Compulsion of conscience condemned wherein is plainly demonstrated how inconsistent it is with Scripture, the fundamental laws of England, and common equity &c. / by Tho. De-Laune ...
         De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.
      
       
         
           1683
        
      
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             Compulsion of conscience condemned wherein is plainly demonstrated how inconsistent it is with Scripture, the fundamental laws of England, and common equity &c. / by Tho. De-Laune ...
             De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.
          
           [2], 45 p.
           
             Printed by John How ... and Tho. Knowles ...,
             London :
             1683.
          
           
             Imperfect: pages stained, with print show-through and loss of print.
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         eng
      
       
         
           Liberty of conscience.
           Church and state -- England.
        
      
    
     
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           COMPULSION
           OF
           Conscience
           CONDEMNED
           .
           WHEREIN
           ,
           Is
           plainly
           Demonstrated
           how
           Inconsistent
           it
           is
           with
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           Fundamental
           Laws
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           Common
           Equity
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             
               Matth.
               7.
               12.
            
             
          
           
             Whatsoever
             ye
             would
             ,
             that
             Men
             should
             do
             to
             you
             ,
             do
             ye
             even
             so
             to
             them
             :
             For
             this
             is
             the
             Law
             and
             the
             Prophets
             .
          
        
         
           
             Quid
             Tibi
             non
             vis
             ,
             alteri
             ne
             Feceris
             .
          
        
         
           By
           
             Tho.
             De-Laune
          
           ,
           Gent.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           ,
           for
           
             John
             How
          
           next
           Door
           to
           the
           Blew-Bore
           without
           Bishopsgate
           ,
           and
           
             Tho.
             Knowles
          
           at
           the
           Corner
           of
           Great
           and
           Little
           
             Tower-Street
             .
             1683
          
           ,
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           Compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           Condemned
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           THere
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           Fierce
           and
           ill
           Natur'd
           Pasquillers
           ,
           that
           keep
           a
           Bawling
           at
           all
           works
           of
           this
           Nature
           ,
           though
           the
           Design
           be
           never
           so
           Innocent
           ;
           The
           Dread
           of
           those
           ,
           shan't
           Terrifie
           me
           from
           presenting
           these
           few
           Sheets
           to
           the
           Publick
           ,
           Premising
           the
           true
           State
           of
           the
           Case
           by
           me
           asserted
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             the
             Mind
             and
             Conscience
             of
             Man
             ,
             with
             respect
             to
             Divine
             Truths
             ,
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             Compell'd
             by
             outward
             Violence
             ,
             and
             therefore
             that
             it
             is
             unreasonable
             and
             unseasonable
             to
             Prosecute
             so
             many
             of
             his
             Majesties
          
           Protestant-Subjects
           ,
           
             meerly
             for
             their
          
           Nonconformity
           ,
           
             to
             Jayls
             ,
             Fines
             ,
             Banishment
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Spoiling
             and
             taking
             away
             their
             Goods
             ,
          
           &c.
           the
           Demonstration
           of
           which
           shall
           be
           clearly
           and
           briefly
           offered
           with
           all
           Humillity
           .
           It
           is
           no
           small
           Addition
           to
           the
           Grief
           of
           the
           Afflicted
           ,
           that
           when
           they
           propose
           their
           Humble
           Complaints
           ,
           and
           produce
           their
           modest
           reasons
           against
           these
           kind
           of
           Severities
           ,
           they
           are
           presently
           assaulted
           with
           a
           new
           kind
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           by
           a
           parcel
           of
           cruel
           and
           unmerciful
           Pamphleters
           ,
           who
           make
           it
           no
           less
           then
           an
           Arraignment
           of
           the
           State
           ,
           and
           a
           Murmuring
           against
           the
           Government
           :
           In
           Return
           to
           which
           uncharitable
           Calumny
           I
           offer
           a
           few
           considerations
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           'T
           is
           an
           easy
           thing
           for
           those
           Masters
           of
           the
           Faculty
           to
           Bugbear
           the
           Government
           with
           aggravated
           Hyperboles
           ,
           and
           overstretch'd
           Paraphrases
           ;
           'T
           is
           the
           very
           Nature
           of
           misery
           to
           complain
           ,
           and
           I
           never
           knew
           that
           the
           Person
           complained
           to
           (
           if
           of
           a
           Noble
           and
           Heroick
           mind
           ,
           )
           Interpreted
           the
           Petitioners
           Request
           at
           this
           Rate
           .
           The
           Poor
           Beggars
           crying
           for
           Relief
           ,
           is
           no
           Arraignment
           of
           the
           Donors
           Charity
           .
           The
           Subjects
           Complaint
           of
           Grievance
           is
           no
           Impeachment
           of
           his
           Princes
           Justice
           .
           Our
           most
           Importunate
           Prayers
           to
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           are
           no
           Arraignment
           of
           Infinite
           Meroy
           ;
           no
           more
           are
           the
           Dissenters
           applications
           to
           a
           Prince
           of
           such
           Clemency
           as
           his
           Majesty
           is
           ,
           justly
           to
           be
           so
           represented
           ,
           neither
           does
           he
           in
           his
           Royal
           Judgment
           so
           esteem
           it
           .
        
         
         
           
             2.
             
             It
             is
             Universally
             known
             that
             our
             Gracious
             King
             (
             whom
             God
             long
             Preserve
             )
             is
             a
             Prince
             of
             such
             Natural
             Clemency
             ,
             and
             of
             so
             merciful
             a
             disposition
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             much
             more
             apt
             to
             Pardon
             the
             Delinquent
             ,
             then
             oppress
             the
             Innocent
             ,
             and
             therefore
             his
             Protestant
             Subjects
             are
             very
             well
             satisfied
             in
             his
             Royal
             Expressions
             in
             a
             Proclamation
             Dated
          
           April
           
             8.
             1681
          
           ,
           viz.
           We
           will
           both
           in
           and
           out
           of
           Parliament
           use
           our
           utmost
           endeavour
           to
           extirpate
           Popery
           ,
           and
           to
           redress
           all
           the
           Grievances
           of
           our
           Good
           Subjects
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           things
           Govern
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
           
             The
             Pious
             Temper
             of
             our
             most
             Illustrious
             Soveraign
             is
             Remarkable
             ,
             in
             a
             Speech
             to
             both
             Houses
             ,
          
           Monday
           Feb.
           
             10.
             1667.
             where
             he
             says
          
           ,
           One
           thing
           more
           I
           hold
           my self
           obliged
           to
           recommend
           unto
           you
           at
           this
           present
           ;
           which
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           seriously
           think
           of
           some
           Course
           to
           beget
           a
           better
           Vnion
           and
           Composure
           in
           the
           minds
           of
           my
           
             Protestant
             Subjects
          
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           whereby
           they
           may
           be
           Induced
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           submit
           quietly
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           but
           also
           chearfully
           give
           their
           Assistance
           to
           the
           support
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           This
           evidently
           demonstrates
           that
           his
           Majesty
           considers
           that
           Christianity
           is
           full
           of
           Mercy
           ,
           and
           that
           Christ
           the
           Glorious
           Author
           of
           it
           ,
           is
           a
           Reconciler
           and
           Mediator
           ,
           and
           therefore
           would
           have
           his
           Subjects
           disputed
           ,
           or
           Preach'd
           into
           Church
           ,
           not
           Worry'd
           ,
           Jayl'd
           ,
           Plunder'd
           ,
           and
           Church
           curs'd
           into
           Conformity
           .
        
         
           I
           cannot
           leave
           this
           Royal-Text
           ,
           till
           I
           have
           noted
           ,
           that
           whereas
           his
           Majesty
           expresses
           the
           ends
           of
           this
           Composure
           and
           Union
           ,
           viz.
           1.
           
           A
           quiet
           Submission
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           2.
           a
           chearful
           assistance
           to
           support
           it
           ;
           No
           Subjects
           of
           equal
           Quality
           have
           out-done
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           either
           of
           these
           .
           For
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           no
           Treasons
           ,
           Rebellions
           ,
           or
           Insurrections
           ,
           (
           no
           not
           a
           Shaddow
           of
           any
           such
           things
           )
           can
           be
           justly
           chargeable
           upon
           them
           ,
           since
           his
           Majesties
           Happy
           Restauration
           .
           All
           the
           Spys
           and
           Eagle-Ey'd
           Observators
           that
           have
           been
           Imploy'd
           to
           watch
           them
           ,
           can't
           produce
           so
           much
           as
           a
           probable
           Circumstance
           of
           any
           Conspiracy
           amongst
           them
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           sure
           ,
           had
           there
           been
           any
           such
           thing
           ,
           the
           Nation
           e're
           this
           would
           have
           Ring'd
           of
           it
           .
           Some
           few
           half-penny
           Scriblers
           rant
           at
           'um
           ,
           and
           in
           Spight
           of
           the
           Act
           of
           Oblivion
           ,
           Revive
           what
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           commands
           to
           be
           forgotten
           ;
           But
           of
           that
           and
           the
           Single
           Freak
           of
           Venner
           ,
           more
           hereafter
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Probability
           of
           the
           thing
           ,
           viz.
           That
           any
           such
           Conspiracy
           should
           be
           Contrived
           by
           Dissenting-Protestants
           ,
           the
           Persons
           that
           so
           think
           ,
           must
           suppose
           them
           meer
           .
           Fools
           and
           Mad-men
           :
           For
           as
           things
           stand
           ,
           they
           must
           first
           forfeit
           their
           Reason
           ,
           before
           they
           can
           abandon
           their
           Allegiance
           .
           They
           are
           not
           so
           silly
           ,
           whatsoever
           others
           think
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           very
           well
           understand
           they
           hold
           their
           Lives
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Religion
           by
           no
           other
           Tenure
           then
           his
           Majesties
           Life
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           their
           great
           concern
           ,
           as
           they
           tender
           all
           that
           's
           dear
           and
           near
           to
           them
           ,
           to
           preserve
           his
           Person
           and
           Government
           ,
           and
           Defend
           both
           with
           their
           Lives
           and
           Fortunes
           .
           And
           I
           am
           confident
           that
           the
           whole
           Party
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           (
           though
           in
           some
           little
           things
           differing
           from
           each
           other
           )
           would
           Universally
           and
           Uniformly
           agree
           ,
           to
           Sacrafice
           their
           All
           in
           his
           Majesties
           Service
           ,
           against
           any
           power
           whatsoever
           that
           should
           oppose
           him
           .
        
         
           The
           Universal
           experience
           of
           unbyass'd
           Mankind
           can
           Witness
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           is
           here
           said
           .
           Yet
           I
           know
           very
           well
           ,
           what
           objections
           have
           been
           and
           will
           be
           made
           from
           that
           dismal
           Topick
           of
           the
           Nations
           late
           Unhappy
           Convulsions
           .
           But
           that
           must
           be
           refered
           to
           a
           Distinct
           head
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           second
           place
           ,
           It
           is
           certain
           that
           (
           these
           Protestant-Subjects
           his
           Majesty
           intends
           ,
           namely
           )
           the
           Dissenters
           have
           chearfully
           given
           their
           Assistance
           to
           the
           support
           of
           the
           Government
           .
           It
           is
           well
           known
           that
           they
           are
           an
           Industrious
           Trading
           People
           ,
           that
           willingly
           pay
           whatsoever
           Taxes
           the
           Law
           requires
           .
           And
           it
           is
           Remarkable
           ,
           that
           no
           People
           ever
           exprest
           a
           greater
           Zeal
           to
           oppose
           the
           various
           attaques
           of
           a
           Forreign
           (
           Anti-Spiritual
           Power
           )
           then
           these
           Dissenters
           :
           And
           could
           I
           know
           any
           one
           of
           them
           that
           would
           shrink
           from
           his
           Princes
           Service
           ,
           when
           his
           Royal
           Person
           and
           Government
           are
           menaced
           ,
           I
           would
           esteem
           him
           not
           only
           a
           Fool
           ,
           but
           a
           Traytor
           to
           boot
           .
        
         
           
             To
             Evidence
             (
             further
             )
             the
             Lenity
             of
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             I
             shall
             quote
             a
             Memorable
             passage
             in
             his
             Declaration
             from
          
           Breda
           ,
           Dated
           April
           
             14.
             1660.
          
           
           We
           do
           declare
           a
           Liberty
           to
           Tender
           Consciences
           ;
           and
           that
           no
           man
           shall
           be
           disquieted
           or
           called
           in
           question
           for
           differences
           of
           Opinion
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           do
           not
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ;
           And
           that
           we
           shall
           be
           ready
           to
           Consent
           to
           such
           an
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           as
           upon
           mature
           Deliberation
           shall
           be
           offered
           to
           us
           for
           the
           full
           Granting
           that
           Indulgence
           .
        
         
         
           What
           can
           be
           more
           Pious
           and
           Consonant
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           then
           what
           this
           Great
           Monarch
           here
           declares
           ?
           No
           Person
           is
           excepted
           from
           his
           Royal-Indulgence
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
           Now
           if
           there
           be
           any
           such
           among
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           let
           them
           be
           severely
           Punished
           :
           But
           if
           there
           be
           none
           ,
           I
           cannot
           but
           wonder
           at
           the
           Cruelty
           and
           undutifulness
           of
           such
           as
           Prosecute
           their
           Peaceable
           and
           Innocent
           Fellow-Subjects
           against
           the
           mind
           of
           their
           Soveraign
           .
        
         
           
             His
             Majesty
             has
             not
             only
             declared
             this
             (
             so
             Favourable
             )
             Indulgence
             ,
             but
             also
             by
             his
             own
             experience
             declares
             the
             unfruitfulness
             of
             Compulsion
             ,
          
           March
           
           15th
           .
           
             1671.
             
             In
             these
             words
          
           ,
           Our
           Care
           and
           endeavours
           for
           the
           Preservation
           of
           the
           Rights
           and
           Interests
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           have
           been
           sufficiently
           Manifested
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           by
           the
           whole
           Course
           of
           our
           Government
           ,
           since
           our
           Happy
           Restauration
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           many
           frequent
           ways
           of
           Coercion
           that
           we
           have
           used
           for
           the
           reducing
           all
           erring
           or
           Dissenting
           Persons
           ,
           and
           for
           Composing
           the
           unhappy
           Differences
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           which
           we
           found
           among
           our
           Subjects
           upon
           our
           Return
           :
           But
           it
           being
           Evident
           by
           the
           sad
           Experience
           of
           Twelve
           years
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           very
           little
           Fruit
           of
           all
           those
           Forceable
           Courses
           ,
           we
           think
           our Self
           obliged
           to
           make
           use
           of
           that
           Supream
           Power
           in
           Ecclesiastical
           matters
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           only
           Inherent
           in
           us
           ,
           but
           hath
           been
           declared
           and
           Recognized
           to
           be
           so
           by
           several
           Statutes
           and
           Acts
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           That
           August
           
             part
             of
             the
             Legislative
             power
             ,
             the
             House
             of
             Commons
             ,
             Resolved
          
           Janu.
           
             10.
             1680
          
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           the
           opinion
           of
           this
           House
           ,
           that
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           upon
           the
           Penal-Laws
           ,
           is
           at
           this
           time
           Grievous
           to
           the
           Subject
           ,
           a
           Weakening
           the
           Protestant
           Interest
           ,
           an
           Incouragement
           to
           Popery
           ,
           and
           dangerous
           to
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
           Besides
           this
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           Bill
           past
           both
           Houses
           at
           the
           last
           Parliament
           in
           Westminster
           ,
           for
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           35
           of
           Elizabeth
           ,
           but
           through
           some
           unhappy
           neglect
           it
           was
           not
           presented
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           who
           doubtless
           would
           have
           past
           it
           .
           Nevertheless
           by
           that
           and
           what
           's
           mentioned
           before
           ,
           we
           may
           clearly
           infer
           that
           the
           King
           and
           Parliament
           ,
           judge
           that
           Compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           (
           of
           Peaceable
           Protestant
           Dissenters
           )
           is
           both
           unseasonable
           and
           unprofitable
           .
           And
           if
           I
           have
           the
           whole
           Legislative
           Authority
           on
           my
           side
           ,
           
             viz.
             King
             ,
             Lords
          
           ,
           and
           Commons
           ,
           (
           that
           is
           all
           England
           )
           I
           may
           modestly
           presume
           ,
           that
           no
           Protestant
           will
           be
           angry
           at
           this
           Essay
           ,
           nor
           censure
           it
           of
           
           Arrogance
           ;
           it
           being
           so
           conformable
           to
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           the
           most
           Illustrious
           in
           the
           Nation
           :
           I
           must
           confess
           that
           there
           are
           Laws
           in
           force
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           which
           we
           shall
           a
           little
           Discourse
           of
           hereafter
           ,
           and
           evidence
           plainly
           that
           the
           intention
           of
           the
           Legislators
           was
           to
           punish
           such
           as
           they
           supposed
           would
           be
           Seditious
           or
           dangerous
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           they
           that
           stretch
           these
           Laws
           to
           destroy
           so
           many
           Innocent
           Peaceable
           Members
           of
           the
           Common-Wealth
           ,
           do
           but
           Fight
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           pervert
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           Lawgivers
           ;
           and
           can
           (
           at
           long
           run
           )
           expect
           no
           other
           Fruit
           of
           their
           officiousness
           ,
           then
           what
           is
           reap'd
           by
           such
           as
           are
           unmerciful
           (
           to
           say
           no
           more
           )
           at
           the
           great
           and
           general
           Tribunal
           .
           Here
           you
           see
           those
           very
           Laws
           repealed
           ,
           in
           voto
           ,
           by
           them
           that
           made
           it
           ,
           and
           though
           that
           dots
           not
           disanull
           them
           ,
           yet
           let
           me
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           for
           some
           particular
           Justices
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           meerly
           upon
           the
           Information
           of
           a
           sort
           of
           Creatures
           called
           Informers
           ,
           (
           whose
           Character
           in
           a
           few
           words
           I
           'le
           give
           you
           e're
           long
           )
           to
           Execute
           the
           utmost
           ,
           yea
           ,
           more
           then
           the
           utmost
           Severity
           of
           the
           Laws
           ,
           against
           Dissenters
           ,
           in
           defiance
           of
           the
           sense
           of
           the
           Law-makers
           ,
           who
           did
           undoubtedly
           know
           what
           was
           best
           for
           us
           ,
           is
           no
           less
           then
           to
           oppose
           a
           private
           Opinion
           to
           a
           publick
           Deliberation
           ,
           and
           a
           private
           Spirit
           against
           a
           publick
           .
           But
           I
           'le
           proceed
           to
           my
           main
           business
           ;
           and
           refer
           the
           Opinion
           (
           with
           a
           respect
           to
           this
           matter
           ▪
           of
           as
           Great
           .
           Statesmen
           as
           England
           ever
           knew
           to
           another
           place
           .
        
      
       
         
           SECT
           .
           II.
           
        
         
           HE
           that
           will
           Seriously
           consider
           how
           tenderly
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           Recommends
           the
           precepts
           of
           mutual
           Love
           ,
           to
           all
           that
           profess
           his
           Name
           ,
           making
           it
           the
           very
           Character
           of
           his
           Followers
           ,
           
             Luk
             ▪
          
           13.
           35.
           
           
             By
             this
             shall
             all
             Men
             know
             that
             you
             are
             my
             Disciples
             ,
             if
             ye
             have
             Love
             one
             to
             another
          
           ;
           And
           how
           highly
           the
           Apostle
           Paul
           exalts
           the
           same
           Duty
           ,
           reduceing
           the
           whole
           Duty
           of
           a
           Christian
           to
           a
           single
           precept
           ,
           Gal.
           5.
           14.
           
           
             For
             all
             the
             Law
             is
             fulfilled
             in
             one
             word
             ,
             even
             in
             this
             ,
             Thou
             shalt
             Love
             thy
             Neighbour
             as
             thy self
             .
          
           See
           Levit.
           19.
           18.
           
           Mat.
           22.
           39.
           
           Cannot
           but
           sufficiently
           wonder
           ,
           to
           see
           such
           as
           profess
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           Quarrel
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           special
           and
           doubtful
           Circumstances
           ,
           respecting
           Divine
           Worship
           !
        
         
         
           It
           is
           Lamentable
           to
           see
           how
           much
           the
           present
           Age
           differs
           from
           Primitive
           Christianity
           !
           The
           Servants
           of
           the
           Living
           God
           in
           those
           times
           ,
           would
           rather
           have
           given
           their
           own
           Lives
           to
           perswade
           their
           Enemies
           to
           Piety
           ,
           then
           seek
           to
           undo
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           to
           force
           them
           to
           Hypocrisie
           .
        
         
           Those
           Maximes
           that
           interfere
           with
           the
           Sacred
           Rules
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           threaten
           desolation
           to
           Men
           for
           what
           they
           cannot
           help
           ,
           are
           undoubtedly
           to
           be
           laid
           aside
           in
           a
           Christian
           Common-Wealth
           .
           And
           I
           question
           not
           but
           that
           our
           Gracious
           King
           ,
           when
           he
           thinks
           fit
           to
           meet
           his
           People
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           will
           order
           a
           Regulation
           of
           these
           proceedings
           ,
           suitable
           to
           his
           Beneign
           and
           merciful
           temper
           before
           expressed
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           I
           humby
           crave
           leave
           to
           offer
           a
           few
           general
           Reasons
           against
           the
           present
           Prosecutions
           ,
           which
           my
           Zeal
           for
           Truth
           and
           the
           management
           of
           Church-Wars
           (
           like
           Christians
           indeed
           )
           extort
           from
           me
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           notorious
           by
           Universal
           Experience
           that
           it
           is
           the
           perverse
           Nature
           of
           Man
           ,
           
             Niti
             in
             vetitum
          
           ,
           to
           long
           (
           like
           Eve
           )
           for
           what
           is
           forbidden
           ;
           A
           Malady
           derived
           by
           an
           uninterpreted
           succession
           from
           our
           first
           Parents
           .
           Hence
           grew
           a
           necessity
           of
           Establishing
           Laws
           and
           Civil
           Sanctions
           ,
           the
           end
           of
           which
           are
           ,
           to
           restrain
           and
           Punish
           Transgressors
           ,
           who
           by
           the
           Intemperate
           Sallys
           of
           private
           or
           publich
           Ambition
           ,
           Revenge
           ,
           Lust
           or
           other
           Vice
           ,
           attempt
           or
           actually
           perpetrate
           any
           thing
           Injurious
           to
           their
           Fellow-Creatures
           .
        
