conclude , 1. We protest against his Power of imposing Names . 2. We reject his Characters , as Slanders . 3. We see what we are to look for , from them that are of the whole Head , the whole Blood , Church-men , as they call themselves , by an eminency and appropriation , if all should be of this Author's mind , who needs as much Mercy , as they to whom he affords but very little Respect or Kindness . SECT . II. There is another Person of a more excellent Temper , a Man of Consideration and Worth , Mr. John Evans , Rector of St. Ethelbert , London : I did with some earnestness of desire procure his Sermon before the Lord-Mayor , for the Arguments sake , to see if I could find such a Man , as would solidly and wisely handle , and openly commend a great Duty out of fashion , and in a Time when they who profess it look very odly , and are pointed out to be avoided . I found the Reverend Preacher to set about his Work like a Workman ; and tho he pitched upon too narrow a Notion of Moderation , yet the clearness of his Mind and Style , the Honesty , Openness , and Candor of Spirit , did much gain upon me . After he had spoken of what he takes to be the true Notion of Moderation , in his Doctrine , he delivers the common Notion of it in his Inference , affixing it to Laity and Clergy , pag. 36. and takes it off again from the Clergy , pag. 41. I declare I am not acquainted with any of the Moderate , nor can I of my own knowledge accuse any Minister whatsoever . All that I shall say upon this Point is this , That if there be any such , I am very sorry for them . And after he had given this little satisfaction to them , who for ought he knew were injured , he could not forbear to say , or write , pag. 48. Give me the Man that is honest , and constant to his Principles , and to what he professes , whatsoever Party or Persuasion he is of ; he is much more valuable to me , than he that plights his Faith to the Church , and gives all the Security that can be given for his Conformity to it ; and then after he hath wound himself into its Communion and Preferments , plays Booty , and acts like a Nonconformist . These are treacherous Friends , that like Vipers prey upon the Bowels of their Mother , and betray her , as Judas did our Lord , with a Kiss . Of all sorts of Men , the Non-conforming Conformists are the least to be valued , as most unfit for Society . Behold , here 's another friendly Testimonial given to moderate Conformists , but not for Preferment and Favour , we are sure : Treacherous Friends , Vipers , and like Judas , do not savour of Moderation in a Preacher upon that Text. It seems the aking Tooth did now begin to trouble him ; I shall not pour Vinegar into it , nor pass it by without some Reflections upon this great Complement . 1. He supposes that there is no moderate Construction of our Faith and Security given to the Church ; for if there be , why may not a Man of moderate Principles conform , and retain and practise Moderation , without violation of his Faith ? Now some of us knew the way into the Church before he did , and we were told of some moderate Interpretation of our Bonds . 2. If the Words are capable of a mild sence , we are taught that is the sence of the Law : A moderate Man will put a moderate charitable Sence upon them ; and if the Words will bear it , he is as honest to the Church , that gives her security in a moderate sence , as he that takes it in a rigorous . 3. How a Conformist , that hath wound himself into the Communion and Preferment of the Church , can act like a Nonconformist , both in her Communion and Preferment , is such a way of acting , as we never yet learnt , nor can well understand , except he allow that a Nonconformist can act like a Conformist , and then 't is pity he did not share in the Communion and Preferment , the one as well as the other . 4. Any Man that is honest and constant , of any Party and Persuasion , not excepting an ignorant superstitious Papist , ( for the more ignorant , the more honest ) or Quaker , or any other Sect , is more to be valued than a moderate Conformist , ( of whom he speaks ) . But why a moderate Conformist may not be as honest , and as constant in his Moderation , as any Man that is high and rigorous , or any other Sect , no other Reason can ( I suppose ) be given , but because the Rule of Laws of Conformity cannot stand with a moderate Construction : And if that were true , we moderate Men must keep out of the Communion and Preferments of the Church , and be professedly Nonconformists ; for one of both we must be : And if we cannot be exact Conformists in the severest sence , and act according to it upon all occasions , we must be Nonconformists . How much ease would it be to the Minds of our Brethren , to be rid of these Vipers , that prey upon the Bowels of their Mother ? But to take a fuller View of that Sermon : First , he describes Moderation to be such a gracious Habit of Mind , as will teach and incline us to observe a due Mean and Temper in our outward Actions , and Converse with others , so as to give no just Occasion of Offence , p. 7. But he takes it in a more particular Sence , more largely , and more briefly , pag. 7. Moderation is a Vertue , which teaches and enables a Man , upon all occasion of Contest and Controversy with others , to maintain and assert his Principles and Opinions , whose Truth he is persuaded of , with Temper . Which he doth more particularly branch out : 1. A moderate Man is candid in his Thoughts , apt to make the best Construction of Things that will bear it ; in his Words soft , ( not calling moderate Conformists , Vipers , treacherous Friends , or Judas 's ) in his Carriage Courteous , p. 9.2 . In Judicial Causes carries a Chancery in his Breast . 3. In Matters relating to Religion , he teacheth us to be concerned about Things more or less , in proportion to their Nature and Worth. 4. In Matters of Injury , he passeth by Faults , bears with , pities , &c. pag. 10 , 11 , 13. Again , pag. 15. He thinks , Let your Moderation be known to all Men , imports as much as , that all Christians , at all times , and upon all occasions of Difference and Contest , to give clear and palpable Tokens of their Moderation to all Sorts and Conditions of Men. Still it appears , that the Objects of Moderation are all sorts of Men , and that the Subject Matter upon which it is exercised , are Matters of Difference and Contest . So he repeats his Notion again , pag. 35. and again , pag. 37. Now before I go further , I desire the Reader to believe me , that I approve of very much good Matter , well-spoken , and well-applied . But I fear , Prejudice and Partiality weighs too heavy upon his Bowle . I do confess , i● is a very good Notion and Doctrine , that we should manage all our Differences with Temper : But why should he single out this as the main , if not whole of the Text , which is but a good Behaviour in a particular Case , and but one Instance of a general Duty , seems not so clear . Besides , 't is like it is too narrow a Notion , except a Christian have , or may have some Matters of Controversy or Difference with all Men , and that all Christians may have differing and contrary Opinions and Principles , and each one is bound to maintain his own Side with Temper . As he doth often repeat his own Sence of Moderation , so he doth deliver a common , but untrue Notion of Moderation , in a Lay and Church-Capacity , from p. 36 , to p. 41. and then gives his Reasons against such a kind of Moderation , as he is pleased to describe , to pag. 48. It would be too tedious to examine all the Members and Parts of a moderate Man in a Lay-Capacity , but what is most material . First , doth it become a moderate Man to be so positive , as to say , after an imaginary , oratorical Description of a Lay moderate Man , such as I and others never knew , This ( saith the Preacher ) is no Fiction of mine , no Creature of my Fancy , but Matter of Fact , visible to every Eye , p. 37. That it is not difficult to prove , such Men act against their Conscience ; for really , a moderate Man , in the common Notion , if examined , is but a softer Phrase for a Knave , pag. 48. Upon this Character of a moderate Lay-man , drawn pag. 36. I make some Observations , and in the general observe , That he takes some Parts and Vertues of a very honest Man , to make a Knave of : As , 1. He is one who will frequent the Publick Churches . 2. One who will seem devout at Divine Service , ( and who doth to us , and our Eye , more than seem . ) 3. One who talks much for Union , and wishes for it , but sees no Evil in Schism : Whereas , what can move him to wish for Union , but the Good of Union , and the Evil of Schism ? And I would fain know what Benefit any Knave can make of Union ? If he only talkt for Union , and did not wish for it , and if this might be known , it were like a moderate Man in the softer Phrase ; but if he talks much of Union , and wishes for it , he talks and wishes like an honest Man. 4. Suppose him to be one who thinks he doth God good Service , and takes a good Course to promote Peace by frequenting unlawful Meetings , and yet is clearly for the Religion established by Law. Yet under favour , 1. Suppose he may be mistaken in thinking so , for all that he may be a very honest Man , for honest Men are subject to Mistakes . 2. If he mistake in the way to promote Peace , for all that he may be very honest . 3. If he thinks those Meetings which you call unlawful , that is to say , Meetings of Orthodox Preachers and Christians , consistent with the Religion established by Law , he may be a wise , discerning , honest Man , and doth distinguish between the Religion , and the mutable Appendages to which he never subscribed , or declared , being but a Lay-man . But then , Secondly , Some Things are affixed to him , which if true , depends upon proof against some particular Men , if any such there be , which doth not affect more than those Individuals . We know none , that first , work hard against the Church of England on the six Days , and appear for her on the Sunday . 2. Nor any that sees not harm in Schism , ( but you may call that a Schism which is not . ) 3. Nor any who are one with all Parties , in designing against the Government . 4. Nor that cry , God forbid there should be any Alteration in it : for there may be Alteration in it , as in the natural Body , from Youth to riper Age , without its destruction or dissolution . 5. Nor that look upon Bishops as necessary Evils ; for they who account them evil , do not account them necessary . 6. He may be a Son of the Church of England , and yet chuse rather , if he could , ( that is , if he lawfully could ) to be without the Ceremonies ; for the Church doth declare , That those Ceremonies which remain , upon just causes may be altered and changed , ( in the Preface of Ceremonies , why some be abolished . ) Thirdly , He delivers some Things positively , which are dubious , and therefore which may be untrue ; pag. 37. These are moderate Men in one sence , i.e. they have a moderate Esteem of , and a moderate Love for that Church , in whose Communion they live , and resolve to die , so long as she is up ; but if she were down , they could contentedly enough survive her Ruine , and perhaps they might live the longer . Now either this Picture of a moderate Lay Church-man is a Creature of his own Fancy , or a real Being : if a real Being , and a true Man , he is one of his own Acquaintance , or not ; if not of his Acquaintance , he paints him by the Ear , by Report , and not by the Eye of his own Knowledg . Let him either reform him if he can , or keep no Acquaintance with him . If he be a real Man , he speaks the Language of Abhorrers and Addressers , who often promise to live and die for the Church , as established by Law ; and they are concerned in the Character , drawn ( one would think ) with too heavy a hand , and Pencil made of too course Bristles , for a moderate Man to use . Fourthly ; A Moderate Man , such as in some things he sets out in the Colours of a Knave , wipes off the Dash , and thinks he may with an honest Heart and Face , in sincerity towards God , Loyalty to the Government , and Constancy to his Religion , frequent the publick Churches , and Conventicles too : For , first , He is of the Judgment , that God may be truly and acceptably worship'd under different Modes and Forms ; therefore he will frequent the publick Churches , for which you cannot blame him , and it may be go to Assemblies called Conventicles ( especially when he had the King's Indulgence ) 2. He believes there is a Communion of Saints , not only in Faith and Affection , but also in Worship ; and therefore if he cannot hold Communion with Orthodox Preachers in publick Churches ; he will make bold to enjoy it where he can , which he thinks he may do without Sin , because it is his Duty , and knows no Reason or Law of God , why he may not as lawfully hold Communion with Orthodox , profitable Preachers ( from whom he hath perhaps tasted the good Word of God , and by whom his Heart hath been opened , ) and Christians , in undoubted , pious , Evangelical Exercises , as in Trade , or Civil Converse in eating and drinking . Object . But you say , they are unlawful Meetings . Then the honest moderate Christian thinks with himself ; 1. I never heard either Treason or Sedition , as much as couched in any of their Sermons or Exercises . 2. It is not sinful to hold actual Communion with sound and pious Christians , antecedent to the temporal Law , therefore it is not sinful in it self . 3. He cannot think so hardly of his Christian Governours , as that they would make a Law , to forbid any pious Exercise , but only such as are evil in themselves , or have tendency to Destruction or harm to the Government . 4. He remembers the moderate Judgment of every part of the Legislative Power , concerning Dissenters for several Years last past . 5. He considers the Law is a Penal Law , and is ready to bear that Penalty with Peace and Quietness . And if you think them unlawful Assemblies , of that sort as are not safe to be tolerated , then he that now frequents the publick Churches , will then frequent them , when those Meetings are disperst , or suppressed . But then what becomes of your own Doctrine of misplacing Zeal about Circumstances , Rites , and Appendages of Religion ? which a moderate Man should not do ; Pag. 24. If you leave the Moderation of Penalties to Governous , it had been beseeming a moderate Divine , preaching of Moderation , to have forborn to give Magistrates to whom you preach'd , Alarms to beware of Men that design against the Government , commonly called Moderate Men , the softer Phrase for Knaves , but in proper Language , Knaves and Vipers . If you know any such designing Men , inform against them , they are Strangers to us that are moderate indeed . I have staid Iong enough to view this Picture of a Lay-moderate Church-man ; I will walk into the next Room , and view the moderate Church-Clergy Man , who as he is drawn by this Hand , stands out with his Legs as the more crooked Knave of the two , Pag. 40 , 42. Upon him I observe , 1. That this free and open Preacher saith , He cannot accuse any Minister upon his own Knowledg so depainted , and therefore this is not a Creature of his own Fancy neither , but of some other Men's Fancy sure , come to his Knowledg , it seems by Report or Tradition . But if he had not believed it , why would he preach and print it ? To this we have two things to say ; 1. We deny the Accusation as it stands ; we disown the Picture , it is not ours , we know no such Church-men , or to speak plainly , such a pretended Conformist as is here represented . 2. If there be any such , it is not just , to fasten that upon more than are faulty . 3. Yet supposing or granting most of the things to be true , and they as material as any we offer to the Judgment of our Censors , some Considerations , if not to vindicate the accused , yet certainly to alleviate the Charge , and take the Charge by parts . First ; The Moderate Church-man is one , that upon occasion will marry without a Ring . We answer ; 1. This Ceremony doth more concern the Persons to be married , than the Minister that marrieth them ; for the Rubrick saith , Then shall they again loose their Hands , and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring , laying the same upon the Book , &c. And the Priest taking the Ring shall deliver it unto the Man. It concerns the Man to bring and provide the Ring , and the Woman to receive it , because of what is conveyed to her by it . 2. What Rubrick or Canon doth enjoyn the Minister to provide one ? Or , what is his punishment if he do not marry with it ? We know the Wisdom of the Church looks to greater matters in Can. 62. censuring the Minister , if he marry without asking Banes , Certificate , or Consent of Parents , or out of the Canonical Hours ; from which no Men are more free , than they who are called Moderate Church-Men . 3. Is there no occasion upon which this may either be justified or excused ? As if , 1. The Minister and the Persons , be not worth a Ring . 2. If the Man cannot buy , and the Woman resolve if they may not be married with a Ring of her Husbund's Gift , they will be married without . 