AN OCCASIONAL ESSAY By way of PARABLE, In Vindication of the EJECTED MINISTERS FROM The usual SCANDAL OF A SCHISMATICAL SEPARATION.  
Sic parvis componere magna solebam.  For every man shall bear his own Burden, Gal. 6.5. 
Printed Anno 1673.   

READER,  
IT became known to several of my acquaintance, that I had obtained the liberty of transcribing this little paper, who were also instant with me to have a sight thereof, and whom I could not well deny; That I might the more commodiously acquit me of my promise, I have taken the boldness to procure its publication. The innocency of the Author, and his Allusion, will be his undoubted vindication, while my only plea must be the integrity of my intentions, if I have thereby offended, either him, or thee.  
Farewell.   

SIR.  
I Acknowledge myself not a little obliged for your great kindness, in giving me an intimation, that an account (in writing) is expected, of the Discourse (if I may so call it) which I a while since had, with an ingenuous sober Friend: And yet (I know not how) so little have I been concerned, or so backward to any further Contest; that had I not been reminded by others, and insinuated of indiscretion, or something worse, as rashly pretending to what I durst not undertake. I had at last laid aside all further thoughts thereof, and sat down in Silence: not that I suspected, lest that sudden and occasional. Talk might be found liable to any just blame, it being only meant as an innocent Essay, if happily under the Covert of a familiar Parable, I might get within some man of Resolution (should any such be there present.) And who knew, but though he were guarded by an invincible prejudice) I might thus win from him such terms of Favour for the poor ejected Ministers, as by open force of Reason (how convincing soever) no man living could have extorted.  
The truth is I am apt to believe that they are not so deeply plunged into the guilt of Schism, as has been said: Nor am I yet satisfied, that they have been dealt withal, by some of the same Tribe, in that Courteous and obliging Sort, as is generally believed, and as, its possible, they might have deserved: And I must be so bold to profess, that though I have deliberately considered what I then offered, and judge it much too mean to give us the Trouble of this Review, yet I cannot discover, wherein lies any just exception against it, as to what was plainly designed, and indeed material, but that it may fully accord with what I would have represented, and fairly reach the end proposed: Yet if it shall be made appear, that I am mistaken in the main, or in any Circumstance which may invalidate what I have undertaken; I promise myself ready to be informed, shall willingly give up the Gauntlet, and on Conviction retract my Error: But as for little quibbling exceptions against words or phrases; or idle excursions into any by matter, besides my chief Design; as I cannot expect them from such Inginuity, so if I afford them any other Answer, but Contempt, I should believe my Pains to be ill bestowed.  
The Gentleman, as you very well know, (to whom I desire this paper, together with my real Respects be presented; who also stands ready prepared to take up the Cudgels, as soon as I shall have entered the Lists) was a great part of our Discourse; his particular Antipathy having occasioned the Allusion which was, as you may remember, very much to this purpose.  
There were designedly met together several persons of good worth, all as if was pretended and thought, very good Friends: They were invited to that friendly meeting, by their common Benefactor, to whom they all owed a great deal of Respect and Honour; something also of no small Concern was to have been promoted by their joint endeavours: Amongst these, there was one (or more) who had a known Antipathy against a particular Creature, suppose a Cat, for that was the Instance; so great that it was impossible for him to endure her in his presence: It so happens that a lusty Puss (I will not say a foul black one) it is sufficient a Cat, is discovered in the Room: Nor is it to our purpose how she came thither; but there she is, and as soon in the Gentleman's Eye: Whereupon he finds a sudden faintness to seize on, and surprise him; qualms come over his Stomach; his Spirits are disturbed, and he so far, that it becomes plainly legible both in his Countenance and Behaviour: wherefore he makes his Application to the Company, and soberly acquaints them with the uneasy Condition wherein he finds himself.  
Gentlemen, (he is supposed to say) I am extreme loath to be the Occasion, much more the Author of any Disturbance: nor am I less unwilling to break off from, and desert so advantageous a Society: and thereby (as its probable) frustrate the worthy Design of our noble and honoured Friend; who is graciously pleased to give unto us the happy opportunity of this present meeting: Yet so it is, and such I will confess, is my real Weakness; that I cannot bear the presence of yonder little Creature: Some here (it is possible) may think meanly of, if not contemn and despise me on this very Account: But it might better become them to be thankful, that they are so happy in their own Tempers and Constitutions, and not to insult over the Infirmities of their weaker Brethren. But now, that I look a little more narrowly, I conceive there may be more than one of those Animals, but that is not at all to be considered: my Aversation is from the whole Species or kind; and I can no more bear the presence of one than of an hundred: I am not conscious to myself, that I have deserved so Ill; but that I may be preferred before a Cat. And I think I may (without Vanity) acquaint you, that I conceive my Company may be of some Advantage to your Society: Some there are, of your, and my, very good Friends; who have prevailed with me to believe, that I may be some way useful to promote the ends of our present meeting: My desire is, that the Car may be removed and I permitted to tarry here.  
