A SPEECH Without-DOORS: OR SOME Modest Inquiries Humbly Proposed to The RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Convention of Estates, Assembled at WESTMINSTER, Jan. 22. 1688/ 9  
CONCERNING, 

I. Bigotism, or Religious Madness.  
II. Tests, and the Present Test in Particular.  
III. Penal Laws in Matters of Religion.  
iv The Necessity of Changing and Recanting our Opinions in Religion.  
V Restraint of the Press.    
By EDM. HICKERINGILL, Rector of the Rectory of All Saints in Colchester.  
LONDON, Printed by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopsgate. MDCLXXXIX.   

To the Illustrious, Right Honourable, and Honourable, The Convention of Estates, Assembled at WESTMINSTER, Jan. 22. 1688.  
Illustrious, Right Honourable, and Honourable,  
FOr as much as you are Esteemed (by the whole Body of the People) the wisest and honestest, and therefore the most able and proper) Healers of our present Breaches and Distractions, so you cannot better approve yourselves such, than by the best Testimonal thereof (that Possibly can be, viz.) Moderation: For no Extremes last long.  
When Passion, Pride, and Self-Interest (the boldest and worst of Usurpers) do come to be the Domineering and Prevailing-Party, then Right Reason (and consequently true Religion and Justice) are deposed and dethroned, and then comes Confusion and every evil work.  
There never can be (nor ever were) more than two sorts of Politicians in Christendom: The one thinks Justice, Piety, and Honesty the best Policy, as our blessed Saviour, the Apostles, and all Christians that follow their steps.  
The other makes use of Justice and Religion too (sometimes) but no further than they serve his Politic turn, his worldly greatness and glory; (which if Justice and Christian Religion will not bring to him, than he tries what Oppression and Superstition will do: For this Brute (as if he had the Soul of a Beast, and not an Immortal Soul) never looks up to Heaven, nor takes his measures from him that Made and Rules the World and the Kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will; but calculates all his Plots to the Glory of this World, and terminates them in this life: And if his Plots and the Devil ●ail him, like Achitophet, he does (or is ready to) hang himself; or like that Brute, the King (Nebuc●●adnezzar) driven from his People, and turned to Grass, like a Brute as he was, until he knew that the Most High R●leth in the Kingdoms of men, and and giveth them to whomsoever he will.  
Our Saviour says his Kingdom is not of this World; when therefore we pray, Thy Kingdom come, we ought not to wish, much less endeavour, that Antichrist's Kingdom should come. But in carrying on True and Pure Religion and the Gospel, we ought to content ourselves with such Engines wherewith Christ and the Apostles propagated the same, all the World over, three hundred years before Constantine was born.  
Nor ought we to follow the Antichristian steps of the Pope or Turk. For Antichrist, or the man of Sin, are surely nouns of multitude, accumulative words, and signify those that carry on a Superstition contrary to Christ's Religion; they are Antichrist, or against Christ; and they that sit in the Temple of God, (God's Throne) commanding Souls and Consciences, as if they were Gods; they are limbs of that man of sin; which shall fall, by the Finger of God.  
Which Finger of God was never more apparently and miraculously seen, than in this late Revolution, which is like a Resurrection from the Dead; Dead, I say, (for both we, and our irreconcilable Adversaries had passed the Sentence of Death upon us, unreprievable without a Miracle;) And whoever treads in the Antichristian steps and Policies of the Man of Sin, by Propagating the Gospel with force of Arms, can they expect other than to stand or fall with such ill Company? But as our Riders are changed, we hope also to have our heavy Burdens, and unreasonable Loads taken off. For, by force chief Antichristian Mahomet made Converts, with his Alcoran (or Bible) in one hand, and his Sword in the other, (with this motto) If one will not do, the other shall.  
And thus the Most Christian Turk makes Converts, with Constables, Hangmen, Jailers, Penal Laws, Tests, and Troops of Dragoons. Will the bolder English never be wiser than to follow French-Fashions? Shall nothing be the mode here, (no, not in Religion neither,) but what is A-la-mode de Francois?  
Never had any Englishmen a greater Trust put upon them, nor a greater Power put into their hands, than is put into yours this day, in this extraordinary, rare, necessary (and therefore) Just Convention.  
You have virtually in you, the power of all the Laws, and all the Kings and Parliaments that ever were, or ever shall be again in England to the world's End; because, it is in your Breasts, to save, destroy, continue or abrogate them, or any of them, arbitrarily at your good pleasure.  
It becomes not me to determine positively, whether the Monarchy be dissolved by the King's departure, throwing up the reins of Government, and will Guide no longer, quitting the Helm of Empire, and leaving the ship (once more) to the mercy of the Waves, to sink or Swim; refusing to call Parliaments (the only Scourge of Evil Courcellors) and in whom jonytly, with himself, was lodged the Ligislative Power: Or, Whether the General Revolt had taken from him the Power of Guidance, forfeited by Maladministration of the Executive Power of the Laws: Or, whether also the Invading of the Legislative Power by erecting a Dispensing Power, which seems, in effect, but a New Name for a New Legislative Power.  
The Executive Power of our Laws was (by our late Constitution) lodged in the King alone, (as the Sole Power of the Militia, making Alliances, Judges, Sheriffs, etc.) a Burden (thought to be) too heavy for any single Shoulder, and has occasioned two or three general Revolts, and Expulsions of the Monarches in the three last Reigns; for the Males Administration thereof (as was at least pretended) together with other sad Consequences, too dismal to be remembered here, and too lately done to be forgot; nor need we mention the many and general Revolts in our Forefathers times, during all the Unhappy Reigns since William the First; all of them arising from the same occasion.  
Yet, will it not well become your Wisdoms, quaerere vias antiquas, to keep to the old frame of Government, Monarchical; (with what limits of the Executive Power you shall please;) and (as near as may be with any convenience) to the old line too, and next Heir?  
Not only, because a more awful Deference and Veneration is paid to (what is anciently) the Royal Family; than to anyVpstart Family; but because the Finger of God seems to point out, and direct to that Incomparable and Blessed Branch (thereof) which God has made so strong for his own Self; and the chief Instrument in the Hand of the Almighty, for our Salvation from Popery and Slavery.  
Nothing (here hinted at) is to inform your Wiser Judgements, that knows much more of this already, (far be such Vanity from me!) But to stir up your Affections, and to be One of your Humble Remembrancers.  
For every man is now (or never) concerned to put to his helping Hand at this Dead Life, and you concerned to accept kindly the Service (even of the Weakest) at least, surely the least you can do, is to thank them for their Love and good Will, though no otherwise serviceable unto you.  
Besides, A Slip now may be fatal; or (at best) not so curable hereafter as now; and as is more particularly insisted on in the Conclusion of this Treatise.  
I well know, that in this Crisis, every Politic Noddle is pregnant with Projects, & never at rest, till it be delivered of his Minerva, which perhaps proves a Maggot. Yet, if what is now said, be evidenced beyond all Contradiction and Confutation other than (the old Antichristian Engine) a Jail be pleased to protect the Author from such , Vn-Scholar-like, & Unreasonable Confutation, until these Inquiries be oppugned with the only proper weapons, in Spiritual matters, Holy Scripture and Right Reason.  
My Lords (the present Bishops, for the generality of them) have approved themselves (in this juncture) not only most excellent Englishmen, but excellent Christians, notwithstanding the Now-Church-of- England's-Doctrine of Passive Obedience; (without exception) and the only Weapon-salve of Prayers and Tears (a good Doctrine for him indeed that is uppermost right or wrong); and finding the necessity of Recanting the same; some of them (at least) have in good time betaken themselves to a keener weapon; and the rest (and those) the best of them, are willing to come to a temper.  
Whereby they do by Implication confess a too feavourish and hot distemper (that has been) 'tis now time, to come to the cooler and milder Galaxye (or milkye way) the only Way to Heaven.  
And if any thing, in these modest Inquiries, may tend to our Cure, no moderate Church of England- man can possibly be offended, except they are past cure and past 'mending; to such we have nothing to say, but to write, Lord have mercy— upon their Doors.  
Not only the wellbeing, but the being of these Nations, depend much upon the success of this most August, and most Honourable Convention, which has so many (and those so great) Friends and Enemies.  
And is it not now high time to enlarge our Interest, and widen the Church of England's Pale, and not exclude (out of the Church and the Privileges of it) the better half of the Nation? Is not this Piety? Nay, Is not this true wisdom and honest Policy? Now, (now I say) when the Irreconcilable Enemies of our Holy Religion are (by cruel and bloody Confederacy) bandied and knotted together, to destroy us and our Religion Root and Branch?  
Britain was never conquered but by herself. How? By her divided Parties, saith Tacitus, (the best Roman Historian of the Romish Conquest over Britain) smiling, Dum singuli pugnabant, omnes victi.  
Is it not now therefore time to open the Church-doors as wide as Christ and his Holy Apostles opened them? Shall Filthyluere, Pride or Malice shut them up, whilst monopolised to a few that share all the Gains, though the Poor Dissenter must partake the hazard and the Pains, in our Common Defence? Even Private Soldiers fight coldly, without any Pay, or any hopes of Reward, in the Booty, after Victory.  
Very excellent men (as it happens, which seldom happens in such a Constitution of a Church) are now uppermost. But surely we are not obliged to believe all that they say who happen to be uppermost, only because they are uppermost.  
For, though at present we have (for the generality of our Fathers in the Church) at this time very good men, yet sometimes the very Froth and Scum may be uppermost.  
And therefore if some errors in our Church, both peradventure in Doctrine as well as Discipline, be humbly inquired into, (if they appear upon moderate deliberation to be Errors) must we continue in them, or curse ourselves to an eternal continuance therein, or (as in the Office of Commination in the Common-Prayer-Book) say, Amen, still, (so be it Amen,) Is it not better to say, Amend, Amend?  
For this Cause the Author humbly hopes that you will pardon the nice formality of Printing this without an Imprimatur, which cannot in any likelihood be obtained from the present Licensers, if any thing here thwart their Interest, and spoil their Trade.  
