A SERMON Preached before HIS MAJESTY at Whitehall, March 12. 1664/ 5. By the Right Reverend Father in God, B. Lord Bishop of Lincoln. Published by His Majesty's special Command. London, Printed for Timothy Garthwait, 1665. 1 THESS. 4.11. And that ye study to be quiet. AND] is a word that takes hold of something that went before, without which the sense of that which follows is not full. That which went next before is, We beseech you to increase more and more. We beseech you, is that we are to take into the Text, and then it runs thus, We beseech you to study to be quiet. But all the use I shall make of it, now we have it here, is but to give you a taste beforehand of the nature and quality of this duty, That it is no trivial thing little to be regarded, but that which obliged S. Paul, Sylvanus, and Timotheus, for they all joined in it, to be so earnest, as to beseech them to study to be quiet. 2. And that which commends this duty the more is, (as we use to say, Men are best known by the company they keep) And] brings in this Duty in the company of the best of Virtues, Charity, for that place S. Paul gives it above all; Col. 3.14. Above all things put on Charity, which is the bond of perfection. To study to be quiet, and to increase in brotherly love and charity, for that led the way before, are two duties bound together in the same Exhortation. 3. Quiet is not only a fit companion for Charity, but an Ally to it, and grows out of it, as the branch out of the stock; for where brotherly love is, there will be always quiet too. 4. To make all suit the better with Charity, the Exhortation is advanced by a Dialect of Love, We bèseech you. Paul, Sylvanus, and Timotheus, were all Apostolical men, and might command, as S. Paul of himself in another case to Philemon, Though I might be bold to enjoin thee, yet for love's sake I rather beseech you. And lastly, that which might very well set this edge upon their affections, was, that which happened to the Thessalonians at their first conversion; for this Epistle was written immediately after. The story we have in the 17 chap. of the Acts: When S. Paul had preached the Gospel to them, and with good success; for v. 4. Some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But v. 5. The Jews who believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the base sort, and gathered a company, and set all the City in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people; mad enough of themselves; but the more to ferment and enrage them, they charge the Apostles with the fault that they themselves were acting; These are they that turn the world upsidedown. S. Paul having escaped this fury by going to Athens, and there considering in what a case he left his new Converts, both them and their Doctrine; them in a furious tumult, and their Doctrine under the reproach of troubling the world; out of a zeal, no doubt, and desire to remove that scandal from the Faith, of all things begs and beseecheth them to study to be quiet. But how will this concern us? I wish we never had, and had not still the same occasion. It is not so long since, that we should forget how our late troubles first broke in upon our quiet: We had unbelieving Jews then amongst us too, and some, as was thought, in the literal sense; who moved with envy of the times, took unto them likewise a company of lewd fellows of the base sort, set the City in an uproar; and we may remember whose houses they beset (as the Jews did Jasons) none of the meanest, and cried out for that justice which themselves deserved. And there were Religions in the world then too many, to the scandal of the true, who led on, and blew up those tumults: And even now, though (God be thanked) they dare not be so bold to assault us in the streets, and beset our houses as they did then; yet still keep their quarters and leaguers within doors, with more secrecy, but no less danger. It will not therefore be unseasonable for us now, who have the same cause the Thessalonians had, with the same affection the Apostle did, to beseech you to study to be quiet. We have all need of quiet, and quiet it seems hath need of study, and study hath need of God's blessing, and therefore before we proceed further, Let us pray, etc. THe parts of the Text are two; What we are to study, And that we are to study. First, What? That ye study to be quiet. Quiet is here commended under the notion and quality of an Art or Science; for we are enjoined to study it. And in them we are to look, first, to the object, the nature and quality of it; and then to the Principles and Theorems whereon the Art is grounded. 1. For the nature and kind of this Quiet first: For there be many things lay claim to this word, which are either unfit for our study, or improper to this place. As first, there is a quiet from all motion or action that is good or useful; to do nothing but eat and drink and sleep, or worse: Away with that quiet; it neither deserves our study, nor needs it. This is Negotiosa quies; we are commanded in the words following to be busy as well as quiet; we are both to study to be quiet, and to do our own business. 2. There is a Quiet, not simply from all, but public business; when men retire themselves for private study or devotion. This may be allowed, and commended too, when the necessities of their Countries requires them not. But because public employments are seldom forced upon any, nor need to be; for no man's parts or abilities are so great, which may not truly, and certainly will be thought such as can very well be spared: They therefore who affect that privacy, may be secure from that necessity; they who have a will to be quiet for devotion or study, need not study to be quiet, the access to that is easy enough. 