At the first blush the Gentleman's demand appears (in my Opinion) to be just and reasonable: Nor did I observe, when I made this Relation, that there was any any present, how prepossesed soever, but he so judged; Whereupon I thus proceeded with my Story.  
On this civil and humble Address, there presently arises, beyond all expectation, a warm Debate: which discovered its self, at first, in a confused noise, and little murmur; but after a while breaks forth into a more open, and observable Contest: on which occasion, some one or more, (whose Constitutions obliged them to be tender, and more mild) deliver their Opinions in these, or the like Words.  
Friends, We understand this Gentleman to be a courteous and sober Person; and as such he has behaved himself, ever since he came into our Company: If heretofore he has been suspected of some extravagancy, ●r any of his acquaintance been obnoxious, our Worthy, Generous, and ever honoured Friend, who gives us this kind meeting, and was much more concerned, than we can be supposed, has also engaged us to pass it over in Oblivion: His Company, I am sure, is very agreeable unto many of us; And as for yonder little beast, it is plainly indifferent unto any here, (as we all acknowledge) whether she be continued, or removed: If she remain, I know not of any real good may be thence expected; and if she be quietly turned going, without any noise, there will not thence accrue, in my judgement, (and I suppose in yours) any prejudice at all unto our meeting: She is but a Cat, at the best but an impertinence; for my part, and (I am confident) I speak the thoughts of many more, let her be removed: nay I might have suggested; that we are bound in Civility, and good Manners, and on several other Accounts, to resolve on her present Removal; let her be instantly gone.  
The honest man with his Antipathy, you will easily imagine, stands all this while in a cold sweet, desirous (with some kind of impatience) to understand, what may at length be his final Doom; and from this  and just Apology gins to promise himself a sudden Relief, but stand there he may, and sweat out his Heart; for there are others, and those a little more Crafty, and I think something too severe, who had resolved to oppose themselves, and their Interest (which was not then inconsiderable) against all this, that had been proposed: He has deluded himself with a vain Hope; and on a sudden he hears rattling about his ears, this, or the like, blustering tempestuous Reply.  
For our parts (and I shall speak as it becomes me in the plural, we do not conceive ourselves to be concerned, to gratify yonder stubborn Fellow in his pevish Demands: His pretences, it is true, may carry along with them some show of Reason: But we very well know, that all is but Humour, and Obstinacy: That is the plain, and whole of the matter, and we are not bound to bestow on him any better belief: If he will he may tarry, and if he chooses to leave the Company it is his own Fault. He has his liberty, he may departed if he so lists: which should he do, and thereby incur any prejudice, he may fairly thank himself, and his pevishness; we do him no wrong at all: suppose he indeed should have that real Antipathy, which he would bear us in hand he hath; he must then be content to bear the infelicities to which his unhappy Crasis has exposed him: We shall not scruple to allow him, that it is a thing indifferent (as has been also offered) whether that little Animal he removed or continued with us; Yet why should we humour him in his particular Fancies? Though we do not pretend, that our meeting is advantaged by her presence; yet, neither is she offensive to the greater number: And as for him, I know not what Reason any of us have to concern ourselves, about him, or be fond of his Company: I hope we shall be able enough to dispatch what we have to do without his concurrence: The fewer also the better Cheer: we will retain the Cat, she shall not be removed: And so far you well (good Sir) with your squeamish Antipathy.  
The Result is; the Cat is continued: and the Gentleman, though much against his will, and to his very great prejudice, is feign to take his leave, and quietly departed; to the dissatisfaction also of sundry other Persons, judged to be moderate, and discreet; yet no way further concerned, then as obliged by their own good Nature, and a just Compassion: But the honest man must content himself to be gone; and leave those tender hearted Gallants, who were resolved on his exclusion, to enjoy this their worthy Resolution, together with its blessed Effects. Nay he should have conceived himself very favourably dealt withal, could he have thus escaped: But he is no sooner gone, beyond any further Apprehensions from that little Creature, which was the object of his Antipathy; but he is eagerly pursued by another sort, whom he never provoked; to whom he always bore a great good will; and who not long before fawned on him, pretending no less than a cordial Friendship.  