To your  and Impartial Reasons therefore, the Author humbly appeals; And what Book or Author would desire to live, if cast and condemned by such Judges? And who dare condemn, whom your better Judgements think meet to save?  
These following Essays are most seasonable, as to the subject matter inquired into: But, if for want of dexterity, they be ill handled, yet be pleased not to discourage this well-meant and humble attempt (here laid at your Feet) since (at worst) it may serve for a Prompter to put better Heads in mind, and to set better Tongues at work to discourse the point more accurately within your Walls, which is now only A Speech without-Doors, by  
Your Ready Servant, E. Hickeringil.   


SECT. I. Of Bigotism, or Religious Madness.  
A Bigot? What's that? 'Tis a Spiritual Narcissus; a Self-conceited Religious Coxcomb, that falling in love with the shadows and Whimses, Opinions and Imaginations of his own dear Crazy Skull, in matters of Religion; Espouses them to that height of Dotage, that he will Bustle and fight like mad, and in the Quarrel wilingly die a silly Martyr too; at least, will freely venture Life and Limb, Goods and Lands (though he had Kingdoms to stake) yet neither knowing why nor wherefore.  
For this Spiritual Bankrupt takes up all his stock of Religion upon Trust, and at all adventures, without ground or reason, other than Education, or some wilder chance, and therefore believes a Lie as eagerly and firmly as the greatest Truth, and had been a Mahometan, if born in Turkey; a Papist, Moor or Jew, if born in Portugal, and an Infidel in China.  
If this Spiritual Lunatic wants Power and Authority, he plays his Religious Pranks and Freaques only in apish Tricks and devout Mimickry, skiping perhaps from the Shop board to the Pulpit, where the mad Ape makes such Faces and Grimaces, quoting of Holy Scripture, and Commenting thereupon, as Frenzically, impertinently and Fanatically, as oliver's Porter in Bedlam; and if a stranger (that is not used to it) should spy him there, he might Swear, and safely too (in the words of Hosea) The Prophet is a fool, and the Spiritual man is mad, or (more properly and according to the original) The man of the Spirit is mad; and being crazed with a notion (like Archimedes) runs skiping about, Crying, Eureka, Eureka, I have it, I have found it; when nothing is found but the soft place in his head.  
But if Magistracy and Authority shall happen at any time to be possessed with this mad spirit of Superstitious Lunacy: Then for Propagation nothing less will serve then to increase and multiply this spurious Issue (and Bastard Minerva of their Priestridden Brains) amongst all their Inferiors and Dependants; Imposing Creed and Faith, as Magisterially as great Athanasius himself, making believers and Faith by Statute-Law, Cannon-Law; which they must and shall believe in spite of their hearts, or else by Penal Laws take what follows, Curses and Anathema, Fire and Faggot, as least, Hell and Damnation, Fines and Imprisonments; but, Put up thy dagger, Bigot!  
Does not Antichrist thus set up the Abomination of Desolation in the holy place (the Chimaeras of his Noddle in the Temple of God) where he sits, commanding Faith and Consciences,) as Peremtorily and Infallibly as if he were God; breathing Vengeance, and spitting Fire at all that oppose him, and like a distracted Indian Bigot, running a Mack at all Mankind, till he kill (or be killed by) all that stand in his way.  
Thus the Bigoted Spaniard converted the Indies with a long Tuck; and thus the hare-brained French in Bloody Devotion to Popedom (of Two Millions of Heretics) Confuted and Extirpated Two hundred Thousand of them, and made Eighteen Hundred Thousand new Converts, with Troops of Dragoons.  
Possessed with this Evil Spirit of Bigotisme and devout Frenzy, King Manassah Sacrificed his Son to Moloch in the Flames; And King Philip of Spain gave up his Son to be Murdered in the Bloody Inquesition, upon suspicion of Lutheranism: And what Spirit possessed our Neighbour Nation, when no man was Suffered to buy or sell, or give meat or drink or other Comfort to any whom holy Church had Excommunicated? Nay, at home here— How now? No more; Hold there: Come not near.  
It is as safe to Kennel with a mad Bull-dog, or with the Lions in the Tower, or cohabit with a Madman in Bedlam, as with a Zealous and Furious Bigot; there is no living with him or near him, except he be muzzled, fettered or chained; for if he break lose, all the sober part of mankind are concerned to join hands in their own defence; and in Self-Preservation to tie him up.  
And if I have here made a Whip of small Cords to lash this Tom of Bedlam out of the Church where he has made such havoc and disturbance with his maggot; it is but in order to his cure, by gentle stripes to bring him (if possible) to his wits again, and to reason.  
Reason (I say) which is the Souls best Centinel, which should carefully examine every thing before it enter, strictly challenging (not who but) what comes there.  
Nothing is more frequently inculcated in Scripture, than Examine yourselves, prove your own selves, try the Spirits whether they are of God: but for want of this, Popery, Priest-craft, and Bigotism has been the Inveterate and Old Disease of Christendom; for Popery and Priestcraft always preached up Ignorance, as the only Mother (and so it is) of Bigotism and silly Devotion: Samson must first have his Eyes put out, before he can be managed to make sport.  
I am sensible, that I treat of a Subject that is seldom or never handled in this method, and of a Distemper, that will make the madmen rage's the more; there is witchcrast in this frenzy, they are so bewitched as to be in love with their Disease and will, like other Lunatics (to choose) fall upon the Physician, above all others, if he attempt to cure them.  
But is it not a Lunacy beyond the wild fury of Bedlam, that Protestants should now think of new farbushing and whetting the Penal Laws against Dissenters to their Placets, arbitrary and wilful Impositions in doubtful and trivial matters, Lana caprina, and Bar them out of the Church and State (their Birthrights as Men and Christians) with Tests (designed at first only against the irreconcilable Enemies of our Religion) and (when the Oath of Supremacy alone will do the feat) straightening the Church of England to a few, (is it that they alone may monopolise all the Preferments in Church and State) when all the Wisdom, Piety and Policy in the World cries aloud to widen the Churches Pale and enlarge her Interest, now, now especially, when the Common Enemy has drawn a Sword never to be sheathed but in our Throats? Shall Abraham and Lot, Gen. 13.7. be at strife between themselves about trifles, when the Canaanite and Perizzite is ready to Land? Is it not yet time to lose the hands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the Oppressed go free, and to break every (Insolent and Bigoted) Yoke? Isai. 58.6. Read seriously Rom. 14. the whole Chapter is an approved Cure, for Dogmatical and Pragmatical Bigotism. We read in Scripture, that all Christians should endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace; but where do we read that any Christians did, or aught to Compel Uniformity, as the Bond of Peace?  
But, Hold— may some say, and have a care; whilst you speak against Bigoted Impositions, do you not transgress the 39 Articles of the Church of England; that says, The Church has Power to Impose Rites and Ceremonies?  
I answer, That it is time enough to answer that, when you have read what is said concerning the same here, in the second and Third Section; and also when any good Body (that can tell) will tell what, and who is this same Church of England? Who is the Head of it this day? And what Language does a Head speak, when it is separated from, and not United with, nor of the same Complexion, Nutriment, and Constitution with the Body?  
Ay! But grant that what you say here be Truth, yet a grave Author says, That all Truths are not to be spoken at all times.  
And (Grave Author might to as wise purpose add) therefore all Truths are not to be spoken at any time, when you touch the sore place: No, no, they will always (then) kick; you'll please them at no time.  
Thus Gypsees cant, and would gravely persuade us to shut our Eyes and not discover their juggling Tricks, wink till ours, or our Friends Pockets be picked; and then we shall have a Licence to discover the Naked Truth; Ay, Ay! (Dear Gravity) but than it is too late.  
Thus the old Gentleman that was resolved to die a Bachelor, silenced his Friends when they proposed a Match for him in his Youth; Oh no, quoth he, It is not seasonable, it is too soon to marry; but, when they reiterated the same Proposal to him in his decrepit age, answers, Now you speak too late; so that what men like not, is at no time seasonable; they'll always quarrel with the time.  
Are not things now, just now, upon the Hinge? Is not this time like the third and last time of Publishing the Banes of Matrimony? Either now Speak, or else forever hereafter hold your Peace.  
Reason (man's chiefest Light) shines bright enough in many mad men on one side of the skull, when it is benighted on the other side of the Pericranium, and crazed with a notion on that side the head: Many madmen in Bedlam will talk rationally enough, on any subject, except that which first beclouded their Reason; but then, when you touch upon that sore place, they rave:  
Thus, it is reported of a madman that would talk most sensible in all matters, except when he saw or discoursed of a Ship (for he was crazed by losing his Estate by Shipwreck) fancying that all men's Ships that came laden and well-fraught into the Port, were his own; and was as really overjoyed, when the Rich Cargoes came home, as if they had truly been his own.  
His dear Friends, (pitying his distraction) got him cured, whether he would or no: Whereupon coming to his Right Mind, he thus thanked his Friends for their love to him— Pol me Periistis, amici! you have undone me, Dear Friends! and beggared me; yet he lost nothing but his Wild Fancy; surely, he was madder for saying so, than he was before.  
But, to apply it; If any Church-of-England man, puffed up with Bigotism and mad-conceit of the Purity of what some call Church-of-England, both in Doctrine and Discipline; and (like the whimsical Church of Laodicea) fancying that she is Rich, and increased in Goods, and hath need of nothing; and I (amongst others) like a true Friend, endeavour to cure him of this Wild Fancy, and dispel the Cloud that shadowed Right Reason, giving him to understand, beyond all contradiction, and as clear as day, how and wherein, both in Doctrine and Discipline, she is wretched, and miserable, poor, and blind, and naked.  
That so, she may betake herself to wise Counsels, and get Gold tried in the Fire (that her Hay and Stubble being burnt up, (for she must pass through Purgatory here, and through the Furnace,) that she may be rich; and White Raiment to cover the shame of her nakedness, that it may no longer appear; and anoint the Eyes of our dim Mother, with Eyesalve that she may see the better: Will any (in their wits) blame a true Son of the Church for his love and kindness to his purblind Mother; which is his Duty? And say, in her name— Pol me Peristi mi Fili: Verily, verily, you have undone me, dear Son! Surely, such a mad and unreasonable exclamation would speak her to be incurable, and would aggravate the Distraction.   