3. There is another Quiet, more commendable in its self, and needs our study too; To compose our unruly and disordered passions and affections, which raise tumults and commotions within us, that will not suffer us to be at rest or quiet day or night. In the midst therefore of all the temptations of good, or storms of ill fortune to rest securely and contentedly, whatsoever happens to our private, is certainly an admirable temper, and well worthy our best care and study; and was that which S. Paul himself it seems studied, for he said he learned it; I have learned in what estate soever I am, Phil. 4.11. therewith to be content. But the quiet we are here to study is not properly within us, but without us; it is not simply a quiet from motion, but commotion, a troubling of others. 4. And that I may contract my argument and bring it into as narrow a compass as may be, I shall not take in every of the disturbances of the quiet of others: No not that which is the greatest of all, and most contrary to peace and quiet, Civil Wars and broils. The mischiefs of that we have learned so lately to our cost, and so perfectly, that I hope we need not be set to study that now: when every good man was put to his study how to live, and when vile and contemptible wretches ranted in plenty and power. The horrid fruits and consequences of that great disturber of quiet, War, have induced some learned men, as well as others, to think all wars unlawful; I should have been much inclined to that opinion upon the strictest rules of Christianity, if War were not sometimes necessary to Peace. A foreign War for that reason may be lawful, but a civil and domestic never. And the reason of this difference is, because for the composing of all quarrels that may arise between subjects, God hath by his Ordinance provided a remedy in Princes and Magistrates, from whom alone we are to seek for revenge or defence. But for such differences as arise between free Princes and States, because there is no Judge on earth, to whom they may have recourse for their relief, being destitute of the common remedy, they may, without question, make use of that sword which God hath put into their hands to defend their subjects from the injuries as well of strangers as their own. Nor are they in this Judges in their own cause, which hath some appearance of injustice; for a foreign War, for defect of a competent Judge on Earth, is but an appeal to the supreme Judge of Heaven and Earth. And when they go into the Field, it is but to plead their cause before God, with whom are the issues of War. Only they had need be careful, that the cause they bring before him be good; For shall not the Judge of all the world do right? But the must leave this to Princes and their Ministers, who are the only proper students of that quiet, which is disturbed by War, and come to that which may and must be the study of us all: That is, a quiet from troubles that arise from different judgements and persuasions in matters of Religion, which cause sects and divisions in it, though they break not out into an open War. Not that War be quite left out of the sectaries reckoning. For though Civil Wars and rebellions have their beginning for the most part from the ambition or discontent of a few, yet because the people, who are the necessary instruments of that mischief, be not apt to serve the ambition of others, if it comes bare-faced to them, the mask of Religion is always put on, wherein all people are concerned, which makes it a common and popular interest. And therefore you shall scarce hear of a Rebellion of late times, in which Religion did not carry the Colours at least, if not command in chief. But I shall nevertheless at this time forbear to make that any part of the Schismatics charge, but treat them upon their own terms, that they are as great enemies to War as any that object it to them: Yet I must charge them all to be guilty of the breach of peace and quiet in the Church, and that not accidentally, which may sometimes bear excuse, but necessarily; it is connatural and incident to the very nature of schism, which is a rent or division, so the word signifies. It is the worst disturbance that can be to any body, to be torn in pieces. It dissolves the bonds by which the parts are joined together, especially that which unites them to the Head; for schism in the Church's notion is properly a separation from the Head and authority, and is the same in the Church that Rebellion or Treason is in the State. Now as every disobedience to the King and the Laws is not Treason, though against the King, but the disclaiming the right and power the King hath to govern, and the practice of such things, by which his Regalia and rights are usurped by others, as to make War, to make Laws, to thrust Officers upon him, to order the Coin, these and of the like kind are only Treason. So every error or disobedience in Religion makes not a schism, but the disclaiming the right and power the Church hath to govern them, and a usurpation of a right to themselves, to order and frame points of Belief, and Forms how to serve and worship God, apart from the Church, for so went the style of the ancient Church for Schism, altar contra altar, which in our modern dialect is a Conventicle against the Church. For though Schism be formally a separation from the Head, yet consequently it works upon the members; for that which was at first but difference of opinion, soon begets a disaffection, and from that grows to hatred and contempt, and so falls into the practice of such things as destroy the very being and power of Religion, which consists in the mutual offices of Charity; and though this mischief breaks not out into an actual War, yet is always accompanied with most unnatural and unchristian practices, as S. James long since observed, Jam. 3.16. Where envy and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. Now to avoid all this, it will highly concern us to study to be quiet. Having cleared the first Point, the Object of our study, Quiet, and wherein the sormalis ratio of it consists, and how it comes to be disturbed by Schism: The next Point is, to inquire into the Principles whereon we are to ground our study; for if there should be