3. Or in case the Ring be forgotten , and the place where they are to be married cannot afford one , and the time be so near out , that they cannot fetch one . Shall an Ordinance be denied for want of a Ceremony ? Or , what if the Man must take his Bride in the Humour ? Or there will be loss to both , if they put it off to another day ? Or lastly , suppose the Parties scruple the Ceremony , shall we refuse to execute a Law of Nature , for want of an Arbitrary Local Ceremony ? Secondly ; A moderate Church-man is one who will christen without the Cross : So he will , and so he may baptize all that are baptized out of the Church : The Rubrick lays no Injuction upon any to bring the Child to Church , it only saith , It is expedient that it be brought ; — and who in this tender Age will bring a Child to Church , seeing another Rubrick saith , Saving at the dipping of the Child ; the Child whose Baptism is doubted of , must be dipt , and it belongs not to him to see that the Child so baptized shall be brought to the Congregation afterwards ; and by what Rule do they walk , that see good cause to baptize in private , because of Weather , and distance of Place , and yet will not omit the Cross in private ? Now whether a Minister may not upon some occasions , and for some great Reasons , omit the Cross , is submitted to Moderate Thoughts , and to a right Judgment . And , 1. If the Parent , who is a Man of Reading and Sense , may have read some Arguments against it , which neither he nor the Curat can answer ; Nay , suppose he have but a strong Prejudice or Fear upon him , what if the Curat say , in good civil Language , Except you bring your Child to Church , or have it crost at home , I will not baptize it : Why , then saith the Parent , you shall not baptize my Child : What if the child dy unbaptized ? You say , it was the Parents fault for scrupling ; He saith no , for it was against his Conscience , and Judgment . But which is rather to be omitted by the Minister , Baptism , which is an Ordinance of Christ , or the Cross , which is an Ordinance of Man ? Especially in a Church , which , as it requires the use of the sign of the Cross , so it punisheth with Suspension a Minister that shall refuse to baptize , Can. 68. What if a Parent shall take or demand his Child as soon as it is baptized , from the Minister ? By what Law or Reason can he refuse to give him the Child ? Or , if a God-Mother or Midwife be so zealous , call it furious , against the Cross as to take the Child out of the Ministers Hands , as I have heard hath been done , shall the Minister strive and contend ? Object . But you will say by Can. 38. If any Minister after Subsciption to the three Canonical Articles , shall omit any of the Ceremonies , he shall be suspended , &c. Answ. The Omission must be notorious , before it can come to the Cognizance of the Court , and wilful and contemptuous , before it can be so notorious . But we speak not of such a notorious omission , but of what is occasional , seldom , and for greater Reason ; but of this more afterwards . 2. In case the Minister or Curat be but a Deacon , I doubt of his Power to use or make the sign of the Cross , without an equitable Construction of the Law , ( of which afterwards ) : for in the Margin of the Office of publick Baptism it is said ; Here the Priest shall make the sign of the Cross in the Child's Forehead . The Priest shall , not the Curat , or the Minister , for then it had plainly reach'd to the Deacon as to the Priest , but a Deacon is not a Priest in this Church : A Deacon doth it only by Presumption . Lastly ; To make the sign of the Cross , is an Ecclesiastical Affirmative Precept , a divine affirmitive Law binds not ad semper , to every particular nunc or time : why should we be more strictly bound to observe in publick an affirmative humane Precept , than a divine ? Are we more strictly tied by the Laws of Men , than of God ? It may by an Equity of Reason be allowed , upon Occasions of some Necessity , to omit an Ecclesiastical Precept , as we through a gracious Indulgence omit a Divine Precept . The third Crime of a Moderate Church-Man is , that he will baptise without God-Fathers and God-Mothers , in compliance with weak and tender Consciences . I answer ; If there be any reason of Strength or Cogency for the Omission of such things as these , it is as strong in the Case of weak and tender Consciences as in any : if a Minister cannot omit any of these things with a sincere Tenderness and Indulgence to weak Consciences , then he is obliged from doing a necessary Duty to the weak Brother . And if we are so straightly bound to a rigid Conformity at all times , so that we can in no case omit any thing for the sake of a tender weak Conscience : Who can answer this Argument against Conformity ? That Conformity which doth oblige to refuse a necessary Duty to a weak Christian , which the Law of Christ requires , is a Conformity against the Law of Christ , and by Consequence unlawful and null . But such is the rigid Conformity , ( as Men make it . ) Ergo. In private Baptism they are not required . In publick such as have not received the Communion may be refused , and sometimes Parents can get no better , and too often they are but Cyphers , and stand only to keep up the Form. But be they what they are , instance in any publick Baptism performed without them , if you can , and the Peccant shall bare the Blame of it . 4. The next Imputation , is his giving the Sacrament kneeling , sitting , or standing . I suppose the Reverend Preacher will strike out Kneeling out of the Bill , when he reviews it . I will take no Advantage of that Inadvertency , but to the other Offence make a Return . And here again , we meet with a Ceremony , which first is enjoyned the People . 2. Some great Men have interpreted the Rubrick thus , He shall deliver the Communion to the People kneeling , not forbidding him to deliver it to them that kneel not . 3. The words of the Canon 27 , are lax , Ministri cum Caenam Domini administrant neminem scienter ejusdem facient participem , qui in Genua non fuerit , inclinatus , sub poenaâ Suspensionis . The Communicant is not bound in express Terms to kneel in the very Act of receiving ; if he kneel in the time of the Communion , it seems to be sufficient , tho he do not in the Act of receiving the Bread and Wine . The Canon saith not the Minister shall be suspended , if he deliver the Sacrament to any one that doth not kneel in the very Act , but qui in Genua non fuerint inclinatus . If he kneel before , or after , he is not excluded , nor the Minister punishable by the Canon , whatever the Intention of it was . But leaving these things to the Interpretation of Superiors : Let any Minister be named that receives the Sacrament sitting or standing . And if some Communicants do , it is submitted , whether a Minister in some cases ought not rather to venture upon his Ordinaries Indulgence , then put away some Communicants for not kneeling , for which he hath no Law to warrant him ( that I know . ) 1. In case scruple of Conscience , Prejudice or Fear , the Christian who takes Scripture for his Rule , finding the Gesture of the last Supper to be the same throughout , as they sate at Meat , he cannot distinguish of Predicaments of Quality and Situs , as the learned Saunderson doth ( and the Circumstance of Place , the upper Room , was temporay , and not imitable , as the Gesture is ) whether a Communicant , otherwise without Exception , shall be excluded for adhering to the Gesture , which he finds in our lawful Translation of the New Testament ? 2. What if a Father , otherwise prepared and without Exception , scruple Kneeling , comes to receive the Communion of his own Son , can the Son justify the rejection of his own Father from the Lord's Table ? Children obey your Parents , is a Duty antecedent to Canonical Obedience , and of the Law of Nature . A Minister of a high Complexion , did refuse his own Father , and inform his Diocesan , who was known to be strict enough for all the Ceremonies ; yet instead of expected Approbation , he was soundly check'd for sinning against his Father . For the rest of the Faults , or treacherous Acts of Church-men , I throw them into the Heap of Misinformations , and to me things neither heard nor seen . And that any do bury with an Exhortation of his , or their own , seems to me , like a Tale which the Observator printed many Years ago , of a certain Venerable Bishop , that baptized by the Directory after he was Bishop , and the Liturgy established , which was an errand Rogerism . To conclude this , and to pass to the Confirmation of his Positive Assertions , I only add , what I have reason to believe ; that a strict exacting of Rites and Ceremonies hath driven away many to the Nonconformists , that had staid with us had they been indulged but in some scrupled Ceremony ; and since their departure from us , do scruple a great deal more than they did at first . And except our Governours apply themselves to some timely Mitigations , it is impossible so to crop the Sprouts of Dissenters , but new Shoots will grow out of the old Stocks , which cannot be stock'd up without breaking up too much good Ground . There are two things which the Reverend Preacher delivers with great Confidence and Assurance , as binding us under Condemnation , and stopping our Mouths , which have not the Evidence he presumes they have , wherein we are concerned . 1. He declares our several Obligations to a strict constant Conformity to Ceremonies and all , and saith , To make all sure , and prevent all Evasions occasioned by nice Distinctions about the force and obligation of Human Laws ; He will shew that there is no room for Equity and Moderation in this case , pag. 43 , 44. 2. Seeing we Ministers have by private Subscriptions and Promises , by open Deelarations and solemn Oaths to our Diocesan obliged our selves to the constant use of the Ceremonies established by Law : I infer , That nothing less than strictness and exactness of Duty , and a constant , close Conformity is required at our Hands , and that no Man can dispence with himself , and relax the Law in this case . p. 45. The Inference is drawn from four Premises . 1. The Act of Uniformity , p. 42. 2. The Declaration of Assent and Consent . 3. The Oath of Canonical Obedience , p. 43. And , 4. To make all sure , &c. There is no room for Moderation in this case , which he endearvours to prove , p. 44 , 45. Because that which I first except against , taking the Pages in order , is the last of his Reasons for that Conclusion : I shall invert my Order , and speak to it last , and so take up the second Point in difference , in the first place , And considering the Premises , I say , He cannot infer that Conclusion from them ; for there is more in his Inference , than is in the Premises . He infers as much , as that we are indispensibly bound in all Times , Places , and on all Occasions , to a close strict Conformity , and that if we do not constantly observe it in all Points , we have broken our Faith. If so , then what Conformist is not guilty in a high degree of sinning ? then who can conform ? Or , who can , and be blameness ? Is there such to be found at all times , even in Cathedral Churches ? There are many Occasions for an honest , wise , conscientious Minister to shew Moderation , not only such as our Brother allows to Dissenters , in Words and Passion , but in Fact , or he sins more by a courteous refusal to yield , than by a prudent occasional Compliance ; If not , then moderate Men cannot conform , but must abide without , among Dissenters . And our rigid Interpreters of the Laws do furnish them with an unanswerable Argument against Conformity , viz. That Conformity which leaves no room for Moderation , cannot be submitted to without Sin : but such is this rigid Conformity . The Proposition is proved , because we as Christians and Ministers , are bound to let our Moderation be known to all Men : and this Moderation is not only a Moderation of good Language , and abstinence from Passion , but in Fact and Deed. But let us try the strength of the Premises , and if they be removed or shaken , his Inference and Superstructure will fall with all his Confidence . And first , let us see if such Words be contained in , or drawn from our Subscription to the second Article of the 36 Canon ; wherein the Subscriber doth promise that he will use the Form prescribed in the said Book , in publick Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments , and no other . ( And no other shall be explained afterwards . ) The Promise is a general Promise , and because general , is capable of a Latitude , and that , nothing less than Strictness and Exactness , and a close constant Conformity , is more than the Canon speaks , an Addition to the Law , which enjoyns the use of it , and no other Form in Competition or Opposition to it . That Inference from this Promise of using it , is denied , and cannot be admitted , except the Law-givers declare that to be the meaning of it . 2. The second Premise , out of which that rigid Inference is drawn , is the Declaration of Assent and Consent ; which is to the use of all things contained in , and prescribed by the Book . But the Words and Promise are not , To the constant , close , strict use of all things , at all times , which is more than any Man can promise , or perhaps any Man hath perform'd . However , the Inference is denied , because it contains more than is expressed in that Declaration . But then this ingenious Person doth confirm his Notion by bringing in the Intention , or Scope of that Declaration , which is to the intent , that Vniformity in the Worship of God may be effected . That I may not be mistaken , I desire it may be noted , we are now come from one Word to another , viz. from a close , strict , exact Conformity to an Vniformity , which is the design and scope of that close Conformity . To this it is applied ; 1. The Act doth enjoyn an Uniformity by a Book named in it ; We declare our Assent to the use of that Book ; and he that puts that Sence of strict , close , constant use of all and every thing , doth add to the Law , and by a rigorous Interpretation of it , is as far from an honest Moderation , or Equity , as he that doth transgress the Law , Relaxatione nimia . 2. This Uniformity may in a warrantable sense , be taken in opposition to a Diversity of publick Forms , or a Multiformity ; that this is not the sense of Knaves , or the invention of Church-Moles and Vipers , is plain by the Preface , as it was called in the Common-Prayer-Book of K. Edw. the IV th , and in our Book follows the new Preface , Concerning the Service of the Church , wherein are these words ; And whereas heretofore there hath been a great Diversity in saying and singing in Churches within this Realm ; some following Salisbury , some Hereford , and some the use of Bangor , some of York , some of Lincoln ; now from henceforth all the whole Realm shall have but one Use. If therefore we follow , and use the same Book , we observe the Vniformity required , and explained in that Preface , still continued in this present Book , which is established by Law , and by Consequence , this is a publickly allowed , and a legal Sence . 3. If we take our Uniformity , not only oppositivè , to a Multiformity of ancient Forms and Uses ; but appositivè , conformable to the Rubricks and Orders , which are the Rule of our Uniformity , we shall find the Uniformity to be in many Things but general , and not particular : Therefore the Uniformity required by Law , is not a particular , close , strict Uniformity ; and by consequence , a strict , close , constant Conformity , taking Conformity in the same Sence as Uniformity , is not required , and therefore not to be inferred , as if all Ministers always were obliged to do the same Things , which is the Import of the Inference which I oppose . And this , I conceive , will appear in two Instances : 1. Of the Prayers and Hymns . 2. Of the Ceremonies , which the exact Conformist drives at . First ; Sometimes you are directed to One or This in several Offices . Now suppose the Minister of St. Ethelbert , for instance , shall say the Te Deum ; and his next Neighbours of St. Helen's , and Bishopsgate , or St. Mary Ax , shall say Jubilate Deo ; the one use one Hymn or Prayer , and the other another ; one should dip , and the other sprinkle : Where such Diversity is allowed , they all conform , but do not keep to a particular Uniformity . But you 'll say , Here 's no Omission of any Thing required . True , but let us modestly see , if there be not some Omissions also allowed , which will make a Difformity from the Use of our rigid Interpreters ; and whether the Composers of our Book have not been accessary to propagate or countenance a Sect of moderate Men in the Church . Suppose a Man affirm , that a strict , close , constant Use of the Letany be enjoined every Sunday , Wednesday , and Friday ; how will he prove it ? We think , not clearly and convincingly by the Rubrick , which is the Rule of our Uniformity , which is this : Here followeth the Letany , or general Supplication , to be sung or said after Morning-Prayer , upon Sundays , Wednesdays , and Fridays , and at other Times , when it shall be commanded by the Ordinary . Here the strict , constant Use of the Letany is not enjoined upon every Sunday , Wednesday , and Friday , but upon Sundays , Wednesdays , and Fridays . If so much had been said for the Use of the Letany on those Days , as there is for the Order of Morning-Prayer without it , there might have been more light to direct us to the constant Use of it ; for after it , it is said , Here endeth tho Order of Morning-Prayer throughout the Year ; when yet three of these Prayers are to be omitted by another Rubrick , when the Letany is said ; and yet Sundays , Wednesdays , and Fridays fall within the Year . By the Rubrick for the reading one or more of the Collects after the Offertory , it is left to the Discretion of the Minister to use one or more of those Collects : He that useth one , conforms as truly as he that useth more ; and yet there is no particular Uniformity , except every Minister use the same , and as many one as another . A strict and close Conformity to a general Rule is one Thing , and a strict and close Conformity to some Mens Practice , is another . The Compilers of our Book and Rubricks , did ( it seems ) so word the Rubricks , as to leave some Latitude of Interpretation and Practice , either to the Discretion , or various Occasions of Ministers , and Circumstances of Time , Condition of People , or to the Prudence of the Ordinary , to keep up his Power . Yet notwithstanding this Apology , the Letany is as frequently read by moderate Ministers , as by them that do not affect that Title . Secondly ; Let us see if such a constant and exact Conformity be required in the Use of Ceremonies . Some Ceremonies are required of the Ministers , and some of the People : Those required of the Ministers , are the wearing of the Surplice , and the signing with the Cross , ( I have spoken of the Ring in Marriage before ; and bowing at the Name of Jesus , and towards the Altar , are no-where required by Law. ) 1. The omitting of a Ceremony is no such great Crime , in the Judgment of the Reformers of this Church , as this Reverend Preacher exclaims against ; in that Account of Ceremonies , why some be abolished , and some retained , we read this moderate Passage : And altho the keeping or omitting of a Ceremony , in it self considered , is but a small thing ; yet the wilful and contemptuous Transgression , and breaking of common Order and Discipline , is no small Offence before God. We admit this , and say , that if sometimes we omit the Use of any of these Ceremonies , suppose in compliance with tender Consciences , or for some weighty reason , we willingly do it , but not wilfully and contemptuously ; and therefore occasional , and sometimes necessary Omissions , are but small Offences . 