SECT. II. Of TESTS, and the Present Test in Particular.  
A Test! what's that? 'Tis a Touchstone to try what Metal any thing is of; and is as necessary for every Man, every Housekeeper, every Body-Politick, every Church or State, as is a Touchstone to a Goldsmith, there's no living well without it.  
A Test is of absolute necessity for every man always to carry about him, to try himself and others; to try both his own and other men's Opinions, Words, Works and Ways, whether they be right; since all is not Gold that glisters.  
A Test is necessary for every Housekeeper that wants a Servant, a Guest, an Apprentice, a Journeyman, a Bailiff, a Steward, a Friend, or the like; for though such a Person is recommended, as is in all things fit for his turn, except only that he is a Papist; (who is obliged to hold (or else he is no Papist) that the Decrees of Pope and General Council conjoined are infallible, and particularly, that Bloody Decree of the Council of Constance, that (nulla fides servant cum hereticis) no faith is to be kept with a Heretic, that is, no Faith, Oath, or Promise is binding, if it be made to one that is no Papist.  
For Papists (like the Jews,) (the basest and most inhospitable People under Heaven (except Papists) look upon all that are not of their Religion, as Dogs; nay, the worst of Dogs, good for nothing, but to be proselyted, or knocked i'th' head; either to be turned to their Religion, or turned out of the World; not that every Papist thinks so, but by their Religion they are obliged so to believe. For which Cause Tacitus calls the Jews, erudelissima & vilissima servientium pars, the bloodiest and basest Slaves in all the Roman Empire: Therefore the Jews Test is, Is be a Jew? And the Papists Test (as at this day in Ireland and France) is shortly this only, Is he a Papist? If it be answered (when closeted) No, no; then turn him out; let him not be trusted, either with Arms, a Red coat, or any Office of Trust, or Benefit; bar the Door, exclude him, shut him out, or perhaps kill him, where they are strong, and not afraid of their own Throats; for if they be the weaker Party (as in some Cantons in Switzerland) there they are for liberty of Conscience; but go but over the next Hills (the Alps) into Piedment, where the Papist is ten to one, then, the word is, (Peter!) kill and eat.  
This makes the World join hands against the Jew and Papist, either they totally keep them out with Tests made for that purpose, or confine them to a certain habit, or to a certain Street, or Place (as Dukes-place) to inhabit; (as we deal with the Feracious and Bloody Tigers and Lions in the Tower) keep them (we do, but) in a grate; keep them fast, and have a watchful eye over them, as you love your lives; for they are inhospitable, and Common Enemies to mankind; stand upon your guard then, keep off, and out of their Claws, except you pair their Nails.  
For this Cause there was so many Penal-Laws and Tests made against Papists, in the Reigns of the four last Kings; (which (by the way) has sinely been turned against Protestant-dissenters, who were out of these Statutes, because out of the meaning of those Statutes) oh! the dexterity of a Jesuit! when in conjunction with one of his own complexion and face, saving that this Latter looks not altogether so Sanguine, because a Protestant-Persecutor!  
But, will some say, this present Test (of making all men take the Sacrament, and certify the same, has done notable service against the Papists, in these times; and therefore though some Dissenters be kept out for Company, it is no great matter.  
But is it lawful then to do Evil, that Good may come thereby? Is not this that wicked Principle, that with one mind and one mouth we decry and blame in the Jesuit? Or is it lawful to maintain our Religion or Church by prophane-means, and by mocking of God? Who would not hate a Religion and Church, that cannot be kept up without blasphemy, and sinful methods?  
But, will some say, God forbidden! We never did, nor ever will keep up a Church by such ungodliness: Then listen, what we have done already in imposing this said Present Test, of making an Earthly Door, or Political Door-bar of the Holy, Spiritual, and Heavenly Sacrament of the Lord Jesus.  
The Present Test is the more suspiciously Profane, and to be abominated by all true Christians, because it is said to be the Project of a Politician, that was always reckoned to have more wit than grace; more of Machiavelli than of Christ: And who made Religion and the blessed Sacraments Politick-tools, and that was all, at least the chief use he made of Religion, and said (if he be not belied, that) That was all that Religion was good for; well said Machiavelli!  
A more undoubted instance of his Profaneness cannot Well be given, than in this present Test; Is it not profane, and most abominable, if the Learned and Pious Gr●●tus and Dr. Hammond, and other Interpreters of greatest vogue amongst us, do give us the true, genuine, rational and pious meaning thereof, in their Comments upon, 1 Cor. 11.29. saying, That to eat and drink unworthily (anaxios) is to eat and drink unsutably or unmeetly to the end, design and Institution of the Blessed Sacrament; (so we are commanded to walk worthy (axios) of the Gospel, that is suitably to the Gospel;) Then he that eateth and drinketh unmeetly, namely, to the end and Institution of the Sacrament (not that he may get Christ, but a Gown, a Sword, a Place or Preferment, making a Test of the Blessed Sacrament, making Christ (who is the only Door and the only Way to High-places in Heaven, the only Door to High-places on Earth, making the Bread of Life, the only way to fill the lean Bellies of a Man and his Family with Baker's Bread; He that Eateth and Drinketh thus unmeetly, Eateth and Drinketh his own Damnation.  
A sad Choice, to Starve here, or be Damned hereafter; nay, some that have often taken it worthily or meetly, are not always fit in Three Months to take it Worthily, then take your choice to Starve or be Damned: What a Temptation is here to damn even a Conformist? What a Temptation to Blasphemy, Atheism, and mocking of God? Is not this as bold a Stinting the Grace of God, to come within three months' time? Just like the Canon that enjoins the Sacrament— However at Easter? What fit or unfit? What right or wrong? Yes, starve in a Goal, or Eat and Drink your own Damnation: Oh! Abomination in a Church of Christians! Nay a Church of Protestants, and a Protestant Nation! Have we not still (as we formerly had) some (Quid pro quo's, amongst us) Papists in Masquerade? Papists with a Protestant Vizor, and Church of England's Vizor on? Turn up his Masque, let us see. But God will not (long) be mocked with Political Tricks? It is dangerous Playing our Politic Pranks with Edge-Tools: And is there no way to bar the Earthly Doors, but with Heavenly Edge-Tools? Have a care of cutting thy Fingers, Machiavelli! Must the Laws made against Popish Recusants always be made of use against Protestant Recusants, who are out of the Reason of them?  
But can any Nation subsist without a Test, a Fence, and a Barred Door to keep out the common Enemy thereof?  
No, I answer, No; There's none but Fools will neglect their Fence: But the Oath of Supremacy (a long-tryed and approved Test, and making the Declaration against Transubstantiation, enjoined 25 Car. 2. c 2. & 30 Car. 2. c. 2.) has and will do that Feat.  
Oh! But Protestant Dissenters than will come in; and get their Birthrights in Church and State as well as we: Surely there is a way to bar the Door against our Enemies, and yet let in our Friends; except we think the House will not hold us all, or (rather) not feed us all. Ay! Is that it? If it pinch there, Zeal against Popery is but a Sconce, and a Vizard drawn over the ugly Face of Covetousness and Self-ends. When Boys are scrambling in a Room for Nuts and Apples, those that are in Possession, and upon the Place, and got in, will be sure to Bar the Doors and keep out others, especially such as are active and nimbler than themselves; Ay, they are the Wiser, you'll say.  
But where's the Honesty all this while? Where's the Piety? Nay, where's the Wisdom? And where's the Policy?  
For if the lucky Scramblers be beset, or set upon, with bloody High-way-men, as they carry away their Booty; would they not be glad that those they barred out, should assist them? Yes surely, for who ever denied a Dissenter the Peril, the Hazard and the Pains, so that we go away with the Gains? But is there any Equity or Conscience in all this? Has not a certain Nation (in our Time) been hazarded a Third Time, by Patriots that have been Priestridden; Bigoted and Nuzzled to maintain Priest-Craft, and Compulsion to Uniformity in Religion? Who dislikes it? But how? What upon Compulsion? Uniformity by force of Arms? It has been found an Idle, Vain, Wicked, Bloody, Bigoted Popish, Antichristian, and Impossible Attempt, in all Ages, in all Nations. The old Rule was, In Necessariis Vnitas, in Adiaphoris Libertas, in Vtrijsque Charitas; Unity in things Necessary, Liberty in Indifferent Things, in Both Charity.  
For till all men be of one size, one feature, one complexion and face, 'tis impossible they should be uniform; nay, God and Nature seem to delight in Variety: But vain man, mad with self-love, Opinionatry and Bigotism, would compel all men to be of his own Dimensions and Attainments, whereas there are scarce two Men to be found in the World alike.  
This Folly proceeds from a Vulgar Error that ●ops have Espoused, namely, that there can be no Unity without Uniformity; and when they pray to God, (as they ought) to make us all of one Mind, and one Mouth; if by one Mouth, they mean their own Mouth, than they are  with an Opinion of their own Infallibility, and are no Churches-of-england-man in that particular.  
Alas, alas, we are commanded to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, but that may be done without Uniformity; there is scarcely two Brethren in the World alike and uniform, yet they may live in Unity, and love like Brethren.  
Can men be wise that value the keeping of their Trinkets above their Lives, and above the Peace and Welfare of the Church and Protestant Religion? And why should not a Protestant Church be as large and wide as to hold all Protestant's.  
Come, come; let them have a Care that they do not hold up the Price of their Trinkets at too dear a rate; lest they slip their Market, and be glad to part with them e'er long, for an Old Song; and seriously read Isa. 14. from Verse 4. to Verse 15. Bless us! Cannot mwn live and let live, (even) let those live that have not so many Brains, nor so good Eyes as themselves? Though they are not one Mouth with you, nor so wide a Mouth and Swallow, they are as God made them as well as you; and though they see not so well as they should, they see as well as they can; to their own Master they stand and fall.  