an error or mistake in them, all our labour and study is lost, or worse; for an inveterate, grounded, studied error is so much the harder to be reclaimed. It was no unreasonable demand therefore of the Philosopher, who asked a double reward for those Scholars that had been already entered into the study of Philosophy, because his pains would be double with them, to undo first, and cast out those false prejudices which they had already learned. Now if it should happen, that they which are otherwise studious and desirous of peace, should not do the things that make for peace, as the Apostle requires, Rom. 14.10. our study will grow upon us, first to unlearn those false deceitful principles of peace, before we inquire into the true: Of some of the chief of these therefore I shall give you an account in the first place. It will conduce much to the peace of the Church, they say, First, 1. If Religion were free, and all compulsory means forborn, 2. If mere Errors in Judgement howsoever were not punished as crimes, which is not in the power of any to help. 3. Or if that, yet (Thirdly) That omission of Forms and Ceremonies were not more severely and frequently punished, then notoriows and scandalous crimes. 4. If fewer Articles and Points of Religion were defined, it would make more room in the Church for those that dissent. 5. Another is, If men of moderate Opinions were only employed in the Church. 6. The last, and most importunate pretender to peace, is, Liberty of Conscience. But that none of all these are things that make for peace, I shall show with as much brevity as the matter is capable of; as first, 1. Not the forbearance of all compulsory means by punishments, which, they say, is repugnant to that freeness with which Religion should be entertained, and only forces men to an hypocritical obedience to that which in their judgements they detest. Religion, I grant, should be free; it is no Religion which is not so: But it is as true, that every other act of virtue, and obedience to the Laws should be free likewise; but therefore not to punish them that transgress, were to proclaim a perpetual Jubilee, and set open all prison doors: God would never have enjoined the Magistrate to punish temporally, nor himself threatened to punish eternally, if the fear of that did corrupt our obedience: For our Saviour in the Parable, when the guests came not to the banquet at his invitation, Luk. 14.23. commanded his servants to compel them to come in. And where they say, the fruit of that is but hypocrisy; Hypocrites they are like enough to be, but from a worse cause, not from the punishment, but their own frailties, because they prefer their temporal safety before the eternal blessing which Christ hath promised to all that suffer for his sake and the truth. Secondly, It is true, that punishments reach not directly the inward man, nor do they teach or inform the Judgement, that is, they do not perfect the work; but are nevertheless a good beginning to it: For, Fear is the beginning of Wisdom, which Love must perfect. Though the Needle stays not in the Garment, yet it must lead the Thread that makes it up. The Rod indeed doth not teach the child, yet scares him to his book where he may learn: So though punishments do not perfect and accomplish our duty, yet they set us to our studies, to consider that we do not rashly cast ourselves upon danger, which otherwise possibly we would never think off, but run on whither our wild vain fancies and groundless persuasions led us: For Spes impunitatis est illecebra peccandi. Punishments therefore are both justified for the good they do, and are absolved from the evil they are pretended to do; and therefore wholly to forbear them in matters of Religion is no good principle whereon to ground the Church's peace The next is, That howsoever it be in other matters of Religion, it would make much for the quiet of the Church, if Errors in Judgement were not punished as crimes, because no man can be abler and wiser than God hath made him. It is true, that an Error, so long as it stays in the Understanding, and goes no further, is not properly a sin; for the Understanding is not agens liberum, but passive. In that the eye of the mind is as the eye of the body; if that be naturally , it is no fault that it sees not so far as another: But if the weakness of the Understanding participate with the Will, which is agens liberum, and so the Error comes within our power, than it may be properly a sin. This is the case of all that descent in Sects; for though in speculation the Understanding is distinct from the Will, yet in practice they are seldom severed. For it is morally impossible, that after a man hath conceived an opinion, he should not be well pleased with it, and have a will as occasion is to defend and propagate it too. And when it is Voluntarium, no doubt but it is Peccatum, and when error grows to be a sin, I know no reason why it may not be punished; for interest reipublicae peccata puniri. But for all that it is, they say, a great disturbance of quiet to be tied to assent to that we cannot know nor comprehend. That's a great mistake. I know there is much exception taken to the too punctual definitions of some mysteries of the faith, and particularly in the Creed commonly called by Athanasius, where there are many particulars which they cannot know nor comprehend. Whereas in truth it is not required of them, they are not bound to know them, but to believe them; for it is the mercy of God, that the defect of our knowledge may be supplied by the knowledge of others; for to believe is to see with other men's eyes, as knowledge is with our own. But may we safely trust others in that which so nearly concerns as a Creed? Yes sure, and it is as well the mercy, as the command of God, that we should trust those that watch over our souls; yet still that must be to supply the defect of our knowledge, not otherwise; for the Church is not Lord of our Faith, but helper of our Ignorance. It