2. Why may not a moderate Minister sometimes omit the wearing of the Surplice , as well as the Brethren , who seem to be the exact Patterns and Exemplars of Conformity , omit the wearing of such Ornaments of the Church , and Ministers thereof , at all times of their Ministration , ( such as Copes and Hoods ) as were in this Church of England , by Authority of Parliament , in the second Year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth ? See the Rubrick or Section , [ And here is to be noted , &c. ] after the Order for Morning and Evening-Prayer . 3. Is not the Rubrick as positive for dipping the Child in Water , warily and discreetly , ( if the Godfathers and Godmothers shall certify that the Child may well endure it ) as for sprinkling and signing with the Cross ? And doth this ingenious and urgent Preacher demand such a Certificate from them , that he may observe this Rubrick , which saith , And then naming it after them , ( if they shall certify that the Child may well endure it ) he shall dip it , &c. How many Children hath he dipp'd in St. Ethelbert ? How often hath he demanded such a Certificate ? Suppose in the South Parts Infants were dipt , and in the North sprinkled , what would become of Uniformity in a more considerable Ceremony than any of the rest ? 4. Why may not the Cross be omitted sometimes to gratify a tender , scrupulous , weak Conscience , without blame , as well as the Omission of dipping Infants , out of respect to bodily Weakness ? Is bodily Weakness in an Infant , a better Reason than a Weakness , or the Judgment of Conscience in a Parent ? Should the one be omitted , and not the other ? Or shall we declare our selves more tender of hurting , a weak Body , than wounding a weak Soul ? 5. Uniformity takes in the Part and Duty of the People . The Rubrick , which is the Law , doth often require , that the People should kneel , or supposeth that they kneel : As for instance , before the Confession , Absolution , Lord's Prayer . We know it is impossible or inconvenient for most People , in great and crouded Congregations , and in narrow Pews and Allies , to kneel in Prayer ; the greatest part , if not all , in the most conformable Churches , stand . Why may it not be as excusable sometimes in a Minister , for great Causes , to omit some one Ceremony , as it is for the greatest Congregations always , or most commonly to omit that Gesture of Reverence , as positively required as any other ? And why may not a Minister as excusably deliver the Sacrament to a Receiver sitting or standing , as pray , the People sitting or standing , when they are required to kneel at Prayer , as strictly as at the Communion ? Some Persons are lame , and cannot kneel ; shall a Minister refuse them ? And if some Impossibility , Inconvenience , or natural Infirmity shall make a Nonconformity blameless ; why may not a consciencious Infirmity , or unconquerable Prejudice and Fear in the Consciencious , render the Omission of a Ceremony unblameable , or excusable ? And I desire it may be noted , That I only shew there is room for Moderation , and do not justify any Practice inconsistent with the Laws , interpreted according to Equity . By what is said , I presume , it either appears , this Conclusion is too big for the Premises ; or it may appear doubtful , whether an exact constant Duty , such as he means , &c. be required by the Act. Let us now see is such an Inference can be drawn from his other Topick , which is , 3 dly ; Our Oath of Canonical Obedience . The Oath of Canonical Obedience binds us to lawful and honest Things , and to these within the Limits of our Ministerial Function only , ( else our Obedience might extend even to wait at their Table , or to the holding of their Stirrup , both which and many other Things are lawful ) : And therefore our Diocesans cannot call upon us to go beyond the Laws ; and by consequence , that Liberty which the Law allows , is our Right and Privilege . We cannot see how we are tied to a more strict , exact , constant Conformity by this Oath , than by the Laws and Rubricks of which we spake before . Secondly , he adds , as an Enforcement of the Obligation , That the Right Reverend Father , the Lord Bishop of London , hath laid his Commands upon us , punctually to observe the Rites and Ceremonies . To which I answer : This Obligation lies upon none but him , and others from whom that honourable Prelate hath required it : What is all this to the Clergy of other Diocesses ? If that Right-Reverend Bishop hath exacted this , other Diocesans have not required it : And I could name some , of great Name and Age , who have expressed a greater Moderation , in forbearing to require that punctual Observation of constant , strict , and exact Conformity , as allowing some Scope , in some Occurrences and Cases , to Ministerial Discretion . And now not finding his Inference in these three Premises , let us see if we can find it in the fourth , which binds all fast and sure . 4 thly ; To make all sure , &c. I will , saith he , briefly shew , that there is no Room for Equity and Moderation here in this Case . And this he endeavours to prove , 1. By the Notion of Moderation , with respect to Laws . 2. The Words of the Act of Uniformity . 3. The Sence of the Law-givers ; that is , First , the Sence of his Majesty in his Declaration to stand by the Act of Uniformity , Anno 1662. And , 2. The Vote of the House of Commons Feb. 15. 1662. against Indulgence to Dissenters from the Act of Uniformity , p. 44 , 45. To drive home the Nail and to make all sure , that a moderate Man may not be able to stir from the Post of constant , strict , exact Duty ; He tells us , There is no room for Equity or Moderation in this Case . Then , first , did he leave his Text , when he came to his Application ? ( in the Latitude of the Apostles sense , which must needs be large , because the Object All Men , is a general Object ) . The Text saith , Let your Moderation be known to all Men. The Dissenters are a very numerous Part of the Nation , some of the All Men. That which they desire , is a Freedom , or Abatement , or Omission of some things required : If we tell them with civil and respectful Language , and with tenderness of Affection and Kindness , you must conform to all things at all times , invariably to the Law , and that there is no Moderation to be exercised towards you : I pray Sir , 1. What kind of Law do you make this to be ? a * Human Law , forbidding a Duty to a Divine Law. 2. What kind of Law-makers do you represent ours to be , that made a Law , forbidding the Exercise of a certain Christian Duty ? For now , you know the Law being made , it is out of the Law-givers Hand and Power , till they in a legal Meeting , please to anul it ; so that now you say , as much as that there is a Law that shuts out Moderation , such a Moderation as the case of Difference requires ; for Moderation of Affection and good Words , doth not come home to the Dissenters Case , which requires a Moderation in Fact and Exercise ? 3. What Encouragement is this for Dissenters to conform , if by their Conformity they must shew no Moderation to the weak and doubting ? 4. Do not you furnish them with an unanswerable Argument against Conformity ? But Sir , you produce our Subscription and Assent against us , and is there no Moderation of Sence and Interpretation of it ? You may soon know , that the Learned Mr. Chillingworth hath given a Sense of our Subscription to the Articles . Preface Sect. 40. and it passed with the Approbation of the Vice-Chancellor , and Professors of Divinity in Oxford . The like is done by Arch-bishop Bramhall's Vindication of the Church of England , p. 156. the first Edit . And for the Book of Common-Prayer be pleased to cast an Eye upon the last Preface before the now enjoyned Book , speaking of the former Book : The Authors of it say , they were fully perswaded in their Judgments , that the Book doth not contain in it any thing contrary to the Word of God , or sound Doctrine , or which a godly Man may not with a good Conscience use and submit to , or which is not fairly defensible against any that shall oppose the same , if it shall be allowed such just and favourable Construction as in common Equity ought to be allowed to all human Writings , especially such as are set forth by Authority , and even to the best Translations of the holy Scripture it self . Here is some Equity of Construction , and Moderation in reference to the Book of Common-Prayer , to which we assent , supposing the same applicable to this , which is spoken of the former , which pretends to no higher Authority than that did . And to use your own Words , To make all sure , you will see the Error of your dogmatical Assertion , when you see it proved , that Moderation and Equity must be allowed in this Case , or else we are grosly abused by them that require Subscription to the Canon , and cannot subscribe with Verity and Judgment . We subscribe to the three Articles of Can. 36. In the second Article we say that the Book of Common-Prayer , and of ordering and consecrating Bishops , Priests , and Deacons , contains nothing in it contrary to the Word of God , and that it may be so used , and promise to use that Form and no other in publick Prayers , and Administration of the Sacraments . Now that Canon is old , as old as 1603 , and refers to the Book of Common-Prayer then in use , and not to this which in several Particulars differs from it . We do not now subscribe to that Book , as it stood then , but to a Book lately changed , in which are many things which were not in that . If there be no Moderation , or Equity of Interpretation of that Canon , and by Consequence of our Subscription , how can any Man subscribe and promise to use that Form and no other ? whereas we do not subscribe to that Book then in use , to which the Canon relates , but to that which is now in use ? We think now , there is and must needs be an Equity and Moderation of Construction in this case . 2. He saith in the present Case of Conformity , there is nothing but what the Law-givers did foresee and provide against : To prove this he repeats some words of the Act , which say , Nothing conduceth more to the Peace of the Nation , Honour of Religion and Propagation thereof , than an universal Agreement in the publick Worship of God : and to that end , in the next Paragraph of the Act , it is enacted , That all and singular Ministers in any place of publick Worship , shall be bound to say and use the Morning and Evening Prayer , Administration of both Sacraments , and all other publick Prayers in such Order and Form as is mentioned in the said Book ; and that Morning and Evening Prayers be openly and solemnly read . Here are only general Words enjoyning the use of the Book , but not the exact , constant , strict use of it at all times , and of every thing therein , wich our kind and merciful Friend would impose upon us as the true and genuine Sence . And our Promise in the Declaration against taking Arms against the King : And that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now established ; is also a general Promise , and who but the Law-givers can make the meaning of it to be , an exact , strict , constant , close Conformity ? which I question whether any Man ever did at all times , no not the Preacher himself , perform , but might disconform by over-doing . There is another general Word , we consent to the Vse of all things ; but exactly , strictly , constantly , must be the Addition of him , who hath no Authority either to add or interpret , it being a Rule in the Law , Interpretatio ad eum spectat , qui condere potest . Philip Decius de Regulis Juris . To conclude this Particular ; I make bold to ask any Man , 1. Did the Law-givers foresee all Accidents that might happen , and conclude all Occurrences of Providence within their fore-sight ? and to make an invariable Rule for all particular Times and Occasions ? I believe none of our Law-givers will say so , for they know they are but Men. No Law-makers , being Men , can foresee , or set down all Cases that may happen , saith Mr. Perkins of Christian Equity . 2. Did they foresee that some Ministers cannot maintain Curats or Readers to help them ? that many Parishes cannot maintain , or have not a Minister entire to themselves ? that we have not Organs to make the Service easy and delightful , as some have ? That in some Countrys , Parishes are of a large Extent , and the People cannot come together so early as in London and Market-Towns ? that Catechising and Preaching must take up time ? and foreseeing the Weakness and Age of Ministers , that must do all themselves ; that many Offices of Baptizing , Churching , Burying ( which I have known all to be performed at one Assembly ) and yet require a strict , exact , constant Duty of reading all , and every word ? Did they foresee , that if the Word be not constantly and duly preached , the greatest part of our People will not come to Church , some thinking they may be idle and lazy as well as their Ministers ; and others will go where they may hear and profit ; and for all this , did they require a strict , constant , exact Conformity of Ministers , notwithstanding Age and Infirmities , to read , perform all Offices , and preach besides ? I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice , saith God ; but what say such hard Masters as these ? 3. Did the Law-givers foresee , that in great and crouded Churches , it is either impossible or inconvenient , and indecent , where the Fashion is for Men and Women to sit promiscuously in Pews , for all to kneel at Prayer , and yet enjoyn them to kneel at the Confession , Absolution , and Lord's Prayer ? &c. Did they foresee that Deacons do baptize , and yet say in the Margin of that Book , Here let the Priest make the sign of the Cross ? If there be no Equity of Construction , a Deacon cannot lawfully use the Cross in Baptism . 4. Did they foresee the Resolution of the Dissenters to persist ? the great Danger to the Protestant Religion by our Divisions , and Penal Prosecutions of them ? ( of which the Papists have made great Advantage ) and for all this enjoin a strict , constant Conformity , or Excommunications , and Writs , de capiendo ? &c. I might add more Queries , but I proceed to his Reserve . This Reverend Man thought there was strength enough in his main Body of Arguments to bear down the whole Force of the feeble moderate Party . But to make all sure , he hath placed two Reserves , the Power of the King in his Declaration , to stand to the Act of Uniformity , Anno 1662. and the other , the Power of the House of Commons Vote , of Feb. 15. 1662. to grant no Indulgence to the Dissenters from the Act of Uniformity . Now against this Reserve , we are not afraid to come out with as great an Authority as he argues under ; and we think , we have the better , because it is a later , and the fruit of twelve Years Experience . See the King's Declaration of Indulgence of March 15. 1672. And against the Vote of the Commons , of Feb. 15. 1662. we will oppose more than one Vote ; even a Bill brought into the House of Lords from the Commons in Favour of Protestant Dissenters : After that his Majesty had cancelled his Declaration of Indulgence , which Bill had certainly passed , but for want of Time ; the Parliament being prorogued till October 27. 1673 , before it passed the Lords , as it certainly would have done ; the Bishops then joyning with the Temporal Lords , and were willing to take away the Assent and Consent , and Renunciation of the Covenant . A Bill in 1673. in favour of Protestant Dissenters is of greater Authority , and we suppose built upon greater Reasons , than a Vote against Indulgence in 1662. We might tell you of a Bill for uniting Protestant Dissenters , read December 21. 1680. and other Votes ; but it shall suffice to have overmatched a Vote of that same House of Commons in its younger days , 1662. by a Bill of the same House in its riper Age , 1673. And now , if I thought this arguing but in this point , unconvincing Preacher could answer me , I would intreat his Favour to ask him whether the Law-givers of this Act did foresee and provide against a Change of their own Thoughts and Resolutions in reference to this very Case ? And then , whether we are to take the sence and meaning of the Law-giver from his first , or from his last and maturest Thoughts and Declaration ? But if they had remained unaltered ; the Words of the Act , and our Declaration and Subscription , being general , and not limited by any after-Declaration of the same Power , for a rigid Construction , we are inclined to interpret them with the Equity , and Moderation of a known Rule of Law. Benignior Interpretatio semper capienda est . I have now done what I designed , and taking the defensive Part , I shall not pursue the Learned , Preacher through the rest of this branch of the Use , wherein he speaks , more of himself , than he doth to his Auditory , of any Duty that concerns them ; but had rather follow him a thousand Paces in the Practice of the Christian Duty of honest Moderation , than give him one Contradiction . And I do again profess , that I am extreamly sorry there is so much matter of just Offence given in a Sermon , and from such Deductions of Application , more suited to the Times than the Text ; wherein two sorts of Men are marked with a black Coal , the profest Dissenter , and the Viper , as the Moderate Conformist is called by this Brother . But if it be so great a Crime to be a Dissenter and a Nonconformist ? Who are they who are most guilty of making Dissenters ? They who urge a Sense of Conformity more rigorous than the Law ? Or , they who give a moderate Exposition of general Terms ? And who are they who do the best Service to the Church , they who by Christian Moderation bring them in , or they who keep them out , and will not give them the least Harbour within their Church-Doors , but beat them out with opprobrious , reproachful Girds ? I do observe , that Reverend Mr. Baxter doth often give the rigid and milder Sence of what is required by Law , and the Nonconformist , taking the words in the rigid Sence , cannot conform . Plea for the Nonconf . Sect. 9. We are sure then Moderation doth not keep out , nor make the Breach — . And having said thus much by way of Vindication , we plead not guilty ; and taking Conformity in the whole Latitude for Soundess of Doctrine , Holiness of Conversation , for serious , and reverent , and rubrical Order in Worship , We are ready to endure a Trial at any time , and they who condemn and arraign the Moderate Conformist , do at the same time condemn the Governours of the Church for a very supine Moderation towards us , and drowzy Negligence , in not saving the Church from the Moles and Vipers , by executing the Laws upon us , if we are such Offenders . SECT . III. I have now done with one Part of our Vindication from the Imputations thrown upon us on one side : we are obnoxious to many severe Censures from another side , from many of our Dissenting Brethren , who wonder how we can do many things which they cannot , and for not doing them , have suffered for many Years to great Loss and Hardship . It will be necessary to say something by way of Apology to them ; which is the second Part of our Vindication . Two things are most commonly objected against us . 