         
           These
           Laws
           are
           Calculated
           for
           the
           respective
           Meridians
           of
           several
           Nations
           and
           Governments
           ,
           and
           Levell'd
           against
           the
           prevailing
           vice
           of
           the
           place
           ,
           
             Ex
             malis
             moribus
             bonae
             leges
             natae
             sunt
             :
          
           The
           pravity
           of
           Mans
           Nature
           ,
           caused
           a
           necessity
           of
           Laws
           ,
           as
           Distempers
           do
           of
           Physick
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Office
           of
           the
           later
           ,
           is
           to
           preserve
           the
           Health
           ,
           and
           Cure
           the
           Diseases
           of
           the
           Body
           ;
           so
           the
           Office
           of
           the
           former
           is
           to
           preserve
           the
           Body
           Politick
           .
           Neither
           of
           these
           are
           so
           limited
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           private
           or
           publick
           Physick
           may
           be
           altered
           according
           as
           the
           Symptoms
           of
           the
           Disease
           direct
           the
           Application
           .
           And
           so
           we
           see
           that
           Parliaments
           (
           without
           any
           disparagement
           to
           their
           Wisdoms
           )
           Repeal
           Laws
           proper
           to
           the
           times
           they
           were
           Enacted
           in
           ,
           and
           make
           New
           ,
           as
           the
           Vicissitudes
           of
           the
           Publick
           Pulse
           stands
           in
           need
           of
           .
           The
           wisest
           Men
           have
           changed
           Counsels
           and
           Resolves
           upon
           Second
           thoughts
           :
           The
           very
           Popes
           themselves
           ,
           and
           
             General
             Councels
          
           have
           done
           it
           ,
           though
           the
           former
           Arrogate
           to
           themselves
           an
           Infallibility
           .
        
         
         
           No
           meer
           Man
           is
           so
           sharp
           sighted
           as
           certainly
           to
           foresee
           what
           the
           Events
           and
           Revolutions
           of
           things
           to
           come
           may
           be
           ,
           without
           Divine
           Inspiration
           .
           Therefore
           it
           is
           rather
           to
           be
           Esteemed
           a
           prudential
           Skill
           ,
           then
           an
           Arraignment
           of
           the
           Acts
           of
           our
           Predecessors
           ,
           when
           what
           was
           suitable
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           improper
           for
           us
           ,
           are
           repealed
           ,
           and
           a
           more
           seasonable
           remedy
           Applied
           ,
           when
           the
           inconveniences
           of
           the
           former
           are
           discovered
           .
           I
           am
           certain
           that
           the
           best
           way
           to
           convince
           Protestant
           dissenters
           ,
           (
           and
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           )
           is
           to
           Win
           them
           by
           fair
           and
           Charitable
           Methods
           ;
           and
           that
           those
           Penalties
           the
           Law
           inflicts
           ,
           should
           at
           least
           be
           relaxt
           ,
           for
           Reasons
           hereafter
           to
           be
           produced
           .
           Every
           considering
           Man
           must
           needs
           know
           that
           the
           Biass
           of
           Interest
           and
           Education
           are
           strong
           Shackles
           to
           the
           Judgment
           ,
           which
           Fetter
           it
           from
           yeilding
           to
           Demonstrated
           Truth
           .
           That
           of
           Education
           is
           very
           hard
           to
           be
           over-master'd
           .
           We
           have
           had
           Deplorable
           Experiments
           ,
           that
           Opinion
           meerly
           got
           by
           Education
           ,
           is
           sometimes
           as
           hard
           to
           be
           removed
           ,
           (
           yea
           harder
           )
           then
           the
           Body
           from
           the
           Soul.
           It
           so
           Wheels
           and
           Intoxicates
           the
           Brain
           ,
           that
           even
           amongst
           the
           Turks
           ,
           we
           Read
           of
           some
           Wise
           and
           Moderate
           Persons
           ,
           who
           would
           Die
           to
           maintain
           their
           ridiculous
           Alcaron
           .
        
         
           Custome
           is
           grown
           such
           a
           Tyrant
           ,
           that
           some
           would
           rather
           starve
           then
           eat
           Bread
           bak'd
           in
           a
           Pan
           (
           as
           a
           Reverend
           Prelate
           said
           )
           because
           he
           used
           to
           eat
           Bread
           bak'd
           in
           an
           Oven
           .
           Religion
           in
           many
           is
           really
           their
           humour
           ,
           and
           a
           Darling
           Fancy
           passes
           with
           such
           for
           Reason
           ;
           and
           Fashion
           is
           more
           prevailing
           then
           the
           best
           Arguments
           .
           O
           the
           Deplorable
           Estate
           of
           Christianity
           :
           Men
           will
           now
           reject
           the
           most
           Sacred
           of
           Truths
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           but
           find
           a
           Pique
           at
           the
           Messenger
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Raving
           Patient
           would
           spill
           the
           best
           of
           Cordials
           ,
           because
           not
           presented
           in
           a
           Golden
           Spoon
           !
        
         
           The
           Design
           of
           what
           is
           said
           ,
           is
           to
           make
           way
           for
           what
           follows
           ,
           viz.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           SECT
           .
           III.
           
        
         
           Demonstrative
           Reasons
           against
           Compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           NO
           Humane
           Authority
           ,
           no
           not
           the
           very
           Popes
           (
           those
           Infallible
           Tooles
           )
           can
           deny
           but
           that
           
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             is
             the
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             ,
          
           to
           which
           all
           that
           profess
           the
           Name
           of
           Christ
           ought
           to
           Conform
           .
           And
           as
           all
           the
           Children
           of
           God
           have
           an
           Equal
           Interest
           in
           the
           Testament
           of
           their
           Father
           ,
           so
           no
           one
           amongst
           them
           ,
           has
           any
           Prerogative
           to
           Impose
           a
           force
           upon
           the
           Judgment
           of
           his
           Brother
           .
           One
           holds
           this
           ,
           the
           other
           that
           ,
           a
           third
           denys
           both
           ,
           they
           Examine
           Scripture
           ,
           Consult
           the
           Originals
           ,
           Examine
           the
           Opinions
           of
           Antiquity
           ;
           they
           sincerely
           Pray
           for
           Illumination
           :
           What
           then
           ?
           Why
           pray
           what
           Course
           will
           you
           take
           with
           your
           Dissenting
           Brother
           ?
           All
           that
           you
           can
           say
           ,
           can't
           remove
           him
           from
           his
           former
           perswasion
           :
           The
           best
           way
           is
           to
           pray
           for
           him
           ,
           if
           any
           Rigorous
           course
           be
           taken
           in
           such
           a
           Case
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           fire
           brings
           no
           light
           with
           it
           to
           Demonstrate
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           profess
           I
           cannot
           but
           suspect
           that
           the
           Coals
           are
           fetcht
           from
           below
           .
        
         
           He
           that
           reflects
           upon
           the
           difficulties
           that
           Encounter
           us
           in
           the
           way
           to
           Truth
           ,
           
             for
             Strait
             is
             the
             Gate
             ,
             and
             Narrow
             is
             the
             Way
             ,
          
           and
           with
           all
           considers
           how
           short
           sighted
           the
           best
           of
           Men
           be
           ,
           for
           
             here
             we
             see
             but
             in
             Part
             ,
             and
             understand
             but
             in
             Part
             ,
          
           will
           soon
           find
           that
           there
           is
           infinitely
           more
           Reason
           for
           Christians
           mutually
           to
           Endeavour
           the
           support
           and
           assistance
           ,
           rather
           then
           study
           the
           Ruine
           and
           Destruction
           of
           each
           other
           .
        
         
           Since
           all
           have
           neither
           an
           equal
           Depth
           of
           Natural
           Judgment
           ,
           nor
           the
           same
           Measure
           of
           Supernatural
           Illumination
           ,
           but
           
             the
             Spirit
             Bloweth
             how
             ,
             and
             where
             it
             pleaseth
             ,
          
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           despise
           or
           Persecute
           our
           Brother
           ,
           for
           his
           Innocent
           and
           blameless
           mistakes
           ,
           least
           we
           be
           found
           
             to
             fight
             against
             God
          
           ,
           who
           is
           the
           free
           disposer
           of
           his
           Gifts
           ;
           we
           know
           
             the
             way
             of
             Man
             is
             not
             in
             himself
             ,
          
           Jer.
           10.
           23.
           
           
             But
             his
             goings
          
           (
           or
           steps
           )
           
             are
             of
             the
             Lord
          
           ,
           Pro.
           20.
           24
           
           ▪
           And
           therefore
           ,
           did
           we
           bear
           a
           due
           Respect
           to
           God
           ,
           we
           would
           be
           Content
           
           to
           wait
           his
           leasure
           ,
           who
           has
           Ingaged
           himself
           by
           his
           Apostle
           ,
           Phil.
           3.
           15.
           
           
             If
             in
             any
             thing
             ye
             be
             otherwise
             minded
             ,
             God
             shall
             Reveal
             even
             this
             unto
             you
             .
          
           Let
           us
           therefore
           entertain
           such
           a
           one
           ,
           (
           who
           proceeds
           in
           the
           simplicity
           of
           his
           heart
           ,
           )
           with
           Milk
           ,
           till
           he
           grow
           stronger
           to
           Digest
           Strong-Meat
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           much
           mistaken
           ,
           if
           
             Compulsion
             of
             Conscience
          
           borders
           not
           upon
           the
           very
           Skirts
           of
           the
           Implicite
           Faith
           of
           the
           Papists
           .
           For
           ,
           whatsoever
           a
           man
           is
           constrained
           to
           Swear
           ,
           or
           profess
           ,
           more
           then
           he
           is
           convinced
           of
           ,
           proceeds
           from
           as
           Blind
           an
           assent
           ,
           as
           can
           be
           match'd
           in
           the
           grossest
           Popery
           ,
           and
           of
           such
           a
           convert
           no
           profession
           has
           any
           great
           cause
           to
           boast
           .
           For
           common
           Reason
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           such
           as
           are
           Proselyted
           by
           violence
           ,
           will
           continue
           such
           no
           longer
           then
           the
           force
           lasts
           .
        
         
           Force
           is
           meer
           Punishment
           ,
           and
           consequently
           not
           Just
           ,
           unless
           the
           offence
           be
           voluntary
           :
           But
           he
           that
           believes
           according
           to
           the
           evidence
           of
           his
           own
           Reason
           ,
           is
           necessitated
           to
           that
           belief
           ,
           and
           to
           compel
           him
           from
           it
           ,
           is
           to
           drive
           him
           to
           Renounce
           the
           Essential
           part
           of
           Man
           ,
           his
           Reason
           .
        
         
           I
           can't
           Imagine
           why
           we
           should
           be
           commanded
           
             to
             try
             the
             Spirits
          
           ,
           1.
           
           John
           4.
           1.
           
           
             And
             to
             prove
             all
             things
          
           .
           1
           Thes
           .
           5.
           21.
           
           
             If
             there
             be
             not
             a
             Faculty
             in
             the
             Soul
             to
             judge
             for
             it self
             .
          
           'T
           is
           a
           strange
           Injunction
           when
           we
           are
           commanded
           to
           
             hold
             fast
             that
             which
             we
             find
             to
             be
             best
          
           ;
           if
           after
           our
           most
           serious
           and
           deliberate
           Election
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           whipt
           out
           of
           our
           Conscience
           by
           Penaltys
           .
           To
           what
           purpose
           do
           we
           Preach
           poor
           Souls
           into
           just
           so
           much
           Liberty
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           as
           may
           beget
           their
           torture
           ,
           and
           not
           permit
           them
           to
           rest
           where
           they
           find
           satisfaction
           ?
           Either
           prohibit
           to
           search
           at
           all
           ,
           or
           leave
           us
           sensible
           of
           some
           benefit
           by
           teaching
           .
           To
           believe
           what
           seems
           untrue
           ,
           seems
           to
           me
           Impossible
           ;
           To
           profess
           what
           we
           believe
           untrue
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           is
           damnable
           .
        
         
           As
           't
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           whosoever
           swerves
           from
           the
           Dictates
           of
           his
           own
           Conscience
           ,
           commits
           a
           grievous
           Sin
           ,
           Rom.
           14.
           
           So
           without
           Question
           they
           that
           endeavour
           by
           Force
           or
           Artifice
           to
           draw
           any
           Man
           to
           profess
           or
           Act
           contrary
           to
           what
           his
           Soul
           believes
           ,
           are
           as
           deeply
           guilty
           of
           the
           same
           Crime
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           says
           ,
           
             When
             ye
             wound
             the
             weak
             Consciences
             of
             your
             Brethren
             ,
             ye
             Sin
             against
             Christ
             .
          
           1.
           
           Cor.
           8.
           12.
           
           How
           dangerously
           then
           do
           they
           expose
           themselves
           to
           the
           Just
           Indignation
           of
           God
           who
           drive
           others
           ,
           (
           and
           fall
           themselves
           )
           into
           this
           Evil
           ?
           &c.
           How
           wilfully
           do
           they
           attempt
           to
           extinguish
           
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           ,
           which
           Indispensably
           obliges
           all
           Men
           to
           
             Deal
             with
             others
             ,
             as
             they
             would
             be
             dealt
             with
             themselves
             ?
          
           This
           Light
           is
           placed
           by
           God
           in
           clear
           and
           candid
           Souls
           to
           Shine
           and
           guide
           them
           ,
           but
           in
           black
           ones
           to
           condemn
           and
           burn
           them
           .
           I
           could
           heartily
           wish
           that
           all
           Men
           would
           take
           the
           Advice
           of
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           Rom.
           14.
           13.
           
           
             Let
             us
             not
             therefore
             Judge
             one
             another
             any
             more
             :
             But
             Judge
             this
             rather
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             put
             a
             Stumbling-Block
             ,
             or
             an
             occasion
             to
             fall
             ,
             in
             his
             Brothers
             way
             .
          
           If
           this
           Blessed
           Counsel
           were
           but
           followed
           ,
           what
           a
           happy
           Nation
           might
           ours
           be
           ?
        
         
           Nothing
           hath
           caused
           more
           mischief
           in
           the
           Church
           then
           the
           Establishing
           new
           (
           and
           many
           )
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           Incumbrance
           of
           Gods
           Worship
           by
           Ceremonys
           ,
           which
           all
           acknowledge
           to
           be
           more
           for
           Ornament
           ,
           then
           any
           Essential
           necessity
           .
           And
           had
           these
           Stumbling-Blocks
           been
           removed
           ,
           't
           is
           certain
           that
           our
           too
           too
           deplorable
           divisions
           would
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           vanish
           ,
           but
           since
           there
           are
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           Divisions
           ,
           let
           us
           pray
           to
           the
           Physitian
           of
           Souls
           to
           heal
           them
           .
           
             To
             Love
             one
             another
          
           is
           a
           command
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           which
           never
           was
           ,
           nor
           never
           will
           be
           repealed
           .
           And
           O!
           how
           disagreeable
           to
           that
           Sacred
           precept
           is
           it
           ,
           to
           vex
           and
           trouble
           each
           other
           !
           How
           rare
           is
           it
           to
           see
           the
           very
           Brutes
           prey
           upon
           their
           kind
           !
           Yet
           we
           see
           mankind
           destroy
           mankind
           ,
           not
           only
           devesting
           themselves
           of
           humanity
           ,
           but
           with
           a
           more
           then
           Brutish
           cruelty
           ,
           rage
           against
           their
           very
           Brethren
           .
           To
           break
           so
           evident
           a
           Commandement
           ,
           to
           establish
           that
           which
           is
           (
           more
           then
           )
           doubtful
           ,
           is
           certainly
           contrary
           to
           Gospel-Laws
           .
        
         
           A
           thing
           may
           be
           clear
           to
           one
           man
           that
           would
           fain
           impose
           it
           ,
           but
           it
           may
           be
           doubtful
           to
           him
           on
           whom
           it
           is
           imposed
           ,
           which
           no
           Body
           can
           help
           .
           Must
           the
           doubtful
           Person
           be
           knockt
           o'
           the
           head
           therefore
           ,
           or
           must
           we
           pick
           out
           the
           Eyes
           of
           all
           that
           cannot
           See
           as
           well
           as
           our selves
           .
        
         
           Suppose
           the
           point
           be
           clear
           in
           Scripture
           ;
           why
           then
           say
           I
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           to
           make
           a
           new
           Law
           to
           Impose
           it
           ;
           much
           less
           a
           new
           Article
           of
           Faith.
           If
           it
           be
           but
           deduc'd
           or
           infer'd
           ;
           't
           is
           certain
           that
           what
           one
           thinks
           clearly
           deduced
           ,
           another
           as
           Learned
           and
           able
           as
           he
           ,
           may
           think
           not
           to
           be
           so
           .
        
         
           Mens
           understandings
           are
           as
           various
           as
           their
           Speech
           or
           Faces
           :
           And
           is
           it
           Just
           for
           one
           man
           to
           Quarrel
           with
           another
           ,
           because
           different
           from
           him
           in
           either
           of
           these
           ?
           or
           put
           him
           upon
           a
           Rack
           to
           stretch
           him
           to
           his
           own
           dimension
           ,
           if
           not
           so
           tall
           as
           he
           ?
           He
           that
           
           thinks
           all
           Dissenters
           either
           malieiously
           or
           wilfully
           Blind
           is
           (
           in
           my
           Judgment
           )
           defective
           in
           Charity
           .
           If
           these
           People
           Dissent
           out
           of
           humour
           or
           Hypocrisie
           ,
           every
           thinking
           Man
           will
           pronounce
           them
           absolute
           Fools
           .
           For
           they
           that
           play
           the
           Hypocrites
           ;
           do
           it
           either
           for
           Worldly
           ends
           ,
           or
           vain
           glory
           .
           Now
           these
           Men
           ,
           who
           are
           under
           the
           lash
           of
           every
           Informer
           ,
           and
           suffer
           so
           unmercifully
           ;
           cannot
           be
           charg'd
           with
           Dissenting
           for
           worldly
           ends
           ,
           because
           they
           may
           secure
           themselves
           by
           Conformity
           ,
           and
           by
           necessary
           consequence
           their
           Nonconformity
           is
           out
           of
           pure
           Conscience
           .
           Else
           (
           as
           was
           said
           ▪
           )
           they
           are
           stark
           ▪
           I
           deots
           ,
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           the
           State
           has
           no
           need
           to
           fear
           them
           ,
           and
           it
           would
           be
           a
           great
           disparagement
           to
           so
           wise
           and
           Illustrious
           a
           Government
           to
           seem
           to
           fear
           such
           a
           Company
           of
           supposed
           simpletons
           .
           But
           then
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           if
           their
           Dissent
           be
           really
           from
           the
           strong
           and
           convinced
           perswasions
           of
           their
           minds
           ,
           I
           would
           in
           all
           humility
           beseech
           all
           ,
           that
           have
           power
           to
           Execute
           the
           Laws
           against
           them
           ,
           to
           consider
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           Christians
           ,
           their
           Bretheren
           and
           Countrymen
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           would
           treat
           them
           as
           such
           ,
           in
           agreement
           to
           what
           our
           merciful
           Prince
           declared
           ,
           as
           before
           ,
           
             viz.
             To
             Punish
             only
             such
             as
             are
             disturbers
             of
             the
             Government
             .
          
           For
           my
           Pen
           shall
           never
           be
           an
           Advocate
           for
           any
           Person
           of
           that
           Character
           .
           If
           any
           should
           think
           that
           these
           Men
           Dissent
           out
           of
           
             vain
             Glory
          
           ,
           he
           must
           still
           suppose
           them
           worse
           Fools
           then
           before
           ;
           For
           who
           but
           a
           Mad-man
           would
           purchase
           the
           applause
           of
           a
           few
           Persons
           (
           an
           Idle
           airey
           thing
           that
           will
           neither
           Feed
           nor
           Cloath
           him
           )
           at
           the
           dear
           rate
           of
           20
           l.
           a
           Month
           ,
           20
           l.
           a
           Sermon
           ,
           &c.
           or
           a
           Prison
           with
           all
           its
           tormenting
           apurtenances
           ?
           Is
           this
           a
           comfortable
           Bargain
           ?
        
         
           Well
           then
           ,
           supposing
           them
           weak
           Brethren
           ,
           what
           shall
           we
           do
           with
           them
           ?
           why
           the
           Apostle
           readily
           answers
           this
           question
           ,
           Rom.
           14.
           1.
           
           
             Him
             that
             is
             weak
             in
             the
             Faith
             receive
             ye
             ,
             but
             not
             to
             doubtful
             disputations
             .
          
           Here
           is
           not
           one
           word
           of
           sending
           him
           to
           Prison
           ;
           or
           Fining
           of
           him
           ;
           No
           ,
           No
           ,
           they
           us'd
           to
           perswade
           and
           convince
           ;
           not
           compel
           men
           to
           Conformity
           .
           Neither
           did
           the
           strong
           Christian
           Persecute
           ,
           but
           Cherish
           and
           Instruct
           his
           weak
           Brother
           .
           For
           ,
        
         
           They
           very
           well
           knew
           that
           no
           man
           can
           be
           forced
           to
           believe
           ,
           he
           may
           (
           't
           is
           true
           )
           be
           compelled
           to
           say
           this
           or
           that
           ,
           but
           not
           to
           believe
           it
           ;
           the
           Dominion
           over
           the
           External
           part
           has
           no
           Rule
           over
           the
           Soul.
           And
           though
           a
           Man
           may
           be
           compell'd
           to
           dissemble
           his
           thoughts
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           any
           outward
           force
           can
           change
           the
           opinion
           .
           The
           Soul
           of
           man
           is
           a
           thing
           so
           generous
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           
           rather
           perswaded
           by
           mildness
           ,
           then
           won
           upon
           by
           figorous
           and
           Coercive
           Methods
           .
           And
           the
           Nature
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           is
           really
           adapted
           for
           such
           procedures
           .
           If
           
             Compulsion
             of
             Conscience
          
           had
           been
           thought
           by
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           best
           way
           of
           reducing
           Mankind
           ,
           our
           Lord
           Jesus
           would
           have
           used
           it
           .
           He
           that
           had
           the
           Command
           of
           the
           whole
           Heavenly
           Militia
           ,
           (
           one
           of
           which
           in
           a
           Night
           Slew
           185000
           of
           the
           Assyrian
           Host
           )
           could
           with
           as
           much
           ease
           subdue
           the
           Great
           
             Augustus
             Caesar
          
           ,
           as
           command
           a
           Fish
           to
           bring
           him
           the
           Tribute
           Money
           .
        