supplies the defect of our sight, it doth not put it out: for if a man knows the contrary, he is not bound to believe others; for if he can see with his own eyes, why shall he be tied to see with other men's? But then we must distinguish betwixt not knowing the negative, and a positive knowing the contrary: for if we refuse to believe merely because we do not know or understand, we leave no place for Faith at all, which is the benefit to see by others. And for that positive knowledge which discharges us of believing others, that we be not mistaken, it is not every conjectural or probable persuasion will do it, but certain knowledge: and when that is, we may safely learn from the Schools; Ubi non est formido contrarii, after diligent search and enquiry, when there remains no scruple, doubt, or fear of the contrary, when the understanding is fixed, we are said to be certain. If this knowledge will serve to discharge us of believing others, every one that dissents will say he knows the contrary, yea, and if need be will swear to it too; for that's an expedient lately found out to obtain that liberty, That they may be admitted to swear they know the contrary to that which is commanded. Truly, if they will say it, and think so too, whether they swear it or no, I think we may safely absolve them from the guilt of disobdience: but that must be in foro Conscientiae only, and let them make the best use they can of that; yet in foro externo we can not; for there the Judge must give sentence according to his knowledge, and not according to the knowledge of the party, if he will do justice. And that course can be no good friend to Peace, which is an enemy to Justice. Though Errors may be punished, yet it troubles the quiet of many, that the omission of Forms and Ceremonies is more severely punished then some foul and scandalous crimes. To this I answer, First, That they who object this, are not to be trusted with the balance of sins, for we know how the Market went for them when they held the Scale: Obedience to the King and the Laws, and serving God according to them, were the great scandalous crimes. 2. Allowing it to be true as they say, That omission of Forms and Ceremonies is by the Church more frequently and severely punished then greater faults. But how greater? It may be in their proper and natural guilt and obliquity, according to which sentence shall be given at the day of Judgement, and to death eternal. But our earthly Tribunals are not erected to anticipate the day of Judgement, to bring all sinners to trial for whatsoever they have committed in the flesh; and according to the proper measure of their guilt; but for a particular end and use; that people, while they live here in the world, and in society, may be kept in good order and quiet, from doing or receiving injuries. And to this end is the degree of their punishments commensurate: Treason and Rebellion are more severely punished in the State then many other heinous crimes, because they destroy the very foundation of government and Society. And for the same reason, a schismatical disobedience, though but in matters of Form and Ceremony, is pursued with more care and strictness, because it destroys the very end for which the power is given the Church to punish, which is, the preservation of peace and unity. For though the Pastors of the Church may and must by way of Instruction, the better to prepare us for our account at the great and general Judgement, give every sin the proper weight and measure of guilt, that is by way of Instruction: But by way of Correction the Church is bound up to certain causes, and if they keep not their bounds, they shall be sure to hear of a prohibition; and those Causes are especially such, for which the power is only given, That the peaceable orderly Worship and service of God be not disturbed. For though they are ever telling us, it is for trifles, ceremonies, or indifferent things, it is but the same quarrel the Atheists have against God himself, for being so much offended for an Apple, a trifle which scarce any man that hath an Orchard would have been troubled with; and one Answer will serve both in effect. In that forbidden fruit, God's authority in commanding, and Adam's duty in obeying, were symbolically engaged for him and his, and there was venom enough in that to infect both. The Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, in like manner, though not in like degree, though in their opinion as inconsiderable as the paring of Adam's apple, yet when discord and disobedience is found with them, there is poison enough in that for the strongest antidote the Church doth at any time make use of. Let not that therefore misled or disturb our Student of Quiet. Nor that which, in the Fourth place, they look at as another Expedient for Peace, If fewer Points and Articles of Religion were defined, that so the Church-door may be wider open to let in those whose dissent now troubles the peace of the Church. It is fit, I grant, the Church-door should stand always open, but for such as shall be fit to enter; for it would be a dangerous thing to set any door so wide open to let in an enemy upon us. But to what purpose would we have the Church-door so wide, when the Gate of Heaven is straight? why should they be taken in here, if they shall be turned back there? The Church is a City, as Jerusalem, a City that is at unity in itself; so it is a City too that hath gates and walls to shut our others. He that came to a little City, where there was a great Gate, merrily warned the Citizens to take heed lest their City went not out at the Gate, may soberly be said to those that would have the Church door so wide to let in all Sects, to take heed lest the Church gets not out at the door: For where so many Religions are, it may be feared, that soon there will be none at all. If we be not, as the Apostle commands, built up in the same Faith, it will avail us little to be found within the same walls. It is therefore a