What Rational Man in the World (if his Reason be Judge, and not dethroned and Deposed; Benighted and Eclipsed with Passion, Self-interest, Self-conceit, and the like) but must say. That it is very meet that we should do to others, as we would that others in like Circumstances should do to us?  
'Tis possible (for what has been may be again) that the Old Test may be (many Ages hence) Renewed, (which barred the Church Doors, and the Doors of Preferment in Church and State, Excluding all from being Churchmen, Judges, Justices, Mayors, Aldermen, etc. that would not leave worshipping of God according to the Common-Prayer-Book; wouldst not thou (thou Weapon'd-Vniformity Bigot!) Exclaim (at least grumble) at such a Test?  
But with what reason canst thou grumble? Except thou conclude, that Church of England is infallible, (in spite of her own 39 Articles to the contrary) or, except thou art not content to take such measure as now thou meetest to others, that are as Pious and Learned as thyself: Where is the Justice of such Grumbling? Thou art for Uniformity, one Mind and one Mouth, so are all Rational Men; but thou art also for Weaponed Uniformity, that's unreasonable and unscriptural, and unapostolical; and also because of another little thing (called) Impossibility: It is not to be done by Sword or Gun, Tests or Penal Laws. Have we not been trying Conclusions and Experiments about it in the Body Politic, many years, even to the Consumption of the Body Politics? And who has got any thing by it, saving a few Priests? But we must always be tampering with ungodly, unreasonable and Antichristian Physic, only to enrich the Physician, and keep up his Practice, and his Hand in Ure; Do we de claim against Arbitrary Power and Tyranny, and yet suffer such Tests to take away our Birthrights? Queen Maries Five consumed the Heats between Con and Noncon! when in Prison together, they shook Hands and were Friends.  
Ay, says Bigot, most true; therefore we would have them like us. uniform and of one Mouth, meaning, that every Mouth should be alike, and one with his Wide Mouth.  
But suppose that Little Mouth (let that be his Name) stretches, and stretches his Mouth, that so it may be uniform, and like to Great Mouth, and cannot do it for his Heart and Blood: (by Scripture-Rule, He that is strong should stoop, and bear the Infirmities of the weak, and condescend (and to keep my Allegory) Wide Mouth should meet Little Mouth half way, contracting his large Gape and Swallow, that so they may be of one Mouth) But what cares some Men for Scripture?  
If that will not do, what do you say to Reason? Is it reasonable, that if Little Mouth should happen to get into the Saddle, and get the Staff in his Hand, (and thou be dismounted for Arbitrary Government, wilful, and un-scriptural, and unreasonable Impositions and Oppressions, wouldst thou think it reasonable) that he should pair and cut, and pinch thy Wade Mouth, to the scantling of his Narrow Chaps?  
If not, then out of thine own (Wide) mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked Servant! Shouldst not thou have Compassion on thy Fellow-servant, (like thyself, erroneous) as thou wouldst have him, or Almighty God, have Pity on thee? To our Comfort God seethe; and he that is higher than the Highest, regardeth, and there are Higher than they, Eccles. 5.8.  
But will some say, though it be a Test suspiciously Profane, (if any Holy thing in the World can be profaned) by making Religion and the Sacraments (the most Venerable and Sacred of all the Parts or Offices in Religion) Tools and Tricks of State; yet this Test has done good Service against the Common Enemy, the irreconcilable Enemies of our Religion: It has kept out the Papist from Offices in Church and State, Navy and Army.  
Never, (I answer) it never did keep out any Papist, nor any but Dissenters; yet if all this should be as true, as it is evidently false, yet this Test is not justifiable, because we may not lay an evident Temptation of stumbling in our Brother's way, to make him fall; nor do Evil that good may come thereon; (as aforesaid) nor thus keep up God's Church? What is the bringing the Abomination of Desolation into the Holy Place, but making Holy things, and the Lord Jesus Christ, a Drudge and Slave to Machiavelli? (O Profanation abominable!) Must the blessed Sacrament of Divine Love, his Institution (made on purpose to Incorporate us with him, and one with another in Divine Love) be the only Entrance and means to let us in to a Body Politic or Corporation, or into the Door of Preferment? Sacra Sacris, & Sacri Sacris, was the Old Rule.  
Wickedness may make a man unfit to be employed in the State; but is it not profane to make the blessed Sacrament a Political Engine or Qualification, to let a Man into Money and Mammon; but we cannot thus serve two Masters, (God and Mammon.)  
Besides, I deny, that this Test of the Sacrament did any good at any time, in keeping so much as one Papist out of any Office, Employment or Preferment, either in Church or State.  
And if this be true, than Hatred against Popery is but a Colour wherewith Hypocrisy paints the ugly Face and Deformity of Hatred and Malice against Dissenters, (that have not so wide a Swallow as themselves) with the pretence of Uniformity and Zeal against Popery.  
Otherwise, why did this Test-Bill pass so readily, and the Exclusion-Bill thrown out without a Conference, which is not usual? There may be many good Reasons, which I will not now inquire into. But was it Loyalty and a Religious Awe, to hurt no man in his Goods and Birth right upon the score of Religion? That's impossible to be a Reason that prevailed with those Lords and Gentlemen that stood to their Arms and Power, till the King was divested of both, which are His Birthright now (at this day) as much, nay, more than at the time of the Exclusion-Bill: (for no man that spoke best, and most against the Exclusion-Bill, did touch upon that String, namely, that the King and Parliament cannot dispose of the Crown of England; (for fear (I suppose) of the Penalty mentioned in the Statute of Queen Elizabeth to that purpose;) And to repeat the words of that most Excellent Speaker in the House of Commons; If there were a Lion in the Lobby, shall it be still a Question amongst Wise men, Whether it were better to keep him out, (now he is out,) or to open the Door and let him in, and then bind him?  
Some wise men chose the latter, and if God had not been miraculously kind to us (to show his Grace and Finger) when some thought we had neglected the means, if the Lion had proved a Rampant Lion, or had had a Lion's Heart, and the Cruelty of a Lion, there might have been Scratching Work; and Thousands had (e'er this) followed those (otherwise) Incomparable Patriots, Essex, Russel, Sidney, and Cornish, etc. for who has not had a Hand upon his Hilt, to Fight the King's Guards, (his Irish Soldiers) when the word was, They are a coming? Whereas the Lord Russel was condemned for being only in the Room, where there was some discourse of Surprising the King's Guards. But we must leave these things to him that judgeth Righteously; The Iniquity of the Amorites was not then full: Popery was not drunk enough with Blood. The Papists have for a hundred years last passed, been kept out of the Government, and have been Exluded all Offices Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military, by that Ancient and Honest Test, (namely, in Renouncing the Pope and all his Evil Works, by the Oath of Supremacy, which our present King (King James II.) by his Dispensing Power vacated, in the first place, as being a Long-approved and sufficient Bar and Bulwark to keep out Popery in the four last preceding Reigns. It is also as true, that as he left no stone unturned that lay in the way of bringing in Popery, so he was necessitatid therefore (also) to set aside and disponce with this New Test, which did inflict grievous Penalties upon them that durst or did venture in, without taking it: But, they had all been kept out to this day, and were kept out an hundred years before, and could not therefore need his Dispensing Power, until he let them in (two years before) by Dispensing with the Oath of Supremacy, A Test, that perhaps had been still thought sufficient, if this Test had not jumped right with some men's Malice, that hated Protestant Dissenters as much, if not more than Papists.  
Indeed I grant, That the King by that Gracious Indulgence, gained the Dissenters, and thereby lost the Love of High-Church-men, who were as quiet and gentle as Lambs, and Loyal as Heart could wish, when he dispensed with that great and approved Test, the Oath of Supremacy, (for two long years together) whilst he permitted them, and maintained them and their Penal Laws against Dissenters.  
But when he put out his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, (the Magna Charta that God (the only King of Consciences) has given to all Mankind) would some Men so much as read the Indulgence, which His Majesty (the best Act that ever he did in his Life) both in Piety, (and Policy too; for it has been the Life of Trade in Holland, and the Penal Laws (or Inquisition,) their Dis-peopling, and Destruction of Trade and Riches in Flanders,) as God's Deputy Reinforced and Ordained? No, no! Though expressly enjoined in the Rubric of the Common-Prayer-Books! What Combination? What Bandying against it? And perhaps for good Reasons: But have they scrupled to read (and make Prayers for) worse things (that I say not) Impostures? Or, was it because it was Evil, as to the Matter? None had the Face to say so: But, Evil as to the Form of Dispensing, because not done in Form of Law; namely, not Repealed by the same Power that Enacted it; which Reason, perhaps is a good Reason, but how could it be more a Reason now in this Case, than it was when he Dispensed with the Oath of Supremacy? Which was as much against Law as this Dispensation; and yet, whilst he maintained the Church of England to Prosecute Dissenters with their Excommunications, Capias', Fines and Imprisonments; they were hushed, and Serene, and as loyal as could be, Preaching up Passive Obedience, (Prayers and Tears) as the only Weapons of a Christian, Groaning under the Oppression of Superiors, during all the long time that they were uppermost, and felt no Smart.  
The Patriarch of Constantinople is as great an Enemy to Popery, as any Prelate or Layman amongst us; yet he holds more ridiculous and unaccountable Errors than the Papists, and enslaves the poor Greeks as tyrannically, as the Pope does enslave his Italian Papists? What are the poor Greeks the better for this Bulwark against the Pope and Popery? The Patriarch scorns to kiss the Pope's Toe, and to be Tenant at will to the Pope, or to hold his Patriarchate of him, or under him, and Preaches and Writes against Popish Errors, but holds the poor Greeks to as bad Errors: And is not the Pope on the other side the Water, as Fierce, Dogmatical, and Pragmatical a Bigot, in forcing the poor Greeks to believe as he believes, and to be as Vniformable and Conformable to his Trinkets and Ceremonies, as the Pope (with his Inquisition) in Italy? What good does Graecia get by such a Bulwark against Popery, when Pope and Popery cannot possibly make their Condition much worse than it is? A true Christian Protestant should protest against, and abominate Popery of the New, as well as of the Old Edition; and should keep close to the Apostolical and Primitive Rule of Charity, in ease of Nonconformity.  