1. The love of the World. 2. That we by our Conformity have left the Nonconformist Brethren under the Censure and ill Character of Factious and Obstinate Men , and have made them the less to be pitied in their Sufferings , and their way of return to the Service of the Church as narrow and strait as it was at first . To the first we say , That those Brethren that censure us , ought to keep out of the Seat of Judgment ; and that every Man's Motive is known to God , and should be observed by his own Conscience , and its Sentence attended to , either for Repentance , or for Peace . We make no Apology for any Corruption of Mind , or Affection . But we hope that many have been carried upon purer Motives . To the second we can say , and we profess , That we have tasted of their Cup , and it hath been grievous to us , to be separated from our Brethren and Fellow-Labourers in the Lord ; and are sure that many of them are glad that good Men have conformed , and say , as some old Nonconformists have said , If good Men did not conform , what would become of the Church of God ? The wiser , and holier , and moderate part of our Brethren have been , and are the more charitable in their Censures of us , and have contributed much to our Encouragement , and are comforted to see the common Salvation promoted by any hand , and the Truths of the Gospel with a good Conversation maintained and kept alive . And we do also profess , it is more grievous to us to be judged of them that are One in Christ , than to be reproached by others of a common or worldly Spirit . And it is one part of the great Unhappiness of our constrained and necessitated Separation into two Ways , that our mutual Confidence , Acquaintance , and Communication hath suffered a diminution by it . But if we have with satisfaction to our Consciences conformed , there are great Reasons why we should , yea , more , we ought to put the most candid Interpretation upon the Laws and Terms of our Admission , that they are capable of , and abate the Rigors of a private Judgment as much as may be , for Peace and Communion in Society . And our Reasons for our Conformity are these : 1. We are called to an Office which we must perform and discharge , as those that shall give an Account to Christ at his appearing . 2. We cannot execute this Office with freedom , except we come up to the Legal Terms . 3. We cannot but esteem it an unvaluable Mercy , that the Christian Protestant Religon is established by a Temporal Law. 4. It is meet that we submit to some Test , by which our Governors that protect Religion , may have some reasonable confidence that we will be true to it ; and according to the Nature and Use of the Things required , we make a difference between one and another of them ; and with a construction of Charity , which thinketh no Evil , we will take the Things in the most favourable sence . 5. We must labour as much as possibly we can to spread , diffuse , and sow the Word of Grace , that true Christianity , its Truth , Faith , Power , and Savour may become National ; that every Corner of the Land may be filled with the Knowledg of the Lord. 6. To this end Parochial Limitations do much conduce , ( wishing such a Division might be made every where , more conducible to that great End ; or that more Ministers , with comfortable Maintenance , might be placed , according to the moving and extreme Necessity of a Multitude of Souls ) ; and as Parochial Bounds do much serve to bring the Knowledg of the Gospel to particular Families and Persons , so a Legal Maintenance is necessary . 7. If there were not Parochial Ministers and Ministrations , what would become of vast Numbers of precious Souls , even the far greater Number of Souls in the Kingdom ? That this Consideration may be the more obvious and apparent , and convincing upon their Minds who differ from us , I will spread it abroad , and lay it open in some Particulars . ( 1. ) The far greater Number of the Nation are ( I think ) baptized ; they are baptized into Christ , entred and admitted into Covenant with God by Baptism , and these are to be instructed in the Duties of a People in Covenant , and trained up into Meetness for the Privileges of that Covenant-State . The placing of Ministers fitted for this Work , to take care of the Education of Souls in the Christian Faith , and Way of the Lord , is as necessary , as the placing and fixing of School-Masters in particular Schools . And how the Disciples of Christ can be bred and brought up in a better , or so likely a way , is not obvious to our Understandings . ( 2. ) Tho the Relation of Pastor and Flock is not founded on Right of Patronage , and Episcopal Institution and Induction ; yet a Pastor so legally sent , is obliged in Conscience to the oversight of the Souls of that People , and to exercise that Office to which he is called and engaged towards that particular People ; and by his fixedness among them , he hath the opportunity and advantage of doing more good upon them , than if he were an ambulatory Preacher ; and People have the great Convenience of Access to him in all Cases , for Instruction , and spiritual Good , ( if they were disposed ) yea far more than if he did , as some Physicians and Lawyers do , that keep Markets and Market-Days , which would be liker an occasional or necessary Visit , than a careful Inspection of a Watchman . ( 3. ) He that resides upon his Charge , hath the advantage of quiet and constant Studies , continual Employment , and may know the State of the Flock , and what manner of Preaching , and what Subjects are most like to do them good , to do them the most and the greatest Good ; and by a personal knowledg of the Congregation , Discipline may be more duly administred . ( 4 ) And not to multiply Arguments in so plain a Case , if we take a view of the great Diversity of People in the Land , Divisions would multiply , Prophaneness and Barbarity , Tares and wild Grapes would in a short time over-run the Field and Vineyard , if there were not able and faithful Parochial Pastors . Let us observe , 1. The great Numbers of those who are persuaded of this Way of Worship , that it is not only lawful , but acceptable to God , and safe and profitable to them ; why should not care be taken of them , that they may enjoy the Liberty of their Judgment , and be provided for . 2. Here are those who are educated in this Way , to whom it is become familiar , and who are prejudiced against other Ways , with which they are unacquainted : If respect were not had to these , they would suffer Loss , and be in danger of Temptation and Seduction . 3. Here are O how many grosly ignorant , prophane , stupid , negligent ! and these would yet degenerate into a worse kind of Men than now they are , as bad as they are , if there were not a Face , Profession , and Exercise of Religion maintained among them . Fear , Shame , Custom , Conscience , Conformity to others , do sometimes bring these to sit under God's Ordinances , which may be successful upon them , to work them to some Knowledg of God , and Eternal Life by Christ , and to keep them in Awe of God , from running out into Paganism , or brutish Atheism . But if there were no Inspection or Care taken of them , they would grow more careless of God and themselves , and plead the Negligence of Ministers , for their gross Negligence of themselves , and the Things of God. They little care what becomes of them already , and retain but a little sense of God and Godliness now ; but they would quickly throw off all , if they were left out of the Ministerial Care. 4. Here are many young and aged , weak , impotent , lame , sickly , that cannot go abroad to seek the Bread of Life ; if it were not brought to them , they would also perish . 5. Here are many ( tho alas too few ) sober , awakened , careful , diligent , and holy Souls , both weak , and confirmed in this Way , that would suffer great Loss , make less proficiency , decay and languish , and be in danger of Temptations peculiar to them , if the Lord's Day were not constantly spent , and each part of it filled up with Ordinances , at a convenient distance from them , or nearness to them . And to make this Distribution and Distinction of Persons within these Bounds , argumentative and conclusive , I must add , That if wise , Orthodox , able , skilful , diligent , painful Ministers , which I take the moderate Divines of this Church to be , had not , and did not conform , in what a broken , divided , confused State had we been many Years ago ! For in the dark , mistaking , and divided Condition of the Nation , Men that study and maintain the Doctrines according to Godliness , that preach the Truth as it is in Jesus , that distinguish between Essentials and Accidentals , between Fundamentals and Ornamentals ; that lay the greatest weight upon Foundations and Necessaries ; that press the weighty Matters of the great Commandments with greatest urgency , and hang the Garnish upon their proper Pins , provide solid Food for hungry and sound Hearts , and keep the Family best together ; these are the Men that draw others in , and keep them in that are brought in . Extremes would never stand so nigh as they do , if Moderation did not come between them . There are no Men so fit to state our Controversies , none so fit to give every Truth it s own place , as Men of Inquisitiveness and Temper : None can better take in , or cast out , try and weigh Gold , and make Allowances , than they : They give to God the Things that are God's ; to Caesar , the Things that are Caesar's ; to Pastors , the Things that are Pastors ; and to People and Flocks , the Things that are theirs . They can distinguish between Enemies and Friends ; maintain a Christian , necessary Opposition against the Enemies , that they may not spoil us , and take from us what we are entrusted to maintain and keep ; and make Accommodation between mistaking and suspicious Friends . All kind of good Qualities and Graces meet in the most considerable degree in the truly moderate : They follow not Copies , but Originals , look into Things themselves , and gaze not upon Images till they dote upon them ; form a Judgment upon the disquisitions of Reason ; take the true Measures , as far as they can attain , of Things and Persons , and keep the Rule of right-judging : Their Wisdom and Experience procures a candid Respect to their Judgment and Example , yea , even to their tolerable , and by them unavoidable Mistakes . They who walk in the Way of God , chuse to follow them , because they lead by a double Light , the one of sound Doctrine , the other of holy Example . And if any Men in the World can allure and draw , convince and satisfy Men of other Minds , they are the Men who are endued with that Gift ; for they move upon the weight of Reason , and persuade with Affection . All that are truly pious are drawn and allied to them by their Piety , or comprehended in their Charity : They can keep pace with the Strong , and yet are careful not to leave the Weak behind . The moderate Man accommodates and suits himself to all , not by a servile Flattery , or affectation of Popularity , but by an imitation of God , who doth good to all , and an equal distribution of just proportion of Honour and Duty , of Kindness and Charity to every Man. In a word , his Aims are high to bring Glory to God , his Endeavours are constant , his Submissions to God's Teaching and Will are humble and subordinate ; he takes and follows one Rule for himself and others ; he labours to bring the Irregular to that Rule , and to keep them to it , that desire to walk by it . He values what and whom others disesteem ; he keeps what others throw away , and regains what others lose . He is neither too hot for others to touch , nor too high for others to reach , but the Servant of all , to gain the more . He is the fittest Man in the World to set Things right that are amiss , and to keep Things right that are so . No Man can sooner see an Error , nor pardon it ; no Man studies more to magnify God , and Christ , and his Office , and to nullify Idols , and Images , and Fancies ; no Man more steady to Things immoveable ; no Man sooner drawn to change mutables upon great Reasons , to preserve immovables ; no Man more set to gain Christ to himself , and Souls to Christ ; no Man hath less to say for little Things by way of Contention , and no Man can say more for them in Reason and Argument , nor more for great Things ; no Man easier persuaded to Peace than he ; no Man more persuasive to reconcile Man to God , through the Reconciler Christ , nor to reconcile Men to Men , or Christians to Christians . Had not he conformed , many would not , that have . And if the Extremes of Conformity and Nonconformity abate and meet , or endure one another in the same Nation , they must come down and up to Moderation ; both Extremes must be bent into a Ring of Comprehension and Unity , by Moderation . SECT . IV. And since moderate Men have conformed , there is very great Reason why they should retain and exercise this Moderation towards all Men , even towards them that dissent from them , on every side . And I will assign , first , general Reasons , and then more particular , fitted to the several Parties that are among us . First , the general Reasons are of these many kinds : 1. Because we are Christians , under a particular Obligation to this Duty , Let your Moderation be known to all Men , urged by a mighty Reason , The Lord is at hand . 2. Because we are Christians , we should form our Conversation according to the Pattern of our heavenly Father , and blessed Saviour , who governs and keeps the World and Church together by Moderation . 3. Because over and above the goodness of Nature , we are obliged to put on Christ , and to walk in the Spirit , which is a Spirit of Grace , and whose Fruits are , Love , Joy , Peace , Long-suffering , Gentleness , Goodness , Faith , Meekness , Temperance . 4. Because we are under the Government of Christ our King , and his holy Spirit , by his holy and good Laws ; and therefore we ought to be the most exactly governed Persons in the World ; and being so , we are not only to refrain from the Irregularities and Excesses of our Thoughts and Passions , Words and Actions , but to be and act conformable to the very Image and Example of Christ ; and being so governed , we exercise a Temper towards all Men , in all Things . 5. Because we are to save and order our selves , to gain others to what is good , and to keep humane and Christian Society together , in Love , Righteousness and Peace , which will fall to pieces , except kept together by Temper and Moderation . 6. Because the most wise and experienced , the most pious and learned , the best-acquainted with God , his Laws , his Ways ; the best-acquainted with the History of the Christian Church , and make the best use of it , with humane Nature , and its Welfare and Government ; the most publick Spirits , and best Men , have been the most moderate . These are some of the general Reasons ; the particular Reasons are many , with regard to particular Persons , of differing Persuasions . 1. Because we are but Disciples and Learners , in an imperfect Light , and that Light diffused and communicated to others , as well as to our selves , we cannot enquire and search , nor find out and retain the Truth , without a Temper of Humility in our Enquiries , and of Zeal and Love in our Acquisitions of the Truth ; and we must know , that others have their share of Reason and Light , as well as we . 2. Because we must acknowledg any Spark of Light and Truth , shining in the Arguings and Tenets of others , and must be ready to close in with Truth where-ever we find it ; and to persuade , or be persuaded , that we may close , or bring others to a Closure with the universal Truth , which can never be without Moderation of judging of our selves and others . Hence we are to shew our Moderation , ( 1. ) Towards our Enemies ( I wish we could give them another Name ) of the Popish Church : 1. In a modest Investigation into Matters of Difference . 2. A just State of Questions . 3. A rational divine Proposal of Arguments , both offensive and defensive , drawn from the Light of Nature and Scripture . 4. That we may convince them , that we are not against them out of Opposition and Faction , but because we cannot part with Truth , nor subscribe to , nor entertain their Errors ; we will acknowledg any Truth that is professed among them . 5. We would live in the Exercise of Holiness , Love , Peace , and Forbearance , as far as we can with safety to our Souls , and the Souls of others , as far as we can with safety to our Lives , and just Rights . ( 2. ) Towards other Dissenters we exercise Moderation , 1. Because we agree not only in Fundamentals of Religion and Government , but in the necessary Adjuncts of Worship , and Design of advancing our Christianity in Doctrine , Heart , and Conversation . 2. Because there are among them Men that are strong , and of great Attainments , and they have Reason to satisfy them , as we have to satisfy us . We had rather close , than peremptorily insist upon opposite Reasonings , as knowing it is a great Duty to communicate together , to love , and forbear one another . 