         
           He
           that
           has
           good
           Eyes
           ,
           and
           has
           been
           taught
           to
           Read
           ,
           will
           Read
           you
           a
           clear
           Printed
           Book
           ,
           but
           if
           he
           be
           Blind
           ,
           or
           having
           Eyes
           wants
           Light
           ,
           or
           never
           learnt
           to
           Read
           ,
           or
           if
           the
           Print
           be
           Blind
           ,
           you
           may
           sooner
           dash
           out
           his
           Brains
           with
           a
           Club
           ,
           then
           make
           him
           perform
           an
           Action
           he
           cannot
           .
        
         
           Faith
           is
           not
           to
           be
           driven
           like
           a
           Nail
           into
           the
           Head
           ,
           or
           Heart
           ,
           with
           a
           Hammer
           :
           For
           a
           Man
           cannot
           believe
           if
           he
           would
           ,
           till
           the
           Gift
           be
           bestowed
           upon
           him
           .
           And
           the
           Scripture
           is
           plain
           ,
           when
           it
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             that
             Faith
             is
             the
             Gift
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           Arguments
           are
           good
           Inducements
           ,
           but
           force
           has
           no
           countenance
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           much
           less
           a
           command
           .
           Pray
           peruse
           these
           Texts
           ,
           John
           20.
           31.
           5.
           39.
           42
           
           Tim.
           3.
           15.
           
           Deut.
           12.
           32.
           
           'T
           is
           an
           easy
           thing
           to
           pick
           out
           ones
           Eyes
           ,
           but
           all
           the
           Art
           of
           Man
           cannot
           restore
           those
           Eyes
           again
           ,
           or
           make
           Eyes
           for
           one
           Born
           without
           them
           .
           Even
           so
           Compulsion
           can
           make
           a
           Man
           a
           Hypocrite
           ,
           but
           all
           the
           severity
           in
           the
           World
           cannot
           make
           him
           a
           true
           Convert
           .
        
         
           If
           Reason
           understands
           not
           what
           is
           declared
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           by
           way
           of
           Deduction
           ,
           or
           the
           best
           framed
           Syllogisms
           yield
           to
           what
           we
           apprehend
           not
           to
           be
           Demonstrative
           ?
           All
           discourse
           and
           Ratiocination
           ought
           to
           be
           of
           things
           Intelligible
           ;
           The
           object
           of
           Faith
           is
           purely
           and
           essentially
           Divine
           ,
           and
           the
           Soul
           cannot
           arrive
           at
           that
           (
           Best
           of
           )
           Learning
           ,
           till
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           becomes
           the
           Tutor
           .
        
         
           Before
           I
           leave
           this
           (
           by
           way
           of
           digression
           )
           I
           cannot
           but
           borrow
           a
           few
           excellent
           Notions
           of
           an
           Eminent
           Prelate
           now
           Living
           .
           
             There
             is
             no
             giving
             way
             to
             Rational
             deduction
             and
             human
             Argumentations
             against
             Scripture
             ,
             for
             then
             a
             cunning
             Sophister
             may
             lead
             men
             into
             many
             Errors
             .
             To
             go
             about
             to
             prove
             by
             Reason
             such
             things
             as
             are
             above
             Reason
             ,
             is
             wonderful
             :
             And
             to
             discourse
             of
             what
             we
             understand
             not
             ,
             is
             a
             spice
             of
             madness
             .
             The
             Conclusions
             drawn
             from
             such
             Discourses
             are
             dangerous
             ,
             yea
             ,
             
             
               a
               meer
               Ignis
               fatuus
            
             that
             misguides
             Men
             ,
             2
             Tim.
             1.
             13.
             
          
           Divine
           Mysteries
           drest
           up
           in
           the
           attire
           of
           meer
           humane
           Oratory
           ,
           is
           like
           a
           chast
           and
           Vertuous
           Matron
           ,
           trickt
           up
           in
           the
           habit
           of
           a
           Curtezan
           .
           The
           Divine
           Substance
           is
           not
           expressible
           by
           human
           Rhetorick
           ,
           nor
           the
           most
           delicate
           Flourishes
           of
           an
           Artificial
           Pencil
           .
        
         
           That
           which
           Men
           call
           School-Divinity
           ,
           has
           been
           perverted
           at
           such
           a
           Rate
           ,
           that
           it
           has
           prov'd
           a
           meer
           Plague
           to
           Christianity
           .
           There
           you
           have
           new
           Questions
           ,
           nice
           Distinctions
           ,
           and
           intemperate
           Conclusions
           tost
           up
           and
           down
           like
           Tennis
           Balls
           .
           And
           from
           thence
           proceed
           cruel
           Bickerings
           ,
           and
           Theological
           Wars
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           Divinity-School
           was
           set
           up
           at
           Alexandria
           by
           Pantaenus
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           Sprung
           the
           Arrian-Heresie
           ,
           which
           like
           an
           ill
           weed
           soon
           over
           ran
           all
           Christendom
           .
           In
           the
           Subtilty
           of
           these
           Schools
           Heresie
           grew
           Refined
           ,
           and
           with
           their
           School
           tricks
           of
           distinctions
           and
           Evasions
           ,
           almost
           bassled
           the
           plain
           and
           simple
           Professors
           of
           the
           Gospel
           .
        
         
           The
           Primitive
           Doctors
           ,
           converted
           from
           Heathenism
           ,
           and
           well
           skil'd
           in
           
             Philosophy
             ,
             Antiquity
             ,
             History
          
           ,
           and
           Logick
           or
           Sophistry
           ,
           Translated
           these
           Sciences
           (
           falsly
           so
           called
           )
           into
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           Illustrate
           by
           their
           Indiscreet
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           Imbellish
           Christian
           knowledge
           ,
           by
           Artificial
           Forms
           and
           Figures
           ,
           but
           rather
           indeed
           defaced
           it
           .
           Col.
           2.
           8.
           
        
         
           He
           that
           seriously
           and
           without
           prepossession
           considers
           the
           Nature
           of
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           will
           conclude
           ,
           that
           it
           must
           be
           taught
           by
           the
           Demonstration
           of
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Power
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           the
           School
           harangues
           of
           
             Sophistical
             Syllogisms
          
           and
           Enthymoms
           .
        
         
           Considering
           Men
           are
           wary
           ,
           (
           and
           so
           they
           had
           need
           )
           of
           the
           Subtilties
           of
           such
           as
           would
           pervert
           or
           deceive
           them
           ,
           in
           so
           important
           a
           matter
           as
           Religion
           is
           :
           Because
           Heresies
           appear
           not
           first
           in
           their
           own
           Natural
           Shape
           ,
           but
           they
           complement
           you
           in
           Disguise
           ,
           Masqueraded
           with
           specious
           pretences
           ;
           the
           Author
           of
           these
           Heresies
           will
           press
           into
           their
           Service
           ,
           this
           and
           that
           obscure
           place
           of
           Scripture
           capable
           of
           various
           Interpretations
           .
           But
           (
           mark
           I
           pray
           )
           when
           they
           have
           once
           got
           Footing
           ,
           by
           degrees
           they
           lay
           a
           side
           their
           Vizards
           ,
           and
           march
           on
           Brazen
           Fac'd
           ,
           (
           I
           mean
           bare-Fac'd
           .
           )
        
         
           Well
           ,
           but
           as
           to
           
             Compulsion
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           since
           the
           affront
           is
           only
           to
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           supposing
           the
           Dissenter
           errs
           ,
           methinks
           we
           should
           leave
           God
           to
           vindicate
           his
           own
           cause
           :
           For
           what
           can
           
           be
           a
           greater
           disparagement
           or
           more
           derogatory
           to
           the
           honour
           of
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           then
           to
           think
           he
           wants
           the
           help
           of
           Man
           to
           defend
           him
           .
           Mark
           how
           Peter
           was
           rebuked
           by
           our
           Saviour
           for
           cutting
           off
           Malchus
           his
           Ear.
           Besides
           ,
           do
           but
           consider
           the
           Methods
           used
           by
           the
           Redeemer
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           in
           Conquering
           his
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           you
           will
           find
           it
           was
           by
           Preaching
           and
           Suffering
           ,
           and
           if
           his
           Disciples
           wont
           follow
           so
           Illustrious
           an
           Example
           ,
           they
           deserve
           not
           to
           be
           called
           by
           his
           Name
           ,
           nor
           be
           Dignified
           with
           the
           Title
           of
           Christians
           .
        
         
           In
           all
           well
           order'd
           Governments
           the
           Magistrate
           may
           and
           ought
           to
           punish
           Evil
           doers
           ,
           but
           not
           Evil
           Believers
           ,
           for
           God
           Reserves
           that
           to
           himself
           ,
           it
           is
           his
           Divine
           Perogative
           ,
           for
           he
           only
           is
           the
           Heart
           searcher
           ;
           and
           Man
           cannot
           possibly
           have
           a
           right
           Cognizance
           of
           the
           concealed
           or
           Evil
           thoughts
           of
           another
           ;
           because
           ,
           for
           any
           thing
           he
           knows
           ,
           
             The
             greatest
             Professor
             may
             be
             the
             greatest
             Atheist
             .
          
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           Remember
           that
           Christians
           ever
           took
           up
           Arms
           against
           their
           Governours
           in
           the
           Primitive
           times
           for
           propagating
           their
           Profession
           ,
           or
           to
           preserve
           themselves
           from
           Persecution
           ;
           And
           he
           that
           will
           do
           so
           ,
           meerly
           upon
           that
           account
           ,
           is
           either
           a
           Fool
           or
           an
           Atheist
           :
           A
           Fool
           ,
           because
           he
           rejects
           the
           opportunity
           of
           gaining
           the
           Reward
           promised
           ,
           Matth.
           5.
           12.
           
           
             Blessed
             are
             ye
             when
             Men
             Revile
             you
             and
             Persecute
             you
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Or
           an
           Atheist
           ,
           because
           he
           wont
           believe
           that
           God
           will
           be
           as
           good
           as
           his
           word
           .
           But
           to
           Return
           where
           I
           left
           ,
           I
           may
           reckon
           that
           common
           saying
           among
           shallow
           Fancys
           ,
           
             viz.
             That
             a
             Pigmy
             on
             a
             Gyants
             shoulders
             sees
             more
             then
             the
             Gyant
             .
          
           The
           Question
           is
           not
           of
           seeing
           more
           ,
           but
           clear
           discerning
           .
           If
           both
           these
           see
           a
           Beast
           at
           a
           Miles
           distance
           ,
           and
           contend
           whether
           it
           be
           a
           Horse
           or
           an
           Oxe
           ,
           the
           Pigmy
           on
           the
           Gyants
           Shoulder
           ,
           is
           never
           the
           nearer
           discerning
           what
           it
           is
           ,
           because
           it
           depends
           more
           upon
           the
           sharpness
           of
           Sight
           ,
           then
           the
           height
           of
           his
           shoulders
           :
           so
           we
           have
           no
           possible
           assurance
           that
           the
           Doctrine
           delivered
           to
           us
           by
           man
           (
           if
           not
           revealed
           in
           Scripture
           )
           is
           absolutely
           true
           ,
           because
           we
           are
           certainly
           assured
           that
           't
           is
           possible
           for
           him
           ,
           or
           any
           man
           to
           erre
           ,
           yea
           in
           this
           very
           Doctrine
           .
           The
           Great
           Augustine
           (
           the
           wonder
           of
           his
           time
           for
           sharpness
           of
           understanding
           ,
           and
           great
           modesty
           withal
           ,
           )
           believed
           it
           absolutely
           necessary
           that
           Infants
           should
           Receive
           the
           Lords-Supper
           ,
           and
           termed
           it
           a
           down-right
           Heresie
           to
           affirm
           that
           there
           were
           any
           Antipodes
           .
           So
           Lanctantius
           a
           notable
           Wit
           ,
           and
           a
           great
           Scholar
           .
        
         
         
           The
           most
           Eminent
           of
           the
           Evangelical
           Doctors
           grant
           that
           even
           general
           Councels
           have
           erred
           ,
           and
           if
           anyman
           should
           deny
           it
           ,
           the
           thing
           may
           be
           easily
           Demonstrated
           .
           Our
           Church
           Historys
           declare
           how
           often
           they
           have
           thwarted
           one
           another
           ,
           in
           things
           (
           point
           blank
           )
           contradictory
           .
           At
           which
           we
           need
           not
           wonder
           ,
           for
           they
           have
           no
           promise
           of
           Infallibility
           ;
           You
           'l
           say
           they
           are
           the
           Churches
           Representative
           :
           What
           then
           ?
           I
           know
           no
           promise
           in
           the
           whole
           Bible
           ,
           that
           the
           Representative
           should
           be
           Infallible
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           
             The
             Gates
             of
             Hell
             shall
             not
             prevail
             against
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           but
           what
           's
           that
           to
           a
           General
           Councel
           which
           (
           by
           a
           modest
           Calculation
           )
           cannot
           amount
           to
           one
           part
           in
           10000
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           .
           But
           I
           need
           say
           no
           more
           ,
           then
           that
           these
           (
           so
           called
           )
           general
           Councels
           have
           been
           
             ex
             diametro
          
           against
           each
           other
           ,
           as
           before
           hinted
           .
        
         
           Parents
           are
           accountable
           to
           God
           for
           their
           commands
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Children
           are
           for
           their
           Obedience
           ,
           natural
           Parents
           are
           by
           meer
           Nature
           prompted
           to
           seek
           the
           Love
           of
           their
           Children
           :
           So
           ought
           Spiritual
           Parents
           who
           are
           Stiled
           
             Ministers
             of
             God
          
           (
           who
           is
           Love
           )
           to
           demean
           themselves
           towards
           their
           Spiritual
           Children
           .
           And
           consequently
           is
           it
           not
           more
           suitable
           to
           this
           excellent
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Parental
           Tenderness
           to
           lead
           the
           People
           into
           the
           House
           of
           God
           ,
           rather
           then
           to
           whip
           them
           in
           by
           fear
           ?
           And
           to
           put
           on
           such
           a
           habbit
           as
           will
           Invite
           them
           in
           ,
           rather
           then
           fright
           them
           out
           ?
           What
           wise
           and
           Loving
           Father
           would
           put
           on
           a
           winding
           Sheet
           to
           Fright
           his
           weak
           and
           simple
           Child
           ?
        
         
           Man
           (
           says
           a
           Reverend
           Pen
           )
           is
           a
           very
           ticklish
           Animal
           to
           Govern
           ;
           he
           will
           not
           always
           be
           guided
           by
           Reason
           and
           Authority
           .
           He
           has
           a
           Will
           as
           well
           as
           Reason
           ,
           and
           will
           have
           his
           own
           Will
           in
           many
           things
           ;
           even
           among
           the
           very
           Godly
           themselves
           (
           which
           is
           to
           be
           Lamented
           )
           but
           few
           are
           so
           intirely
           Pious
           ,
           as
           wholly
           to
           deny
           themselves
           .
           This
           is
           so
           high
           and
           sharp
           a
           point
           of
           Religion
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           break
           the
           Heart
           strings
           of
           many
           in
           winding
           them
           up
           so
           high
           ;
           and
           so
           you
           may
           crack
           all
           their
           Religion
           .
        
         
           I
           cannot
           in
           Conscience
           when
           I
           Treat
           upon
           so
           serious
           a
           Theam
           ,
           but
           Remark
           ,
           that
           the
           Carriage
           of
           some
           Preachers
           has
           created
           a
           great
           dislike
           of
           that
           Sacred
           Work
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           managed
           by
           not
           a
           few
           ,
           and
           so
           are
           themselves
           the
           causers
           of
           that
           Dissent
           ,
           which
           they
           exclaim
           against
           :
           too
           many
           Preach
           not
           Christ
           but
           themselves
           ;
           They
           take
           here
           and
           there
           a
           Sentence
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           shorter
           and
           more
           abstruse
           the
           better
           .
           Then
           to
           shew
           their
           Skill
           and
           Invention
           ,
           they
           
           Divide
           and
           Subdivide
           it
           into
           Generals
           and
           Particulars
           .
           Here
           you
           have
           the
           Quid
           ,
           the
           Quale
           ,
           the
           Quantum
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           Quack-Salving
           Forms
           ,
           which
           the
           People
           understand
           no
           more
           then
           they
           do
           Greek
           or
           Latine
           .
           Then
           they
           look
           into
           this
           or
           that
           quaint
           Author
           and
           pick
           out
           a
           Sentence
           of
           a
           Philosopher
           or
           Father
           ,
           some
           nice
           Speculation
           or
           other
           ,
           and
           Labour
           to
           Couch
           all
           in
           Elegant
           Language
           .
           But
           what
           's
           the
           end
           of
           this
           ?
           why
           certainly
           't
           is
           meerly
           to
           shew
           their
           Wit
           ,
           Reading
           ,
           or
           whatsoever
           else
           is
           excellent
           in
           them
           .
           But
           ,
           Pray
           mark
           ,
           how
           such
           practises
           are
           Charactered
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           2.
           the
           whole
           Chapter
           is
           worth
           Reading
           ;
           and
           plainly
           demonstrates
           that
           this
           kind
           of
           Preaching
           is
           not
           Apostolick
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           Preach
           not
           in
           the
           Demonstration
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           Demonstration
           of
           their
           Learning
           .
        
         
           Many
           of
           the
           Ancient
           Fathers
           (
           especially
           the
           Greeks
           )
           have
           been
           ever
           Fond
           of
           Nicetys
           .
           These
           ,
           when
           Converted
           to
           Christianity
           ,
           Transplanted
           their
           Beloved
           Rhetorical
           Flowers
           of
           humane
           Learning
           into
           Christian
           Gardens
           ,
           which
           prov'd
           indeed
           Weeds
           .
           Common
           Experience
           will
           be
           my
           Advocate
           ,
           when
           I
           say
           that
           humane
           Nature
           is
           apter
           to
           give
           Nourishment
           and
           vigour
           to
           humane
           Principles
           then
           to
           such
           as
           are
           Divine
           .
        
         
           Pray
           when
           did
           ever
           any
           Learned
           ,
           Witty
           ,
           Rhetorical
           Harangue
           ,
           or
           cunning
           Syllogistical
           Discourse
           convert
           the
           tenth
           part
           of
           St.
           Peters
           or
           St.
           
             Pauls
             Foolish
             Preaching
          
           ,
           as
           he
           terms
           it
           ?
           (
           tho
           't
           is
           indeed
           the
           
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             to
             them
             that
             are
             Perfect
             .
             )
          
        
         
           How
           widely
           different
           is
           the
           manner
           of
           Preaching
           in
           the
           Apostles
           time
           from
           Philosophical
           Arguing
           ,
           and
           Rhetorical
           declaiming
           ?
           the
           Preaching
           then
           ,
           was
           either
           Catechistical
           Instructions
           ,
           or
           Pious
           admonitions
           ,
           not
           tying
           themselves
           to
           any
           form
           ;
           but
           past
           from
           one
           matter
           to
           another
           ,
           as
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           Hearers
           required
           ,
           and
           not
           as
           the
           Preachers
           Fancy
           and
           Reading
           prompted
           him
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           Reported
           of
           the
           Emperour
           Caligula
           ,
           that
           he
           Judged
           ,
           Condemned
           or
           acquitted
           Delinquents
           
             as
             best
             agreed
             with
             the
             Current
             of
             his
             Oration
          
           ;
           So
           some
           now
           a
           days
           shape
           their
           Discourse
           more
           to
           the
           Applause
           ,
           then
           Edification
           of
           the
           Hearers
           .
           Such
           Sermons
           may
           be
           better
           termed
           Banquets
           for
           full
           wantons
           ,
           then
           Instructions
           for
           such
           as
           are
           almost
           Starved
           for
           want
           of
           Spiritual
           Food
           .
           It
           may
           nourish
           an
           Auditory
           of
           Camelions
           that
           Live
           by
           Air
           ,
           but
           can
           never
           make
           sound
           and
           Solid
           Christians
           .
        
         
         
           The
           Schoolmen
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           greedily
           Suck
           their
           unexamined
           Dictates
           ,
           have
           set
           up
           an
           opinion
           ,
           that
           none
           are
           fit
           to
           Preach
           but
           such
           as
           have
           been
           Students
           in
           the
           University
           ;
           Where
           if
           he
           hath
           Learnt
           a
           little
           to
           chop
           Logick
           ,
           and
           produce
           some
           nice
           Speculations
           from
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             Plato
          
           ,
           &c.
           or
           some
           Theological
           distinctions
           from
           
             Aquinas
             ,
             Peter
             Lombard
          
           ,
           or
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           distinctionmakers
           ,
           or
           a
           little
           gingling
           from
           the
           Poets
           and
           Orators
           ,
           then
           ,
           O!
           then
           ,
           (
           but
           you
           must
           suppose
           him
           documented
           by
           the
           
             Guide
             to
             the
             Inferiour
             Clergy
          
           )
           he
           sets
           up
           for
           a
           Spiritual
           Pastor
           !
           the
           weightiest
           Office
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           because
           Mens
           Souls
           ,
           (
           their
           better
           part
           )
           is
           concern'd
           !
           't
           is
           very
           strange
           that
           such
           qualifications
           (
           common
           to
           Graceless
           as
           well
           as
           Gracious
           Schollars
           )
           should
           render
           him
           capable
           of
           
             rightly
             Dividing
             the
             word
             of
             Truth
             :
          
           For
           if
           you
           seriously
           Examine
           the
           whole
           New-Testament
           ,
           you
           will
           not
           find
           one
           tittle
           of
           those
           Sciences
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           but
           you
           will
           see
           they
           are
           rather
           severely
           arraigned
           ,
           as
           Enemys
           to
           it
           ;
           Because
           they
           tend
           to
           
             vain
             Jangling
             ,
             Strife
             ,
             and
             Contention
             ,
          
           not
           tending
           to
           that
           (
           which
           is
           the
           end
           of
           Preaching
           )
           the
           Conversion
           and
           Edification
           of
           Souls
           ,
           Eph.
           6.
           12.
           2.
           
           Cor.
           10.
           4.
           