There were Dissenters in the Church of Philippi, (as now amongst us) so many Men, to many different Minds; so many Men, so many different Features, perhaps in doubtful Matters of Faith; and some had better Eyes and Brains, Hearts and Legs, than others; and therefore had different Apprehensions, Opinions and Attainments: Now, What shall be done in this Case, was the Question? All pressed forward towards the Mark of the Prize of the High-Calling of God in Christ Jesus: Phil. 3.14. But some lagged behind, as is usual in a Race; (to which the Apostle alludes Ver. 13.) Now the Question is, What should be done with these that lagged behind, and cannot come up so near the Mark as we? Burn them, Consume them with Fire from Heaven or Earth, (says zealous James and John) and the Papists; Or, shall we spur them up with Penal Laws, or Excommunicate them, and then Goal them? No; Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of, saith Christ: And St. Paul in the 15th verse of that 3d Chapter of the Philippians; If any Man be otherwise minded, (or be a Dissenter, of another Opinion, then make use, of what Remedy? Of your Wrath? Your Passion? Your Penal Laws and Tests? No, no; wait God's Leisure; make use of your Charity, rather than Wrath; of your Patience, rather than Passion; leave him to the King, to whom alone Conscience belongs; for if any man be a Nonconformist, or otherwise minded) God shall Reveal even this unto him: He did not bid them (do, as some spiritual Watchmen now do,) call the Corporal, call the Constable.  
So that indeed, Antichristian weapons and Christ's weapons are vastly different, quite of another Shape, Form, and Fashion, and made of quite contrary Stuff and Matter.  
Christ and his Holy Apostles converted the World, not with Earthly, Carnal, and Political Tests and Penal Laws; and are we Wiser than they? Did they borrow any of the Magistrates Weapons, or Weapons (like Mabomet) from the Arms of Flesh? No, they are purely Spiritual, Heavenly and Divine.  
God did forbid (in the Old Law) the wearing of Lindsey-Wolsey; or the yoking of an Ox and an Ass together, not without a Mystery: Almighty God and Christ (under the Gospel especially) hating the Chaos of mingling Heaven and Earth together, jumbling carnal and spiritual Tools in Hodgepodge; they will not mingle will, they cannot possibly Incorporate, nor carry on one main End, and one only Design.  
For, if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts (striving with carnal Tools, carnal Weapons, carnal Laws, and carnal Tests,) this Wisdom descendeth not from above, but is (fetched from Hell, and is therefore) Earthly, Sensual, Devilish.  
But the Wisdom that is from above, is first pure, (so should the Holy Sacraments be pure, and unmixed with carnal Polices) then Peaceable, Gentle, and easy to be entreated, etc. (binding men to the Peace and good Behaviour, not permitting them to stickle with carnal Weapons against Men of different Opinions in matters of mere Religion) but commanding us, if possible, and as much as lieth in us, to live peaceably with all men; surely it is possible, nay easy in this Case, most easy.  
All? Yes; if they be Men, our Brethren (as being Sons of Adam) though not of our Religion, nor of our size and pitch, nor of our Features and Complexion, though of different Religion, or of no Religion, yet they are Men; (and where God makes no Exception, how dare we make Exceptions?) Since we are obliged to have a Charity as Universal as Mankind, and to live peaceably with all men?  
If this be Gospel, what becomes of our Tests and Penal Laws? All our Lawyers are agreed, that all Statutes are Null and Ipso facto, void in themselves, if they be contrary to the Laws of God, and Laws of Nature, or Right Reason.  
And this present Test (though Enacted by ten thousand Parliaments) is never the more justifiable, because it is a profane Temptation even to Conformists, (sometimes,) and to Nonconformists at all times, to take their choice, (choose them whether,) either to starve here, or (at least) be kept out of their Birthrights as men and Christians; or else, to Eat and Drink it unmeetly, to the Holy End, Design, and Institution of that blessed Sacrament; (which was not Political, Carnal, and Worldly, but Pure, Spiritual, Heavenly and Divine; and therefore to Eat and Drink, for a Political Test, and State-Policy, is to Eat and Drink it Unworthily and Vnmeetly; and therefore Men so Eating and Drinking it, Eat and Drink their own Damnation. Away with it for Shame! Let it not be such a Scandal to our Holy Protestant Religion.   

SECT. III. Of Penal Laws in Matters of mere Religion.  
MAny people cry up the Church of England, and drink healths to the Prosperity of the Church of England! And yet neither know what makes a true Church of Christ, nor who are this same thing (of some men's making or marring) called the Church.  
What constitutes a true Church but true Doctrine, and true Sacraments, according to plain Scriptures? The Discipline is left to discretion. For, I suppose we are all agreed, that this or that form of Church Government, is not Jure Divino. King Charles I. (a great Episcopal-man) yet denied that Bishops (as we have them) are Jure Divino, (other than as Priests, or Presbyters and Bishops, are one and the same thing, and undistinguished in many places of Scripture; but yet that wise King held them, not to be contra jus Divinum, not contrary to God's Law, that is (I suppose) when they feed the Flocks, not Lording it over God's Heritage, as if they had Dominion over our Faith (which even the Apostles renounced) imposing what they believe, and their attainments, upon us to believe, whether we can or no, or else Anathematise, Goal, and Imprison them, and lot them lie there till they starve and die: What comfort is it with so much struggling to keep out an Italian Bishop, Romish cruelty, Fire and Faggot (that soon dispatches men out of their pain,) and still to keep something like it: Nay, a worse, if to lie in Prison (after Excommunication) and there to starve and die a lingering death, (like Crucifixion) feeling a thousand deaths, he and his Family; and all this for not paying the Register, or taking the Churchwardens Oath, or the Holy Sacrament at Easter; neither of which the persons durst do for fear of Damnation: Then take your choice, Death or Damnation, a lingering Death, Crucifying them, and making them and their poor Families feel many deaths; And is this amendment? I hope our Bishops will now recant these violent and carnal weapons, since several of them have done it already, promising to be willing to come to a temper (in their Petition to the King) And thereby confessing that they had been too hot and distempered before; and yet even, at this day I am afraid, that some men are only against Carnal Weapons, Prophane-Tests and Penal Laws; not because they like them not, but because they see they cannot hold them; the Genius of the Nation being universally against such a Wildfire Church.  
St. Paul defined all carnal Weapons in his Spiritual Warfare: The Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual.  
Indeed he stood up stoutly in defence of the Privilege of his Birthright, when that was invaded by Arbitrary Government, Tyranny and Oppression; and therefore, for Remedy, St. Paul sent for an honest General and his Army, to come to his Rescue; and his Excellency, Claudius Lycias (after St. Paul had given him to understand that he was a Roman, and wronged of his Birthright) came with an Army and delivered him out of the hands of his Oppressors, having understood the matter of wrong. Act. 23.27. Act. 22.29.  
Then good night, Church of England, if the Jailor do not help it, will some say; and so say I, good night! And happiness to her and long life; for the Gates of Hell (Hadou, of the Grave) shall never prevail against the true Church; that is, the Church shall never have a Grave, it shall never die, but to the World's end, there shall be some always that believe in, and confess the Lord Jesus, Son of the living God.  
The Doctrine of the Church of England (which is Confirmed by Act of Parliament) is contained in the Common Prayer-Book, and also in the 39 Articles, and in the Homilies that are set out, or shall be set out by Authority.  
This last is a deep one, He must have a wide Swallow that has an implicit Faith and believes as the Church believes; when that same Church in whom he doth believe, confesseth the truth, namely, that she may Err, or teach what is not truth? Now would I in all Humility and Modesty put this sober Query,  
Query 1. How can a Man subscribe to the Doctrine in Homilies that shall be put out (except he have a Popish Implicit Faith, to believe as the Church believes) before he knows what Doctrinal Homilies Authority will put forth? And such Authority that has perhaps Erred in Doctrinal points already put forth by Authority, or by their own Confession, may Err. as well as the Church of Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, etc. that have Erred already, as the 39 Articles ingeniously and modestly confess?  
Query 2. It is worth a modest Inquiry, and now most seasonable to Inquire (now I say, when things are come to a full stop, and in the fairest and most probable way to settle upon a lasting Foundation) Is it now high time modestly to Inquire, who is the Judge of matters of Faith which all Christian Protestants (a new Name only for the old Apostolical and Primitive Christian) ought to obey in pain of the Jail h●re, and Damnation hereafter, if he persist in his Descent and Nonconformity thereunto; though some Bigots call it a wicked Error.  
This is a saucy Question, will some say: But (I Answer) that he that says so, is an Impudent Blasphemer against the holy Ghost: whom, I only Echo, for the holy Ghost, by the holy Apostle (St. Paul) puts this very Question, Rom. 14.4. Who art thou that Judgest another Man's Servant? To his own Master he standeth or falleth: Yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.  
Then from that 4th Verse, the Apostle proceeds to state some cases, wherein Christians were not uniform, neither needed to be Uniform, as being therein a Royal Priesthood, and Privileged Kings, exempt from humane Punishment, Judgement, Impositions, Correction, or Condemnation, as being accountable for their Opinions finally to God only, Rom. 14.11.  
Whence he Concludes with this Apostolical Canon (that to all intents and purposes, repeals, makes void, and disanulls all humane Canons, Impositions or Acts of Uniformity in matters of Faith, or in Imposing their own Attainments and Creeds upon all others) saying, Let us not therefore Judge one another any more, but judge rather that no man put a Stumbling-Block (Scandal) or occasion to fall in his Brother's way.  
Rom. 15.1. But let the Strong bear the Infirmities of the Weak, and not please themselves; with their own Bigoted Notions, laying heavy burdens, and grievous to be born, which they themselves (in their Sins of Commission without Rule, Wilful, Idle and unaccountable Ceremonies) will not touch with one of their Fingers: But is there any Conscience that the Weak should bear the Infirmities of the strong? In Defiance and Rancounter to that said Text, Rom. 15.1.  