3. Because there are also such as are weak , and we can never instruct , convince , and persuade them but by Moderation , allowing them time to think of Things , as well as proposing to them what is fit to be thought upon . In a word , the Matters in Controversy are less and fewer than the Points of Agreement ; we had rather close in the greater , than break for the smaller , which are Things in which we ought to shew our Moderation . SECT . V. 1. Because they are Matters of great Difficulty , determinable only by exact Prudence , in a due observation of a great variety of Circumstances , which do much change the Countenance of Things . 2. Because they are Matters of Controversy between studious , wise , and pious Men. 3. Because they are in themselves Matters of small moment , some of them being but Hay and Stubble , in comparison of the Foundation , or of Gold and Silver ; but Mint and Annise , in comparison of the weightier Matters of the Law. 4. Because they are Matters of Christian Liberty . 5. Because they are Matters that occasion too much Scandal ; they who do them , offend the Weak that scruple them ; and they who omit or refuse them , offend them that require them . And suppose that some that are now weak , may out-grow the weakness of Understanding and Judgment , yet there is a Succession of weak Ones , following one another , of Babes that have need of Milk ; and by consequence there must be a continual Exercise of Moderation and Condescension . 6. We cannot deny them the Benefit of our Moderation , because there are matters of as great , and greater moment to the Life and Honour of Religion passed over , or not punished in some that are most averse from them , as any thing which they hold and insist upon , and make the reason of their dissent from us . 7. If there be any Pity in us to poor erring Souls , we must shew it in Moderation ; Know we not that we our selves are subject to Errours ? That many err unwillingly ? that all have not a Capacity to judg ? nor means and leisure to be inform'd ? that many are prepossessed , prejudiced , melancholy , overturn'd by Passions ? Do not we know the power of a scrupulous Conscience ? That there may be Honesty of Heart in loving God and Holiness , in hating Sin , and desiring to please God in his Worship , that cannot dispute , nor understand an Argument ▪ nor our Distinctions ? How can we save some with Fear , making a Difference , but by Moderation ? O how merciful and indulgent is our Heavenly Father to many weak , froward , pettish , complaining , sickly , staggering Children ! And should not we be like him ! If we cannot convince them by clear , and to us satisfying Reasons , by Love and Beneficence , by all Courtesy and Endearments , by Painfulness in our Callings , commending our selves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God , by Holiness , and Exemplary Lives , we are at a loss ; the Weapons of our Warfare being only spiritual : we will commend them heartily to God , and if we cannot gain them , we will be very careful to give them no just cause to depart from us , by denying any thing within our Power to grant them . 8. There are not many things of which most Men can be very confident ; and one great and common cause of Confidence , is their abounding in their own sence , and not knowing what contrary Parties can say for their Persuasions : There is hardly any matter of Controversy between the Conformist and Nonconformist ; but there are different Thoughts of the very same things among Conformists themselves : there is good reason therefore why we should be sober and modest , which are some some of the Vertues that Moderation is exercised in . 9. On the other hand , we are sensible , that Obedience , Peace , Order and Uniformity are great things ; and on the other hand , I think no Man can think that the things , which are the Instances of Obedience , which are said often to be things indifferent , to be under-valued . If I say the harm and danger of precious Souls , are of far greater Consideration . If we think then , that if Authority think sit to silence the Controversy by the removing the matters of those things , not good , or necessary in themselves , that the Salvation of precious Souls may not be obstructed by a rigorous exacting of them : We make but a moderate Estimation of them if we think them of less moment than the Good or Evil to Souls for whom Christ died . Better the Controversies were buried , than that Souls should be endangered to perish for them . And though touch not , taste not , handle not , a needless Scrupulosity , Shiness and Displeasure against them , be the cause of Irregularity ; yet it must be acknowledged that a Zeal for Ordinances , without unnessary Rites , is laudable , and a Zeal against Rites is not so much to be blam'd , as the Evil to be fear'd on the other hand , to those many erring and superstitious Souls , that think Ordinances are not Ordinances without them . We cannot rhetoricate upon them as some Men do , that they are Helps and Ornaments to Devotion , that they are edifying in their Nature and Vse ; for if so , they are necessary , and the Ordinances are maim'd when they are taken off . We know no Inconvenience or Dammage , but Good to have followed the Abolition of many Ceremonies formerly in use , for some of which as much may be said as for these in use . And two things prevailed upon our Reformers to lay them aside : 1. Their Multitude : 2. And principally , because they were abused by the Superstitious Blindness of the rude and unlearned ; and partly by the insatiable Avarice of such as sought more their own Lucre than the Glory of God ; that the Abuses could not well be taken away , the things remaining still . Of Ceremonies , why some be abolished , &c. We have not omitted to instruct our People in these things , and yet many attribute too much to them ( and those that look upon them as they are in their nature and use , cannot be stiff for them : ) there is as great Reason to forbear them that scruple them , as them that are too fond of them , not to say too superstitious ; to the one they are a Stone of stumbling , to the other they are a part of the Building . And setting aside the Authority which commands them , and may withdraw those Commands without detriment to Religion ; they who say the Ordinances had them not , have as much at least to say against them , as they have , who cannot be without them . We are indulgent to these , who err from the Doctrine of the Church concerning them ; as obedient Children , we do heartily wish we could be as indulgent to those who are of a different Mind , and as far as we may , and in some things we may be tender towards them , we cannot but we must use an honest Moderation . SECT . VI. And if it were not that we are to shew our Moderation to All Men , we could not forbear Complaints and deep Resentments of the Carriage of our Conforming Brethren , who in many Sermons and Printed Discourses , do represent us as if we were a dangerous sort of Men , to Church and State. We are not insensible of the things in which we cannot , and therefore have not concurred with them , which may give them Offence . We have not declined , when we had occasion and opportunity , to give our Reasons for our forbearing , or refusing to make up the number with them , with which we are still satisfied , and never saw any Reason to change our Judgments , and to give us cause to repent , as for an Omission of any Duty . But we will stedfastly shew a Moderation of Meekness and Patience , and bear what 's fit for us to bear . We will not make our loud Complaints under the many Censures , Representations , and Misconstructions that are thrown upon us ; for indeed they are but a bundle of Sticks and not of Rods ; and by our Moderation we will pile and bundle them , as Protogoras did his bundle of Sticks , so handsomly , that they will be lighter by their bundling up . But why we should be misrepresented to the World we can see no cause , but what calls for our Commiseration . It is some kind of Surprize to us to read and hear in publick what hath not been as much as whispered to us in private . And before , we are told of Offences in private , and before the Church be told of us , to tell of us to the Magistrate and to the World , is not regular nor friendly . To declaim against us for Moderation ; truly so called , would be to commend us to the World and to good Men. But then that we may first dy and stink before we come to be formally prosecuted , that we may be suspected and then hated , and then used we know not how ( nor we know not why ) we are painted in the Colours of the fowlest Fellow in the Dock . But we are sure this Paint will not endure the Fire ; not this Oratory to be taken for Evidence , before a just Tribunal : Neither can we see such Propensity in so many Men to fall in love with Moderation , that there is some need to paint her as an odious Creature , to take them off . The Charge against Moderate Men , consists of many Articles , to all which we make a short Defence . 1. We have given Legal Security to our Governours in Church and State. 2. We endeavour to perform all Duties without Offence . 3. Our Moderation is our Conformity to Christ , and his Gospel , to the Doctrine of this Church . 4. As the Law is our Rule , so it is our Security , and we rest under it . 5. When we shall stand in need of Favour , we will thankfully accept it , but think it our Duty so to live , and carry our selves , as little as may be not to need it , though we know , Nullum Ingenium placuit sine Veniâ . 6. We are Strangers to that part of History , which preserves the Memory of Mischiefs or Ruine , brought either to Kingdoms or Churches , by Moderation , or Moderate Men : We are utter Strangers to any undermining Practices ; and if our Words be not taken , we can endure a Trial , and therefore know no reason for this giving notice to the Magistrate , or the World , to beware of Moderate Men. We never heard that sitting even , ever overthrew the Boat. But on the other hand , we know what Moderate Men have done to settle , compose , reform , to preserve States and Churches . 7. Our Government is justly celebrated for its admirable Temper and Moderation : Certainly Moderate Men are never like to overthrow that which comes so near their own Temper : and if its Peace be ever disturbed or broken , it cannot be by them who are Men of Peace , as all Moderate Men are . The most we can desire , is a prudent Accommodation of some Laws to the present Age , and the Necessities thereof , as our fore-Fathers did to their Times upon no better Reasons ; for we know no standing Rules for Perpetuity , but those of our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles . SECT . VII . If there be any Vertue , if any Praise , we should study , think upon , acquire and exercise Moderation . I shall not discuss whether Moderation be a single Vertue , or a Cluster of Vertues ? whether it be a Grace adorning the Christian Court ? or , rather a Queen that governs and imploys other Graces in their several Services and Offices ? We are sure that Mankind was first spared , and afterwards restored , and ever since governed by Divine Moderation . Man's first Constitution was tempered by Moderation : There was an Union , or a Combination of Heaven and Earth , of Spirit and Body , to make him up compleat and perfect Man. An excellent happy Creature ! Visible between the Creator and other Creatures in a middle state of Freedom and Obedience to his Maker , and of Dominion over other Creatures , lower than Angels in respect of his Earthly Extraction , equal to Angels in respect of Holiness , above Angels , because of his Dominion , and Authority to stamp what Name he pleased upon the Creatures . And once more see the Moderation of the disposal : Adam had the Name and subordinate Power , but God retained the absolute Soveraignty . God had the Right to bestow them , Adam had the use of them , because he had the need , and was to have the Comfort of them . Had he kept this Middle Station , he had continued happy ; but aspiring to an Extream of Ambition , he fell to an extream Condition of Poverty and Misery . In this State Goodness and Forbearance did first forbear him : God stays till the Cool of the day before fearful Adam heard his Voice , that he might have time to study if he could find a Remedy , or find some Shift , or lye down at the Feet of Mercy , which was not promised to him before . Infinite Mercy did interpose between Holiness and Justice , and the inexcusable Offender , whose Excuse made his Case the fouler . What course did God take to save him ? He went a middle way by a Mediator , God and Man. Grace shall save the Sinner , and Righteousness lose nothing thereby : The Law broken shall be perfectly fulfilled ; the Curse shall be born , and taken away by him that bare it . Every Man that is saved and called , is put into a middle State of Grace in this Life ; he is advanced from a Slavery to a Sonship , but a Son under Age. Now are we the Sons of God , it doth not yet appear what we shall be . And ever since Sin made the great and lamentable Alteration in the World , by bringing in Death among us ; God hath governed it by a glorious perfectly Divine Moderation . He governs , commands and judgeth by a Law that is holy , just and good , and so his Ways are equal . They are the best and happiest Men in the World , both in themselves and to others , that are renewed after his Image , and act according to his Laws in imitation of him ; and they are they who are the most moderate , that govern themselves and govern others , or are governed by the Rules of Moderation . A Moderation of Elements and Humours makes the best Constitution of Bodies ; Grace and Vertue gives the best Temper of Soul , which keeps the mean between the Excess and Defect ; and in the State of Grace the Exercise of Grace is the shewing of our Moderation . Christ , to whom all things are committed of the Father , rules his Church by it , and all the Members of it are to shew it to all Men ; to them that are without , and to them that are within . This is like the Stifness and Flexibleness of the Nerves and Arteries ; the soft and smooth Ends of the Parts and Members of the Body , where they joyn and meet . In a word , Moderation is the Ballance of the Ship , and the Cement of the Building , the just Proportion of the Mystical Body . If the whole Body were an Eye , where were the Hearing ? If the whole were Hearing , where the Smelling ? &c. But God hath so tempered the Body together that there should be no Schism in the Body . 1 Cor. 12.17 , 24 , 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Vno quodam temperamento inter se conjunxit , adeoque conglutinavit : Dr. Slater in loc . All Christians are joyned together by one Temperament , that there might be no Schism : that 's God's design , to prevent Division , and casting out , or cutting off of Members , or any Carriage of Men of higher Gifts , to offend , and neglect the inferiour and weak . And the words of the grave and excellent Musculus ( in 1 ad Corrinth . c. 12. v. 25. ) , are worthy a recital . Significat ipsissimum esse Schisma Ecclesiae , quandi membrae illius ab hac sum mutuâ solicitudine aliena , quiquid tandem Verbis ac Ritibus prof●tiantur . For the Unity and Integrity of the Church ( saith that excellent Man ) doth not only consist in an outward Conformity of Religion and Ceremonies ; but also , yea and more , in the Consent , Concord and Unity of the Mind of Spirit . Detur autem è tot millibus Ecclesia una , in quâ mutua ista Membrorum cura vigiat , & locum hoc genus Schismatis non habeat , quo planè Schismatici sunt Ecclesiarum Capita & Praesides , quorum pectora nulla inferiorum Membrorum curâ tanguntur . The very head of Schism , which divides it self into so many Channels , rises from Disaffection ; and mutual Care and fellow-feeling of the Sufferings of any Member , is the Effect of this Temperament ; and the Cure of Schism is effected by the Application and Exercise of Love , Care and Sympathy : And the Schism so plainly spoken of in 1 Cor. 12. might , one would think , come sometimes into the Consideration of Men who insist upon other Notions . According to this admirable Temperament and Moderation , making such a Connexion between the Superiour and Inferiour , the stronger and weaker Members of this Body , hath our Saviour , the Head and Law-giver , made those general Laws for the perpetual Government of his Church : And in the first Councel of the Apostles and Elders , they determined that Controversy and Debate with great Tenderness and Respect to all the Members of the Church , not laying any other Yoke upon the Necks of the Disciples , than things necessary , Acts 15. And the same Mind which was in Christ Jesus and his Apostles , should be in all Christians , as to this very Grace of Moderation , and Duty of shewing it to all Men. And because it is a Grace which we cannot be without , and having attained it , must not conceal but shew it , I will detain you a little , while we look into the Text where it is enjoyned us , and wherein the Glory of Christ is much concerned and seen . In the Text Philip. 4.5 . the word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cannot be rendred by one word ; one word cannot hold its Signification , say some learned Men : It is rendred mitis , aequus , facilis , mansuetus , tenis laudabilis , sedatus , moratus frugi , modestus , civilis , prelus , in Constantine's Lexicon . By Christian Expositors it is rendred , Modestia , Moderatio , Lenitas , Aequitas , Humanitas , Candor , Probitas , Meekness , Clemency ; in our English Bibles , it is englished Clemency , Acts 24.4 . Genteel , 1 Pet. 2.18 . Gentleness , Tit. 3.2 . Jam. 3.37 . 