        
         
           The
           Apostle
           Paul
           in
           his
           Epistles
           to
           Timothy
           and
           Titus
           (
           two
           Primitive
           Bishops
           ,
           )
           tells
           you
           the
           qualifications
           of
           Bishops
           and
           Deacons
           ,
           
             viz.
             Gravity
             ,
             Sobriety
             ,
             Meekness
             ,
             Diligence
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Not
           
             Mathematicks
             ,
             Logick
             ,
             Physick
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           Not
           the
           Study
           of
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             Plato
             ,
             Cicero
             ,
             Euclid
             ,
             Scotus
             ,
             Aquinas
             ,
          
           &c.
           And
           why
           ?
           why
           there
           is
           very
           good
           Reason
           :
           For
           't
           is
           most
           evident
           that
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           Academical
           Learning
           is
           as
           useless
           to
           a
           Spiritual
           Pastor
           ,
           as
           the
           Art
           of
           Navigation
           is
           to
           a
           Physitian
           :
           The
           Apostle
           telling
           us
           in
           plain
           terms
           ,
           that
           he
           desired
           
             To
             know
             nothing
             but
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             and
             him
             Crucified
             .
          
           There
           's
           the
           qualification
           with
           which
           whosoever
           is
           qualified
           ,
           may
           say
           with
           
             David
             ,
             Come
             I
             will
             shew
             thee
             what
             the
             Lord
             hath
             done
             for
             my
             Soul.
          
           But
           without
           it
           all
           the
           Arts
           in
           the
           World
           can't
           make
           a
           Preacher
           ,
           as
           the
           old
           verse
           says
           .
        
         
           
             Qui
             Christum
             discit
             ,
             satis
             est
             ,
             si
             Caetera
             Nescit
             .
          
           
             Qui
             Christum
             nescit
             ,
             nihil
             est
             ,
             si
             Caetera
             Discit
             .
          
        
         
           Christ
           may
           be
           better
           Preach'd
           by
           a
           Grave
           ,
           Conscientious
           Man
           ,
           well
           versed
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           Mysterys
           of
           Faith
           ,
           tho
           never
           bred
           in
           any
           University
           ,
           nor
           skill'd
           in
           any
           Language
           but
           his
           Mother-Tongue
           ,
           then
           by
           the
           Students
           of
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             Scotus
             ,
             Aquinas
             ,
             &c.
             (
             quat
             ales
             )
          
           with
           all
           their
           knacks
           of
           Quidditys
           and
           Qualitys
           ,
           
           Syllogisms
           ,
           and
           
             Euthymemes
             ,
             Distinctions
          
           ,
           and
           Subsumptions
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           It
           is
           Remarkable
           ,
           that
           no
           
             Greek
             ,
             Italian
          
           ,
           or
           French
           of
           a
           thousand
           understood
           any
           Language
           besides
           his
           Mother-Tongue
           ,
           when
           the
           Gospel
           first
           was
           Planted
           .
           And
           't
           is
           worth
           noteing
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostles
           received
           the
           Gift
           of
           Tongues
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           to
           Preach
           to
           all
           Nations
           ,
           but
           we
           find
           no
           infusion
           of
           School-Learning
           by
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           nor
           any
           more
           Gift
           of
           Tongues
           ,
           when
           the
           Gospel
           was
           once
           spread
           over
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           This
           is
           further
           very
           Remarkable
           that
           no
           Man
           can
           produce
           an
           Example
           of
           any
           Nation
           that
           was
           ever
           Converted
           to
           Christianity
           by
           Philosophical
           or
           Rhetorical
           Preaching
           .
        
         
           I
           hope
           the
           Digression
           will
           be
           excused
           ,
           if
           I
           note
           the
           mischief
           of
           Excursions
           ;
           For
           if
           such
           be
           countenanced
           ,
           we
           shall
           never
           have
           an
           end
           :
           because
           the
           Itch
           Men
           have
           to
           shew
           their
           Learning
           ,
           will
           continue
           this
           vain
           and
           unedifying
           Practice
           .
           Possibly
           the
           Preacher
           sits
           in
           his
           Study
           all
           the
           week
           long
           ,
           picking
           from
           this
           and
           that
           and
           'tother
           quaint-Authour
           ,
           a
           few
           Beautiful
           Flowers
           ;
           well
           ,
           what
           then
           ?
           then
           he
           comes
           on
           the
           Preaching
           day
           (
           commonly
           called
           Sunday
           )
           with
           his
           Nosegay
           in
           his
           Hand
           
             (
             viz.
          
           his
           Notes
           pinn'd
           up
           in
           his
           Bible
           )
           to
           entertain
           Ladys
           and
           Courtiers
           .
           But
           what
           have
           you
           to
           say
           to
           that
           ?
           I
           'le
           say
           nothing
           ,
           but
           refer
           the
           Reader
           to
           the
           
             New-Testament
             ▪
          
           and
           when
           he
           has
           seriously
           perused
           it
           ,
           let
           him
           Act
           and
           Believe
           (
           with
           respect
           to
           the
           Premises
           ,
           )
           as
           that
           Sacred
           Book
           plainly
           Teaches
           him
           ▪
           for
           if
           that
           won't
           do
           ,
           nothing
           but
           a
           Miracle
           will
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           Before
           I
           proceed
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           (
           good
           Reader
           )
           to
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           by
           what
           I
           have
           here
           written
           ,
           (
           partly
           from
           Persons
           Eminent
           in
           our
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           partly
           from
           my
           own
           experience
           and
           observation
           )
           I
           would
           not
           be
           understood
           to
           cry
           down
           humane
           Learning
           ,
           as
           a
           thing
           of
           no
           use
           ;
           nor
           throw
           the
           least
           disparagement
           upon
           our
           Famous
           and
           Reverend
           Divines
           ,
           for
           I
           honour
           them
           from
           my
           Heart
           ,
           and
           know
           that
           amongst
           the
           Ciergy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           (
           as
           Established
           by
           Law
           ,
           )
           there
           are
           as
           Eminent
           Men
           ,
           Conspicuous
           to
           all
           ,
           not
           only
           for
           their
           Learning
           ,
           but
           also
           for
           their
           Piety
           and
           Gracious
           Conversations
           ,
           and
           their
           painful
           and
           Industrious
           Labours
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           our
           God
           ,
           as
           any
           in
           the
           World
           :
           No
           ,
           no
           ,
           't
           is
           the
           Abuse
           only
           I
           write
           against
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           that
           alone
           I
           heartily
           wish
           were
           Reformed
           .
        
         
         
           The
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Original
           Languages
           in
           which
           the
           Scriptures
           were
           Pennd
           is
           of
           very
           great
           necessity
           ,
           that
           we
           might
           converse
           with
           that
           Sacred
           Book
           in
           its
           own
           Emphatical
           and
           
             Native
             Idiom
          
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           may
           not
           be
           Imposed
           upon
           by
           wrong
           Translations
           .
           But
           withal
           let
           me
           add
           (
           which
           no
           Learned
           Man
           I
           am
           sure
           will
           blame
           me
           for
           ,
           if
           unbyass'd
           )
           that
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           the
           Bounds
           of
           Phylosophy
           and
           Humane
           Literature
           :
           These
           are
           to
           be
           exercised
           in
           the
           things
           that
           may
           be
           known
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           But
           when
           they
           Travel
           beyond
           that
           Road
           ,
           and
           must
           needs
           be
           defining
           things
           beyond
           their
           Sphear
           ,
           they
           become
           extravagant
           and
           Saucy
           .
        
         
           
             This
             was
             the
             Judgment
             of
             that
             Excellent
             and
             Learned
             Lord
          
           Picus
           
             Earl
             of
          
           Mirandula
           ,
           
             in
             his
             Epistle
             to
          
           Aldus
           Manutius
           ,
           
             a
             sharp
             Schollar
          
           :
           Accinge
           te
           ad
           Philosophiam
           ,
           sed
           hac
           Lege
           ,
           ut
           Meminer
           is
           nullam
           esse
           Philosophiam
           quae
           a
           Mysteriorum
           veritate
           nos
           abducat
           :
           Philosophia
           veritatem
           quaerit
           ,
           Theologia
           Invenit
           ,
           Religio
           possidet
           .
           
             That
             is
          
           ,
           Address
           your self
           so
           to
           the
           Study
           of
           Phylosophy
           ;
           
             that
             no
          
           Phylosophy
           
             should
             seduce
             you
             from
             the
             Truth
             of
             the
             Mysterys
             .
             (
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             )
          
           Phylosophy
           
             seeks
             Truth
          
           ,
           Divinity
           
             finds
             it
             ,
             (
             but
          
           )
           Religion
           
             possesses
             it
          
           .
        
         
           Every
           ▪
           Thing
           is
           good
           and
           proper
           in
           its
           place
           ,
           as
           for
           Example
           ,
           Fire
           is
           useful
           in
           the
           Chimney
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           mischievous
           in
           the
           House-Top
           .
           There
           ,
           that
           which
           before
           would
           Warm
           you
           ,
           or
           be
           Serviceable
           to
           Dress
           your
           Meat
           ,
           will
           Burn
           you
           and
           your
           Meat
           too
           ,
           unless
           you
           can
           quench
           it
           ,
           or
           Run
           away
           from
           it
           .
           So
           Learning
           is
           good
           as
           an
           
             Hand-Maid
             ,
             Hagar-like
          
           ,
           But
           if
           it
           must
           needs
           be
           Mistress
           ,
           and
           Usurp-Authority
           in
           the
           Family
           ,
           if
           like
           Scoffing
           
             Ishmael
             Genesis
          
           21.
           9.
           
           Gallat
           .
           4.
           30.
           
           It
           will
           Mock
           at
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           the
           Simplicity
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           let
           it
           be
           cast
           out
           :
           For
           nothing
           Supream
           will
           endure
           to
           be
           Rival'd
           in
           his
           Authority
           .
           Perogative
           ,
           especially
           in
           Divine
           matters
           ,
           is
           as
           tender
           as
           the
           Apple
           of
           ones
           Eye
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           no
           Sober
           and
           Impartial
           Divine
           ,
           but
           will
           Grant
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           work
           of
           Faith
           ,
           by
           the
           Aid
           of
           
             Divine
             Revelation
          
           ,
           to
           be
           Imployed
           in
           the
           Mysterys
           of
           Religion
           .
           From
           which
           concession
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           when
           any
           Man
           undertakes
           to
           Teach
           us
           Divinity
           ,
           by
           the
           meer
           Guidance
           of
           Nature
           ,
           (
           call
           it
           Natural
           Phylosophy
           ,
           University
           Learning
           ;
           or
           what
           you
           will
           ,
           )
           but
           shews
           himself
           by
           such
           an
           attempt
           as
           absurd
           and
           
           Nonsensical
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Eye
           should
           Incroach
           upon
           the
           Ear
           ,
           and
           would
           pretend
           to
           Distinguish
           the
           various
           gradations
           of
           Musical
           Notes
           ,
           or
           the
           quavers
           of
           a
           pleasant
           Instrument
           ,
           which
           it
           cannot
           so
           much
           Imitate
           ,
           as
           the
           dullest
           Brute
           can
           Imitate
           the
           warblings
           of
           the
           Nightingale
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Example
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           Christ
           be
           worth
           Imitating
           ,
           you
           will
           find
           that
           he
           made
           Choice
           of
           such
           as
           were
           Despised
           and
           Unlearned
           .
           Why
           ?
           Because
           his
           Grace
           might
           so
           much
           the
           more
           be
           Magnyfied
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Honour
           due
           to
           His
           Soveraign
           Converting
           Power
           might
           not
           be
           Attributed
           to
           any
           Humane
           Faculty
           of
           Rhetorical
           Perswasion
           .
           He
           made
           Fishermen
           ,
           a
           Tent-maker
           ,
           and
           other
           Tradesmen
           ,
           Messengers
           of
           the
           Everlasting
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           (
           as
           it
           were
           )
           Embassadors
           extraordinary
           of
           Heaven
           .
           They
           were
           not
           sent
           to
           Learn
           the
           Facultys
           of
           
             Aristotle
             ,
             Cicero
          
           ,
           or
           Aquinas
           :
           No
           no
           ;
           His
           Holy
           Spirit
           was
           the
           only
           Schoolmaster
           .
           He
           could
           with
           as
           much
           ease
           Imploy
           the
           whole
           University
           of
           Athens
           ,
           as
           those
           Poor
           Men
           ;
           but
           he
           did
           not
           ,
           and
           why
           such
           as
           are
           called
           by
           his
           Name
           should
           despise
           his
           Grace
           when
           appearing
           in
           Persons
           of
           that
           Quality
           he
           Chose
           ,
           is
           a
           meer
           disconcurrence
           with
           the
           Sanctions
           of
           this
           Ever-Blessed
           Law-Giver
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           represent
           these
           things
           to
           Introduce
           a
           promiscuous
           Liberty
           for
           all
           Persons
           to
           turn
           Preachers
           that
           are
           Christians
           ,
           but
           to
           Reason
           People
           (
           if
           I
           could
           )
           our
           of
           extreams
           .
           For
           as
           on
           the
           one
           Hand
           I
           believe
           that
           meer
           Learning
           does
           not
           qualifie
           a
           Man
           to
           be
           a
           Preacher
           ,
           so
           on
           the
           other
           side
           I
           am
           satisfied
           ,
           that
           Grace
           without
           the
           gift
           of
           Vtterance
           and
           
             a
             sound
             Judgment
          
           accompanied
           with
           an
           Ability
           to
           
             Divide
             the
             word
             of
             Truth
          
           ,
           suitable
           to
           the
           necessity
           of
           the
           Hearers
           ,
           does
           not
           qualifie
           any
           Man
           for
           a
           Publick
           Preacher
           .
           Of
           both
           these
           I
           take
           the
           Church
           to
           be
           Judge
           ,
           and
           am
           satisfied
           that
           without
           the
           Approbation
           of
           a
           Christian
           Assembly
           ,
           such
           as
           presume
           to
           take
           that
           Office
           upon
           them
           ,
           where
           such
           an
           Approbation
           may
           be
           had
           ,
           are
           none
           of
           Christs
           Messengers
           but
           their
           own
           ,
           Because
           we
           shall
           so
           have
           no
           order
           ,
           but
           confusion
           ,
           which
           must
           not
           be
           Introduced
           into
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           unless
           you
           will
           change
           the
           best
           of
           Governments
           ,
           into
           the
           worst
           of
           
             Anarchys
             .
             Let
             every
             Man
             abide
             in
             the
             Calling
             whereunto
             he
             is
             called
             ▪
          
           says
           the
           Evangelical
           unrepealable
           Statute
           .
        
      
       
         
           
           
           It
           has
           been
           (
           and
           will
           be
           till
           reform'd
           )
           the
           Reproach
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           that
           Preachers
           have
           err'd
           on
           both
           Extreams
           ,
           some
           talk
           Nonsense
           ,
           some
           talk
           above
           common-Sense
           .
           I
           have
           (
           saies
           one
           of
           our
           Prelates
           )
           seen
           some
           Learned
           Men
           call
           Children
           together
           ,
           and
           ask
           them
           a
           few
           Questions
           ;
           and
           then
           to
           begin
           a
           Profound
           Lecture
           ,
           shaped
           according
           to
           his
           own
           large
           Dimensions
           ,
           at
           whom
           Boys
           and
           Men
           gaze
           at
           ,
           as
           a
           prodigious
           Monster
           of
           Learning
           :
           some
           saying
           as
           Festus
           to
           
             Paul
             ,
             Much
             Learning
             hath
             made
             him
             Mad.
          
           Sure
           he
           knows
           not
           where
           he
           is
           ,
           why
           ,
           he
           is
           not
           in
           a
           University
           School
           of
           Divinity
           ,
           but
           in
           an
           Assembly
           of
           weak
           and
           silly
           Youth
           ,
           who
           understand
           his
           English
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           Hebrew
           .
        
         
           He
           adds
           ,
           If
           Men
           would
           mark
           the
           form
           and
           phrase
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           what
           kind
           of
           Matter
           and
           Language
           the
           Divine
           Oracle
           used
           in
           Preaching
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           Learned
           Scribes
           and
           Pharisees
           ,
           and
           read
           1
           Cor.
           1.
           and
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           second
           ,
           it
           would
           Inform
           them
           what
           Language
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           's
           Cloathed
           in
           such
           Meretricious
           Attire
           ,
           &c.
           
           
             Haec
             Ille
          
           .
        
         
           The
           Scope
           and
           Intention
           of
           this
           Digression
           ,
           is
           to
           shew
           how
           this
           Sacred
           Office
           of
           Preaching
           is
           abused
           ,
           and
           of
           what
           Influence
           that
           Abuse
           is
           to
           scare
           people
           away
           ,
           who
           love
           to
           understand
           ,
           and
           profit
           by
           what
           they
           hear
           ;
           And
           so
           I
           shall
           conclude
           this
           Section
           in
           imitation
           of
           a
           late
           Ingenious
           Author
           (
           tho'
           not
           in
           his
           very
           words
           )
           That
           if
           there
           be
           not
           such
           a
           parcel
           of
           things
           as
           call
           themselves
           Preachers
           that
           Act
           thus
           ;
           then
           no
           body
           is
           concern'd
           in
           this
           Character
           ;
           but
           if
           there
           be
           ,
           the
           Abuse
           is
           worth
           looking
           after
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           Reformation
           ,
           if
           not
           Punishment
           ,
           of
           so
           great
           a
           Spiritual
           Grievance
           .
        
      
       
         
           SECT
           .
           V.
           
        
         
           
             Express
             Scripture
             against
          
           Compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           THese
           Excellent
           and
           Important
           Truths
           mentioned
           ,
           are
           not
           only
           built
           upon
           the
           firm
           Foundation
           of
           solid
           and
           unanswerable
           Reason
           ,
           but
           also
           upon
           the
           Infallible
           Authority
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           Word
           of
           God.
           To
           convince
           you
           of
           which
           ,
           pray
           be
           pleased
           to
           consider
           the
           following
           Texts
           .
        
         
           
             Hear
             what
             the
             Apostle
          
           Paul
           
             saies
             ,
             2
          
           Tim.
           
             2.
             24.
             
             (
             mark
             that
             this
             Epistle
             is
             written
             to
             a
             Bishop
             )
          
           And
           the
           Servant
           of
           the
           Lord
           must
           not
           strive
           ,
           but
           be
           gentle
           unto
           all
           Men
           ;
           apt
           to
           Teach
           ,
           Patient
           ,
           (
           or
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           Bearing
           .
           )
           
             ver
             .
             25.
          
           
           In
           weakness
           instructing
           those
           that
           oppose
           themselves
           ,
           if
           God
           peradventure
           
           will
           give
           them
           Repentance
           ,
           to
           the
           acknowledging
           of
           the
           Truth
           .
           
             ver
             .
             26.
          
           
           And
           that
           they
           may
           recover
           themselves
           out
           of
           the
           snare
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           who
           are
           taken
           Captive
           by
           him
           at
           his
           Will.
           
        
         
           From
           this
           passage
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostle
           forbids
           all
           rigorous
           Courses
           ,
           even
           towards
           Infidels
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           expresly
           sets
           down
           the
           right
           Christian
           Course
           of
           Convincing
           and
           Converting
           them
           ,
           viz.
           By
           Charity
           and
           Meekness
           :
           And
           if
           Christians
           will
           make
           use
           of
           Church
           Curses
           ,
           and
           Humane
           Laws
           ,
           Enacted
           only
           against
           Seditious
           persons
           ,
           and
           Disturbers
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           to
           force
           Innocent
           Christians
           that
           agree
           with
           themselves
           ,
           in
           the
           Essential
           Articles
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           Disputable
           Modes
           of
           Circumstantial
           Ceremonies
           ,
           confess'd
           by
           all
           to
           be
           of
           Humane
           Original
           ;
           In
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           they
           disagree
           with
           this
           Blessed
           Man
           ,
           who
           after
           he
           Teaches
           the
           Bishop
           his
           Duty
           ,
           advises
           him
           to
           leave
           the
           success
           to
           God
           ;
           But
           not
           a
           syllable
           of
           Jayling
           ,
           Imprisoning
           ,
           or
           Fining
           them
           .
        
         
           
             Another
             Apostle
             forbids
             us
             to
             Condemn
             one
             another
             ▪
          
           James
           
             4.
             12.
          
           
           There
           is
           one
           Law-giver
           
             (
             saies
             he
          
           )
           who
           is
           able
           to
           save
           and
           to
           destroy
           :
           Who
           art
           thou
           that
           Judgest
           another
           ?
           
             suitable
             to
             which
             (
             mark
             I
             pray
             )
             what
             the
             former
             Apostle
             saies
             ,
          
           Rom.
           
             14.
             4.
          
           
           Who
           art
           thou
           that
           Judgest
           another
           Mans
           Servant
           ?
           to
           his
           own
           Master
           he
           standeth
           or
           falleth
           ;
           yea
           ,
           he
           shall
           be
           holden
           up
           ,
           for
           God
           is
           able
           to
           make
           him
           stand
           .
           
             ver
             .
             5.
          
           
           One
           Man
           esteemeth
           one
           Day
           above
           another
           :
           another
           esteemeth
           every
           Day
           a
           like
           .
           Let
           every
           Man
           be
           fully
           perswaded
           in
           his
           own
           mind
           .
           
             ver
             .
             22.
          
           
           Hast
           thou
           Faith
           ?
           have
           it
           to
           thy self
           before
           God.
           Happy
           is
           he
           that
           Condemneth
           not
           himself
           in
           that
           which
           he
           allowloweth
           .
           
             That
             is
             ,
             whose
             Conscience
             accuseth
             not
             his
             outward
             Profession
             .
          
        
         
           
             This
             most
             zealous
          
           Preacher
           
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             returns
             so
             condescending
             and
             moderate
             an
             Answer
             to
             a
             Case
             of
             a
             far
             harder
             sound
             than
             is
             here
             maintained
             ,
             which
             argues
             that
             he
             took
             his
             gentle
             Pen
             from
             the
             soft
             Wing
             of
             the
             Dove
             .
             1
          
           Cor.
           
             7.
             12.
          
           
           &c.
           If
           any
           Brother
           hath
           a
           Wife
           that
           believeth
           not
           ,
           and
           she
           be
           pleased
           to
           dwell
           with
           him
           ,
           let
           him
           not
           put
           her
           away
           .
           
             ver
             .
             13.
          
           
           And
           the
           Woman
           which
           hath
           a
           Husband
           that
           believeth
           not
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           be
           pleased
           to
           dwell
           with
           her
           ,
           let
           her
           not
           leave
           him
           .
           
             ver
             .
             14.
          