perverse remedy for peace, to abate or diminish the Articles and definitions of the Church, which were made of purpose to take away controversies; it would be a strange course to end controversies, to take away the definitions. Our Student must read his Books back ward, if he seek for peace from hence. We might as well say, all the world would be quiet, if there were no Judges nor Laws to determine differences. There is another Expedient for Peace, which I hear much spoken of, and highly set by as a great point of prudence, If men of moderate opinions were only taken into employment in the Church. Moderation, I confess, is an excellent virtue, and much to be desired; Let your moderation be known unto all men, Phil. 4 5. But than it must be in a subject capable of it, wherein there are extremes and excesses to be moderated, as there is certainly in our passions, there it is proper. S. Paul gives it for a Lesson to all Students in Religion, Ephes. 4. 3●. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, and tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. This no doubt is a very fit temper for quiet, and none more unfit, then angry, waspish, and domineering spirits. Only this caution is to be observed in lenity, That it be such as may win men into the Church, not such as may secure and encourage them to stay without. Yet lenity and gentleness is so good a Virtue, that I am loath to dast water upon it, or seem to temper it. But for men of moderate opinions, I am at a loss to know what they should be; for moderation there cannot be, but between extremes: Now what extremes are there of opinions in a settled Church, unless the Church be one extreme, and the Schismatic another? and then the man of moderate opinions is he that is part Churchman, and part Schismatic. I hope none are so unkind to their Mother the Church, to charge extremities upon her Doctrine or Laws. If there be any such, they are but Hybrides in Religion, and make a new sect in the Church, as pernicious to the peace of it as any of the rest. The truth is▪ moderate opinions are a Chimaeta, a fancy; either nothing, or somewhat worse than nothing: for possibly they may bestow that good word (Moderation) upon such as care little either to observe the Law themselves, or to require it of others. If these be the men of moderate opinions, I wonder how they will be able to give account of their justice and fidelity to the trust committed to them. Yes, they say, very well; It is rather prudence than injustice, to mitigate and sweeten the sharpness and rigour of the Law. But if the Law itself be too rigorous, in God's name let it be amended, and not left to the arbitrary power of others to do it, for that's known to be a remedy ten times worse than the disease. It is said in Physic, I know not how truly, that an error in the first concoction, is not mended in the second: It is certainly true here, an error or excess in the Law, which is the first concoction of justice, will be ill cured afterward by an arbitrary partiality in the execution. I hope therefore no wise Student of quiet, will take such Moderators for the best Ministers of peace. But I leave them, and come to the most popular, and therefore most dangerous principle in the study of quiet; that is, Liberty of Conscience. I have spoken to this point heretofore in this place; yet because of late our new Philosophical Divines, as well as others, press hard for it, knowing without a free Market, they cannot vend their new bold speculations; I shall resume the point again a little more largely, yet within the compass of these two particulars. First, That there is a great deal of reason to restrain the Conscience, and Secondly, That there is no reason to give it liberty. 1. There is reason enough to restrain the Conscience, for the mischief it doth to Quiet when it is at liberty; for all the discord and divisions of the Church grow from hence, and that is a mischief we have reason to avoid. Rom. 16.17. Mark them (saith S. Paul) which cause divisions among you, and avoid them. There is reason then to mark that which causeth them to make divisions, and that's the Conscience. It is no quietter in the Commonwealth, where it destroys the very Foundation of Government, and frustrates the Ordinance of God for it in Princes and Magistrates; for what is left for them to do, if every one must follow the dictate of his own Conscience, that is, in plain terms, be bound only to obey himself. This is no slander to the pretenders of conscience; they will say as much themselves, if ye ask them. Ask the Schismatic why he joins not with the congregation of God's people? and he will tell you, His conscience will not suffer him. Ask the Rebel in the State, why he takes up Arms to the ruin of his King and Country? and his Conscience will answer for him, That it is God's cause, and it is to do him service. Ask him again, why he doth not repent of the mischief done by it? (for that they seldom do) and the Conscience will serve that turn too, It is God's cause, and the conscience will not suffer them to repent of that. Thus we see, the Conscience, as it is used, doth not only open a door to sin, but shuts the very door to mercy, that is Repentance. If S. John said true, as no doubt he did, That there were many Antichrists, then possibly the Conscience thus improved may be one of them For, it sets itself in the Church above all that is called God, yea, and God himself too, in a sense; for his Laws are not to be obeyed, unless the Conscience first allows them to be his: and thus all is resolved into the Conscience, as the dernier resort and last appeal. While the King and the Pope are contending for Supremacy, the Conscience without scruple puts in for it against both, and takes it for her right to be supreme in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil. There is great complaint in the world of domineering over the Conscience; but have we not rather cause to complain of the domineering of the