2 Cor. 10.1 . Patient , 1 Tim. 3.3 . And to find out the meaning of the Word ; Learned Men give the Etimology of it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , like , equal , even , agreeable : So Musculus and Zanchy , or of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cedo , to give place , or yield , as Zanchy and others . It is a Word of a vast Extent , and a Vertue of general Use. It is known sometimes by its Contrary , sometimes by its Company , sometimes by the Quality of the Persons of whom it is required , or by whom it is exercised , and the various Objects upon whom or which it is acted : In a Philosophical Sence , it is as much as that which is decent , meet , convenient ; in a legal , it as much as equal , to which rigor , or exact , strict , Justice is opposed , and too large a remitting or evacuating of the Law , and it is to be shewed in the Constitution , Interpretation , and Administration or Execution of Laws ; and it is very commonly taken in this Sence : But we must search for it in the Theological or Moral Sense of it ; and in the Strictness and Limitation of it to Christians , Let your Moderation be known , and in the extent of its Object , to all Men : which doth include all matters and occasions of Conversation . It is here rendred in a Word of a large Signification , that signifies as much as Rule and Government , and the observing of the just Mode and Mean of a Christian Carriage ; and is as much as behave , carry , govern your self so towards all Men as under the Eye , and as ready to give your account to the Lord , who is at hand to judg and reward you . This Moderation , Temper , or Government is internal and secret , or external ; and that either publick or private , according to the Place and Condition of the Person , as his Occasions are of conversing with all kind of Men , in all manner of Conversation , whether publick or private , religious and civil . The Regulation of a Man 's own self , is pre-required to the Regulation of his Conversation towards all Men. It cannot be expected that I should run out into a large Discourse upon this excellent Subject . We may , with great Profit , read the excellent Discourses of eminent Divines upon this Text , such as Mr. Perkins , Bishop Reynolds , Bishop Wilkins , Mr. Joseph Hill , in the Morning Exercises at Cripple-Gate , Serm. 16. And Mr. Evans , in his Sermon before my Lord Mayor , hath spoken upon some things very clearly and well . That which remains of my Design ( having wip'd off the Aspersions , or if that be too hard a Word , and calls to mind some unhandsome Usage , having washed off the Colours that made the Moderate Man look with a dark and doubtful Countenance , unlike himself ) is to represent him , if not exactly , yet in some of his noble and amicable Accomplishments . And that we may take him right , the Copy is to be taken from the Divine Hand , and Pencil of the Holy Ghost in Scripture ; for we do not now look upon him , as in a State of Nature , and mere Morality ; but of Christianity and under Grace . But if you looked upon him in the State of Morality , you would most admire him of all Men in that State ; he is the fairest of Men , among Men crept out of Darkness , and the Pit of Corruption , into a Light adorned and beset with the most compleat Suit of Moral Vertues . But alas ! the Moderate Christian , the most perfect Piece of Grace in this Life , is but an imperfect Piece , if you turn up the Robe of Righteousness in which he is justified before God , and view him , as having Sin yet dwelling in him , and groaning under his Body of Death . And it will prove too true of the unskilful Hand that represents him , as Pliny said of Painters ; Pictores pulchram absolutamque faciem raro nisi in pejus effingunt . First ; A Moderate Christian is a Man renewed after the Image of Christ ; if he is not renewed , with all his Acquisitions and Formalities , he is but an heartless Image of a living Image of his Maker . Hence you may understand that the reason why there are so many Exorbitancies , Extravagancies , and Excesses among Men , is , because there are so many that prove not to be real living Christians ; and why Christians themselves are defective in their Moderation , is , because they are short-sighted , too much conceited , and not enough mortified . Secondly ; He is the wisest , best , and happiest Man , that is most moderate : The wisest , because best ; the best , because wisest ; and the happiest , because best and wisest . 1. He is the wisest Man ; for he is endued with the highest and divine Wisdom , that which comes from above , from whence he is also born : The Wisdom that is from above , is first pure , then peaceable , gentle , ( or moderate , the very same Word as in the Text ) and easy to be entreated , full of Mercy and good Fruit , without Partiality , and without Hypocrisy . Jam. 3.17 . 2. He takes the sure way to be wise : for , 1. He goes for it where it is to be had , and by such means as the Giver of Wisdom doth direct him : If any Man lack Wisdom , let him ask it of God. He asketh , and he receiveth . 2. He ceaseth to be wise in his own Conceit , and becomes a Fool that he may wise . 3. Having obtained Wisdom , he considers his latter End , his highest and chiefest End and Good , and all Means tending to it . 3. He advanceth in his Wisdom , 1. By Observation and Imitation of the only wise God , and Christ , who is the Wisdom and Power of God. There is a likeness in his renewed Nature of the Properties and communicable Attributes of God : And as God doth manifest the Glory of his Attributes in the Government of the World , especially his Church and peculiar People ; so he is a Follower or an Imitator of God , Ephes. 5.1 . And he never errs , but when he deviates from his Example . 2. He walks by a Law , which maketh wise the Simple . 3. As God is his End , and the Law directs him to it , so he keeps his End in his Eye . II. He is the best Man : for altho he is defective , and often out of Order , yet he hath , First ; The best-temper'd Soul of any Man. He hath the best Soul ; for , 1. He hath the best Mind or Head. 2. The best Will and Heart ; and by consequence , 3. The best qualified Affections and Passions . 2 dly ; The most regulated sensitive Appetites . 3 dly ; And by consequence he lives the best Life , and doth the most Good in his Place and Calling . 1. He hath the best-temper'd Soul and Spirit , for he hath the best Mind or Head. He hath the best Mind , 1. For Apprehension . 2. Discretion . 3. Dijudication . For , ( 1. ) He is illuminated by the Spirit in the Law , which enlightneth the Mind ; he hath an Understanding given him ; he perceiveth the Things of God. ( 2. ) He apprehending , 1. Things of a contrary Nature , as good and evil ; 2. Things good , but in differing degrees ; 3. Things of an indifferent Nature , capable of being good or evil , according as they are used ; he discerns between Things and Things . ( 3. ) By Dijudication , or an Act of Judgment , he separates Things evil , to be rejected ; Things good , to be embraced ; Things indifferent , to be used or let alone , according to Use , End , and Circumstances . And now we may call a moderate Man , an understanding , discerning , judicious Man. He is judicious , and hath three sorts of Things before him : 1. Matters of Faith. 2. Matters of Opinion . 3. Matters of Practice . ( 1. ) In Matters of Faith , necessary to be believed to eternal Life , there is no place for Moderation , in the common sence of Moderation ; for we must earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints . A moderate Man , taught of God , is zealous in all Things which he ought to hold fast ; and this Zeal in its highest strain , and advanced , is but moderated and directed according to the everlasting Importance of those precious and necessary Things . ( 2. ) In Matters of Opinion , probable , but not evident , he is only stiff and zealous according to their derivation and tendency : If grounded upon Scripture , he is so far zealous , as he is in love with the Word of Grace and Truth : If they tend to God's Glory , and Man's spiritual Good and Salvation , he is so far tenacious of them , as he apprehends their tendency to be to promote that . But he is moderate in Matters of Opinion , reconcileable to Truth , consistent with Holiness and Charity ; he contends not for or against these Things , but with modesty and sobriety . ( 3. ) In Matters of Duty and Practice , such as respect God and Man ; these stand in a different degree , and according to their place in God's Commandment , a moderate Man doth intend or remit , rise or fall . And all these Things may be Matters of Debate and Controversy ; and in the Controversy he makes a Difference of , 1. Things , 2. Persons ; and governs himself according to the Rule of God's Word , right Reason , and Prudence . 2. His Head hangs not loose , but his Heart and Will is become conformable to his Mind ; and so his Heart and Will are made better by the goodness of his Mind , his Mind being enlightned , and a Judgment passed upon Convictions of Good and Evil ; so he nills the Evil , and wills the Good. He understands and knows what God declares and pronounces ; he judgeth in himself according as God pronounceth ; and willeth and nilleth , according to his Judgment ; and being obedient to his Judgment , he is a consciencious Man. And hence another true part of the Character of a moderate Man appears : A moderate Man is a true-hearted , honest , sincere , consciencious Man , and therefore comes into the Rank of the best of Men. 3. And by consequence his Affections are the most orderly and regular . He loves that which is good , approved and commanded of God ; hates that which is hateful , disallowed , and forbidden of God. It is a hard Work to moderate the Affections and Passions ; it is a Work for Grace , Vigilance , Prayer , Care , and Time ; a strait Hand must be kept upon them , with a watchful Eye , or they will flie out like a mettall'd Horse . They are easily moved , and put out of order by a watchful Tempter , who hath the advantage of a Constitution of Body in every Man , and knows how to come upon us by Surprize ; but no Man sits so even in the Saddle , as a Man of a moderate Judgment . If he cannot prevent their flying out , he can soonest restrain them , and recall himself . And if his Affections are inclined or hang by a partiality , 't is towards real good Man , and for that which appears in them , which is most worthy of our strongest Love , namely , God and Godliness . And he is not inexcusable himself , who is apt to excuse them whom he hopes God will pardon ; yet still his Judgment is not perverted from a right Judgment of Sin and Infirmities . A moderate Man is subject to Commotions , but he allays them soonest , and keeps an Eye and a Guard upon them . Thus you have seen his Inside , his Head , Heart , and Affections , the inward Goodness of the best Man. Now observe the Moderation of , 2 dly ; His Sensitive Appetites . God's Word revealing to him a Kingdom , a Treasure , a Crown in the World to come ; and God's Spirit convincing him of that Glory and Blessedness , and drawing his Heart to Things above ; the same Word convincing him of the Vanity , Temptations , and Danger of the World ; and his own Judgment and Experience weighing with him , he grows , as his Faith and Love to God and Heaven grows , most indifferent , cool , and slack , or in one Word , moderate toward the Things that are in the World. ( 1. ) He grows moderate in his Desires and Pursuits , looking most to his Duty , and the right Use of the Things of this World. ( 2. ) Moderate in using and enjoying them . ( 3. ) Moderate in bearing the Crosses , Disappointments , and Losses of them . And hence he commends himself to us as a temperate , contented , patient Man. 3 dly , and lastly ; He is the best Man , lives the best Life , and leads the best Conversation . The Inside being made clean , the Outside will not be endured to be unseemly ; the Tree being made good , the Fruit is good . Here I need not speak , 1. Of his conversing with God , which is , 1. Dependent upon meer Mercy , the Mediation of Christ , and the Assistance of the Spirit . 2. Reverent , as becomes Dust and Ashes . 3. Fervent , as a needy Creature , in solliciting his Happiness and Salvation . Nor , 2. With himself , which is intimate , impartial , frequent , as having Work enough . But , 3. With others . And in his Conversation with others , in what Place , Rank , or Calling soever he is placed , he labours to govern himself according to the Rule of his Calling in general , as a Christian , according to the Gospel ; and of his particular Calling , whatsoever that is . And he is a Man that minds his own Business , and is no Busy-Body in other Mens Matters , and acts from a threefold Principle , 1. Of Self-denial , 2. Of Charity , 3. Of Righteousness . 1. He leads his Life according to the Principle of Self-denial . If Self be in the Scale , the Hand of Moderation can never hold the Ballance even , but when Self is denied . He desires only so much of the World , as may help him in his Duty and Way towards Heaven , neither Poverty nor Riches , but Food convenient . He stands in no Man's way that climbs for Preferment , envies no Man in it , justles no Man out of it . He modestly refuseth what others ambitiously seek , and soberly useth what others abuse . Ambition makes him neither Head of a Faction , nor Emulation to follow a Party . He serves no Interest in the World , but God's . He knows he should have the same Mind which Christ also had , that he should not preach himself , but Christ ; nor do as they who seek their own , Things , but , like Timothy , seek the Things of Jesus Christ. 2. He walks charitably . If he hath Faith in doubtful Things , or Things indifferent , he hath it to himself ; but he hath Charity to others : His Charity extends to Enemies , to pray for them , to relieve them , to forgive them . He is charitable , even to hope all Things that are hopeful , to believe all Things that are credible ; he is charitable in Constructions of Things doubtful , and in his Censures of Men and Actions . He is a Man of so much Love , that he is a Man of Peace . 3. He walks equitably . He is ready to receive according to the same Measure he distributes : Whatsoever ye would that Men should do to you , do ye even the same to them . And this hath respect to all sorts of Men. He gives to all their due ; to Superiors , Honour , Tribute , and Obedience . The Moderate Man is not turbulent to the Government , but to his power supports it , and doth not shake it . If Controversies arise about his Civil Rights ; 1. If the Things be sufferable , he suffers Wrong ; if not , 2. He seeks then by just Practices to attain Righteousness . 3. He dares not revenge ; for that is to be unjust to God , who saith , Vengeance is mine . If in Religious Matters : If about the Foundations and Vitals , he is tenacious of an Iota , zealous and resolved ; but useth soft Words and hard Arguments , as holy Mr. Dod said , aiming to recover Truth , and not to revile Persons . If about Things meerly Accidental and Ceremonial , 1. He thinks , as our Reformers thought , that Christ's Gospel is not a Ceremonial Law ; but it is a Religion to serve God , not in the Bondage of the Figure or Shadow , but in the Freedom of the Spirit . Of Ceremonies , why some be abolished , &c. 2. That Decency and Order is necessary to the solemn Worship of God , and only such Things as are reducible to those two Heads . 3. Edification is one End and Fruit of Ordinances and Duties , and not of Ceremonies . 1 Cor. 14.26 . Our glorified Saviour gave Gifts to Men , when he ascended , and gave Apostles , Prophets , Evangelists , for the edifying of the Body of Christ ; upon the same Reason , to the same End , from the same Goodness , he would have given Ceremonies also , for the Edification of the Body , if they had been necessary . 4. He rarely and unwillingly engages in the Disputes about Rites and Ceremonies , having Reason for his Practice , he would have his Practice pass for a Reason . These Disputes often run upon great Mistakes , in the state of the Questions , mis-applied Scriptures , Prejudices pass for Arguments , and they blow up Heats , waste Time , enfeele Men in the performance of great Duties , and do more frequently end in Divisions , and Separation of Minds , than Satisfaction . 5. He hath a respect to the Customs of Churches , which commonly are sitted to the Genius of their Countries , while they retain their Innocency . He can use Ceremonies , well washed from Superstition , in his own Mind and Practice , by sound Doctrine . He is not ceremonious in the Use of Ceremonies , as religious divine Things commending him to God ; and yet there is no Man more ceremonious than he , for he useth them but as Ceremonies , with respect to Men , as human Things ordained by Man's Authority . Artic. of the Church 34. 6. He doth not wonder that some Men are zealous for them , when he considers their Reasons ; nor why others are against them , when he considers theirs . If he can give himself a Reason for their Use , he may use them upon his own Reason , tho not upon other Men's : But he cannot see a Reason , why they who cannot bring their Reasons to them , should be compelled to use them , should be buried alive , or excommunicated for their Non-observance of them . A Diversity of Ceremonies makes not a Diversity of Religions ; they that think so , are tainted with Superstition . 7. He cannot see how our blessed Reformers could well do otherwise than they did , considering they were but few , not enabled with the Gift of Miracles , the gracious King young , the Nobility factious , the Priests and Popish Bishops numerous , the People superstitious , and the Government had enough to do to preserve it self ; a moderate Course was necessary to be taken ( which is highly applauded by the Learned Mr. Hales , in his Sermon of Dealing with erring Christians , ) with respect to the Papists . And now , if he may be so bold as to speak his Opinion , it is Moderation , and it is but Moderation , that respect should be had to the present Times , and the Dispersion of Protestants dissatisfied all over the Land. These are not the Things that will ever bring in Papists ; for they have more of them than we have ; and if they came over to us for the sake of these Things , it would be so much the worse for us to bring in Papists , except they leave all that was meant by the old Word Papistry behind them . 8. He takes the whole Text together , All Things are lawful for me ; ( i.e. all Things indifferent , neither good nor evil in their own Nature ) But all Things are not expedient . All Things are lawful for me ; but I will not be brought under the Power of any . 