           
           For
           the
           unbelieving
           Husband
           is
           sanctifyed
           to
           the
           believing
           Wife
           
             (
             viz.
             in
             a
             Matrimonial
             Correspondence
             .
             )
          
           And
           the
           unbelieving
           Wife
           is
           sanctifyed
           to
           the
           Husband
           ,
           &c.
           
             ver
             .
             15.
          
           
           But
           if
           the
           unbelieving
           depart
           ,
           let
           him
           depart
           ;
           A
           Brother
           or
           a
           Sister
           is
           not
           in
           Bondage
           in
           such
           Cases
           :
           But
           God
           hath
           called
           us
           to
           Peace
           .
           
             ver
             .
             16.
          
           
           For
           what
           knowest
           thou
           O
           Wife
           ,
           whether
           thou
           shalt
           save
           thy
           Husband
           ?
           Or
           how
           knowest
           thou
           O
           Man
           ,
           whether
           thou
           shalt
           save
           thy
           Wife
           ?
           
             ver
             .
             17.
          
           
           But
           as
           God
           distributed
           to
           every
           Man
           ,
           as
           the
           Lord
           hath
           called
           every
           one
           ,
           so
           let
           him
           walk
           ,
           and
           so
           Ordain
           I
           in
           all
           Churches
           .
        
         
         
           Pray
           mark
           ,
           good
           Reader
           ,
           what
           can
           be
           said
           more
           Efficaciously
           to
           oblige
           Christians
           to
           Christian
           forbearance
           ,
           than
           so
           plain
           an
           Injunction
           to
           live
           peaceably
           with
           meer
           Heathens
           .
           You
           may
           see
           moreover
           ,
           that
           2
           Cor.
           1.
           24.
           
           He
           denies
           that
           even
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           have
           any
           Soveraignty
           over
           the
           Conscience
           ,
           but
           only
           Commissions
           to
           assist
           the
           Conscientious
           .
           —
           
             Not
             for
             that
             we
             have
             Dominion
          
           (
           saies
           he
           to
           the
           
             Corinthians
             )
             over
             your
             Faith
             ,
             but
             are
             helpers
             of
             your
             Joy
             :
             For
             by
             Faith
             you
             stand
             .
          
           In
           this
           he
           exactly
           observes
           the
           Orders
           which
           Christ
           gave
           to
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           
             Go
             and
             Teach
          
           ,
           (
           not
           compel
           )
           Math.
           28.
           19.
           
           
             And
             whosoever
             shall
             not
             receive
             you
             ,
             nor
             hear
             your
             words
             ,
             when
             ye
             depart
             out
             of
             that
             House
             or
             City
             ,
             shake
             off
             the
             Dust
             of
             your
             Feet
             ,
          
           as
           we
           find
           practised
           ,
           Act
           ,
           13.
           51.
           
           Mark
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           commanded
           to
           trample
           upon
           them
           as
           Dust
           under
           their
           Feet
           ;
           the
           Planters
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           had
           never
           any
           such
           Commission
           .
           If
           the
           people
           would
           not
           believe
           ,
           they
           did
           e'en
           let
           them
           alone
           ,
           with
           only
           that
           harmless
           Testimony
           that
           they
           had
           done
           their
           Duty
           ,
           and
           left
           them
           to
           God
           ▪
           —
           O
           how
           widely
           different
           is
           this
           little
           Dust-shaking
           ,
           which
           neither
           Kill'd
           not
           Jayl'd
           any
           body
           ,
           from
           the
           Thunder-claps
           of
           
             Popish
             Bulls
             ,
             Interdicts
             ,
             Smithfield
             Flames
             ,
             Imprisonments
             ,
             Fines
             ?
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           Consonant
           to
           this
           Principle
           of
           Meekness
           ,
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           instructs
           his
           Disciples
           .
           Matth.
           23.
           10.
           
           
             Be
             not
             call'd
             Rabbi
          
           ,
           (
           that
           is
           ,
           Imposers
           in
           Spiritual
           Matters
           ,
           or
           Lords
           over
           the
           Conscience
           )
           
             For
             one
             is
             your
             Master
             ,
             even
             Christ
             ;
             and
             all
             ye
             are
             Brethren
             .
          
           From
           these
           Texts
           Reader
           ,
           infer
           what
           you
           can
           rationally
           ,
           —
           for
           it
           were
           but
           to
           light
           a
           Candle
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           for
           me
           to
           go
           about
           to
           Illustrate
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           wonder
           what
           the
           Patient
           forbearing
           of
           the
           Tares
           means
           ,
           and
           letting
           them
           grow
           together
           till
           the
           time
           of
           Harvest
           ,
           Ay
           ,
           and
           along
           with
           the
           Wheat
           too
           ,
           til
           the
           Spiritual
           Reaper
           comes
           ,
           —
           unless
           it
           be
           a
           Christian
           Tolleration
           .
           I
           cannot
           fix
           any
           other
           Sense
           upon
           that
           
             Scripture
             Parable
          
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           pluck
           up
           each
           other
           by
           the
           Roots
           ,
           because
           we
           are
           not
           alike
           ,
           —
           for
           it
           may
           happen
           that
           some
           of
           the
           very
           Wheat
           may
           be
           destroyed
           by
           Corn-Weeders
           .
           Therefore
           't
           is
           certainly
           the
           safest
           and
           soberest
           way
           to
           be
           quiet
           ,
           and
           leave
           the
           management
           of
           the
           Spiritual
           Corn-Fields
           to
           the
           Lord
           of
           the
           Harvest
           ,
           till
           he
           Orders
           the
           contrary
           .
        
         
           That
           admirable
           President
           of
           mildness
           towards
           the
           Samaritans
           ,
           a
           Surly
           Inhospitable
           sort
           of
           people
           ,
           (
           that
           would
           not
           receive
           
             even
             Christ
             himself
          
           )
           is
           very
           Notable
           .
           The
           Disciples
           James
           and
           
             John
             ,
             would
             have
             Fire
             immediately
             Commanded
             down
             from
             Heaven
             to
             Consume
             them
             ,
          
           as
           in
           the
           Days
           of
           Elias
           ;
           but
           our
           Merciful
           God
           Rebuked
           their
           Zeal
           with
           this
           sweet
           and
           tender
           reply
           ,
           Luk.
           9.
           55
           ,
           56.
           
           
             Ye
             know
             not
             what
             manner
             of
             Spirit
             ye
             are
             of
             :
             For
          
           
           
             the
             Son
             of
             Man
             is
             not
             come
             to
             destroy
             Mens
             ,
             Lives
             ,
             but
             to
             save
             them
             .
          
           This
           one
           Example
           abundantly
           satisfies
           all
           Objections
           drawn
           from
           the
           Practice
           of
           
             Elias
             ,
             Jehu
          
           ,
           the
           Sons
           of
           Levi
           ,
           &c.
           in
           the
           Old-Testament
           ;
           For
           as
           they
           had
           an
           Express
           Command
           from
           ▪
           God
           to
           warrant
           their
           Zeal
           ,
           we
           have
           an
           Express
           Warrant
           from
           Christ
           to
           Command
           Meekness
           .
        
         
           If
           any
           one
           shall
           shuffle
           in
           a
           suspition
           that
           this
           moderate
           temper
           was
           meant
           only
           for
           the
           Times
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           when
           the
           Christians
           had
           no
           
             temporal
             power
          
           ;
           let
           him
           first
           confess
           that
           these
           were
           the
           best
           and
           purest
           Times
           ,
           and
           then
           shew
           a
           
             Warrant
             Dormant
          
           under
           our
           
           Saviour's
           hand
           (
           that
           is
           in
           his
           Gospel
           )
           to
           Commissionate
           his
           Disciples
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           they
           should
           get
           the
           Sword
           into
           their
           hands
           ,
           to
           use
           the
           severity
           of
           Penal
           Laws
           against
           all
           disobeyers
           ,
           and
           I
           submit
           .
           But
           if
           they
           can
           cite
           no
           such
           Authority
           ,
           let
           them
           consider
           whether
           compulsion
           of
           Conscience
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           just
           Liberties
           and
           Priviledges
           of
           a
           Christian
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           approves
           not
           of
           Donatism
           ,
           nor
           that
           
             Romish
             Arrogance
          
           which
           pronounces
           
             All
             Dissenters
             ddmn'd
          
           .
           No
           ,
           no
           ;
           't
           is
           evident
           both
           by
           publick
           Declarations
           ,
           and
           the
           Writings
           and
           Preachings
           of
           many
           of
           the
           most
           Eminent
           Church-men
           ,
           that
           Salvation
           is
           not
           tyed
           up
           here
           ,
           to
           a
           meer
           Conformity
           to
           what
           the
           English-Church
           differs
           in
           ,
           from
           others
           ;
           Of
           this
           we
           have
           a
           fresh
           and
           famous
           Instance
           in
           the
           Charitable
           and
           Christian-like
           entertainment
           given
           to
           the
           
             French
             Protestants
          
           that
           came
           hither
           for
           Sanctuary
           ,
           from
           the
           present
           Persecution
           in
           their
           Native
           Country
           .
           This
           clearly
           manifests
           that
           our
           Church
           Quarrels
           not
           with
           the
           Dissenting-Protestants
           ;
           For
           it
           would
           be
           a
           very
           strange
           Riddle
           ,
           to
           entertain
           Protestants
           of
           the
           very
           same
           perswasion
           with
           so
           much
           tenderness
           and
           hospitality
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           very
           same
           Instant
           ,
           exact
           the
           utmost
           mite
           ,
           that
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           require
           ,
           from
           their
           
             Protestant
             Country-men
          
           ,
           who
           disagree
           in
           nothing
           from
           these
           forreign
           Brethren
           ,
           but
           only
           in
           Language
           (
           I
           mean
           with
           respect
           to
           Articles
           of
           Religion
           )
           so
           that
           lie
           that
           will
           charge
           the
           present
           Prosecutions
           upon
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           does
           charge
           her
           at
           one
           and
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           with
           severity
           to
           our
           own
           Natives
           ,
           and
           Charity
           to
           Strangers
           of
           the
           same
           Profession
           .
           Now
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           presumed
           that
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           would
           act
           with
           such
           Partiality
           and
           Condradiction
           ,
           may
           we
           not
           rationally
           conclude
           ,
           that
           this
           unseasonable
           Prosecution
           ,
           (
           when
           Popery
           is
           watching
           all
           opportunities
           to
           Ruine
           Conformists
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Nonconformists
           )
           is
           to
           be
           charged
           only
           on
           some
           particular
           Self-seeking
           persons
           ,
           or
           such
           as
           do
           not
           calmly
           consider
           what
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           things
           are
           ?
        
         
           The
           Judgment
           of
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           the
           Resolves
           of
           our
           last
           Parliaments
           ,
           (
           all
           true
           Patriots
           and
           Church-men
           ,
           that
           have
           given
           security
           to
           the
           
           Government
           ,
           by
           taking
           such
           Tests
           and
           Oaths
           as
           the
           Law
           requires
           ,
           )
           are
           convincing
           demonstrations
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           not
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           but
           some
           certain
           persons
           that
           care
           not
           how
           the
           World
           goes
           ,
           (
           so
           their
           present
           ends
           be
           acccomplished
           ,
           )
           are
           Authors
           of
           the
           severeties
           some
           feel
           ,
           from
           the
           Execution
           of
           such
           Laws
           ,
           as
           stand
           lookt
           upon
           ,
           rather
           to
           be
           forborn
           by
           publick
           Votes
           ,
           as
           aforesaid
           ;
           And
           which
           (
           't
           is
           hop'd
           )
           that
           August
           Assembly
           
             (
             King
             ,
             Lords
          
           ,
           and
           Commons
           )
           when
           His
           Majesty
           will
           be
           pleased
           to
           call
           a
           Parliament
           ,
           will
           mitigate
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           joy
           of
           many
           Innocent
           Subjects
           ,
           that
           mind
           only
           their
           own
           particular
           Concerns
           ,
           and
           quietly
           submit
           to
           the
           Establish'd
           Government
           .
        
      
       
         
           SECT
           .
           VI.
           
        
         
           AT
           the
           writing
           of
           this
           ,
           there
           came
           to
           my
           hands
           a
           Paper
           newly
           published
           ,
           with
           this
           Title
           ,
           
             A
             Second
             Argument
             for
             a
             more
             full
             and
             firm
             Vnion
             amongst
             all
             good
             Protestants
             ,
             wherein
             the
          
           Nonconformists
           
             taking
             the
             Sacrament
             after
             the
             manner
             of
             the
          
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           
             is
             justifyed
             ,
             &c.
             
             In
             a
             Letter
             to
             a
             Friend
             .
          
           Because
           the
           Scope
           of
           it
           is
           not
           only
           to
           magnifie
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           do
           not
           in
           the
           least
           reflect
           upon
           )
           but
           also
           to
           fix
           an
           Odium
           upon
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           render
           them
           more
           intollerable
           in
           the
           Eye
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           than
           the
           Charity
           of
           many
           Pious
           and
           Learned
           Conformists
           either
           desire
           ,
           or
           think
           seasonable
           ;
           I
           have
           thought
           it
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           my
           Subject
           ,
           to
           leave
           a
           few
           modest
           Remarks
           upon
           it
           .
           And
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           the
           Conversion
           of
           such
           Dissenters
           ,
           as
           are
           mentioned
           p.
           1.
           be
           really
           the
           Effect
           of
           Conviction
           of
           mind
           ,
           without
           any
           sinister
           ends
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           blame
           them
           for
           walking
           according
           to
           their
           Light
           ,
           for
           that
           were
           to
           contradict
           the
           Design
           of
           these
           few
           Sheets
           ,
           viz.
           
             The
             Exercise
             of
             a
             Charitable
             meekness
             towards
             our
             weak
             Brethren
             .
          
           But
           if
           it
           be
           meerly
           for
           fear
           of
           the
           Penal
           Prosecution
           there
           likewise
           mentioned
           ,
           it
           is
           probable
           that
           the
           Advocates
           of
           such
           a
           practice
           ,
           
             (
             viz.
          
           )
           to
           Conform
           to
           such
           things
           as
           they
           before
           cry'd
           down
           as
           not
           Evangelical
           ,
           or
           at
           best
           think
           still
           to
           be
           doubtful
           ,
           )
           will
           hardly
           prove
           Martyrs
           .
        
         
           Temporizing
           is
           Diametrically
           opposite
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           Christianity
           ;
           And
           such
           as
           are
           for
           selfish
           worldly
           ends
           ,
           list
           themselves
           among
           the
           purest
           Professors
           of
           
             Evangelical
             Truths
          
           ,
           are
           justly
           branded
           with
           the
           
             Ignominious
             Name
          
           of
           Hypocrites
           .
           But
           whether
           these
           Men
           do
           it
           out
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           or
           
           for
           any
           By-ends
           ,
           
             The
             Lord
             only
             knows
          
           ,
           for
           he
           is
           
             the
             Searcher
             of
             Hearts
          
           ;
           and
           there
           we
           leave
           it
           .
        
         
           The
           Expressions
           p.
           2.
           are
           so
           perplext
           and
           unintelligible
           ,
           that
           I
           cannot
           well
           pick
           out
           the
           meaning
           of
           it
           .
           If
           by
           
             Sons
             of
             Leviathan
          
           (
           bating
           the
           unusualness
           of
           the
           Phrase
           )
           be
           meant
           ,
           the
           
             Romish
             Clergy
          
           ;
           the
           Paper
           then
           supposes
           such
           ,
           to
           be
           Instructors
           among
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           of
           great
           Influence
           overthem
           :
           But
           that
           isno
           less
           than
           a
           malicious
           and
           groundless
           Slander
           .
           And
           I
           Challenge
           this
           Author
           to
           justifie
           the
           surmise
           by
           any
           
             Demonstrative
             Instances
          
           .
           Or
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           If
           it
           means
           the
           Teachers
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           (
           for
           one
           of
           these
           it
           must
           be
           )
           who
           are
           represented
           as
           frighting
           the
           people
           from
           Conformity
           ,
           and
           scaring
           them
           out
           of
           Church
           by
           calling
           it
           ,
           and
           its
           Ministers
           ,
           Antichristian
           ;
           let
           the
           Author
           produce
           the
           Words
           or
           Writings
           of
           any
           eminent
           
             Nonconformist
             Preacher
          
           or
           Preachers
           ,
           that
           have
           branded
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           with
           that
           Odious
           Epithete
           ,
           and
           I
           will
           joyn
           with
           him
           to
           abhor
           the
           Calumniators
           .
           All
           
             Sober
             Dissenters
          
           universally
           agree
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Romish
             Hierarchy
          
           is
           the
           Antichrist
           spoken
           of
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ;
           and
           it
           was
           lately
           well
           proved
           in
           a
           Treatise
           Intituled
           ,
           Schematologia
           ,
           by
           a
           
             Dissenting
             Preacher
          
           .
           And
           for
           them
           to
           make
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           another
           Antichrist
           ,
           is
           not
           only
           disconsonant
           to
           their
           publick
           and
           avowed
           Principles
           ,
           but
           the
           highest
           violation
           of
           that
           Charity
           ,
           and
           
             Divine
             Principle
          
           of
           Love
           which
           they
           owe
           to
           their
           
             Christian
             Conforming
             Brethren
          
           ,
           that
           agree
           with
           them
           in
           all
           the
           substantial
           parts
           of
           the
           Faith
           ,
           and
           differ
           only
           in
           Circumstances
           confessedly
           indifferent
           by
           the
           very
           Imposers
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           surprized
           to
           find
           such
           a
           Scheme
           of
           Divinity
           in
           this
           Paper
           ,
           p.
           3.
           as
           I
           never
           yet
           saw
           or
           heard
           from
           a
           
             Protestant
             Writer
          
           .
           All
           things
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           are
           peremptorily
           laid
           down
           by
           this
           Author
           ,
           in
           these
           four
           particulars
           ;
           upon
           which
           take
           a
           few
           Notes
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Learning
           of
           a
           good
           Catechism
           ,
           to
           aid
           and
           conduct
           their
           Faith.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           A
           good
           and
           well
           Composed
           Form
           of
           Prayer
           to
           discharge
           their
           Devotion
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           To
           hear
           Learned
           and
           Good
           Men
           Preach
           to
           revive
           and
           quicken
           them
           to
           Duty
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           To
           Square
           and
           Regulate
           their
           Lives
           by
           Moral
           Precepts
           (
           or
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           .
           )
        
         
           Here
           's
           the
           
             sum
             total
          
           of
           what
           's
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           in
           this
           Authors
           Opinion
           .
           —
           But
           he
           is
           not
           content
           Dogmatically
           to
           make
           so
           Diminutive
           a
           Reduction
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           will
           also
           ensure
           your
           Soul
           for
           you
           ,
           in
           these
           words
           ,
           —
           
             The
             which
             
               [
               meaning
               the
               said
               particulars
            
             ]
             whosoever
             shall
             humbly
             and
             carefully
             observe
             ,
             constantly
             and
             Conscientiously
             perform
             ,
             
             we
             
               [
               that
               we
               is
               himself
               ,
               as
               if
               he
               had
               been
               the
               Representative
               of
               the
            
             Church
             of
             England
             ]
             will
             assure
             them
             Salvation
             ,
             and
             undertake
             to
             Answer
             to
             God
             for
             them
             ,
             and
             be
             content
             to
             stand
             chargeable
             with
             their
             Blood
             ,
             if
             they
             do
             miscarry
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           First
           ,
           't
           is
           confessed
           that
           Catechistical
           Instructions
           were
           used
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Times
           ,
           and
           since
           ;
           and
           that
           if
           rightly
           managed
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           necessary
           expedient
           to
           Inform
           the
           Judgments
           of
           the
           Ignorant
           .
           But
           I
           never
           yet
           knew
           that
           it
           was
           made
           to
           lead
           the
           Van
           of
           such
           Articles
           ,
           as
           are
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           before
           .
           It
           is
           a
           means
           indeed
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           Influences
           )
           may
           be
           Instrumentally
           subservient
           to
           Convert
           the
           unconverted
           .
           But
           't
           is
           meer
           Popery
           to
           Attribute
           any
           such
           Virtue
           to
           it
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           meer
           Learning
           of
           a
           bare
           Form
           of
           
             Catechistical
             Questions
          
           and
           Answers
           ,
           were
           a
           thing
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           this
           I
           take
           to
           be
           the
           Papers
           meaning
           .
        
         
           The
           way
           of
           Catechising
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Ages
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           was
           for
           some
           of
           the
           
             Church
             Elders
          
           to
           call
           the
           Youth
           and
           other
           Ignorant
           Persons
           together
           ,
           at
           some
           certain
           Times
           ,
           and
           examine
           them
           concerning
           the
           Faith
           ,
           alwaies
           explaining
           what
           was
           obscure
           to
           their
           weak
           understandings
           ,
           nottying
           themselves
           to
           any
           Form
           ,
           but
           administring
           their
           Questions
           ,
           and
           shaping
           their
           Instructions
           as
           the
           Capacity
           of
           the
           Catechumeni
           required
           ,
           like
           
             Divine
             School-Masters
          
           teaching
           their
           
             Spiritual
             Pupils
          
           ,
           and
           with
           servent
           Prayers
           recommending
           the
           success
           to
           God
           ,
           the
           Converter
           of
           Souls
           .
           So
           that
           Catechising
           is
           no
           more
           than
           a
           Christian
           endeavour
           ,
           or
           expedient
           for
           the
           begetting
           of
           
             Faith
             ,
             —
             not
             an
             aid
             and
             conduct
             of
             Faith
          
           (
           as
           the
           Paper
           words
           it
           )
           because
           the
           persons
           Catechis'd
           ,
           were
           supposed
           to
           be
           yet
           unconverted
           .
           Besides
           ,
           to
           make
           
             formal
             Catechising
          
           a
           positive
           means
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           to
           Damn
           all
           that
           have
           not
           the
           opportunity
           to
           Learn
           it
           by
           Heart
           ,
           and
           yet
           that
           there
           are
           many
           such
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           are
           nevertheless
           saved
           ,
           is
           undoubtedly
           known
           to
           this
           Author
           ,
           who
           seems
           to
           make
           Christianity
           consist
           in
           
             External
             Forms
          
           ,
           and
           a
           Moral
           Deportment
           ,
           or
           Conversation
           .
        
         
           
             2.
             