From all which Premises does it not clearly follow, and may we not Conclude.  
Conclusion I. 1. That God is the only King of Consciences, as King Charles I. of Pious Memory concludes, saying, Who am I, (Eik. Basil.) that I should Invade God's Throne, the only King of Consciences?  
Wherefore did Lucifer become a Devil? He aspired to God's Throne, and would be like him.  
Wherefore is that Wicked Wretch (in 2 Thess. 2.) that must and shall fall) called the Man of Sin? But because he attempts God's Throne, sitting in the Temple of God, imposing his own Faith, Opinions, Creeds and Canons, (tailed with a Firebrand, an Anathema, a Curse) against all Nonconformists, when he himself also is the greatest Nonconformist; but keep most unjustly and unsufferably, both false Weights, and false Measures, one to buy by, and another to s●…ll by as shall be shown unanswerably by and by.  
May we not therefore without any the least Suspicion of Sauciness put this sober Question again, Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant? What is thy Name? Is it Lucifer? Is it Antichrist or Man of Sin? Is that thy Name? Thou that like another God, sittest there Domineering over Men's Faith, Lording it over God's Heritage; God's Dominion, who is the only Kardiagnostos, or Searcher of Hearts & Consciences, where thou canst take no Cognizance, if thou wouldst judge?  
Who art thou, I say? Art thou a God, commanding the Waves, and saying, Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further, and here shall thy Proud Waves be stayed? Art thou the Hercules-Pillars, or Hercules with his Club? Art thou the Ne Plus ultra in Religion?  
In Nomine Domini, What art thou? And where is thy Commission, thy Authority? And who gave thee this Authority to do these Things?  
Our blessed Saviour commands us to call no Man Father, no Man Master upon Earth; that is, not implicitly jurare in Verba Magistri, to believe just as our Masters, (our Fathers) believe, because Faith is not the Gift of a Synod, of a Convocation, of a Council, but is the Gift of God: And never was there Peace in the Christian Church, since Councils, and Synods, and Bishops, and Parliaments and Kings took upon them to make Acts of Uniformity, Impositions of Faith and Creeds, Cursing and Imprisoning, and sometimes Burning and Starving all Gain sayers; but by what Commission?  
Is not this as irrational as that Cannon, and Decree of the Egyptian Priests, commanding all men on Pain of Fine and Imprisonment, to Believe that their two Gods (Isis and Osiris) never had been Men, when all the Country knew to the contrary? And some of them well remembered them and had Eat and Drank with them? Most Excellent Bigotism!  
The first general Council of Nice had shamefully erred but for Paphnutius, a poor Dissenter, a One-eyed Man that saw more than they all, and fet them to rights; and brought all the Bishops to a better Sight and Understanding.  
The greatest General Council that ever was in the Christian World, was called and convocated at Ariminum; seven hundred and odd Bishops, twice as many Laun-sleeves as was at Constantine's first great Council: And they all unanimously concluded against the Divinity of the second Person of the Holy Trinity! Goodly Sleeves for a Man to pin his Faith upon!  
Athanasins that was such a Stickler with his Creed, (that now bears his Name in the Common-Prayer-Book) Beginning and Ending with an Anathema, to all that do not believe just as he does; what got he by this Dogmatical Imposition of his Faith upon all other Christians? A Nickname, the Age he lived in (very ungratefully some say) called him Sathanasius.  
Is it not enough for us to believe as our blessed Saviour says, that his Father is greater than he, and yet that he is one with his Father, God in Christ, and Christ in God, and Christ in Believers, that they also may be one with both?  
But where do we read in Scripture, that Christ is God of God, very God of very God? What language is this? The Father Vncreate, the Son Vncreate, the Holy Ghost Vncreate, and yet they are not Three Vncreate, but One Vncreate: We are not Arrians, but surely the Holy Ghost in Scripture, has found sufficient Words, and the Holy Scripture and Apostles Creed, is a sufficient Rule of Faith; and surely was sufficient to carry a man to Heaven three hundred years before Athanasius was born, and three hundred years before the Nicene and Constantinopolitan-Creed was invented; and 1400 years before that Packed Convention at Trent, patched up with Nominal Lord Bishops, that were Shepherds without a Flock, yet had as good a Vote as the best: Is it not sad that men must starve and die, because they obey not such frothy Men (like Froth and Scum) because uppermost? Is it not a Lamentation, and shall be for a Lamentation, that all Christian Men must be forced to see with other men's Eyes, and to believe by Proxy, and obey Blindfold, and also swallow (like Crammed Capons) all that is put down their Throats?  
Is not this Mahomet-like, who carried his Bible (his Alcoran) in one Hand, and his Sword in the other, saying, if the first will not do, the other shall?  
We are all as good Churches-of-england-man as the uppermost Men, we hope; Is it not enough for us (Churchof- England Men) to be Humble Seekers, and confess, with the 39 Articles, that we mar err; and consequently, it is unaccountable to impose our Errors on others, and then back our Errors with Penal Laws; or to impose Creeds in other Words than the Holy Ghosts Words, Scripture Words, which if Ambiguous, let us leave men to their own Master to stand or fall; to their own Judgements to Consent or Dissent, and never make these Impositions of Creeds an occasion of Scandal, or a Stumbling-Block in our Brother's way, to make him fall.  
Will men still urge an Act of Uniformity, which they themselves keep not; made by a King, that this present King has published (whatsoever he was in his Life) a Papist at his Death, and made by a Parliament, distinguished by (a Name Eternally Infamous) the Pensioners Parliament, from the multitude of Judas' that sold their, and their King and countries' Consciences, betrayed their Master by cheating His Exchequer, going S●ips with him in his Revenue, and like Ambo-Dexter-Lawyers, took Fees on both sides, took Money of the Country to be faithful to their Interest, and then rooked or robbed the Exchequer, to betray the Country that entrusted them? O abominable Perfidy! Never to be forgotten nor forgiven, till a Brand be set upon them to mark them out to all Posterity, for an Example of Treachery; and till they truly repent, which cannot be without Restitution.  
Shall a fellow be hanged for taking a Purse of Five pounds' value by the Highway? And shall they go Unpunished, that do not only betray their Trust; but rob the King and the Country too? Learned Lawyers have found Treason in it?  
If they had not been Purified by the House of Peers, and well Poised by the honest Patriots in the House of Commons, what mischief might they not have done?  
Sometimes we read of the Church of Philippi, Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonia, etc. There a National, there a City-Church, and sometimes we read of the Church in thy House; all true Churches, both the greater and the lesser. So that the Church of England, are all the Faithful Christians in England, and ought not to be Vnchurched, though they differ in smaller Ceremonies or greater Matters; for in the Church of Corinth, some denied the greatest Fundamental in Divinity, 1 Cor. 15.12, 13, 14, 15. without which all Preaching, Praying, Sacraments, etc. are Null, Vold, and of no Effect, viz. The Resurrection of the Dead; and yet they were in the Church, and no Apostolical Decree to Excommunicate them, or Cast them out.  
How Unjustifiable then is it to Excommunicate a Believer, because he Refuses to Take the Churchwardens Oath or Sacrament; or, for not Conforming to some Imposition of Trivial Concern?  
Are not they that thus Excommunicate, the Schismatics, by laying a Scandal in their Brother's way, to make him fall, Rom. 15.13. and then by an Unchristian Capias; to Imprison him, till Iris Purse help him out?  
And a Protestants Absolution (after all) costs Ten times more Money, then is demanded by the Popish-Priests, in their Authentic and Printed Table of Fees, for Adultery or Incest, etc.  
So that what Ease is it to a Protestant that lies starving in a Goal (after he has stood Excommunicated 40 days) that it is not the Common Enemy has undone him, but a Protestant-Friend? Not the Brishop of Rome, but one at home: If my Purse, my Liberty, or my Goods be taken from me, 'tis a Cold Comfort to ease my Heart with this Melancholy Contemplation, that my Countryman, a Protestant did it, and not an Italian Priest; or, to escape the Romish-Fire and Faggot, or Bloody Massacres, (that soon puts us out of Pain) and yet be Crucified alive in a Jail, a Man and his House? Never do we read in Holy Scripture of a Convocation of Clergymen, that took upon themselves an Authority to make Canons, and lay Impositions upon the L●●…ity, (no, not when even all the Chief Apostles were met in Synod, (at that only Synod that holy Scripture speaks of) at Jerusalem) without the consent of the Lay-Brothers: Acts 15.23.  
And even (there) were not an innumerable company of Impositions and Canons.; Not so much as one Imposition of Creeds to be believed: Nor any one Anathema, or Curse, or Penal Law denounced against Dissenters. Yet they had the presence of the infallible Spirit of Truth, (which the Church of England does not in the least pretend to) and even then also enjoined only a few necessary things. Act● 15.28.  
And if either Church of Rome, or Church of England had not a Bigoted and Priestridden Arm of Flesh, wherewith to Fight Nonconformity; and would be content with such Weapons as Christ and his holy Apostles thought sufficient; they might Anathamize, and Curse, till their Hearts should ache, before any Wise and Rational Christian would believe as they believe, only because they believed it: Who gave them Dominion over our Faith and Consciences? What Authority have they to Lord it over God's Heritage, (the Laity? There, 1 Pet. 5.3. called God's Clergy) especially since, as shall be shown hereafter, they have Erred already, both in Doctrine and Discipline. That late Doctrine of Passive Obedience they now Smile at, and some of them, together with all English Protestants, have Actually Recanted, Repent of, and Forsaken; or else we had sinned against the great Law of Nature, Self-Preservation! Must we Pray against Arbitrary Government and Oppression, and not use the means? May we not pay men in their own Coin, and give them as good as they bring? May we not repel vim vi? Force with Force?  