Conscience? And if any list to see the Conscience acting all this, we need go no further than our late times, when the Conscience was lose for a while; one would think Hell had broke lose, so filled was on a sudden the Church with sects, and the Commonwealth with confusion. There is reason enough therefore to restrain the Conscience that acts all this, if we knew how. The next thing I undertook to show, is, That there is no reason why it should have liberty; and particularly, not that which gives the fairest colour to it: Neither the duty we own to Truth, which seems to have some right to liberty; nor that we own to the Will of God, that nothing be done against the Conscience. For the first. Truth is that (I confess) which no consideration of peace may warrant us to desert; for I could never be of that opinion, That Truth in smaller matters may for Peace sake be either denied or prejudiced. Magna est veritas etiam in minimis; in God's name let it prevail over all. But than it must be Veritas in rebus, not Veritas in intellectu. For though Truth be defined to be a conformity of the understanding to the thing as it is indeed, yet takes the name from both; from the thing where Truth is originally, and from the understanding where it is only represented. Truth in that first reference to the thing, admits no qualification; things must be taken as they are, be they never so small: but as the things come to be represented to, and entertained by the Understanding, by reason of the mistakes and errors that may happen in that, though Truth itself, or Truth in the thing cannot, yet my apprehension of it may both yield to better, and may sometimes be waved for peace sake. To argue from Truth in the thing, to Truth in the apprehension only, is a fallacy against the Rules of Reasoning, we call it Petitio principii, or a begging of the question. If a Sectary should beg an alms, I wish he may have it; but he shall beg long ere it be granted him, that he hath the truth. How then can he presume upon that truth, to which he hath no other title but his own persuasion, which can be no better than any man's else, who is as strongly persuaded to the contrary? And this is all the service that Truth can do the Conscience for liberty. 2. The second thing whereupon the Conscience especially bears itself so high, is the Will of God that nothing be done against the Conscience. That no doubt is a great offence, and made so by the greatest Authority: Yet the same God that requires our obedience to the Conscience, commands us likewise to obey our Parents, our Princes and Governors, and all these stand upon as good authority as the Conscience. If we cannot reconcile our obedience to that with our obedience to these, we may sin against God, when we do not sin against the Conscience. For though God hath erected a Tribunal in every man's breast, and there set the Conscience to be a Judge of all our actions, there be other Tribunals of Justice besides, of God's erection too, and to which he hath subjected the very Conscience. Ye must needs be subject (Rom. 13.) not only for wrath, but also for conscience. And after both these, there is another Tribunal in Heaven, to which all Judges, Conscience and all must give an account one day. For the Conscience is no Court of Record; the Decrees and Acts passed there, will be no good evidence at that Bar; there all must be reexamined, and tried over again. Though I know nothing by myself, (saith S. Paul) yet am I not thereby justified. Though he could not charge his Conscience with any offence, he knew a further trial must pass upon him before he could be absolved. My Conscience indeed may be pleaded there in evidence against me as a Witness to condemn me, but not as a Judge to absolve me. It is a great mistake in the power and operation of the Conscience: That it will condemn us, if we do any thing against it, the Text is clear for that; but that it will absolve us for that we do according to it, there is no Text, I am sure, for that We must then be tried by the Law, and not by the Conscience: For how the proceed will be at that Bar, we have a record, Matth. 25.31. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him; Then shall be sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations. When the Court was set, the Charge was given to those on the left hand; I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was athirst, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not. To this Charge the Conscience (no doubt confidently enough) pleaded Not guilty; Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Their Conscience could accuse them of none of these things; for all that, the Sentence went against them upon a point of Law and Equity; In that ye did it not to these (saith the Judge) ye did it not to me. And for this they were condemned to eternal punishment. If they that stand so much upon their consciences did seriously consider this, they would find as little cause to desire that liberty, as there is to grant it, seeing it stands them in so little stead when they have most need of it; for when they think their conscience shall answer for them, they must then answer for their conscience, and upon trial, the conscience may prove the great offender. Thus have I hitherto given you an account of some of the vulgar mistaken principles of Quiet, which our Student is first to unlearn; which are all but the patching up of a false deceitful peace, condemned in the Politics under the name of a Syncretismus, when all the Factions in Crete joined together in a common danger, which lasted no longer than the cause of it: like the bonds of a hard. Frost, that binds Earth and Water, Sticks and Stones all together, till the Sun comes to shine upon them, and then they all presently return to their proper place and nature again. But I fear I have run out all my time almost in these mistaken ways of peace: I presume it will be a greater offence to leave you here now, then to beg a little more time