             As
             to
             the
             Second
             ,
          
           viz.
           A
           good
           and
           well
           Composed
           Form
           of
           Prayer
           to
           discharge
           their
           Devotion
           .
           
             It
             sounds
             so
             different
             from
          
           Praying
           with
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Vnderstanding
           ,
           
             that
             I
             cannot
             but
             marvel
             at
             it
             .
          
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           at
           all
           blame
           such
           as
           use
           Forms
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           for
           they
           may
           ,
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           ,
           Pray
           with
           the
           Spirit
           likewise
           ,
           considering
           the
           Form
           prescribed
           by
           our
           
             Lord
             Jesus
          
           himself
           ,
           Matth.
           6.
           
           But
           this
           is
           as
           clear
           as
           the
           Sun
           ,
           that
           neither
           in
           all
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ,
           nor
           the
           First
           Three
           Hundred
           Years
           ,
           there
           )
           can
           be
           produced
           any
           Record
           of
           known
           Credit
           ,
           that
           any
           stinted
           Forms
           were
           Imposed
           ;
           And
           good
           Reason
           ,
           for
           all
           the
           Children
           of
           God
           ,
           can
           represent
           their
           grievances
           to
           their
           Heavenly
           Father
           ▪
           And
           though
           
           their
           Petitions
           are
           expressed
           in
           Lisping
           Notes
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           unutterable
           groans
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ;
           yet
           they
           are
           not
           for
           all
           that
           rejected
           any
           more
           than
           a
           loving
           Father
           would
           deny
           his
           hungry
           Child
           a
           piece
           of
           Bread
           ,
           because
           he
           cannot
           speak
           plain
           ,
           or
           uses
           not
           a
           Formal
           Address
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           for
           this
           Author
           to
           make
           a
           Form
           of
           Prayer
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           to
           Damn
           such
           as
           will
           not
           ,
           or
           do
           not
           ,
           make
           their
           Applications
           to
           the
           
             Mercy
             Seat
          
           ,
           in
           the
           stinted
           and
           Composed
           Conceptions
           of
           others
           ,
           which
           possibly
           may
           not
           reach
           their
           Case
           ,
           or
           (
           as
           he
           calls
           it
           )
           
             discharge
             their
             Devotion
          
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Third
           thing
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           
             viz.
             To
             hear
             Learned
             and
             Good
             Men
             Preach
             ,
             to
             revive
             and
             quicken
             to
             Duty
             .
          
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           to
           attend
           the
           Sacred
           Dispensations
           of
           the
           Word
           of
           Truth
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           growth
           in
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Spiritual
           Edification
           ,
           is
           a
           
             Christian
             Duty
          
           .
           —
           And
           that
           the
           Preacher
           ought
           to
           be
           Learned
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           a
           
             Good
             Man
          
           ,
           that
           is
           of
           such
           Goodness
           as
           the
           utmost
           pressing
           after
           it
           ,
           can
           arrive
           at
           .
           If
           the
           Author
           means
           by
           Learning
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           what
           may
           be
           meerly
           attainable
           by
           School
           Faculties
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           the
           Philosophers
           call
           Morality
           ,
           abstracted
           from
           the
           Influences
           of
           Converting
           and
           
             Evangelical
             Grace
          
           ,
           I
           must
           Dissent
           from
           him
           till
           he
           proves
           ,
           that
           Christianity
           and
           Morality
           are
           one
           and
           the
           same
           thing
           ;
           Or
           that
           ,
           Morality
           is
           that
           Grace
           by
           which
           we
           are
           
             saved
             through
             Faith.
          
           If
           he
           proves
           that
           ,
           it
           will
           follow
           that
           the
           coming
           of
           Christ
           to
           Plant
           an
           
             Evangelical
             Religion
          
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           by
           his
           Death
           to
           save
           Mankind
           was
           unnecessary
           ,
           because
           Salvation
           might
           have
           been
           attain'd
           by
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           Plato
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           
             Heathen
             Moralists
          
           .
           This
           Authors
           Divinity
           seems
           to
           look
           this
           way
           :
           For
           his
           fourth
           thing
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           for
           Men
           
             to
             Square
             and
             Regulate
             their
             Lives
             by
             Moral
             Precepts
             (
             or
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             .
             )
          
           To
           which
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           Christians
           ought
           to
           do
           not
           only
           this
           ,
           but
           more
           too
           ,
           so
           that
           
             Christian
             Duty
          
           terminates
           not
           here
           ;
           It
           is
           not
           confined
           to
           practical
           or
           speculative
           Morality
           ,
           which
           is
           only
           a
           Branch
           or
           Species
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           is
           as
           much
           in
           degree
           below
           that
           Faith
           and
           
             Spiritual
             Grace
          
           that
           saves
           the
           Soul
           through
           the
           
             Efficacy
             of
             the
             Blood
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Body
           is
           below
           the
           Soul.
           The
           one
           is
           exercised
           in
           Principles
           of
           Common
           Equity
           betwixt
           Man
           and
           Man
           ,
           —
           comprehended
           in
           that
           saying
           ,
           
             Do
             as
             ye
             would
             be
             done
             unto
             :
          
           The
           other
           is
           exercised
           in
           a
           Spiritual
           Commerce
           with
           the
           Divinity
           by
           
             Faith
             ,
             Prayer
          
           ,
           and
           other
           
             Gospel
             Graces
          
           ,
           which
           
             Natural
             Philosophy
          
           (
           meerly
           consider'd
           as
           such
           )
           can
           no
           more
           perform
           ,
           than
           a
           Man
           stark
           Blind
           can
           judge
           of
           Colours
           ,
           or
           Lazarus
           could
           get
           out
           of
           his
           Grave
           before
           the
           All
           quickning
           power
           of
           the
           Mediator
           rais'd
           him
           .
           The
           Gospel
           represents
           such
           as
           were
           
             Naturally
             Alive
          
           ,
           to
           be
           
             Spiritually
             Dead
          
           .
           And
           Philosophy
           
           without
           Grace
           is
           Character'd
           by
           the
           Apostle
           to
           be
           a
           vain
           ,
           seducing
           thing
           .
        
         
           Before
           I
           touch
           upon
           the
           Reasons
           of
           this
           Authon
           ,
           in
           justification
           of
           Nonconformists
           taking
           the
           Sacrament
           after
           the
           manner
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           put
           in
           this
           Caution
           ;
           
             That
             I
             do
             not
             in
             what
             I
             write
             directly
             or
             indirectly
             ,
             dispute
             against
             the
             Lawfulness
             of
             the
             Administration
             of
             this
             Ordinance
             ,
             as
             us'd
             in
             the
             said
             Church
          
           ;
           but
           my
           Scope
           and
           Intention
           is
           ,
           to
           shew
           how
           unreasonable
           it
           is
           ,
           for
           this
           Author
           to
           represent
           the
           Nonconformists
           as
           such
           silly
           Sectaries
           ,
           because
           they
           hant
           so
           wide
           a
           Throat
           as
           he
           ,
           to
           swallow
           what
           they
           cannot
           Digest
           ;
           and
           consequently
           ,
           that
           such
           of
           them
           as
           Dissent
           out
           of
           pure
           Conscience
           ,
           though
           they
           suffer
           such
           Penalties
           ,
           as
           this
           Gentleman
           it
           seems
           does
           not
           care
           to
           be
           concern'd
           in
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           born
           withal
           ,
           whilst
           they
           behave
           themselves
           peaceably
           and
           dutifully
           towards
           the
           Civil
           Government
           .
           And
           to
           give
           him
           a
           hint
           ,
           that
           if
           he
           be
           one
           of
           those
           
             wellineaning
             Dissenters
             ,
             that
             has
             Conversed
             well
             near
          
           30
           
             Years
             amongst
             them
             (
             as
             he
             says
             )
          
           p.
           1.
           then
           either
           he
           saw
           their
           folly
           and
           groundless
           scrupulosity
           (
           as
           he
           angerly
           calls
           it
           )
           before
           the
           present
           juncture
           ,
           or
           not
           :
           If
           he
           saw
           it
           before
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           make
           discovery
           of
           it
           in
           order
           to
           his
           
             full
             and
             firm
             Vnion
          
           ,
           as
           he
           Baptizes
           his
           Pamphlet
           ,
           how
           can
           he
           clear
           himself
           of
           Vnfaithfulness
           ,
           if
           not
           Hipocrisie
           ,
           in
           not
           beginning
           this
           
             Blessed
             Atchievement
          
           sooner
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           prevent
           the
           jealousie
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           sufferings
           of
           so
           many
           Poor
           Families
           as
           he
           talks
           of
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           he
           be
           but
           a
           new
           Proselite
           to
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           and
           is
           Converted
           on
           a
           suddain
           ,
           as
           on
           the
           one
           hand
           people
           will
           be
           apt
           to
           suspect
           him
           ,
           because
           he
           chuses
           a
           time
           of
           suffering
           to
           forsake
           his
           Old
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           think
           him
           a
           Temporizer
           :
           so
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           he
           will
           be
           lookt
           upon
           as
           a
           Novice
           in
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           Old
           Experienc'd
           Men
           ,
           will
           hardly
           be
           perswaded
           to
           Learn
           their
           Religion
           from
           the
           little
           pedantick
           subtilties
           of
           such
           variable
           Dissenters
           ,
           who
           move
           with
           the
           
             State
             Compass
          
           .
        
         
           These
           things
           I
           speak
           not
           from
           any
           prejudice
           against
           the
           Author
           ,
           (
           whoever
           he
           be
           )
           but
           to
           put
           him
           in
           mind
           ,
           in
           a
           Spirit
           of
           meakness
           ,
           that
           it
           would
           better
           become
           him
           rather
           to
           exercise
           Charity
           towards
           his
           forsaken
           Brethren
           ,
           (
           if
           he
           has
           been
           a
           Dissenter
           )
           and
           since
           he
           has
           freed
           himself
           from
           the
           lash
           of
           suffering
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           not
           add
           to
           their
           burthen
           ,
           at
           so
           Licentious
           a
           Rate
           as
           he
           does
           in
           this
           Pamphlet
           .
           If
           they
           are
           in
           an
           Error
           ,
           let
           him
           leave
           them
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           willing
           to
           leave
           him
           quietly
           to
           the
           happiness
           of
           the
           secure
           Station
           he
           has
           chosen
           .
        
         
           In
           p.
           4.
           he
           begins
           his
           Proofs
           ,
           which
           the
           Judicious
           and
           Conscientious
           Nonconformist
           will
           look
           upon
           more
           subtil
           then
           solid
           .
           All
           that
           I
           shall
           remark
           
           as
           to
           that
           ,
           will
           be
           this
           ,
           because
           my
           Work
           is
           not
           to
           disapprove
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           but
           to
           intreat
           the
           Prosecutors
           to
           shew
           Christian
           Compassion
           to
           peaceable
           
             Dissenting
             Protestants
          
           ;
           that
           this
           Author
           would
           if
           he
           writes
           a
           
             Third
             Argument
          
           ,
           resolve
           me
           a
           few
           plain
           Quaeries
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Whether
           the
           positive
           Rules
           set
           down
           by
           the
           
             Soveraign
             Legislator
          
           (
           with
           respect
           to
           his
           Ordinances
           )
           are
           not
           to
           be
           observed
           by
           Christians
           exactly
           ,
           without
           any
           Addition
           or
           Substraction
           ,
           as
           near
           as
           can
           be
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           not
           an
           Impeachment
           of
           the
           
             Divine
             Wisdom
          
           ,
           to
           suppose
           his
           Laws
           imperfect
           ?
           Or
           that
           he
           stands
           in
           need
           of
           
             Spiritual
             Privy
             Council
          
           ,
           to
           Regulate
           and
           Establish
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           his
           Lordship
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           Whether
           ,
           if
           the
           said
           
             Divine
             Laws
          
           be
           perfect
           ,
           and
           unalterable
           ,
           (
           as
           they
           certainly
           are
           )
           any
           quiet
           ,
           and
           Conscientious
           Dissenter
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           punished
           for
           Non
           observance
           of
           such
           Ceremonies
           as
           are
           confess'd
           to
           be
           of
           a
           meer
           Humane
           Original
           ?
        
         
           4.
           
           Whether
           it
           be
           an
           Argument
           of
           Piety
           ,
           for
           such
           as
           have
           got
           on
           the
           warm
           side
           of
           the
           Hedge
           ,
           to
           pelt
           dirt
           at
           those
           that
           cannot
           stride
           so
           largely
           ,
           or
           jump
           over
           so
           nimbly
           as
           they
           do
           ?
        
         
           For
           my
           part
           I
           thought
           ,
           and
           still
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           may
           be
           comprehended
           under
           this
           short
           Sentance
           ,
           
             viz.
             To
             Love
             God
             with
             all
             our
             Hearts
             ,
             and
             our
             Neighbours
             as
             our selves
          
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           Epitome
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           a
           Compendium
           of
           the
           first
           and
           second
           Table
           .
        
         
           Faith
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           who
           is
           God
           ,
           Co-equal
           and
           Co-essential
           with
           the
           Father
           ,
           and
           ,
           a
           Life
           and
           Conversation
           suitable
           to
           the
           Sacred
           Rules
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           Truth
           ,
           which
           comprehends
           Morality
           and
           Duties
           purely
           Divine
           too
           ,
           do
           constitute
           a
           Christian
           :
           And
           if
           this
           Mans
           Scheme
           of
           Religion
           mentioned
           before
           ,
           be
           true
           ,
           which
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           see
           ,
           reaches
           no
           further
           then
           to
           what
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           teaches
           ,
           —
           then
           he
           may
           throw
           away
           that
           superfluous
           thing
           called
           the
           Bible
           ,
           and
           study
           Seneca
           ,
           and
           Hobs
           his
           Leviathan
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           Certainly
           this
           Author
           has
           but
           a
           despicable
           Opinion
           of
           Faith
           ,
           though
           the
           Scripture
           says
           ,
           
             That
             't
             is
             impossible
             to
             please
             God
             without
             it
          
           ;
           when
           he
           cannot
           afford
           it
           a
           little
           room
           among
           his
           things
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           —
           only
           supposes
           Men
           to
           have
           it
           ,
           by
           which
           I
           have
           ground
           to
           suspect
           ,
           that
           the
           Faith
           he
           means
           ,
           is
           nothing
           but
           some
           kind
           of
           
             Moral
             perswasion
          
           ,
           or
           other
           ,
           that
           being
           suitable
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           Discourse
           .
           His
           little
           Pedantick
           Dilemma's
           ,
           to
           justifie
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             p.
          
           4
           ,
           5
           ,
           6
           ,
           7
           ,
           8.
           are
           meerly
           frivolous
           ;
           because
           no
           sober
           ,
           nor
           wise
           Dissenter
           (
           as
           far
           as
           I
           can
           see
           )
           Condemns
           that
           Communion
           .
           'T
           is
           only
           some
           things
           respecting
           
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           Administration
           ,
           that
           they
           disallow
           ,
           as
           being
           not
           so
           exactly
           Quodrate
           with
           the
           Rule
           .
           Therefore
           let
           this
           Author
           ,
           (
           if
           he
           will
           do
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           purpose
           )
           leave
           beating
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           draw
           a
           parellel
           between
           the
           Communion
           he
           justifies
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           written
           of
           it
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           —
        
         
           1.
           
           Respecting
           the
           persons
           Administring
           .
           2.
           
           The
           persons
           receiving
           3.
           
           The
           manner
           how
           .
           4
           ly
           .
           The
           Time
           when
           .
           And
           5
           ly
           .
           To
           what
           end
           .
           And
           if
           he
           makes
           them
           agree
           ,
           then
           he
           will
           Convert
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           that
           great
           Point
           ,
           for
           which
           they
           suffer
           .
           But
           if
           they
           do
           not
           agree
           ,
           then
           let
           this
           Dilema-maker
           give
           us
           some
           Reasons
           for
           the
           Disparity
           ,
           and
           by
           what
           Authority
           the
           alteration
           was
           made
           :
           Or
           else
           in
           good
           earnest
           let
           him
           e'en
           appear
           bare-fac'd
           ,
           and
           blunder
           it
           out
           in
           plain
           
             English
             ,
             That
             the
             Laws
             of
             God
             are
             subservient
             to
             the
             Institutions
             that
             Humane
             Policy
             thinks
             fit
             to
             superadd
             .
          
           I
           would
           withal
           ,
           intreat
           the
           Author
           to
           bless
           the
           World
           with
           a
           like
           parallel
           about
           Infant-baptism
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           reduce
           those
           Dissenters
           that
           have
           no
           good
           Opinion
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           
             But
             now
             comes
             the
             Mortal
             Wound
             (
             as
             he
             thinks
             )
             have
             a
             care
             poor
          
           Phanaticks
           !
           —
           Here
           the
           greatest
           number
           of
           them
           are
           affirm'd
           to
           hold
           Principles
           dangerously
           Heretical
           ,
           and
           most
           abominably
           abusive
           of
           the
           most
           Holy
           and
           Blessed
           God
           ,
           —
           yea
           ,
           they
           ungod
           him
           .
           
             This
             is
             most
             sad
             indeed
             ,
             —
             but
             wherein
             I
             pray
             ?
          
           By
           making
           him
           the
           greatest
           Author
           of
           mischief
           ,
           —
           folly
           ,
           &c.
           by
           their
           idle
           Dreams
           about
           his
           Peremptory
           and
           Eternal
           Decrees
           .
           
             Oh!
             There'sthe
             business
             ;
             this
             is
             the
             excellent
             and
             stupendious
             folly
             [
             fine
          
           Rhetorick
           .
           ]
           
             which
             he
             admires
             at
          
           .
        
         
           Here
           you
           see
           how
           he
           brands
           the
           poor
           Dissenters
           for
           the
           most
           
             abominable
             of
             Hereticks
          
           ;
           and
           how
           does
           he
           prove
           it
           ?
           Why
           he
           Fathers
           an
           Opinion
           upon
           them
           ,
           which
           none
           but
           a
           mad-Man
           will
           own
           ,
           and
           then
           pours
           you
           out
           a
           long
           winded
           Rhapsody
           of
           such
           Devilish
           Consequences
           ,
           as
           are
           able
           to
           scare
           abody
           out
           of
           all
           Charity
           with
           the
           Dissenters
           .
        
         
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           thought
           it
           had
           been
           such
           a
           Damn'd
           thing
           to
           believe
           ,
           
             That
             God
             fore-ordain'd
             whatsoever
             should
             come
             to
             pass
             ,
          
           —
           I
           would
           never
           have
           done
           it
           .
           Well
           ,
           but
           the
           Author
           is
           pelting
           soundly
           at
           his
           
             Man
             of
             Straw
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Odium
           is
           thrown
           upon
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           .
           What
           I
           shall
           say
           in
           reply
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           there
           be
           any
           body
           guilty
           of
           this
           
             Heresie
             ,
             viz.
          
           That
           God
           is
           the
           Author
           of
           Sin
           ,
           I
           heartily
           leave
           him
           at
           this
           Authors
           Mercy
           ,
           for
           I
           look
           upon
           that
           Opinion
           to
           be
           no
           better
           then
           he
           represents
           it
           .
           But
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           He
           is
           too
           uncharitable
           to
           charge
           the
           greatest
           number
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           with
           it
           ,
           who
           for
           any
           thing
           ,
           I
           find
           Discourse
           only
           of
           the
           Decrees
           of
           God
           ,
           
           as
           
             Predestination
             ,
             Election
          
           ,
           &c.
           as
           the
           Scripture
           represents
           and
           as
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           holds
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           could
           wish
           that
           Men
           were
           temperate
           ,
           and
           modest
           in
           writing
           and
           discoursing
           of
           these
           great
           Secrets
           of
           Gods
           Decrees
           ,
           and
           forbear
           to
           Extort
           Consequences
           with
           such
           violence
           from
           doubtful
           and
           obscure
           places
           .
           Men
           have
           got
           such
           an
           Itch
           to
           Espouse
           some
           Darling
           Opinion
           or
           other
           ,
           that
           no
           reason
           can
           remove
           them
           from
           it
           ,
           though
           Christianity
           languishes
           in
           the
           very
           Vitals
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           these
           Brawls
           and
           Animosities
           .
           I
           have
           known
           too
           many
           that
           won't
           trouble
           their
           Heads
           with
           the
           most
           certain
           and
           most
           Important
           Duties
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           reading
           the
           Commandments
           ,
           and
           the
           plain
           Practical
           Parts
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           will
           needs
           be
           making
           Comments
           upon
           the
           obscurest
           Allegories
           of
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           the
           Revelation
           of
           St.
           John.
           Pray
           what
           necessity
           have
           we
           to
           confound
           poor
           simple
           Christians
           with
           those
           School
           Tricks
           ,
           which
           much
           Idle
           and
           Licentious
           Wits
           ,
           pester
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Christ
          
           ?
           It
           was
           enough
           for
           the
           Apostle
           to
           know
           nothing
           but
           
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             and
             him
             Crucified
             ,
          
           (
           as
           was
           said
           )
           and
           't
           is
           most
           assuredly
           true
           ,
           that
           whatsoever
           is
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           so
           plainly
           laid
           down
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           the
           meanest
           Capacity
           may
           (
           by
           the
           aid
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           )
           understand
           it
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           therefore
           a
           dangerous
           piece
           of
           wantonness
           to
           be
           peeping
           into
           the
           Secret
           Cabinets
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           such
           Fooleries
           have
           done
           much
           mischief
           in
           the
           World.
           For
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           'T
           is
           enough
           for
           us
           to
           know
           that
           the
           Lord
           God
           hath
           chosen
           a
           people
           for
           himself
           ,
           viz.
           such
           as
           believe
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           obey
           his
           Laws
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           will
           Eternally
           save
           them
           .
           And
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           such
           as
           reject
           his
           Grace
           and
           Mercy
           ,
           and
           disobey
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           will
           fall
           under
           his
           Eternal
           Wrath.
           
        
         
           With
           this
           Belief
           I
           content
           my self
           ,
           and
           firmly
           hold
           ,
           That
           God
           is
           not
           ,
           nor
           cannot
           be
           the
           Author
           of
           any
           Evil
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           that
           he
           is
           the
           Author
           of
           all
           Good.
           I
           believe
           that
           Mans
           Damnation
           is
           purely
           and
           Originally
           from
           his
           own
           wickedness
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           Eternal
           Destruction
           is
           not
           from
           any
           Decree
           of
           God
           ;
           which
           whosoever
           saies
           ,
           does
           at
           the
           same
           time
           affirm
           ,
           That
           God
           does
           Damn
           him
           for
           what
           he
           cannot
           possibly
           avoid
           .
        