This Doctrine of Passive Obedience is poyut-blanck against the 39 Articles of the Church of England; which Curses all that dares deny, That it is Lawful to serve in the Wars? And if any War be Lawful, a Defensive War (in defending Ours, or our Neighbour's Lives, Houses Goods, or Rights, as Men and Christians) is (by all agreed to be) the most Lawful War, because it is of absolute necessity. For what has God and Nature furnished Men with Eyes, and Courageous Hearts, and strong Arms? To keep our Arms in our Pockets till our Throats be Cut? We beg your Pardon. Mr. Passive Obedience! Or if you will not give us Pardon, sell it to us, as you do other Absolutions.   

SECT. iv Of the Necessity of Changing and Recanting our Opinions in Religion.  
IF any man (Pope or Mahomet) say he has no Sin, he is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him; (saith St. John) Then how is it possible for a Man to go to Heaven, except he Recant and Repent; for Heaven is filled with ●0 glorified Saints, except R●canters.  
No Book in the World is Faultless and Infallible (except the Holy Bible) for either Matter or Manner of Expression, or du● Taming the thing, or some other Circumstance; it has some Errors or Faults in it.  
And if this be true, than every Author that writes a Book, aught to Recant the same, if he be a true Christian; I mean, the Errors committed therein; for I never heard of any Christian Man (as yet) that ever was so like the Father of Lies, as 〈◊〉 desire that any Body would Recant the Truth's contained in his Ways, Books, or Works; The Truth will shift for its self (in spite of all Opposition) at long run; but the Errors (of which no Man nor Book is free) ought to be Re●●nted, and publicly too, (if required) yea, as publicly as the Books that have been Public.  
St. Augustine has a large Recantation, and a Heavenly one, in Print, called, His Books of Confessions; so the Learned and Excellent B●z● and a Man (worth them all) St. Paul Confessing and Recanting his Persecuting Spirit.  
It is not in any Mortal Man's Power, to be free from Sin or Error; Homo sum & Humanum a me nibil alienum puto, at Humanum est Errare; was an old and too true a Proverb; If we be Mortals, we are subject to 〈◊〉; and than if we be Christians, or hope for Mercy, we must Recant: For though we may Err, (the Frail●y of our Vaderstandings) yet we need not be guilty of Heresy or Obstinacy in B●ro●, (the fault of our Wills.)  
Thus the Church of England makes us all Recant publicly in the Church twice a Day, in sober sadness, if we do not Dissemble, saying. We have left undone these things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no Health in us.  
The most Learned and Elaborate Authors in our Age need no other Confutation of their humane Frailties and Errors, than their own Contradicting-Books; his pretty to show, (if it more worth the while) how the Dean gives the Parson the Lie; and the Archdeacon, the Bishop; and how desperately they stab themselves, and are Felones de se, (in some sense;) if a Lie deserves a stab, they need, to other Dagger than their own, which is enough to abate the Hussing Pride of the greatest Scholars, and Noblest Souls amongst us, as well as to Mortify the Bigot, that is so full, and puff up with his present Notion.  
Nay, Parliaments, Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and House of Commons, have Recanted, publicly bewailing, begging Pardon, and ask forgiveness of the Pope's Nuntio (Cardinal Pool) on bended Knees; (when frighted with the Apprehensions of Queen Mary's Smithfield-F●res) and which is worst of all, did for fear also Recant God's Truth; at least, they Recanted what the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and House of Commons had about six years before, by Statute-Law, Declared to be God's Truth; 2 & 3 Edw. 6. c. 1. and made by the Aid of the Holy Ghost; (surely you'll say then, that must be the Bible which they recanted! And so one would think indeed; but it was a far Inferior Business, viz. only) the Common Prayer-Book, saying, 1, and 2. Phillip and Mar. c. 8. Seeing by the goodness of God our own Errors, have knowledged the same to the said most Reverend Father, (Cardinal Pool, the Pope's Legate) Therefore, We the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons Assembled in this present Parliament, Representing the whole Body of the Realm of ENGLAND, etc. Do Declare ourselves very sorry, and Repentant (Poor Hearts!) of the Schism and Disobedience, etc. against the See Apostolic, etc.  
And all this Recantation, the Bishops and Parliament, (when the times turned) Re●ant again about five years after, in 1 Elig. 1. Resuming again this same Common-Peayer-Book, and setting up a High-Commission-Court, etc. which was for Cruelties and Oppressions, Condemned by (17 Car. 1.2.)  
And when the King and Parliament were offended, because Bishops were too busy, or too much busied in Temporal Employments, Powers and Authorities; they were Disabled by (17 Car. 1.27.) but made Capable again, by (13 Car. 2.2.  
What Variation of the Compass is here? What Turn and Wind, and Returning again? Then Facing about as you were; (of which I might give many hundreds of Instances) let this suffice for England.  
And if we cross the Seas, and make a Progress to Rome to the Infallible Chair, we shall find that even that too, stands as unsteady, or more unsteady than any other; In proof whereof, I'll have no other Vouchers than Papists and Cardinals; and for Cleanliness sake give but a small Touch at the dirty Work.  
Was not the Bones of Pope Formosus digged up by the Pope his Successor, his Decrees Rescinded, and the poor Dead Pope thrown into Tiber for a Heretic, not worthy of Christian Burial, & c? Platina, Theodore. 197. and John 10.897. tells us. That Pope Theodore II. made Null and Void the Decrees of Romanus. And did not Pope John X. do as much for him? I care not which was in the Right; it sufficeth my present purpose to show, That one of the Infallible Don's did Err, and was Fallible.  
And does not Cardinal Baronius (ad an. 900) on this Score, cry out, Alas! For Shame and Sorrow, that so many Monsters (a horrible thing to see) should mount that Chair, which deserves (Sir) Reverence of Angels?  
Was not Pope Bennet IX. made Pope at twelve years of Age, by the means of his Father the Marquis of Tuseta, and could not so much as read Mass? And afterwards skilled in nothing but the Black Art, by which the Lecher (as Cardinal Benno affirms,) enticed pretty Wenches into the Woods, and there Debauched them: Well might Cardinal Barronius (ad An. 1033.) call him, The Shame of the Romish Church, Ecclesiae Opprobrium.  
Does not Luithrand (lib. 2. c. 3.) tell us, That the Council of Lateran did Depose Pope John XII? First, for Ordaining Deacons in a Stable: Secondly, For making Boys (but ten years of Age) Bishops. Thirdly, For Praying to the Devil to help him (when he was at Dice) to a lucky Throw. Fourthly, For making his House (the L●teran-Palace) a Common Stews. Fifthly, For lying with Stephana, his own Fathers Whore. Sixthly, For Drinking a Health to the Devil.  
Does not Platina (Silvest. 2. An. 998.) tell us. That Pope Sylvester II. made a Bargain with the Devil, to give him Body and Soul, upon two Conditions; First, That the Devil would help him into the Infallible Chair: Secondly, That he should never die but in Jerusalem; whither he was resolved never to come. The Contract thus made, the Devil helped him to the Popedom; Pontificatum, adjurante Diabolo consecutus est, hâc tamen lege, ut post Mortem totus illius esset. But the Devil was as crafty as a Jesuice, for he cheated, with an Equivocation, the Pope himself, who Died horribly, (C. Malmesbur. 2.10.) whilst he was saying Mass in Rome, in the Church, called Jerusalem.  
I might fill Volumes with these Instances, to show that even Popes ought to change and Recant, if ever they hope to be Saved; for there are no good Men here on Earth, nor Glorified Saints in Heaven. except Recanters! Honest Parliaments have Recanted, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Augustine, Beza, and all Honest Men, have Recanted: And must not all good Protestants then come into the Fashion of all good Men in Heaven and Earth?   

SECT. V Of the Restraint of the PRINTING-PRESS.  
PRinting, though reckoned amongst the New Inventions, is now become an Old Trade in London, and has begot one or two more Trades; the Book-sellor and Stationer, which are all Incorporated into a Body-Politick; called, The Company of Stationers; no despicable nor mean Company (or Hall) in this splendid City; one Stationer was enough for a City, before Printing came up; and of Booksellers there were none, but Scriveners.  
But, now they are become the Numerous Issue of the Press; and enabled to make By-Laws for the Regulating their Trade; which is their Livelihood: And the Question is, Whether it be reasonable and lawful to hinder them of their Livelihood, of their Trade, under pretence of Publique-good, by shutting up the Press, and stopping their Trade, by excluding all that have not a Pass, (and some say you may with as much reason Exclude all men from the Kings-High-Way, the Birth-light of every Englisk-man, or stop their Mouths and starve them) except they bring a Pass Signed by Sir Roger, the Bishop's Chaplain, or the like; to permit them to Earn their Live?  
There's an Act of Parliament for it you'll say; and for that Trick. I say, I'll determine nothing positively against it.  
But, Acts of Parliament are not like the Laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered. The Egyptian Priests told Herodotus that the Sun had changed its course four times within the last Preceding Eleven thousand and odd years; an Aera, as long before Adam, as since.  
But, if the Sun change its course sometimes, and the Moon often times, and Parliaments change their Acts sometimes twice in Ten Years, as aforesaid; then surely this Act for Restraint of the Press (without the Licence of the Bishop's Chaplain or Sir Roger, etc.) is not immutable.  
The Arguments to keep the Press-doors shut, centre all in this. That a Liberty thereof, without the Pass of a Licence, may prove pernicious not only to private men, but to the Public, to the Church, to the State.  
Libels will fly about to wound men's Reputations; and, which is a consideration of greater weight. The Church and State may thus be shot at and mounded, and yet like shooting with White Powder, the Wound is felt, but none knows whence the Bullets came.  
This is an Inconvenience; but, if this be all, the Argument is fallacious: For, as in other Trades, things that are rare, dear and hard to come by, are the readiest Commodity; so also in the Booksellers Trade, no Books vend so nimbly, as those that are sold (by Stealth as it were) and want Imprimaturs.  
This Restraint by Licensers will not prevent the flying Pamphlets and Reputation-Wounders; we may well say, it will not, because by Experience 'tis found it never did.  