to set you in the right way, though I shall not go beyond the office of a Mercury, to point the hand where it lies. There is the King's highway to peace, and the Students private way, and both good in their kind. With the King's way I shall not meddle, as being fit matter for our thankfulness then instruction, who hath already paved the way for us by wholesome Laws for that purpose. But because oft times Vitia sunt remediis fortiora, the compulsory way by Law, though always necessary, is not always effectual; to the King's way we must add the Students also: That every one in his particular makes it his care and business to contribute to it, that it be an artificial studied peace, to which not Fear only, but Conscience of Duty and Religion obligeth us. Now every good Student of any Science searches into the true and proper cause of things; for, Scire est per causas cognoscere. If the cause of all division in the Church, be differing in judgement, nothing can cure that but a consent. S. Paul therefore prescribes that for the remedy, 1 Cor. 5.10. That there be no divisions among you; how may that be helped? it follows, But that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgement. This is the true Apostolical Principle, whereon we are to ground our Study of Quiet: For all the fine things and sentences that are spoken for peace and quiet, will little move those that are, and may very well be confident, they ought not howsoever have peace with Sin, or Error. Unless therefore we can be first persuaded that we ought not to charge the Church with either, we do nothing for Peace. This I confess is the great difficulty, yet if this be not done, there can be no hope of Peace. And to do this, I shall not send our Student to the Polemic School, to convince him out of speculative Principles of Reason and Divinity; for to that study, some have not capacity, others not leisure: I shall only commend to him some practical Principles of Religion, obvious to all, and denied by none, that out of them he may learn not to descent from, or condemn the Church of Error. To prevent the passing that sentence, let the Student 1. Study himself, his own condition. 2. Let him study the Church against which he passeth sentence. 3. Let him study the nature and quality of the things whereupon judgement is given. 4. Let him consider well the manner of proceeding in judgement. In all which we shall find some known Principle of Religion to direct us. 1. First, In the study of ourselves, and our own condition: Religion teacheth us to have an humble, lowly, mean opinion of ourselves; and not without cause, whether we respect our Understandings, or our Affections: Our Understandings are naturally weak, imperfect, , we know but in part, the best of us; and our Affections too are disloyal to our Understandings, The heart of man, saith the Prophet, is deceitful above all things. We have little reason then to trust ourselves much in either. He that is truly conscious of his own weakness or lameness, will be content to be supported by others. If we study this point well, our own infirmities, we should learn more willingly to assent to, and take support from the Church. Especially, if in the second place, we study that too whose Governors Religion likewise teaches us to obey, For they watch over our souls, Heb. 13.17. If it be a good point of Religion, in lowliness of mind to esteem others better than ourselves, Phil. 2.3. it is Religion and Reason both, to think our Governors wiser too; for there is a presumption always in favour of them. S. Paul gives it for a rule to Timothy, Not to receive an accusation against an Elder, 1 Tim. 5.19. but before two or three witnesses, because it is to be presumed on the part of Age and Authority, to know more, and offend less. But when it comes to be the whole Eldership, all our Governors jointly, the presumption is so much the stronger. If we add this study to the former, how little reason we have to trust ourselves, and how much we have to trust our Governors, we will not rashly pass sentence against them, if we have either Reason or Religion in us. 3. And yet we have more work for our Student; Let him, in the third place, consider the nature and quality of the things whereupon judgement is given, how apt they are to deceive us. Truth is many times so like an Error, and Error comes so near to Truth, that he had need be careful and circumspect that shall distinguish them in some cases. And in others again, Truth lies hid under many folds, especially ambiguity of words, the common cheat of all Students, who are more often deceived into opinions then convinced. It is not strange to see so many go astray from the Church, to whom the things of it are represented under the covert of false names, when they hear the Government of it called Tyranny; obedience, slavery; contempt, courage; licence, liberty; frenzy, zeal; order, superstition. How easily thus may simple people mistake their way, and fall into the pit that's covered over with shadows and false names of things? When he hath studied this point well, 4. Let him, in the fourth place, be well advised in what manner he proceeds in judgement, and upon what evidence: For, allowing the Conscience to be a Judge, it must not trespass upon the Rules of good Judicature, as, both sides must be heard impartially, which is seldom done; the Conscience must not be misled no more than other Judges, by prejudice, passion, or favour; for what can that judgement be worth which is perverted by any of these. Now if we examine how most men come to pass sentence against the Church, we shall find it to be upon very slight evidence: It may be their Education, they have been always brought up that way; for Sects commonly run in a blood, in a family: Or they have been so taught, they say, by good men; that indeed is the sum and upshot of the Faith of most that dissent, the credit given to some weak, private, ignorant Instructor, whose person they have in admitation, without