         
           On
           the
           other
           side
           I
           Beleive
           ,
           that
           no
           Man
           can
           save
           himself
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           is
           the
           only
           and
           sole
           Author
           and
           Cause
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           alone
           purifies
           the
           corrupt
           Wills
           and
           Hearts
           of
           Men
           ,
           adapting
           and
           preparing
           them
           to
           receive
           his
           Grace
           and
           saving
           Truths
           ,
           through
           the
           Power
           and
           Influence
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           .
           This
           is
           my
           Creed
           ,
           in
           this
           Point
           ,
           and
           here
           I
           rest
           ,
           not
           proposing
           it
           by
           way
           of
           Imposition
           on
           others
           ,
           but
           to
           shew
           
           that
           this
           moderate
           middle
           path
           ,
           which
           in
           my
           Judgment
           is
           Sound
           and
           Orthodox
           ,
           and
           would
           lead
           us
           to
           the
           desireable
           Mansions
           of
           Peace
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           our
           Pulpit-Wars
           have
           a
           long
           time
           kept
           us
           .
        
         
           I
           doubt
           some
           Intemperate
           Zealots
           ,
           that
           would
           as
           soon
           part
           with
           their
           Eyes
           ,
           as
           their
           Notions
           ,
           will
           be
           grumbling
           at
           what
           I
           say
           ,
           as
           too
           favourable
           to
           one
           side
           or
           other
           .
           But
           as
           I
           regard
           not
           unjust
           censure
           ,
           so
           I
           Challenge
           them
           to
           mend
           it
           .
           Methinks
           if
           these
           general
           Truths
           ,
           and
           some
           such
           like
           ,
           be
           enough
           for
           the
           people
           to
           know
           they
           do
           the
           Church
           no
           good
           service
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           Preaching
           Practical
           Duties
           ,
           will
           needs
           be
           frightening
           the
           Auditory
           with
           hidden
           Decrees
           ,
           absolute
           Reprobation
           ,
           and
           some
           such
           new
           made
           Thunder-Bolts
           ,
           able
           to
           scare
           'em
           into
           Despair
           .
           God
           Commanded
           his
           Gospel
           to
           be
           Preach'd
           to
           
             all
             the
             World
          
           ,
           that
           such
           as
           would
           receive
           it
           should
           be
           saved
           .
           But
           these
           Men
           have
           got
           you
           a
           hidden
           Decree
           ,
           which
           Damns
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           yet
           without
           the
           hand
           of
           any
           
             Heavenly
             Notary
          
           to
           testifie
           it
           .
           And
           pray
           tell
           me
           ,
           what
           is
           it
           more
           or
           less
           ,
           than
           to
           mock
           the
           poor
           people
           ,
           to
           invite
           them
           to
           believe
           ,
           &c.
           when
           't
           is
           impossible
           for
           them
           savingly
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           if
           their
           Names
           be
           Registred
           in
           that
           black
           and
           irreversible
           
             Muster
             Roll.
          
           
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           design
           to
           reflect
           upon
           any
           ,
           nor
           do
           I
           List
           my self
           with
           those
           who
           follow
           Arminius
           ,
           or
           Calvin
           ;
           I
           am
           sorry
           to
           find
           extreams
           on
           both
           hands
           .
           I
           would
           only
           beseech
           Dissenters
           to
           Preach
           necessary
           Truths
           ,
           and
           let
           the
           hidden
           Decrees
           of
           God
           alone
           ,
           with
           other
           unnecessary
           Notions
           ;
           which
           practice
           will
           undoubtedly
           be
           of
           great
           and
           useful
           Consequenc
           ,
           and
           will
           preventthe
           Bawling
           of
           such
           Authors
           as
           this
           is
           ,
           who
           I
           believe
           will
           not
           Quarrel
           with
           what
           I
           here
           write
           ,
           nor
           charge
           his
           horrible
           Consequences
           upon
           it
           ;
           and
           yet
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           all
           Sober
           Dissenters
           are
           of
           this
           mind
           ;
           For
           I
           never
           yet
           met
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           upon
           a
           sober
           debate
           ,
           as
           occasion
           offered
           it
           ,
           were
           obliged
           by
           fair
           Argument
           to
           own
           it
           .
           And
           he
           that
           believes
           this
           ,
           believes
           enough
           ,
           as
           to
           this
           Point
           ,
           and
           more
           will
           but
           distract
           and
           confound
           the
           plain
           and
           honest
           Christian
           .
           I
           have
           been
           the
           longer
           about
           this
           ,
           tolet
           this
           Author
           know
           that
           his
           charge
           of
           Heresie
           is
           stretcht
           unreasonably
           wide
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           I
           have
           gain'd
           thus
           much
           by
           taking
           notice
           of
           this
           Pamphlet
           ,
           that
           upon
           a
           serious
           and
           unbyass'd
           perusal
           of
           this
           few
           Remarks
           ,
           any
           Reader
           of
           common
           Capacity
           will
           see
           a
           necessity
           of
           better
           Arguments
           then
           he
           uses
           .
           And
           't
           is
           hop'd
           that
           our
           Church
           will
           use
           that
           way
           of
           reducing
           
             Dissenters
             ,
             viz.
          
           Mild
           Christian
           Debates
           and
           Conferences
           ,
           Sober
           Brotherly
           Perswasions
           ,
           with
           hearty
           Prayers
           for
           each
           other
           ;
           which
           were
           the
           Church
           Weapons
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           ,
           not
           such
           Whirlwind
           and
           Thunder
           ▪
           as
           some
           certain
           Renegado's
           yonder
           at
           Algier
           ,
           or
           thereabouts
           ,
           would
           Conjure
           
           up
           ,
           against
           a
           little
           scatter'd
           Fleet
           of
           their
           Quondam
           Friends
           .
        
         
           I
           profess
           I
           cannot
           but
           wonder
           at
           the
           unparallel'd
           Confidence
           of
           this
           Pamphlet
           ,
           that
           blushes
           not
           to
           charge
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           Sectaries
           ,
           (
           as
           its
           young
           zeal
           words
           it
           )
           meaning
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           )
           with
           
             making
             God
             the
             Author
             of
             wickedness
             ,
          
           in
           such
           terms
           as
           quoted
           before
           ;
           which
           is
           no
           less
           then
           to
           charge
           them
           with
           the
           
             blackest
             of
             Blasphemies
          
           .
           Now
           the
           Laws
           of
           our
           Land
           have
           provided
           Condign
           punishment
           for
           that
           (
           most
           )
           Monstrous
           of
           Treasons
           ,
           against
           the
           King
           of
           Kings
           .
           And
           the
           Author
           cannot
           acquit
           himself
           of
           Misprision
           ,
           if
           he
           gives
           not
           a
           Catalogue
           of
           such
           horrible
           Delinquents
           ,
           that
           the
           Law
           may
           punish
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           Christians
           may
           shun
           them
           as
           the
           worst
           of
           Hereticks
           .
           Let
           him
           produce
           that
           ,
           together
           with
           Legal
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           then
           
             fiat
             Justitia
          
           ,
           let
           new
           Tyburns
           be
           erected
           for
           them
           ,
           if
           the
           Legislative
           Authory
           thinks
           fit
           .
        
         
           Reader
           ,
           I
           have
           almost
           done
           with
           this
           Pamphlet
           ,
           which
           I
           believe
           will
           Proselite
           only
           such
           as
           are
           under
           the
           Influence
           of
           something
           I
           shall
           not
           name
           .
           Only
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           add
           a
           few
           Lines
           by
           way
           of
           observation
           ,
           upon
           the
           specimen
           ,
           the
           Author
           gives
           of
           the
           
             Wit
             and
             Policy
             of
             these
             giddy
             Sectaries
             ,
          
           (
           as
           he
           calls
           them
           .
           )
        
         
           Would
           they
           have
           
             (
             saies
             he
          
           )
           p.
           12.
           )
           Arch-Bishops
           ,
           —
           Bishops
           ,
           —
           the
           best
           Clergy
           ,
           —
           all
           the
           best
           Clergy
           of
           England
           ,
           —
           Tythes
           ,
           —
           Vniversities
           ,
           —
           Parish
           Levy's
           ,
           —
           Down
           ?
           
             This
             he
             Answers
             with
             a
             parcel
             of
             Gingling
             ,
          
           Yes
           ,
           Yes
           ,
           Yesses
           .
        
         
           
             Then
             to
             fill
             up
             the
             Vacuities
             ,
             he
             insinuates
             that
             these
             same
          
           Sectaries
           
             would
             Elect
          
           Tinkers
           ,
           Taylors
           ,
           Watermen
           ,
           Shoomakers
           ,
           Coffee-men
           ,
           Hat-Dressers
           ,
           &c.
           
             concluding
             with
             a
             pious
          
           Irony
           ,
           That
           the
           Christian
           World
           must
           be
           acquainted
           with
           this
           Honourable
           —
           Reformation
           !
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           place
           the
           Slander
           is
           Venemous
           ,
           and
           the
           Deportment
           of
           the
           Grave
           and
           Reverend
           
             Nonconformist
             Preachers
          
           since
           His
           Majesties
           happy
           Restauration
           ,
           confutes
           this
           wild
           Calumny
           .
           Let
           him
           name
           those
           giddy
           Fools
           ,
           and
           let
           them
           be
           exposed
           for
           their
           silliness
           ;
           Else
           let
           him
           avoid
           the
           charge
           of
           turning
           a
           false
           
             Accuser
             of
             the
             Brethren
             ,
             if
             he
             can
             .
          
        
         
           All
           that
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           desire
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           Liberty
           to
           serve
           their
           God
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Light
           ,
           in
           Cottages
           ,
           or
           any
           where
           ,
           quietly
           ,
           without
           any
           Combination
           against
           the
           Government
           ;
           nor
           do
           they
           begrudge
           the
           Governours
           of
           the
           Church
           their
           Dignities
           or
           Revenues
           .
           When
           they
           do
           otherwise
           ,
           let
           them
           be
           stigmatiz'd
           with
           a
           Witness
           for
           me
           ;
           for
           then
           they
           cease
           from
           being
           the
           Disciples
           of
           Christ
           ,
           
             whose
             Kingdom
             is
             not
             of
             this
             World.
             
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           If
           he
           has
           been
           a
           benefic'd
           Holder-forth
           amongst
           these
           Sectaries
           ,
           
           he
           might
           have
           nam'd
           his
           own
           Trade
           with
           the
           rest
           ;
           And
           should
           have
           Demonstrated
           which
           of
           those
           Mechanicks
           ,
           have
           aspired
           to
           such
           high
           Church
           Dignities
           ;
           without
           that
           ,
           the
           Tale
           signifies
           nothing
           .
           There
           were
           
             Mechanick
             Preachers
          
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Times
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ;
           't
           is
           well
           they
           escape
           this
           Gentlemans
           lash
           ;
           he
           deserves
           thanks
           for
           that
           Civility
           ,
           however
           .
        
         
           
             Well
             but
             (
             says
             the
             Pamphlet
             ,
          
           p.
           13.
           )
           for
           forty
           years
           they
           have
           made
           no
           Bank
           ,
           built
           no
           Free-Schools
           ,
           purchas'd
           no
           Church-Lands
           ,
           —
           pay
           no
           Tythes
           ,
           —
           wont
           consent
           to
           have
           all
           things
           common
           ,
           —
           their
           Preachers
           go
           a
           Begging
           ,
           —
           &c.
           
        
         
           This
           I
           must
           confess
           is
           a
           frightful
           charge
           ,
           and
           able
           to
           scare
           their
           Preachers
           away
           from
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           only
           gape
           for
           a
           Benefice
           .
           But
           the
           Author
           did
           not
           consider
           that
           this
           is
           a
           good
           Argument
           against
           his
           Insinuations
           of
           their
           Ambition
           ,
           for
           if
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           then
           the
           Government
           needs
           not
           fear
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           Penal
           Laws
           may
           be
           spar'd
           ,
           when
           the
           Sectaries
           make
           no
           provision
           for
           their
           Ministers
           ,
           nor
           do
           Incorporate
           themselves
           into
           a
           formidable
           Faction
           .
           Besides
           ,
           since
           the
           Case
           is
           thus
           (
           or
           the
           Pamphlet
           tells
           a
           Whisker
           )
           either
           the
           
             Dissenting
             Preachers
          
           ,
           (
           as
           formerly
           hinted
           )
           are
           Fools
           to
           go
           a
           Begging
           ,
           when
           they
           may
           be
           welcome
           to
           our
           Church
           ,
           and
           provided
           for
           ,
           or
           else
           their
           Dissent
           is
           from
           pure
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           so
           ,
           Christian
           Charity
           would
           rather
           pitty
           then
           persecute
           them
           .
        
         
           To
           conclude
           this
           Section
           ,
           if
           the
           Author
           of
           this
           Paper
           thinks
           fit
           to
           go
           on
           ,
           let
           him
           produce
           Arguments
           of
           weight
           and
           solidity
           ,
           and
           wave
           the
           Language
           of
           Reproach
           ,
           and
           he
           will
           either
           convince
           us
           ,
           or
           be
           answered
           soberly
           .
        
      
       
         
           SECT
           .
           VII
           .
        
         
           AFter
           this
           tedious
           Parenthesis
           ,
           which
           unlookt
           for
           ,
           fell
           in
           my
           way
           ,
           I
           will
           re-assume
           my
           Discourse
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           humility
           offer
           some
           Reasons
           ,
           that
           the
           Intention
           of
           the
           Law-makers
           ,
           was
           for
           suppressing
           Sedition
           ,
           and
           Conspiracies
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           not
           meerly
           to
           punish
           quiet
           and
           peaceable
           Dissenters
           .
           And
           will
           in
           order
           thereunto
           ,
           give
           you
           an
           Abstract
           of
           the
           words
           of
           an
           Ingenious
           Author
           ,
           lately
           published
           .
        
         
           The
           Laws
           against
           Dissenters
           are
           of
           two
           different
           Natures
           .
           1.
           
           Some
           Statutes
           are
           wholly
           designed
           against
           Papists
           ,
           and
           ought
           only
           to
           be
           Executed
           against
           them
           ,
           tho'
           some
           would
           have
           them
           put
           in
           Execution
           against
           
           
           
           
           
           
             Dissenting
             Protestants
          
           ,
           for
           not
           coming
           to
           Church
           ,
           and
           receiving
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Laws
           indeed
           that
           were
           made
           against
           
             Puritan
             Sectaries
          
           (
           as
           they
           call
           them
           )
           or
           
             Dissenting
             Protestants
          
           .
           The
           Statutes
           of
           the
           first
           sort
           ,
           are
           in
           Number
           five
           ,
           viz.
           The
           1.
           
           Elizabeth
           ,
           ca.
           2.
           the
           23.
           
           Elizabeth
           ,
           ca.
           1.
           the
           29.
           
           Elizabeth
           ,
           ca.
           6.
           the
           1.
           
           Jac.
           ca.
           4.
           and
           3.
           
           Jac.
           ca.
           4.
           
        
         
           Here
           good
           Reader
           ,
           I
           thought
           to
           have
           enlarged
           ,
           but
           upon
           second
           thoughts
           (
           having
           resolv'd
           to
           be
           as
           brief
           as
           may
           be
           )
           I
           judge
           it
           more
           to
           your
           satisfaction
           to
           refer
           you
           to
           a
           late
           Treatise
           Intituled
           ,
           
             English
             Liberties
          
           ,
           where
           from
           p.
           171.
           to
           p.
           200.
           you
           have
           this
           Subject
           handled
           with
           much
           judgment
           ,
           candor
           ,
           and
           clearness
           ;
           the
           Book
           is
           to
           be
           had
           at
           any
           Booksellers
           ,
           and
           is
           well
           worth
           every
           English-mans
           perusal
           .
        
         
           The
           Author
           plainly
           demonstrates
           that
           these
           Statutes
           intend
           only
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           Papists
           ,
           and
           therefore
           all
           the
           reason
           and
           equity
           in
           the
           World
           will
           disallow
           their
           being
           put
           in
           Execution
           against
           peaceable
           
             Protestant
             Subjects
          
           ,
           who
           are
           no
           way
           concern'd
           in
           them
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           House
           of
           Commons
           ,
           who
           were
           more
           likely
           to
           Interpret
           a
           doubtful
           Law
           ,
           then
           such
           particular
           Justices
           and
           others
           ,
           as
           are
           now
           so
           busie
           to
           Execute
           them
           against
           the
           mind
           of
           the
           Law-makers
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Sabbati
                       ,
                       Sexto
                       Die
                       Nov.
                       1680.
                       
                    
                  
                
                 
                   Resolved
                   
                     nemine
                     contradicente
                  
                   ,
                   That
                   it
                   is
                   the
                   Opinion
                   of
                   this
                   House
                   ,
                   that
                   the
                   Acts
                   of
                   Parliament
                   made
                   in
                   the
                   Reigns
                   of
                   Queen
                   Elizabeth
                   ,
                   and
                   King
                   James
                   ,
                   against
                   Popish
                   Recusants
                   ,
                   ought
                   not
                   to
                   be
                   extended
                   against
                   
                     Protestant
                     Dissenters
                  
                   .
                
              
            
          
        
         
           That
           the
           35
           th
           .
           of
           Eliz.
           is
           not
           now
           in
           force
           ,
           the
           same
           Author
           Evidences
           by
           such
           solid
           and
           convincing
           Demonstrations
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           in
           my
           judgment
           unanswerable
           ,
           p.
           181.
           &c.
           
        
         
           And
           the
           sum
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           now
           no
           Laws
           in
           being
           to
           punish
           the
           Conventicles
           ,
           and
           the
           Non-conformist
           Ministers
           ,
           who
           did
           not
           Conform
           to
           the
           
             Act
             of
             Vniformity
          
           ,
           made
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           His
           present
           Majesty
           ;
           But
           the
           Act
           commonly
           called
           the
           
             Five
             Mile
          
           ,
           or
           
             Oxford
             Act
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Conventicle
           Act
           ,
           made
           the
           22
           th
           .
           of
           our
           present
           Soveraign
           .
           These
           you
           have
           also
           judiciously
           handled
           ,
           Ibid.
           
        
         
           He
           that
           will
           seriously
           peruse
           these
           several
           Statutes
           ,
           and
           lay
           aside
           prejudice
           ,
           must
           needs
           conclude
           that
           it
           is
           not
           the
           meer
           Dissent
           which
           our
           Law-makers
           intend
           to
           punish
           ,
           for
           the
           Conventicle
           Act
           allows
           any
           Family
           to
           Worship
           God
           in
           their
           own
           way
           ,
           provided
           there
           be
           no
           more
           then
           four
           persons
           besides
           the
           Domesticks
           .
           Nor
           does
           it
           punish
           meerly
           for
           the
           number
           
           neither
           ,
           unless
           them
           be
           Sedition
           ,
           or
           a
           Conspiracy
           of
           the
           Parties
           meeting
           to
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           ,
           or
           contrive
           Insurrections
           ,
           or
           Traytorous
           Designs
           against
           the
           Government
           .
        
         
           If
           there
           be
           any
           such
           meetings
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           a
           pious
           and
           peaceable
           Worshipping
           of
           God
           ,
           will
           be
           meditating
           Rebellion
           ,
           let
           the
           utmost
           severity
           of
           the
           Law
           be
           put
           in
           Execution
           against
           them
           ,
           for
           then
           they
           cease
           from
           being
           Christians
           ,
           when
           they
           become
           Traytors
           ,
           and
           such
           only
           ,
           viz.
           Disturbers
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           the
           just
           Laws
           of
           England
           design
           to
           suppress
           .
           But
           if
           there
           be
           no
           such
           wicked
           Practices
           or
           Conspiracies
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           a
           peaceable
           Deportment
           ,
           and
           quiet
           ,
           harmless
           behaviour
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           in
           the
           meetings
           of
           these
           
             Dissenters
             ▪
          
           with
           what
           Conscience
           can
           those
           Laws
           be
           put
           in
           Execution
           against
           the
           Innocent
           ,
           which
           were
           meant
           only
           to
           suppress
           Sedition
           ,
           and
           secure
           the
           Government
           against
           such
           as
           actually
           disturb
           it
           ?
           That
           that
           was
           the
           intention
           of
           the
           Legislators
           ,
           viz.
           to
           punish
           only
           the
           guilty
           ,
           is
           evident
           ,
           and
           for
           any
           one
           to
           stretch
           those
           Statutes
           beyond
           the
           ends
           for
           which
           they
           were
           designed
           ,
           is
           no
           less
           ,
           then
           to
           shew
           himself
           undutiful
           to
           his
           Soveraign
           ,
           unnaturally
           cruel
           to
           his
           poor
           Country-men
           ,
           an
           oppressor
           of
           his
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           obnoxious
           to
           a
           severe
           Reckoning
           ,
           in
           the
           great
           Day
           of
           Accounts
           .
           I
           have
           demonstrated
           before
           that
           ,
           
             Compulsion
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           Diametrically
           opposite
           to
           the
           Law
           and
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           yea
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           morally
           impossible
           to
           make
           a
           Man
           believe
           against
           his
           Reason
           ;
           and
           consequently
           that
           the
           Effects
           of
           Compulsion
           is
           only
           to
           force
           Men
           to
           Hypocrisie
           ,
           since
           no
           external
           force
           can
           Convert
           the
           Soul.
           
        
         
           
             Now
             I
             shall
             annex
             some
          
           Quotations
           
             from
             the
             Fundamental
             Laws
             of
          
           England
           ,
           
             which
             express
             such
             a
             tenderness
             of
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             it
             tells
             you
             in
             down-right
             terms
             ,
          
           That
           no
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           or
           Law
           ,
           refugnant
           to
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           of
           any
           force
           ,
           
             Finch
             .
             p.
             3.
          
           
           And
           that
           no
           Man
           of
           what
           Estate
           ,
           Degree
           ,
           or
           Condition
           whatsoever
           ,
           hath
           power
           to
           dispense
           with
           Gods
           Law
           ,
           as
           all
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           Realm
           ,
           and
           most
           of
           the
           Vniversities
           of
           Christendom
           ,
           and
           we
           also
           affirm
           ,
           
             28.
             