But, if the By-Law already made by the Stationer's Company, were Enacted by Parliament, with some additions, all the Inconveniencies of Restraining the Press from Printing the best Books, (because it is perhaps against the Diana of Mr. Licenser, or the Craft by which he gets his Wealth) will be prevented; and all the Reputation-Wounders will be discovered, and without further Proof, brought to Cendign Punishment: Namely, A Law, that every Author's and Printer's Name, and their several places of Residence, and the man's Name for whom they were Printed, and who Publishes and Vends them, be Printed in the Title-Page of every Book or Pamphlet; And that such Printed Names shall be a sufficient Evidence, as if under their own Hand-Writting; provided it be proved by Witnesses and Writing, that the Author gave order for it (and that the Printer (there named) did really Print the same:) And that it shall be Felony, (or some Crime or Punishment) to Print any Book or Pamphlet in other manner; or to Print false Names: Or with what other Provisoes the Wisdom of a Parliament shall think meet.  
The Pope indeed has some Reason to Restrain all Printing, without his Approbation Licence, or Instruction; because it is very meet and right so to do; granting his Infallibility, An Index Expurgatorius is a necessary and just Consequence thereof.  
But, Church of England, that disclaims all such Impudent pretence; what Reason can she give to be the only Doorkeeper to the Press, except she could also get an Act of Parliament that it shall not be Lawful hereafter for God Almighty to open any man's Understanding clearer, nor to give him better Eyes than the Licenser.  
For, How many Excellent Books, both in Divinity and Humanity, are Suppressed, because they are excellent, and too good to get an Imprimatur?  
This made the Great Duke of Buckingham say, That the Clergy have but one Vote; for the Inseriour Clergy generally think themselves notably sharp-sighted in Affairs, if they can but look up to the Top of the Church-Steeple, and see how the Cock stands; and as the Wind blows, many of them sometimes Conform themselves.  
Thus Haggards listen to the Huntsman's Halloo and Horn, but seldom put their Noses to the Ground to examine the Scent; For which the Huntsman Whips them smartly sometimes, yet 'tis all one.  
No men are greater Vassals then small Clergymen, or at least more Oppressed with unreasonable Assents and Consents, in spite of Mathematics, and illegal Procurations, Synodals, etc. even when there is no Synod, no Visitation, etc. yet (poor Hearts) they out with their Purse, and pay the Bishop's Silver, and the Rich Arch-Deacons Silver, though some of them Pawa the Pewter-Dish for it; and yet for all this Vassalage, some of them does not so much as Whimper, Groan, nor Complain, nor Vote otherwise then (as the Word is Echoed amongst them) though at such a time as this, when a Parliament can help us.  
Thus have I seen a Stepmother Whip the Child till it Roar again, and then take it up again and Whip it for Roaring; and then make it go down on its Knees, ask Forgiveness, Kiss the Rod; threatening to give it twice as much if it tell its Father: But come on't what will, I will say— God help, the while.  
Has any man in the World any other or better Commission to Preach, than what Christ gave his Disciples? (Mat. 28.19.) namely, To go and teach, and make all Nations Disciples by Baptising them; and he will be with such to the end of the World; not with those Individual Apostles (who are dead) but their Successors (Lawfully ordained) to ●ue end of the World.  
Let any man show me a Reason if he can, why a Presbyter Lawfully ordained, and therefore Commissionated by Christ to Teach all Nations, etc. should need any other Licence? And is not teaching in Print from the Press, the same or better, and of more general and universal benefit to all-men, and all Nations, than the narrow Pulpit, though it stand aloft?  
And dare any Christian prefer the Worth of an Act of Parliament, before the Words of God and our Lord Jesus, who has commanded all Men to let their Light so shine before Men, that they may see their good Works, (in Print, the most Excellent, Universal, and Charitable Good Works in the World, if they be agreeable to Holy Scripture, and right Reason) and glorify their Father which is in Heaven, without leave or Licence?  
Does not our Law-Books say, That all Statutes are Ipso facto, Void, if against the Common Law, (viz. the Light of Reason, or Law of Nature) or against the Law of God?  
But it is against the Common Law to take away, or Obstruct any Man's Trade or Birthright, (as Printing is to many Men) when the Public, the State and the Church, and every private Man's Reputation, may be better and sufficiently Insured by other Ways?  
Is there not a Positive Law of Christ to all Christians; not to hid their T●l●●● in a Napkin, (though the Licensers for Self-Interest, will not give us an Imprimatur to improve it?)  
Is there not a Plain-Law of Christ, That we should not put our Light under a Bushel, but on a Candlestick, that all that come in may see the Light? The Liberty of the Pulpit, Bench or Press, are the Golden Candlesticks; the Self-ended Imprimatur's very Wooden Ones, (God knows) if this little Treatise cannot be Gainsaid nor Confuted, but by the Gaoler?  
Is there not a Positive Law of Christ; Not to quench the Spirit? And shall any  Law quench it, for Self-ends, and because they are so mad as to shut their Eyes, and scorn to amend, or be cured by a charitable Hand, that is willing to do it for God's sake, and not for any other Fee?  
Since than there is a Positive Law of Christ to let our Light so shine before men, that they may see our Good and Charitable Works, (in Print to choose) that Pater Noster (which is in Heaven) may be Glorified; Then let us give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; but let us not rob God, to give unto Caesar the things that are God's Peculiars and Property.  
And what Honest Protestant would not think it much more Honour to be God's Advocate, (in such a Book as this, (as little as it is,) Pseading Gods Cause, his Right and Bole Dominion over Consciences, than by Invading Liberty of Conscience (God's Throne) to arrive to the highest Preferments, (the Effect of Favour (many times) or some wilder Chance?)  
And now have I done with the Five Chapters which are all Uniform and of a P●ece; there went but the Sacars (or Sections) between them, for Methods sake.   

The CONCLUSION.  
AND now (Most Excellent Patriots!) I'll Conclude with the Honest Confession of a Popish Priest, Cardinal Cajetan, (in his Commentaries upon Mat. 5.13.) Ye are the Salt of the Earth, but if the Salt has lost its Savour, etc. And just as he was Writing upon that Text, the French Soldiers had broke into Rome, (May 6. 1527) and used the Clergy (above all others) most scurvily and abominably.  
Whereupon, (saith he) Evanuimus, ac ad nibilum Vtiles, nisi ad Externas Ceremonias, Externague bona, etc. We the Prelates of Rome, do now by woeful Experience, find the Truth of this Scripture this day, being become, not only a Laughingstock, but a Prey (not to Insidels, but) to Christians, by God's most righteous Judgement; because we, who by our Functions should have been the Salt of the Earth, had lost our Savour, and were good for little but looking after Ceremonies, and the Revenues of the Church: Hence it is, that together with us, this whole City comes to be trodden under foot this day.  
Episcopacy in England (for aught we know to the contrary) is as Ancient as our Christianity in England; and the Common-Prayer-Book (as to the generality of it) may serve the Turn (it was made for) well enough; yet it appears to be made by no other Aid of the Holy Ghost, than other Prayer-Books in Print, if so much.  
Both of these main Pillars of our Church are miserably Dilapidated and out of frame, from top to bottom; yet not so ghastly, but they may by You, be well enough repaired, without pulling down.  
If this be accounted a Slander cast upon Mother-Church, or that any be so blind, as not to see what is so plain and obvious to every considering Eye, that is not blinded with her Dowry; (like that young Gallant, who being demanded why he would Wed such an Old Woman, though she was very Rich, (studying what he should see in her to umbrage the fondness of his Embraces) answered, that he could not but love her very Wrinkles.  
Which Wrinkles, I had rather M●sque over and cover, than discover; I hate the ungrateful Work; except I be called upon to Prove my Words, and to show her Nakedness and Distempers, through her whole Constitution: It is so far out of frame, that it is a wonder to me, that it has stood so well, and so long.  
But you may easily repair her Breaches, which I am ready to prove have distracted these Nations, these fifty years and more, and of such absolute Necessity to be mended, that no man hereafter (high or low) shall give his Assent and Consent, (as all we Clergymen have done) under our Hands; except we Wink when we Writ, and Subscribe Blindfold, in spite of our Knowledge and Consciences, and in spite of Mathematics.  
And what a shame is it, that Clergymen from the Highest to the lowest, shall be forced (as now) to starve, or Subscribe to an Untruth, or Iniquity, because Established by a Law, (the Act of Uniformity?) that condsiering how, and when it was made, 'tis a Miracle to me, that they had not got P●pery as well Established by a Law, but that the Major Part of that Pensioners Parliament were honest English Protestants.  
But if after all this, some Achitophel, some Machiavilian, who has got more Power than Grace, will confute me only, (as the Council of Constance confuted those two Excellent Protestants (as aforesaid) only with a Jail: He will in the end prove himself to be a true Achitophel, (as the Name signifies in the Hebrew Tongue) Cosen-German to a Fool.  
And may glory a while (and but a while, I hope) as the French King does, that in making new Converts, and upholding his Religion; His Dragoons and his Jailers are his best Breachers.  
If so; then, most Noble Healers of our Breaches! Let not Protestants hereafter be permitted to force your Subjects (who have entrusted you with Power) to the sad Choice (which Papists glory in) namely, To Use the Cross, or Bear the Cross; stretch your Consciences, or stretch a Halter; Bow or we will Break your Necks, or Starve you in a Jail  
But I humbly say— If here I have spoke Evil, bear Witness of the Evil; but, if well, why smitest thou me through Envy? Envy, that Rancour, Rust and Canker of Man's Soul (that like the Wood Worm) Eats up and Devours its Parent that breeds it and feeds it.  
Nay, for the smiting work too, I am very willing to submit my Skull to be stoned to Death for any the least Error in this Treatise committed, upon condition, that he only that is free from Error cast the first Stone at me.  
I do not much Tremble at this Frank and Free Offer, though I be Confronted with (the Present Pope) Old Innocent Himself, or any of his Bishops.  
COLCHESTER, January. 17. 1688/ 7.  
FINIS.    

Errata. In the Epistle, Page 3. Line 28. for Males Administration, read Maladministration. Page 4. Line 28. for su●●, read such.