1 Cor. 6.12 . When they manifestly prove inexpedient , or when any Soul is brought under the Power of any of those Things in themselves lawful , in their Use they cease to be so . He observes and uses Things lawful , when they are enjoined by lawful Authority ; but when he finds them inexpedient , and do not further the Gospel , or when Souls are become subject to them , he cannot but wish the Things in debate were left out of the Laws , or left at Liberty . And now he cannot but stand indifferent to Things that are indifferent . III. Lastly ; Lest I should forget my self , take the last Sight of a Moderate Christian , and you see him to be the happiest Man alive : 1st , Happy in himself , and happy with respect to others . He is happy in the best Temper of Mind , happy in a clear discerning and Judgment , happy in well-governed Passions , not hurried , inflamed , and transported , not blinded by Partiality to self . He maintains and keeps up the Banks of Sobriety , against the Breaches of Intemperance ; he lies dry , when others are under Water . He is a Lover of Peace , a Moderator of Strifes , and by that means there is Peace in his Borders , when others are in Wars and Contention ; yet he is not so tame , as to be run down with Insolence , or turn his Back upon true Religion , and leave it to the Abuses of Atheists , Papists , Hereticks . He is happy in the large and quiet possession of Contentment . 2dly ; He is happy as an Instrument of Good to others , by bringing Things out of Disorder , into Order ; by restoring a crazy , sickly State , into a happy Temper . And it were happy , if they that use desperate Applications , did in time observe their Operation , and all the Symptoms one with another . Moderation looks on , and knows , that at last the Father of the Family must call her in , and commit it to her to recover it , and direct it to preserve its Health . Lastly ; If the moderate Man cannot escape Trouble and Sufferings , he is happy in possessing his Soul in Patience , and that God will by his Grace help him to keep possession of his Soul ; and when his Soul is dispossessed , the Lord will commend him as a wise Steward , that used Moderation , in writing down Fifty and Fourscore , for an Hundred that was due , and give him his Reward . This moderate Man is now out of fashion , but ( says Dr. Fuller , in his Holy State , p. 207. ) Once in an Age he is in fashion ; each Extreme courts him to make them Friends ; and surely he hath a great Advantage to be a Peace-maker betwixt opposite Parties , tho at present he is crush'd between them . An Appendix demonstrating that Parish-Churches are no Conventicles , particularly for reading the second Service in the Desk . In answer to a late Pamphelt , entitled , Parish-Churches turned into Conventicles , &c. IF the Title of this Epistle to all the Reverend Clergy of the Church of England were proved in the Epistle , that Parish-Churches turned into Conventicles , and Informers inform , and Magistrates proceed upon their Information , it would be a great Project to bring the Wealth of the Kingdom into the King's Exchequer , to make the Poor of our Parishes Farmers , and Freeholders at least , and the Informers Fellows to Peers , by the Moities for so many Conventicles kept throughout the Kingdom , above twenty Years , in most of our Parish Churches . But we hope that Parish Churches , being neither any Man's House , nor Barn , nor Yard , nor Back-side , may not come within the Act against Conventicles . And except they deny Churches to be the Houses of God , they know not how to sue the Owner of them for 20 l. for the House . But if it should so happen , that this Notion should universally take , and gain Assent and make Converts , as he saith he hath made , pag. 21. and so Rectors and Vicars , because they have taken Possession , may be adjudged Owners of the Churches , by some who wish there might be some Law to undo us ; we are perswaded that our Magistrates would not interpret the Act , as including Parish-Churches , seeing it speaks of a House , in which a Family doth inhabit ; or , if it be in a House , Field or Place , where is no Family inhabiting ; yet we suppose it is a House that hath been , or may be inhabited , or was built to be a Habitation ; and we hope that the Parish Churches are presum'd to be no Places for unlawful Assemblies , or Conventicles . And for some other Reasons it may be thought that the Author might have invented another Title for his Epistle : He doth chiefly insist upon one piece of Nonconformity to prove Parish-Churches Conventicles , and that is , because we do not read the second , or the Communion-Service at the North-side of the Holy Table , when there is no Communion , p. 5. And this Omission is a Sin of that nature and tendency , that it doth not only offend against the Common Order of the Church , but hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate , and woundeth the Conscience of the weak Brethren , p. 5. He beseecheth us to consider what Mischiefs we do both to Church and State , p. 7 , &c. A heavy Charge ! and that 't is high time to provide against so dangerous an Offence ! He tells us of two sorts of Persons he hath to deal with ; one plainly confessing that 't is commanded by Authority ; but say , they have their Liberty ( to read there or not ) notwithstanding that Command . Another sort confidently tell him , there is no such Command . And I suppose many may be found , that are doubtful , if not confident ; and I do profess I am neither convinc'd nor converted by what he saith , and shall be judged by the Law it self by and by ; and make a few Observations and Oppositions . 1. He saith , The place for reading the second Service , is without all doubt , a thing indifferent in its own nature . To this I oppose that a place inconvenient for saying or reading any part of the Service of God is not a thing indifferent ; because it is partly what is read to the People for their Edification , and partly the Devotion of the People towards God. If the Communion-Table be sixed Altar-wise , or be not removed from the upper end of the Church , in very many Churches the People cannot hear , and cannot join in Prayer : some have made some such Objection to him , which he doth not remove , and saith , Be it never so inconvenient . This may be debated in a regular way , and the Inconvenience taken away by legal Authority ; but for any Parish Curat to judg of the Convenience or Inconvenience of a Law — and thereupon to alter the Law after his own Model , is no less a piece of Insolence , than to take upon him to be King , Bishop and Priest in his own Parish . Whereby we are instructed , that a Minister is to read at the Altar whether the People hear or no , and pray , or not . I know one Doctor that takes leave sometimes of his great Congregation , and goes to the upper end of a Great Chancel , rather like to his private Devotion , than publick Worship . But a great Doctor had some respect to the Edification and Devotion of his People , when he set his Man at the Steeple to observe whether he could be heard from the Table over all the Church : to make trial of it , he interrupted his Devotion ( as the Story goes for true ) and called to his Man by name : Dost thou hear me now ? the Servant answers , Yes , very well , then the Minister goes on . Certainly this Doctor thought it was necessary the People should hear and be edified , hear and joyn , and many of us Curats are of the same Mind . This was a Reason in Queen Eliz. Injunctions Anno. 1559. and Can. 82. 2. Pag. 7. He saith , It is only the Observation or Non-observation of all the Orders , Rites and Ceremonies ( and none other ) which are appointed in and by the Common-Prayer and Book of Canons , which gives it the Denomination of a Church or Conventicle . Now , if I forget not , Preaching and Teaching in any such Assembly as is described by the Act , makes a Conventicle , and the Preacher finable 20 l. 3. He saith , The Plea of Custom is not good in this case , because it is against a Positive Law. But we say , our Positive Statute-Law allows of the Custom of placing the Communion-Table ; so the Rubrick before the Communion , The Table at the Communion-time , &c. shall stand in the body of the Church or Chancel , where Morning and Evening Prayers are appointed to be said . A Custom is established by this Law : this Custom is as Antient as the Reformation . See the Injunctions of Bishop Ridley , An. 1550. in the Collect. of Records in Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation , p. 206. 4. Pag. 9. Doth not the Book of Common-Prayer it self restrain all Diocesans from making any Order concerning any Doubt arising about the Use and Practice of any thing in the Book ? To this we oppose a Clause in that Preface , or Chap. concerning the Service of the Church , in which are these Words ; And for as much as nothing can be so plainly set forth , but Doubts may arise in the use and practice of the same : to appease all Diversity ( if any arise ) , and for the Resolution of all Doubts concerning the manner how to understand , do , and execute the things contained in this Book ; the Parties so doubting , shall always resort to the Bishop of the Diocess , who by his Discretion shall take order for quieting and appeasing the same , so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this Book . This we conceive is established by Law. And to shew that this reading of the second Service when there is no Communion , is not contrary to Law , we will once again publish the Law. This Writer takes it all along for granted , that the Law requires it , and goes upon Petitionem Principii , or a false Supposition . 1. By the Rubrick before the Communion , which must be observed to be one of those Rubricks that enjoyn , or direct what is to be done when there is a Communion , or before a Communion . Rubr. The Table at the Communion-time having a fair white Linnen Cloth upon it , shall stand in the Body of the Church , or in the Chancel , where Morning and Evening Prayer are wont to be said : and the Priest standing at the North-side of the Table shall say the Lord's Prayer , with the Collect following , the People kneeling — . Then the Priest is to stand at the North-side of the Table when it is so covered , &c. And it is so only to be covered when there is a Communion ; for this let us consult Can. 82. We appoint that the same Table from time to time shall be kept and repaired in sufficient and seemly manner , and covered in the time of the Divine Service with a Carpet of Silk , or other decent Stuff , thought meet by the Ordinary of the Place , if any Question be made of it , and with a fair Linnen Cloth at the time of the Administration , as becometh that Table , and so stand , saving when the holy Communion is to be administred ; at which time the same shall be placed in so good sort within the Church or Chancel , as thereby the Minister may the more conveniently be heard of the Communicants in his Prayer and Administration , &c — . And likewise that a convenient Seat be made for the Minister to read Service in . What , saith he , are there no Rubricks to direct the orderly reading of those Prayers where there is no Communion ? To this we say , 1. Upon Sundays and Holy-Days , if there be no Communion , shall be said , all that is appointed at the Communion till the end of the general Prayer for the good Estate of the Catholick Church . This part of the Communion-Service being added to the Morning Service in the Pew , appointed by the Canon to be made conveniently for the Minister to read the Service in , we are sufficiently directed to read this Service , where the other is said : to which it is added , And if any Man doubt of the place , his Diocesan may direct him by the Law ; and if there be no doubt , may read it there where he reads the rest . But against this he objects , the Rubrick before the Offertory , Then shall the Priest return to the Lord's Table and begin the Offertory , Can any Man be said to return to a place he was not at before ? To this we say , 1. In some places there is no Offertory constant even at Communions , the People having sent their Offerings before to buy Bread and Wine . 2. * When there are Offertories , there are Communions ; and then the Priest returns to the Lords's Table when he comes out of the Pulpit , and so we are bound still but to Communion-times . Lastly ; He objects : [ Then shall follow the Sermon . ] What only on Communion-Days ? &c. and shews his respect for Sermons , calling the Sermon the Great Diana , and ironically and profanely , For the dear sake of that Unum Necessarium , that Magnum Oportet . Sir , did you declare at your Ordination , ( if you be a Minister ) that you trusted you were moved by the Holy-Ghost , and called to the Ministry ? and now , when you plead so stiffly for a Rite , call a Sermon a Diana ! But to answer your Argument , we say , That Rubrick seems rather to direct when we shall go to the Sermon , than give us Authority for Preaching : We have other Authority to bear us out to make our Preaching Legal , than that Rubrick ; and therefore we have Sermons on other times besides when there is a Communion . Lastly , we say , some of the Rubricks belong to actual Communion , as this doth for going to the Altar , as you phrase it ; other Rubricks direct , ( when there is none ) the Order of the Service . You bring up a Rear of Authorities , which might have as decently been placed in the Head of Reasonings ; but we know an inartificial Argument à Testimonio , is not so forcible as an artificial . But we know no Use of Testimonies and Names without Reason , except it be to think to deceive such easy and kind Sirs , as you call us . But to the chief of them I say : 1. The Presbyterians , in their Reply to the Bishops , in the Grand Debate , tell the Bishops , Moreover there is no Rubrick requiring this Service at the Table , when there is no Communion , pag. 45. And so they were as blind as we . 2. Mr. Hooker saith , Those Parts of the Liturgy are at the Table of the Lord commonly read ; he saith not , enjoined to be read . 3. Arch-Bishop Laud leaves out part of the Rubrick , which makes against you and him , out of his Page , and saith , In many Places in his own memory it was read , pag. 41. but not so much as naming one Parish-Church in which it was so read . Pag. 19. saith he , And now it remains that I should produce some unquestionable Authorities to back my Reasons , that it may appear to all unbiassed Persons , that the Judgment of all the great Worthies of our Church , who have either occasionally , or on set purpose treated of this Matter , is unanimous . One would have expected to have seen an Army of Worthies , and they all great Worthies , to have enforced his Reasons ; but when we come to look upon them , they are but seven in all ; and how ominous is it , that a perfect Number of Seven should be found to perfect his Victory ! The first of these is the most judicious Hooker ; nay , if most judicious , he might have served alone ; and what saith he ? Book 5. § . 30. That the Prayers being devised at first for the Communion , are , when there is no Communion , at the Table of the Lord for that Cause also commonly read . All he saith is , that they are commonly read ; but whether in few Places , or many Places they are commonly read , he doth not say , and doth not name any one Place in either College or Hall , Cathedral Church , or Chappel , in which the Communion-Service was always read . And so many Things are done commonly , for which there is no Rubrick . The second Authority produced , is of great Arch-bishop Laud , in his Speech in Star-Chamber ; I 'll quote the Page for him , Pag. 41. Indeed that great Man clears himself from the Eleventh Innovation , which was reading the second Service at the Communion-Table or Altar , by leaving the Matter very dark and doubtful . To this first I can truly say , that since my own Memory this was in use in very many Places . 1. He speaks of what was in the Compass of his own Memory . 2. What was in use in very many Places , in which he had been ; and so he speaks of what he saw , and therefore sell within his own Memory : how doth this prove it was no Innovation ? If it was customary in many Places , it was a Custom that had no Force in many , if not most Places , in which it was not in use . 3. The Arch-bishop confirms this by the Rubricks , which I have recited before , and takes out of the last Rubrick before the Communion , this part of the Rubrick only : The Priest standing at the North-side of the Holy Table , shall say the Lord's Prayer , with that which follows ; leaving out that other part of the Rubrick , The Table at the Communion-time , having a fair white Linnen Cloth upon it ; which shews , that that Rubrick doth only refer to the Communion-Time : whence he infers , the second Service is to be read at the Communion-Table ; an Inference that no Man , that regards not his Grace above Truth and Reason , would ever yield to . The third Testimony is of the Right-Reverend Bishop of Norwich , Dr. Sperrow , in his Rationale of the Common-Prayer , pag. 239. And because this Finder of new Conventicles doth wish or exhort his Reader to mark the Reason of this famous Triumvirate , and then read the second Service hereafter in the Desk if you can ; I will take the more notice of the Rationale . And first , the Rationale is neither the Law , nor a legal authorised Expositor of the Law. And to do the Rationale Right and Respect , this Author , or the Printer , hath made the Passage to be neither Sence nor Reason . The Words of the Rationale are : Private and solitary Communions of the Priest alone , she ( the Church ) allows not ; and therefore when other cannot be had , she appoint's only so much of the Service , as relates not of necessity to a present ( this Writer hath it to a private ) Communion , and that to be said at the Holy Table , and upon good Reason , the Church thereby keeping as it were be● Ground , visibly minding us of what she desires and labours towards , our more frequent Access to the Holy Table : And in the mean while , that part of the Service which she useth , may perhaps more fuly be called the Second Service . Now weak Understandings cannot see a convincing Reason for reading of the second Service at the Communion-Table , in all this : 1. Not in those Words , When other Communion cannot be had : Other than what ? what 's the Substantive to other ? Sure not private and solitary , which goes before , and is not allowed by the Church . 