any great cause, God knows; whereas their private judgements, because they are parties, ought always to be suspected, if we be wise; and because against their Governors, to be contemned, if we be obedient. All these well studied, may make for peace, when possibly Arguments, and Disputes, and Punishments too will not do it. And yet if still none of these will make our Student quiet, Let him, in the last place, make trial of a common remedy that prevails in all cases of difficulty: Let him but study his own security, the safest course, and he shall find that better provided for in the Church's judgement, then in his own; for, if he should err in following the Church, or his Governors, for that is possible, the greatest part of that guilt, some say all, I say only the greatest part, must lie at their door that command that which is unlawful: But if they should err in following their own judgement, or a Judge of their own choosing, for that makes it their own too, and that is more than possible, all the blame and guilt than must of necessity and inexcusably fall upon themselves. Upon these principles, setting aside all those that may convince our judgements in particulars, from these alone, I say, we see how safe, how prudent, how religious a thing it is to submit our private judgements to the public, for the peace of the Church. It remains only now, that we employ our best endeavour and study for it, which is the second part of the Text, and the last thing to be considered, That ye study. STudy is an earnest intention of the mind, by diligent search and enquiry. Wishing well to Quiet, or speaking well of it, will not serve; the greatest disturbers of Peace will do that many times, give it a good word, when they will not part with a fancy for it. And yet Quiet is a thing that requires care and pains somewhat more than ordinary: For when S. Peter likewise speaks of peace, it is in words of the same import, Seek peace, and ensue it. If it be hidden, 1 Pet. 3.11 seek it out; if it flies from you, pursue after it. It is a busy thing to be quiet. The word here translated, Study, is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ambitious of it; that is, pursue and study it as you would do Honour and Preferment: And that, I think, is as much as can be desired; and yet no more than Quiet both deserves and needs. First, It deserves it. For though quiet be rather Status vitae, then Virtus; it is no Virtue itself, yet the best soil to plant Virtue in The fruits of righteousness are sown in peace, Jam. 3.18. So are all the fruits of Industry; Learning, Arts, Sciences, Traffic, Commerce, flourish most in the calm temperate clime; but in troubles and dissensions every good thing goes backward, only mischief thrives It fares with troubled times, as in troubled waters; all the filth, dirt and mire in the bottom gets then up to the top. We saw as much when our waters were lately troubled; what a deal of filth, dirt and mire, what sordid stuff was then got up to the top and highest place of rule and command? So much are we the more obliged to study that peace and quiet, which hath sunk them to their proper place again, the bottom: And there let them lie, if you would be quiet. 2. As it deserves therefore our study, so it needs it too; for it is a difficult thing to be quiet, the way to it lies through so many parts and duties of Religion, and not the easiest of them neither: To deny ourselves, 〈◊〉 humility and lowliness of mind to acknowledge our own weakness and frailty, to submit our judgements to others, as better and wiser than ourselves; to subdue our passions and lusts, from whence the Apostle observes Wars and Contentions to come, from our Lusts; and to all these the Flesh hath naturally a reluctance. Our Student therefore hath need to contend with himself to be at peace with others. S. Paul was at Athens when he wrote this Epistle, a famous University for the study of all liberal Arts and Sciences. I cannot say he had these in his thought, when he commended this study to the Thessalonians, as an Art of more use than any he found at Athens: Yet when I see him so passionately earnest for it, to beseech them to study, we have reason to value it as an Art well worthy of Schools, and Professors, and Students. And they would make a Royal Society, whereof the King himself is Master, who is our Peacemaker by office, and by a care equal to that, hath by Law provided, 1 Tim. 2.2. that under Him we may live a peaceable and quiet life in all godliness and honesty. He hath little sense of Honour, that will not enter himself a Student under that conduct. The very word for Study, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, carries Honour in it. And yet I can tell them of a higher School for it then this, and wherein Kings themselves are content to be Students. Our Lord Christ, the great Mediator of our eternal peace with Heaven, would not be brought into the world without a Song of Peace on Earth, by Angels: And when he left the World, bequeathed it as a Legacy after him, My peace I leave with you. S. Joh. 14.27. And when he comes again to judge the world, we have reason to look that he will call us to a reckoning how we use his Legacy. And so he will too; for he is that Lord, Matth. 24. that when he came and found some smiting their fellow-servants, commanded them to be cut asunder, and have their portion with hypocrites: A punishment well fitted to the offence; there was a schism in the fault, and there shall be another schism in the punishment; they who sundered and divided from their Brethren, should themselves be cut asunder, and have their portion with hypocrites. But for the Peacemakers, when he comes, he will provide better company, for they shall be called the Children of God. Matth. 5.9. Blessed are they then whom the Lord when he comes shall find at their studies of that Quiet which gives them so fair a Title to Eternal Rest and Peace in Heaven with Christ, and all the Children of God. FINIS.