RULES AND DIRECTIONS HOW ALL DISSENTERS May Unite in RELIGION, AS IS established in the Church of England.  

June 18th. 1689.  
This may be Printed.  
R. M.   
LONDON, Printed for Samuel Keble at the Turks-Head in Fleetstreet, 1689.   

Rules and Directions how all Dissenters may unite in Religion, as it is established in the Church of England.  
THE Wisest of Kings hath  told us, that there is a time, and a season for all things; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; and certainly now, if ever, the last time is not only convenient, but absolutely necessary: And should Man hold his Peace and neglect this Duty, even the ston should cry out of the Wall, and the Beam of the Timber shall Answer it: I offer these my Rules and Directions, how all Dissenters may Unite in Religion, &c. to all in general; but more particularly to those who are Dissenters from the Church of England, and who seem to make a breach in the Conformity, and happy Unity of the Church; and by over-nice Scruples, cause a Schism and Rent in his Seamless Garment: 'tis to you that I now speak as a Friend; for we ought not to be as Wolves and Dogs, snarling and snapping one at the other, but with all gentleness and freedom admonish one another; with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. 'Tis the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Love itself, that we love one another; by it we are known to be his true Disciples and Followers of him; and there can be no greater sign of his love, than friendly to admonish one another of errors, and straying from the Truth, and to assist the weak, to raise up those that fall; to call to Unity and concord, and to stir up to peace and amity; That we may be all of one mind, having compassion one of another. Love as brethren, being pitiful, being courleous, not rendering evil for evil, and railing for railing, 1 Pet. 3.8, 9.  
1. Since Separation and Division among Brethren proceeds from the cunning and malice of Satan, and the Priests and Jesuits of the Church of Rome, why should this Separation continue any longer in our Israel? Why should not every man put to his helping hand, to build up the walls of Unity; and the only way against this Romish Faction, lies in the firm union of the whole Protestant Profession; and there is nothing wherein there is the least probability that we can ever be all united, unless it be in the Church of England, as it stands by Law established, agreeable to the Rules of the Holy Gospel, consonant to the Doctrine and practise of the Primitive Christians; and not only allowed, but highly honoured by all the Reformed Churches in the world.  
2. Why do you dispute about Trifles only,( as you call them?) Is not the word of God truly dispensed in our public Churches? Are we not Brethren, and members one of another, have we not one Father, God? One Head, Jesus Christ; and there is but one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all. And are not our Sacraments rightly administered? Are not our Prayers free from scandal and irreverence? Are not our Doctrines clear of error and falsity?  
3. Why then do you deny to hear, and Receive, where you may Communicate with a safe Conscience? As you may certainly do in ours; whose greatest Adversaries have not been able, after the most curious search they could make, to find out one thing in the whole Constitution which they could positively affirm to be forbidden; and till that can be made appear, we must still say that it cannot be unlawful.  
4. As the form of Divine Service, contained in the Book of Common Prayer, which is now used in the Church of England, conduceth somuch to the Edifying those that use it; As may be seen in the Rules for our more devout behaviour in the time of Divine Service in the Church of England, lately Published to show in what good order the public Service of the Church of England is, and the Excellency and Usefulness of it, where its Rules are duly Observed. And it agrees exactly with the Rules of the Apostles, and is performed in English, the vulgar and common Language of the Nation, which every one understands: But in the Church of Rome, the Common People are made uncapable of being Edify'd by the Prayers of the Church, in that they are all made in latin, a Language which they do not all understand. So that when they meet to worship God, there are seldom any in the Congregation that knows what is said there except the Priest that reads it: But blessed be God for it, it is not so with us; For ours is truly Common Prayer, for it is written and red in that Language which is Common to all the Congregations in the Kingdom: So that no man that frequents our public Congregations, can ever pled Ignorance of any one Duty whatsoever: For if it be not his own fault, he may there be instructed in every thing which he that made him, requires of him.  
5. Let the Benevolence and tender heartedness of so gracious a Prince, and King towards you, who tho he be of the Communion of the Church of England( yet has thought fit to give you some Ease and Liberty so that you may the better prepare yourselves to Unity in that Holy Religion in the Church of England) move you to a ready and Ingenuous Compliance.  
6. How happy and Blessed then would the Nation be in this Unity; And how much Security would it give to three Kingdoms! And how much Content and Satisfaction to your Prince, and how much Joy, and Gladness, to the hearts of all your Brethren: what Peace should we enjoy at Home! what Esteem and Awe should we purchase abroad! what Love would be begotten between one another! And what Happiness and Prosperity would it bring to all! You would then see again those happy days of Queen Elizabeth, our Armies to prosper, our Citizens to flourish, Conquest abroad, and Peace at Home, Charity to increase, and Contention to cease; Love to abound, and strife to wax less. The golden Age would seem to be return'd again, and Righteousness would run down like a stream; there would then be a general rejoicing in our streets, and we should all cry out, This is the Lords doing; it is marvelous in our Eyes  
7. Endeavour, to satisfy your Consciences, go about it in good earnest, lay aside all Spiritual Pride, all self-Interest, let the Case be stated truly by you: There are those that have not thought much to convince you, if Scripture and Reason will do it.  
For I have Observed, that of Late several Divines of the Church of England, for to recover Dissenters to the Communion of the Church have undertaken the most Material Cases of Conscience that you do question; and have handled them with that Candour and Calmness which becomes their profession, and the gravity of the Arguments, and which may the better invite those that are willing to be satisfied, to peruse and consider them. The Names are as follows.  
1. A persuasive to the Communion of the Church of England.  
2. A Discourse about Edification.  
3. Cases of Conscience of Church Communion.  
4. The Case of indifferent things used in the worship of God.  
5. Certain cases of Conscience resolved concerning the lawfulness of joining with forms of Prayer in public worship, in II. parts.  
6. The Case of mixed Communion.  
7. The Case of kneeling at the Holy Sacrament in II. Parts.  
8. A Discourse of Profiting by Sermons.  
9. The Case of Lay Communion with the Church of England.  
10. The Case of Infants baptism.  
11. The Case of the across in baptism considered.  
12. Considerations about the Case of Scandal or giving offence to weak Brethren.  
13. The charge of Scandal and giving offence by conformity, refeled and reflected back upon separation.  
14. A Letter to Anonymus in answer to his three Letters to Dr. Sherlock about Church Communion.  
15. The Vindication of the Case of Indifferent things, &c.  
16. A Discourse concerning conscience in II. Parts.  
17. A Discourse about a Scrupulous conscience containing some plain Directions for the cure of it.  
18. An Answer to the Dissenters Objections against the Common-Prayers  
19. The resolution of this Case of Conscience whether the Church of England, symbolizing so far as it doth with the Church of Rome, makes it unlawful to hold Communion with the Church of England.  
red but these Cases of Conscience and then no doubt but your Scruples may be all resolved, and you may comform with satisfaction,  
But to complete our happiness you must come to his holy Temple and pray together with us, and that will complete this Unity, and Friendship. We have been too long asunder, why should there be any difference between Benjamin and Judah? Let us meet, I say, at last as Brethren; come with willing hearts and minds, the goliath of opposition may be easily slain; one single ston will sink that Philistine. Let some among you set an example, others will follow. Consider the Peace of Israel more than your own Interest, and think how you will strengthen the hands of your Brethren by this so much desired Unity and happy Conformity. Let at last the great mercy that is shown you be a motive to bring you to this desired and happy Unity, let love draw you and delay no longer; but let us meet with kindness and submission.  
9. Lay these things seriously to your heart, pass them not slightly over, and let it move you to pitty at last to see the Ghastly wounds that are still renewed by the continuance of our Divisions, let us have some compassion on a bleeding Church that is ready to faint, and in eminent danger of being made a prey to her Enemies, by the unnatural heats and animosities of those that should support and defend her, for it is said in the Vindication of the comforming Clergy, Pag. 50. The Church of England is a Body of so firm a Constitution, and so excellently tempered, and so well shaped, and of so clear a strength and vigour in all its Limbs, that no outward force is able to injure it, nothing but some inward corruption and decay in the Vital parts that can possibly bring it to the ground.  
10 Let us show that we are inclined unto Peace, by coming as far as we can; and let not our groundless scruples at a Ceremony or two, fright us from the whole Worship of God, against which we have not any Exceptions: Be united in mind, be of one heart, worship together, separate no longer, and God will build you up: Then God will be known in Judah, and his Name will be great in Israel. You shall then be united like Israel and Judah, you shall have but one King, you shall be no more two Nations. What Nation will there be so great, who hath God so nigh unto them! Then you shall be his people, and he will be your God; he will give you one heart, and one way, that you may fear him for ever for the good of you and your Children after you. Then will ye with one mind and one voice glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
We and you, all of us hope to attain the same End of our Faith; a Heavenly Canaan, is all our Journeys end; we are Brethren, why should we fall out by the way? Why all this noise? it will not, it cannot be long e're we all lie quiet in our Graves; thence we hope all to pass to such a state, where therewill be nothing but Unity, Uniformity, and Harmony; where a full Choir of Saints, in a Beautiful Church Triumphant, and a Noble Hierarchy of Angels shall sing Allelujahs, and worship God in the Beauties of Holiness for ever and ever. Amen.  
FINIS.