2. Or when other Communion cannot be had than in Prayers only , without the Sacrament , she appoints so much of the Service as relates not to a present Communion . How as relates not of necessity to a present Communion , and that to be said at the Lord's Table ? Here the Thing in Controversy is positively said , without any Proof ; the first part of the Rubrick clearly speaking of a Table covered , &c. which is at no other time than of a present Communion , or a Sacrament . And upon a good Reason , and with reverence to the Author , here 's as bad a Reason as can be given . Doth the Church mind us of a Duty , which she requires not as often as the Communion-Service is said ? She invites Guests to this Feast only when a Communion is appointed , and the Table prepared . 3. The Reason is not square , to argue from a constant reading of the Service at the Table , to a ( only ) frequent Access . The Access should be as frequent as the Invitation , or the Invitation is vain , when there is no provision . The other four , Dr. Heylin , Mr. Elborow , Mr. Ham. L'Estrange , Dr. Comber , are too few to drive us all to the North-side of the Table ; there are more for us of all degrees , than ever were against us . If all will not do , he brings upon us a Reason , which hath convinced and converted the Obstinate , pag. 21. Let us search all the Forms of Prayer upon special Occasions , since the King 's happy Restoration , or since the Blessed Reformation , and we shall find , even when there is no Communion intended , that it is said expresly , The Priest shall stand at the North-side of the Table . 1. To this I answer : Grant it to be in all ; are those Forms and Rubricks enjoined by Act of Parliament ? If not , they are not a Law , I question not at all his Majesty's Power to appoint Fasts and Thanksgivings ; but nothing is to us a Law , but what is by Act of Parliament . And I believe his Majesty never gave him encouragement to say , as he doth , pag. 13. ☞ That the Determination of his Majesty's Will and Pleasure is as binding to him , as any Act of Parliament since the Conquest . 2. The Rubrick in some of those Forms is only this , I am sure : The Priest standing at the North side , &c. shall say ; and not , The Priest shall stand at the North side of the Lord's Table , and say . Then it were a Law , if enjoined by Law. 3. Do the Printers receive that in Charge from the King , or the Arch-Bishop , to print that Rubrick ? Or do they do it for Custom and Form sake ? 4. I am sure also , that in the Form of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth's Inauguration , Novemb. 17. there is no Rubrick at all before the Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments ; but after the Grace of our Lord Jesus , the Lord's Prayer and Commandments follow , and other Prayers . Therefore it was not so since the Reformation ; and that Queen's Reign took up a great part of our Time since the Reformation ; and that Day was as great and solemn a Day as hath been kept to his Majesty's Restauration . And whether that Piece of the Rubrick in our late Books came not in with the Innovations , I will leave to the Enquiry of others , who have a greater Treasure than my poor Collection doth contain . And now we may say , those that were convinced by this Reason , have quietly receded from their Obstinacy , and been very easy tender-hearted Converts . After all the Triumph , he rallies up the prime Churches , King's Chappel , Cathedrals , two Universities , and many Orthodox Parish-Churches , where the Prayers are so read , viz. Dr. Hicks , Dr. Sherlock , Dr. Dove , Mr. Pelling . Now whatever their Parish-Churches may be , if they be more Orthodox Parish-Churches than ours , 't is rare . We take it to be no immodest Comparison to say , we are sure we are as Orthodox Parish-Ministers as they are . And how they can stand at the North side of the Table , we cannot understand , if their Tables stand Altar-wise , ( as they do , or else their Churches are no more Orthodox than ours ) except standing at the North End of the Table , be all one as to stand at the North Side ; or that their Tables have no Ends , but are equilateral , and so still their Churches be Heterodox , and not Orthodox . But if their Tables be of the ordinary fashion , they must stand at the North End of the Table , and not at the North Side ; and so they may come nearer to the Table than others do , they come no nearer to the Rubrick than their Neighbours . And if our Churches are Conventicles , which I hope are not proved so to be , those Orthodox Churches which he names must come into the Number . And to conclude , there was greater Reason for reading at the Communion-Table in former Times than now ; for the Rubrick in the Book of Common-Prayer , till of late , was this : The Collects , Epistles , and Gospels to be used at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper , and Holy Communion throughout the Year , before the first Sunday in Advent . [ Book of Common-Prayer , &c. by Rob. Barker , 1634. ] And this was the Rubrick in King Edward the Sixth's Time ; but in ours now , Collects , and Epistles , and Gospels , to be used throughout the Year . And therefore then the Celebration of the Sacrament was supposed , or for ought I know the Epistles and Gospels were not to be read , till the last Rubrick after the Communion was brought in , to read so much as was not necessary for the Communion . And this seems to be another Evidence , that the Rubrick for standing at the North Side of the Table did relate to the Communion-Time , or Celebration of the Sacrament , because then even the Collects , Epistles , and Gospels were to be read at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper throughout the Year ; and if there be no Communion , there is no necessity of standing at the North Side of the Table : And till I see better Proof , I will conclude , Parish-Churches are no Conventicles . The Conclusion , propounding Examples of Moderation . ANd now , having a few Pages left , I will fill them up with Examples , to prove , that the wisest Men , and best Christians that ever were in the World , have always been of this excellent Temper of Moderation . A Man might summon a Cloud of Witnesses , to set their Hands and Seals to the Poet 's Medio tu●issimus ibis : And doth not Solomon tell the Meaning , when he saith , Turn not to the right-hand , nor to the left ; remove thy Foot from Evil ? The incomparable Lord Bacon , of whom the wise King James used to say , That he knew the Method of doing Things suavibus modis , after a mild and gentle manner . And another Pen gives him this Character : That he had the clearest Prospect of Things of any Man in his Age , being moderate in his Inclination , peaceable in his Mind , and yielding in his Temper . His Religion was rational and sober , his Wit acute , his Memory faithful , his Judgment penetrating , his Spirits publick ; obliging to his Friend , and civil to his Enemy ; constant at publick Prayers , and frequent at Sermons and Sacraments . And yet he tells the Duke of Buckingham , That the true Protestant Religion is seated in the Golden Mean , the Enemies to her are the Extremes on either hand : Herein agreeing with the Royal Martyr , That the true Religion established in the Church of England , keeps the middle way , between the Pomp of Superstitious Tyranny , and the Meanness of Phantastick Anarchy . That excellent Prelate , who preached Bishop Wilkins's Funeral Sermon , tells the World , That he ( the said Bishop Wilkins ) looked upon it as a Piece of Phanaticalness for a Man to be vehement in little and unnecessary things , whether for or against them , any further than is commanded by lawful Superiours . The Pious and Elegant Bishop Hall was a Man of excellent Temper and Moderation , as appears by all his Writings , especially in the Book called the Peace-maker , saying , pag. 136. Our Charity should teach us to mince those Errors and Mistakes which we cannot suppress ; and where we find Extremes , there to strain both Parties what we may to meet in the Mean. Thus did ( saith he ) the twenty four African Bishops , assembled in a Synod , walk in a middle way , and cut a Thread between the Rigor on the one side , and the Indulgence on the other ; and as wise Moderators are wont to do , detract something from either Party , that they might promote Peace between both . He calls Moderation , the Silken Cord , that runs through the Pearl-Chain of all Virtue . And in the Epistle to his Peace-maker , saith , to his Reverend Brethren of the Diocess of Norwich , That it was ever the desire of his Soul , from his first entrance upon his Publick Service of the Church , with Noah's Dove , to bring an Olive-Branch of Peace to the tossed Ark ; but if his Wings have been too short , and the Wind too high , to carry him home with it , he must content himself with the Testimony of his faithful Endeavours . O let not ( saith he ) our Studies , Prayers , Tears , Counsels , Sollicitations , nor Endeavours be wanting to promote Peace ; no , nor if need were , our Blood. All the whole Earth is on Fire , the Flame reaches up to Heaven ; let us labour to withdraw that Hellish Fewel , which nourisheth this fearful Combustion . Let every one pull away a Stick , and not employ himself as an Incendiary . As we honour the God of Peace , whom we serve ; as we love the Prince of Peace , in whom we believe ; as we tender the Success of the Gospel of Peace , which we preach ; as we hope for the Comfort of the Spirit of Peace in our own Bosoms ; let us seek Peace where it is missing , and follow it where it flies from us . Thus that incomparable Prelate . And here I cannot but take notice also of the Right Reverend and Moderate Archbishop Juxon , whom King Charles the First selected for his Confessor at his Martyrdom , when he honoured him with this Testimony and Name , viz. That good Man. One who writes his Life , gives him this excellent Character , That he was a great Benefactor to St. Paul's , but greatest to the Church , which his Eminence adorned , and his Temper secured , in those Times wherein Roughness enraged that Humour , which Delay and Moderation broke . In his Duty this good Man went along with Conscience ; in Government , with Time and Law. His Justice was as his Religion , clear and uniform , the Ornament of his Heart , and the Honour of his Action ; neither was his Justice leavened with Rigor or Severity , but sweetned with Clemency and Goodness . He was never angry but for the Publick , and not then so much at the Person , as at the Offence . So ambitious was he of that great Glory of Moderation , that he kept it up in spite of the Times Malignity . So that tho the most thought the worse of Dr. Juxon , for the Bishop's sake ; yet the best thought the better of the Bishop , for Dr. Juxon's sake . And the pacifick Temper of Arch-Bishop Sheldon is excellently discovered in a Sermon of his , preached before his Majesty , 1660 , and afterwards printed , whose Sayings deserve to be written in Letters of Gold , That 's the best and most Christian Memory ( saith he ) that , as Caesar's , forgets nothing but Injuries . Let us all seriously and sadly look back , consider , and bemoan one another , for what we have mutually done and suffered from each other . Let us all be sorry , and all mend , perfectly forgiving what is past , and returning to as great Kindness as ever ; that so by all good and mutual Offices , we may make amends for our former Animosities . Shall God ( saith this excellent Prelate ) so great , so glorious , after so high and many Provocations , condescend to be at Peace with us ! And shall we poor Worms be at Enmity among our selves , for Trifles , to the hazard of the Comforts of this Life , and the Hopes of a better ? Shall we retain the Memory of former Unkindness , and make a publick Act of Oblivion which we expect , a publick Lie , without either Fear of God , or Shame of the World ? Shall we change one War into another , the open into a secret one , Hostility into Treachery , and by pretending Peace , only smooth the way to Supplantation ? This is the most unmanly Thing in the World. Bishop Roynolds of Norwich was a great Pattern of this Divine Vertue , as may be seen in his incomparable Writings . Not to go back so far as Archbishop Cranmer , Ridley , Hooper , and Latimer , who loved not their Lives unto Death . Bp. Jewel , Abbot , Bilson , Davenant , Cooper , Vsher , Grindal , Prideaux , Downam , Morton ; Archbishop Sands , Bp. Saunderson , Bp. Potter , Bp. Carlton , Bp. Brownrig ; Mr. Capel , Mr. Palmer , Mr. Crook , Mr. Hudson , Mr. Lawson , Dr. Preston , Mr. Fenner , Mr. Bolton , Mr. Wheatly , Mr. Dent , Mr. Dike , Dr. Sibbs , Mr. Stock , Dr. Willet , Dr. Stawghton , Dr. Tho ▪ Taylor , Dr. F●atly , Dr. Holdsworth , Dr. Shute . If you would see more of this moderate and true Catholick Temper , read the Writings of Mr. Chillingworth , Mr. Hales , Mr. Jos. Mede , Dr. Jer. Taylor , late Bishop of Down and Conar , Bishop Rust , Dr. Hawton , Dr. Lightfoot , Dr. Worthington , Dr. Glanvill , the present Bishop of Hereford , Bishop of Lincoln , Bp of Cork , Dr. Stillingfleet , Dr. Tillotson , Dr. Burnet , Dr. Fowler , the Protestant Reconciler , with many more of the Clergy now living . Here I might also recommend the excellent temperate Writings of some of the Laity , viz. Judg Hales , Esq Boyle , Sir Charles Woolsly , Mr. Polhill , Mr. Will. Allein , with the Author of the Samaritan , and many others . The Reverend Dr. Goodman , in his excellent Epistle to his Sermon preached before the Lord-Mayor of London , lately , observes , That our Animosities are arisen to that height , that we have raked the Kennels of other Countries , to find Names to stigmatize one another ; and tho we have many good Men amongst us , yet who would be a Peace-maker , when he shall be sure to be boxed on both sides , like him that parts a Fray ; so that the common Friend shall be looked upon as a common Enemy , by the angry Parties . The Sum of all that has been said of a Moderate Church-man , may be comprehended in the Character following : Viz. He is one that loves his God , and his Religion , his King , and his Country . He shuns the dangerous Extremes , and keeps the Mean of Christian Moderation ; neither causeth Schisms in the Church , nor Factions in the State. He is neither fond of needless Ritualities , nor yet molested with groundless Scruples ; neither worships Images nor Imaginations , but submits to the Customs of the Country , tho not to the Iniquities of the Times . By his abhorrence of all Sin , he declares he thinks none venial ; and by the Regularity of his Conversation , he shews he expects no Indulgence : And as he doth not think by good Works to merit Heaven ; so he endeavours , that he may not by bad ones deserve Hell. He takes more pains to make good his Baptismal Covenant , than to wrangle about the Mode of its Administration , as if he were baptized with the Waters of Strife . And he is more concerned to prove himself a good Christian , than to prove who is Antichrist : Nor doth be so contend about the Number of the Elect , as to reprobate himself for want of Charity . He thinks it very unseasonable to dispute about the Colour of a Garment , when our Enemies are endeavouring to cloath us with the Scarlet Tincture of our own Blood. He had rather use a set Form of Prayer , than have the Service in an unknown Tongue ; and submit to the reverent Gesture of Kneeling , than swallow the Doctrine of Transubstantiation . Whether the chief Ecclesiastical Officer be called a Bishop , or a Presbyter ; or the Communion-Board , a Table , or an Altar , he is not so much concerned as to disturb the Peace of the Church about it . He is a true Catholick Christian , neither Papist nor Separatist , and loves all good Men , by what Names or Titles soever dignified or distinguished ; and ne're thinks the worse of an honest Man , if Malice gives him an ill Name , because he knows Men by their Fruits . He doth not baptize his Religion with the Name of a Sect , nor espouse the Quarrel of a Party : Nor is he guilty of the Corinthian Vanity , in crying up a Paul , an Apollos , or a Cephas ; but looks upon it as the great Design of Christianity to make Men good , and knows where it hath not that effect , it matters not much what Church such a Man is of , because a bad Man can be saved in none . He is one that is sober without Formality , chearful without Levity , prudent without Stratagem , and religious without Affectation ; can be sociable without revelling , angry without swearing , and zealous without quarrelling : One in whom Nature and Grace , Piety and Prudence are so excellently poized , that it may be a Question , whether his Wisdom or Goodness be most evident , because both are covered with a Vail of Humility . He thinks he may lawfully hold Communion with any true Church of Christ , where the Substance of Religion is sound , maintaining neither Heresy in Doctrine , nor Idolatry in Worship , notwithstanding some different circumstantial Modes of Administration : And he believes , if Almighty God damn us all for such Things , which streight-laced , narrow-soul'd Christians damn one another , none could be saved : And therefore he had rather give an Account to a merciful God for too much Charity , than for too great Censoriousness , as well knowing he that is guilty of so great a Crime , hath lost half the Religion of a Christian , and hath exchanged one of the fairest Graces of a Saint , for one of the blackest Characters of a Devil . In a Word , He is one that mends the Times more by his good Example , than by his Clamours . And when other Men , by their secret Conspiracies , scandalous Immoralities , causless Divisions , and venemous Pamphlets , are plotting the Ruine of the Kingdom , the Language of his Heart and Tongue is , God save the King. Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A70766-e640 To the Reader , before the Fifteen Sermons of Bishop Wilkins . 1 King. 12.16 . Ergo. * Human Laws are general Rules for common Cases . Leges ad ea quae ut plui imum accidunt applicari solent in Lege quae ratò . See also Grot. de jure Belli . l. 1. c. 4. §. 4. Phil. Dec. de Reg. Jur. See Mr. Bold's Plea for Moderation , sadly and ingenuously speaking his own Experience , p. 14. Notes for div A70766-e9710 See Rubrick after the Communion * See Ridley's Injunction before qu ie . Item That the Minister in the time of the Communion immediately after the Offertory , to monish the Communicants . Now is the time if you please to remember the poor Man's Chest.