One, being a little more tender mouthed, in a whining note, both seems to pity, and at once accuses him of folly and madness: It is pity, says he; The man was someway hopeful, it is great pity; that he should thus force himself out of our Society, and be undone; but he had ever a little Crotchet, or two in his Brains; and is still troubled with a Whim: Another more uncivilly accuses him of Incivility; and tells the World it was a very great Rudeness, and want of good Manners, that he would not comply with his betters: but be humoursome, and froward, and leave their worthy, and worshipful Company for an harmless Cat. A third is yet more severe, and charges him with downright faction, and sedition; will not allow him to be less than an Enemy to all good order; a son of Belial; neither fit for Society, nor to live under the protection of wholesome Laws. But he opens to some purpose, and delivers himself with a full mouth, who would have no more regard had of the poor man, then of Infects which breed out of our excrementitious sweat: that is, in plain English, he should be cracked, as one would crack a louse: he had this Wittism no doubt at his finger's end; his Choler might afford him a fit occasion for that pretty fancy.  
With this, or the like noise the poor secluded person is perpetually hound, and Worryed: and they will all this while bear us in hand, that he alone is troublesome, clamorous, and what not? when, alas! the man would have tarried with all his Heart: It was his real desire, and earnest endeavour, he strove to do it with his might: But it was not within his power to command his Antipathy: and it is his sad Affliction, that he was forced to do himself the unkindness to leave the Company; for whom he still retains a Cordial Affection.  
Now the enquiry is, (suppose this Story true, in all its material Circumstances) on whom the blame deserves to be fastened? either on this Gentleman; who (forced by a real and unconquerable Antipathy) withdraws himself; or the others (who for what they themselves acknowledge an impertinence) have compelled him so to do: And who it is, that (in good earnest) is humoursome, uncharitable, and begot the separation, with its Consequences: And so in effect, who it is (if any) that deserves the ill language, which is above bestowed on the secluded person.  
To this purpose was the parable. The Application of it was to the Case of Nonconformity: That several sober Ministers have had an Aversation, not unlike that Antipathy (both known, real, and of which they could not cure themselves) against Humane Presumptions, super-induced to the Worship of God, is notoriously evident, both from the many (and I think not yet answered) Writings on that subject, ever since the date of the Lincolnshire Abridgement; as also, from the Severity, and prejudices they have not refused to undergo, on that Account. Nor do I believe, that, by any overt Act, it can be proved, but that they were indeed dissatisfied; as unable to bear those little Things; as that Gentleman the presence of the little Creature: I also conceive: that our Apprehensions and Judgements, about the lawfulness of such Inventions, are not subjected to the command of our Wills, as neither had he the command of his Antipathy. That the Ceremonies, and particularly the Cross in Baptism, 
Mr. Hooper also the Martyr boggled at Ceremonies; the Contest was hot at Frankford in Queen mary days; Bishop Ridly before his Martyrdom retracted his urging their use.  (for I am not here to mention other Exceptions) is a plain Impertinence, is no less evident, from the book of Canons; to which we are commonly sent for satisfaction: where it is roundly said; that the Ordinance is never the better, if it be used; nor worse if it be omitted: The words are these. Can. 30. p. 31. The sign of the Cross, being afterwards used, doth-nither add any thing to the Virtue, and perfection of Baptism, nor being omitted, doth detract any thing from the Effect, and substance of it: That it was once in the power of some Divines, (and I know not but it may be at this present) to have omitted this impertinence, had they so pleased, is I suppose undeniable: Which however they have chosen to retain, not the Ejection of one only person, but of several Hundreds, some say thousands, who might possibly have been useful in the Church; and to the most probable Ruin, both of themselves and Families, and the perpetuating of endless Divisions: what good language has been since bestowed on them, and how liberally, may be seen: In Toleration Discussed; Ecclesiastic Polity; Goulds preface to his Late Sermon; and in another preface to a better Discourse; (where I will assure you, the brisk humour of that Modern professor of Controversies has not jaded him) and in sundry other Pamphlets: Now, as to the equity of the Case; let any one, who has any love to Mankind, (not to speak of Christian Charity) be the judge. I might here have enlarged: But I have chosen to contract what I had to say into a narrow Compass; being resolved to confine myself to this paper. Farewell, and love such as dare not entrench on the undoubted Rights of the Humane nature.  
Thine, etc.