             H.
             8.
          
           
           And
           that
           against
           Scripture
           ,
           Law
           ,
           Prescription
           ,
           Statute
           ,
           nor
           Custom
           may
           avail
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           be
           brought
           in
           against
           it
           ,
           they
           be
           void
           ,
           and
           against
           Justice
           .
           
             Doctor
             ,
             and
             Student
          
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           Now
           ,
           besides
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           before
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           (
           which
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           positively
           declares
           —
           indispensible
           ,
           )
           take
           here
           a
           brief
           specimen
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           All
           Men
           are
           Commanded
           to
           hear
           ,
           learn
           ,
           and
           keep
           it
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           in
           their
           respective
           Stations
           ,
           according
           to
           Divine
           Rules
           ,
           ready
           to
           Communicate
           such
           Gifts
           as
           Christ
           bestows
           upon
           them
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           Edify
           others
           .
           Mistake
           me
           not
           (
           Reader
           )
           I
           do
           not
           plead
           for
           any
           promiscuous
           or
           irregular
           Liberty
           ,
           for
           any
           person
           to
           step
           beyond
           the
           bounds
           prescribed
           by
           the
           Soveraign
           Legislator
           ,
           but
           to
           shew
           you
           that
           where
           a
           Talent
           is
           given
           ,
           it
           should
           be
           improved
           .
           We
           find
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           Preaching
           
             Kings
             ,
             Princes
             ,
             Judges
             ,
             Levites
             ,
             Psal
             .
          
           40.
           9.
           
           Eccl.
           1.
           1.
           and
           12.
           13.
           2
           
           Chron.
           17.
           7
           ,
           8
           ,
           9.
           
           Yea
           ,
           Preaching
           
             Mechanicks
             ,
             Tradesmen
             ,
             Tent-makers
             ,
             Fishermen
             ,
             &c.
             Mark
          
           6.
           3.
           
           Amos
           1.
           1.
           
           Mark
           1.
           16
           ,
           17.
           
           Act.
           18.
           2.
           1
           
           Cor.
           14.
           1
           ,
           2
           ,
           31.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           God's
           Law
           pronounces
           a
           Wo
           to
           his
           Preachers
           ,
           if
           they
           Preach
           not
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           9.
           16.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           Rewards
           and
           Promises
           are
           promised
           to
           Preachers
           ,
           Matth.
           10.
           41.
           and
           25.
           21.
           and
           5.
           19.
           
           James
           5.
           20.
           
        
         
           4.
           
           God's
           Law
           allows
           Preaching
           in
           Houses
           ,
           Streets
           ,
           Fields
           ,
           &c.
           
           Yea
           ,
           to
           great
           multitudes
           ,
           with
           promised
           Mercies
           to
           the
           owners
           so
           receiving
           them
           ,
           Act.
           20.
           20.
           and
           28.
           31.
           
           Luk
           13.
           26.
           
           Matth
           3.
           1.
           and
           10.
           40
           ,
           41
           ,
           42.
           
        
         
           5.
           
           God's
           Law
           denounces
           wrath
           to
           such
           as
           abuse
           his
           Preachers
           ,
           and
           
             beat
             their
             fellow
             Servants
          
           ,
           1
           Thess
           .
           2.
           16.
           
           Matth.
           24.
           48
           ,
           49
           ,
           50.
           
        
         
           6.
           
           God's
           Law
           injoyns
           Men
           to
           
             Assemble
             together
             in
             order
             to
             his
             Worship
             ,
             Heb.
          
           10.
           25.
           and
           3.
           13.
           
           Act.
           2.
           42.
           
           Mal.
           3.
           14.
           16.
           
           Yea
           ,
           Thousands
           at
           a
           time
           ,
           John
           6.
           10.
           
           Act.
           44.
           and
           2.
           41.
           
           &c.
           much
           more
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           may
           be
           quoted
           .
           Now
           ,
           I
           appeal
           to
           all
           sober
           Christians
           ,
           whether
           any
           Law
           that
           contradicts
           this
           Divine
           Law
           ,
           or
           by
           coercive
           means
           ,
           and
           riged
           penalties
           ,
           keeps
           Christians
           from
           these
           Duties
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           relaxt
           ,
           and
           forborn
           to
           be
           put
           in
           Execution
           ,
           
             because
             all
             humane
             Laws
             ,
             are
             to
             give
             place
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             ,
          
           as
           our
           very
           National
           Laws
           assert
           ?
           and
           whether
           the
           Dissent
           of
           a
           peaceable
           Consciencious
           People
           ,
           from
           meer
           Ceremonies
           not
           enjoyned
           by
           the
           
             Statute
             Law
             of
             Heaven
          
           ,
           deserves
           so
           rigorous
           a
           Treatment
           as
           a
           great
           many
           have
           felt
           ,
           and
           still
           feel
           ?
           &c.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           SECT
           .
           VIII
           .
        
         
           BEsides
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           which
           sweetly
           harmonize
           together
           ,
           (
           when
           the
           latter
           is
           not
           stretched
           beyond
           its
           meaning
           ,
           by
           some
           whose
           Charity
           appearsonly
           in
           the
           Ruine
           of
           their
           poor
           honest
           Neighbours
           ,
           )
           I
           would
           urge
           that
           great
           
             Magna
             Charta
          
           of
           Nature
           ,
           a
           Law
           so
           just
           and
           comprehensive
           ,
           that
           no
           Man
           can
           deny
           it
           ,
           unless
           at
           the
           same
           time
           he
           devests
           himself
           of
           Humanity
           ,
           and
           assumes
           the
           shape
           of
           a
           barbarous
           ,
           and
           more
           then
           bruitish
           Cruelty
           .
           It
           is
           this
           (
           in
           few
           words
           )
           
             Do
             as
             you
             would
             be
             done
             unto
             .
          
           This
           Golden
           Text
           Reverenc'd
           amongst
           the
           very
           Heathens
           (
           whose
           Precept
           it
           was
           ,
           
             Quod
             tibi
             non
             vis
             ,
             alteri
             ne
             feceris
             )
          
           might
           administer
           a
           
             Copious
             Theme
          
           ,
           but
           I
           shall
           be
           brief
           ;
           And
           content
           my self
           to
           ask
           two
           Questions
           of
           those
           Gentlemen
           ,
           that
           are
           so
           busie
           in
           putting
           these
           Penal
           Laws
           in
           Execution
           ;
           But
           still
           letme
           repeat
           the
           Caveat
           I
           have
           so
           often
           mentioned
           ,
           —
           that
           I
           plead
           not
           the
           Cause
           of
           Seditious
           Meetings
           ,
           or
           such
           as
           contrive
           or
           design
           any
           evil
           against
           the
           State
           ,
           but
           only
           such
           as
           Dissent
           purely
           out
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           manage
           their
           separation
           with
           Piety
           towards
           God
           ,
           and
           Loyalty
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           together
           with
           a
           Christian
           becoming
           Deportment
           towards
           their
           Neighbours
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Whether
           they
           ,
           (
           that
           is
           such
           as
           prosecute
           the
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           )
           would
           be
           so
           dealt
           withal
           themselves
           ?
           viz.
           to
           be
           Imprison'd
           ,
           Fin'd
           ,
           Depriv'd
           of
           their
           Goods
           ,
           Banisht
           from
           their
           dearest
           Relations
           ,
           Wives
           ,
           Children
           ,
           &c.
           forc'd
           from
           their
           Trades
           and
           Callings
           ,
           (
           when
           they
           live
           by
           the
           Labour
           of
           their
           their
           hands
           ,
           or
           the
           faculties
           they
           were
           brought
           up
           to
           ,
           )
           have
           their
           Families
           beg
           or
           starve
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           utterly
           ruin'd
           ,
           as
           to
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           meerly
           because
           they
           cannot
           Conform
           to
           what
           they
           are
           not
           convinc'd
           of
           ,
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Institution
           ?
           Or
           ,
           being
           Men
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           will
           not
           be
           led
           by
           any
           Implicite
           Faith
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           methinks
           they
           should
           use
           the
           same
           tenderness
           to
           others
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           violate
           this
           Law
           ,
           (
           made
           Sacred
           Matth.
           7.
           12.
           )
        
         
         
           2.
           
           Whether
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           been
           their
           Lot
           to
           live
           in
           a
           Country
           where
           Popery
           ,
           or
           Presbyterianism
           ,
           is
           the
           publick
           Religion
           ,
           would
           they
           look
           upon
           it
           to
           be
           just
           and
           fair
           dealing
           ,
           meerly
           for
           their
           Conscientious
           Dissent
           to
           be
           forc'd
           to
           a
           Hypocritical
           Compliance
           ,
           or
           be
           ruin'd
           in
           their
           Estates
           ,
           if
           not
           Lives
           ?
        
      
       
         
           SECT
           .
           IX
           .
        
         
           THe
           Grand
           Topick
           which
           the
           little
           mercenary
           Pasquillers
           use
           to
           justifie
           their
           Invectives
           against
           Dissenters
           ,
           is
           the
           late
           dismal
           Rebellion
           ,
           and
           the
           horrid
           Murther
           of
           His
           Majesties
           Royal
           Father
           ,
           &c.
           
           This
           is
           a
           Subject
           which
           I
           would
           not
           touch
           upon
           ,
           but
           that
           I
           am
           forc'd
           by
           the
           dayly
           Clamours
           of
           these
           Pamphletters
           to
           speak
           a
           few
           words
           to
           it
           .
           And
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           I
           know
           my
           own
           Heart
           ,
           I
           can
           truly
           say
           ,
           That
           I
           do
           from
           my
           very
           Soul
           abhor
           and
           detest
           all
           Principles
           that
           tend
           to
           Rebellion
           ,
           or
           Disturbance
           of
           the
           publick
           or
           private
           Peace
           ,
           and
           all
           such
           wicked
           persons
           as
           Imbrue
           their
           hands
           in
           the
           Blood
           of
           any
           Man
           ,
           Woman
           ,
           or
           Child
           ,
           much
           more
           any
           such
           Traytors
           as
           practice
           against
           the
           Sacred
           Life
           or
           Person
           of
           the
           
           Lord
           's
           Annointed
           ,
           for
           such
           persons
           are
           so
           far
           from
           deserving
           any
           favour
           or
           protection
           from
           the
           Government
           ,
           that
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           rooted
           from
           off
           the
           face
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           as
           the
           most
           execrable
           of
           Misereants
           .
           And
           therefore
           let
           the
           Authors
           of
           our
           late
           Calamities
           ,
           and
           the
           unparallel'd
           Murther
           of
           that
           Great
           and
           most
           Excellent
           Prince
           ,
           be
           branded
           with
           everlasting
           Infamy
           for
           me
           .
           'T
           is
           not
           for
           Traytors
           ,
           but
           for
           my
           Innocent
           fellow-Christians
           ,
           that
           I
           beg
           the
           favour
           and
           pitty
           of
           such
           as
           are
           intrusted
           with
           the
           Execution
           of
           Penal
           Laws
           for
           Religion
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           How
           far
           the
           Papists
           did
           Influence
           those
           fatal
           Convulsions
           ,
           and
           whether
           the
           Nation
           ows
           not
           all
           its
           Calamity
           to
           their
           black
           and
           mystical
           Stratagems
           ,
           the
           judicious
           unbyass'd
           Reader
           will
           soon
           determine
           ,
           if
           he
           peruses
           Mr.
           
           Care
           's
           
             History
             of
             the
             Plot
          
           ,
           reprinted
           1681.
           from
           p.
           42.
           to
           71.
           
           I
           have
           not
           Room
           to
           transcribe
           
           it
           ,
           and
           therefore
           would
           advise
           (
           any
           that
           doubts
           it
           )
           to
           peruse
           it
           there
           Intire
           ,
           't
           is
           worth
           his
           while
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           'T
           is
           Diametrically
           opposite
           to
           Justice
           ,
           to
           punish
           the
           Innocent
           for
           the
           Crimes
           of
           the
           Guilty
           .
           —
           And
           admitting
           that
           a
           great
           many
           under
           the
           Vizard
           of
           Religion
           ,
           had
           a
           main
           hand
           in
           these
           lamentable
           (
           and
           too
           too
           deplorable
           )
           mischiefs
           before
           mentioned
           ;
           there
           is
           no
           equity
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           their
           Villanies
           shall
           be
           chargeable
           upon
           (
           and
           their
           punishment
           extend
           to
           )
           such
           as
           were
           never
           concern'd
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           best
           Religion
           in
           the
           World
           cannot
           secure
           it self
           from
           Hypocrites
           ,
           that
           disguise
           themselves
           till
           they
           have
           an
           opportunity
           to
           serve
           some
           Devilish
           turn
           ,
           or
           other
           .
           That
           Arch-Traytor
           and
           
             Informer
             Judus
          
           ,
           got
           in
           among
           the
           very
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           many
           false
           Brethren
           crept
           in
           among
           the
           Primitive
           Saints
           ;
           —
           the
           Devil
           himself
           will
           sometimes
           come
           Masqueraded
           as
           an
           Angel
           of
           Light.
           Why
           is
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ever
           the
           worse
           for
           this
           ?
           No
           ,
           no
           ,
           Divine
           Truths
           are
           still
           such
           ,
           though
           the
           Sacred
           Profession
           of
           it
           is
           prophan'd
           and
           abus'd
           by
           such
           Hypocritical
           Wretches
           ,
           to
           their
           own
           Damnation
           .
        
         
           What
           I
           aim
           at
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           viz.
           that
           we
           are
           to
           examine
           the
           Principles
           of
           such
           as
           profess
           Christianity
           under
           any
           form
           ,
           declared
           in
           their
           publick
           Confessions
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           Writings
           of
           such
           as
           are
           own'd
           ,
           and
           approv'd
           by
           them
           ,
           and
           if
           we
           find
           them
           pernicious
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           or
           tending
           any
           waies
           to
           the
           disturbance
           of
           the
           publick
           peace
           ;
           such
           are
           without
           Dispute
           to
           be
           suppress'd
           and
           punisht
           as
           Enemies
           to
           the
           State.
           But
           if
           their
           Principles
           be
           in
           all
           Articles
           of
           Religion
           suitable
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           (
           in
           Fundamentals
           )
           to
           the
           Establisht
           Religion
           ;
           it
           will
           unavoidably
           follow
           ,
           That
           the
           miscarriages
           ,
           or
           wickedness
           of
           some
           that
           creep
           in
           amongst
           them
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           charged
           upon
           their
           Christian
           Profession
           ,
           (
           which
           allows
           no
           such
           thing
           )
           but
           upon
           the
           Delinquents
           themselves
           .
        
         
           From
           hence
           I
           infer
           ,
           that
           the
           Murther
           of
           His
           late
           Majesty
           ,
           those
           Rebellions
           ,
           Bloodsheds
           ,
           and
           Overturnings
           of
           State
           ,
           &c.
           then
           noted
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           chargeable
           only
           upon
           such
           as
           were
           personally
           and
           actually
           guilty
           ,
           —
           For
           I
           never
           heard
           ,
           (
           and
           I
           dare
           boldly
           say
           that
           no
           Man
           ever
           did
           hear
           )
           that
           any
           of
           our
           
             Dissenting
             Protestants
          
           in
           their
           Confessions
           of
           Faith
           ,
           have
           ever
           had
           so
           much
           Traytorous
           Impudence
           ,
           as
           to
           justifie
           the
           least
           
           tittle
           of
           such
           horrid
           things
           ,
           but
           the
           quite
           contrary
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           shown
           in
           time
           .
        
         
           If
           there
           be
           any
           now
           alive
           ,
           who
           have
           had
           any
           hand
           in
           those
           dreadful
           Commotious
           ,
           &c.
           
           If
           they
           have
           received
           His
           Majesties
           Pardon
           ,
           they
           are
           thereby
           reinstated
           into
           equal
           Priviledges
           with
           the
           Innocent
           ,
           unless
           by
           new
           Treasons
           they
           forfeit
           that
           Royal
           Grace
           ▪
           But
           if
           there
           be
           any
           of
           them
           excluded
           from
           the
           benefit
           of
           the
           
             Act
             of
             Oblivion
          
           ,
           let
           them
           be
           punish'd
           ,
           
             fiat
             Justitia
          
           .
        
         
           I
           insist
           the
           longer
           upon
           this
           ,
           to
           shew
           how
           unreasonable
           it
           is
           ,
           for
           such
           a
           parcel
           of
           
             Hackney
             Scriblers
          
           to
           be
           perpetually
           bawling
           of
           41
           ,
           41
           ,
           and
           making
           the
           crimes
           of
           such
           as
           are
           Dead
           ,
           or
           were
           Executed
           for
           their
           Treasons
           ,
           not
           only
           survive
           them
           ,
           but
           persecute
           their
           poor
           Innocent
           Fellow
           Subjects
           with
           them
           ;
           I
           could
           wish
           with
           all
           my
           Heart
           ,
           that
           all
           those
           
             half-penny
             Pasquillers
          
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           who
           meerly
           for
           their
           Bellies
           ,
           pester
           City
           and
           Country
           ,
           inventing
           Names
           of
           Reproach
           ,
           as
           
             Whigg
             ,
             Tory
             ,
             Trimmer
          
           ,
           &c.
           and
           begetting
           Feuds
           and
           Animosities
           betwixt
           His
           Majesties
           
             Liege
             People
          
           ,
           were
           severely
           punisht
           as
           
             Disturbers
             of
             the
             publick
             Peace
          
           ;
           I
           am
           sure
           they
           deserve
           it
           more
           then
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           who
           are
           a
           peaceable
           trading
           People
           ,
           and
           usefull
           Members
           of
           the
           State
           ,
           who
           pay
           His
           Majesty
           all
           His
           Taxes
           and
           Revenues
           ,
           to
           the
           utmost
           of
           what
           the
           Law
           requires
           ▪
           (
           which
           is
           not
           inconsiderable
           .
           )
           How
           untollerable
           is
           it
           then
           ,
           for
           free
           born
           Subjects
           ,
           Loyal
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           helpful
           in
           supporting
           the
           charge
           of
           the
           Government
           to
           be
           dayly
           and
           weekly
           Libel'd
           ,
           and
           abus'd
           by
           those
           Rascally
           
             Leeches
             of
             the
             Press
          
           ,
           that
           to
           serve
           their
           own
           little
           Craving
           Necessities
           ,
           care
           not
           if
           they
           
             set
             the
             People
             together
             by
             the
             Ears
             ?
          
        
         
           His
           Majesty
           out
           of
           His
           Royal
           Clemency
           was
           pleas'd
           to
           pass
           an
           
             Act
             of
             Oblivion
          
           ,
           yea
           ,
           so
           impatient
           was
           he
           ,
           that
           he
           prest
           the
           Parliament
           with
           much
           earnestness
           ,
           to
           make
           it
           ready
           for
           his
           
             Royal
             Assent
             ▪
          
           What
           then
           ?
           why
           here
           you
           have
           his
           goodness
           ▪
           and
           Princely
           Lenity
           reviled
           ,
           and
           contradicted
           ,
           (
           almost
           dayly
           )
           by
           a
           certain
           Incendiary
           ,
           who
           Conjurest
           up
           the
           Memory
           of
           those
           fatal
           Times
           ,
           and
           keeps
           the
           Nation
           Old
           Wounds
           a
           Bleeding
           ,
           in
           defiance
           of
           that
           Act
           ,
           which
           was
           design'd
           to
           heal
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           forgotten
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           CONCLVSION
           .
        
         
           I
           Intended
           upon
           this
           Subject
           to
           have
           given
           you
           a
           parallel
           between
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           but
           that
           I
           find
           it
           already
           well
           done
           by
           Mr.
           
             Henry
             Care
          
           ,
           in
           his
           Book
           Intituled
           ,
           
             Vltrum
             Horum
          
           ,
           &c.
           Printed
           1682.
           
           To
           which
           I
           refer
           you
           ,
           as
           also
           to
           the
           truly
           pious
           Treatises
           of
           that
           worthy
           Author
           (
           whoever
           he
           be
           )
           
             of
             the
             Conformists
             Plea
             for
             the
             Nonconformists
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           purposed
           likewise
           to
           lay
           down
           some
           Demonstrative
           Reasons
           ,
           why
           the
           
             profession
             of
             Popery
             is
             intollerable
             in
             a
             Protestant
             Kingdom
             ,
          
           (
           whom
           they
           account
           Hereticks
           )
           because
           their
           Principles
           are
           Pernicious
           ,
           and
           their
           Practices
           have
           been
           Dangerous
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           To
           shew
           the
           mischiefs
           ,
           and
           sad
           Consequences
           of
           prosecuting
           quiet
           and
           peaceable
           Dissenters
           upon
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           ,
           as
           having
           a
           direct
           tendency
           to
           weaken
           
             the
             Protestant
             Interest
          
           ,
           for
           whose
           Ruine
           that
           common
           Enemy
           greedily
           gapes
           ,
           (
           2.
           )
           How
           much
           it
           destroys
           Trade
           ,
           and
           ruines
           Thousands
           of
           Families
           ,
           (
           3.
           )
           What
           a
           Scandal
           it
           is
           to
           the
           
             Protestant
             Reformation
          
           ,
           when
           we
           quarrel
           and
           persecute
           each
           other
           ,
           (
           4.
           )
           What
           a
           disparagement
           it
           is
           to
           the
           Actors
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           4.
           
           To
           shew
           the
           quality
           of
           Informers
           ,
           and
           the
           quality
           of
           such
           as
           they
           prosecute
           ;
           with
           the
           Ravenous
           and
           Illegal
           proceedings
           of
           the
           former
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           Produce
           Illustrious
           Testimonies
           of
           the
           worth
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           how
           serviceable
           they
           have
           been
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           as
           also
           the
           Witness
           of
           as
           eminent
           Church-men
           and
           States-men
           ,
           as
           ever
           were
           in
           England
           ,
           who
           gave
           them
           great
           Encomiums
           ,
           and
           own'd
           them
           as
           Brethren
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           Propose
           a
           modest
           Essay
           for
           Vnion
           amongst
           all
           Protestants
           ,
           with
           Demonstrative
           Reasons
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           only
           practicable
           ,
           but
           absolutely
           necessary
           ;
           together
           with
           the
           Blessed
           Effects
           of
           such
           an
           Accomodation
           .
        
         
           But
           having
           already
           exceeded
           my
           intended
           limits
           ,
           I
           must
           leave
           it
           to
           another
           opportunity
           ,
           and
           my
           poor
           endeavours
           to
           the
           Blessing
           of
           the
           God
           of
           Peace
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .