AN EXPEDIENT To extricate one's self out of the Gild of Schism, and enter effectually into a virtual Catholic Communion, without Participation in any Corruptions, Notwithstanding any Unreasonable Terms of Communion, Which might otherwise keep him out.  
In a LETTER to a Friend.  
SIR,  
WHAT I Yesterday gave you in words, as few as I could, upon your mention of some Censures vulgarly passed upon me; I think fit to repeat to you now at a little more leisure in Writing, which is not so subject to be mistaken; that is, according to what you have formerly desired, a true and plain Declaration of my Principles and Communion, in respect to the Differences between the Church of Rome, and the present Church of England, constituted by Act of Parliament. It was to this Effect: 1. That I had some years since agreed with some serious Christians to enter into a Religious Society upon three Principles, whereof one was to follow the Example of the Ancient Christians as near as we could. 2. That the Ancient Christians are to be considered not as Persons of some Sect; but as Members of One Great Body of Persons selected out of all Nations, and united and form into a well constituted Society, under a Spiritual Regiment or Theocrasy, and subject to the Orders thereof. 3. That as the Nation of the Jews continued the Peculiar People of God, notwithstanding all their Corruptions; so that our Saviour and his Apostles continued Communion with them till by the Judgement of God their Polity and City were destroyed, and this Society and one Body of Christians were form and succeeded in that Privilege: So this great Society of Christians, called One Holy Catholic Church, and all the particular Churches, whereof it is Composed, continue the Church of Christ, and Parts of that Catholic Church; notwithstanding as great Corruptions as those of the Jews, unless any of them be justly cut off, or unjustly separate themselves from the Unity of that One Body, contrary to the Example of our Saviour himself, and his Apostles after him, till by the like Judgement of God any of them be destroyed, (as some have been) or the Time of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 4. That such Separation from the Unity of this One Body, called Schism, is a great Sin, and agreed ●o 〈◊〉 on all hands. 5. That upon a Review of the pretended Reformation, and more particularly in this Nation; I perceived plainly 〈…〉 divers Abuses and Usurpations of the Bishops and 〈◊〉 ●f Rome very justly cast out; but yet that that was done with so much injustice in other respects, Sacrilege, and pernicious Heresy, and by an incompetent Authority in other Matters, as instead of Reformation made an undeniable Schismatical Separation: and the Nation is to this day under Excommunication for just Cause, by Competent Authority, and hath no proper Ecclesiastical Communion with any part of the Catholic Church. 6. That to extricate myself out of all this Gild and Mischief, I have, according to ancient Usage, drawn up a Profession of my Faith, with a Renunciation of all the Sacrilege, Heresy, and Schism of this Church, and Declaration of my desire of Communion with the whole Catholic Church, and all truly Catholic Churches, as there may be occasion; and made a particular offer of it to the two Roman Catholic Bishops, who were then here in Town. But they were tied up, and could not admit me upon other Terms than those of Pius 4, and to those I could not subscribe.  
And this is my Case at this time: Singular in some respects I confess it is, and such as is no ones besides, that I know of, except those who are in Communion with me; but such as I would not change with any one till I be better informed, being well satisfied, that I have been conducted into it by unforeseen steps by a Gracious Providence over me, much more than by any Humane Prudence of my own, and that I have these considerable Advantages by it. 1. That I am virtually in the most Catholic Communion that can be, by my Public Declaration, and special Offers and Request; though I cannot actually Communicate with any for want of Opportunity at present. For if I be unjustly kept out, my Case is no worse than if I were unjustly cast out; and my Renunciation of the Sacrilege, etc. is all that I can, or am concerned to do. 2. That all, who Communicate with me, are Partakers in the same Advantage; which not others are, except they do as I have done, or Communicate with such as have done so. 3. That as to Matters of Faith and Doctrine, there is not any Point wherein I differ from this Church of England; but I have the whole Catholic Church, East and West, and all Antiquity on my side; as in that of Prayers for the Dead, etc. nor any, wherein I differ from the Church of Rome; but I have all the rest, and all the Protestants besides, if not some of them too. 4. That as to Matters of Practice in Worship and Discipline; there is nothing that I do, which either the Greek or Latin, or any Catholic Church, or this of England, do or can disallow upon any truly Catholic Principle. 5. That as to the Government there is nothing in my Notions, but what is approved by most Learned Men of all these Churches; and if I live not under such a Government; 'tis my Unhappiness, not my Fault.  
As for my not Communicating with the Church of Rome actually, it is for such Reasons, as not only all Protestants, but all Churches in the World but themselves; that is, all Catholics but Roman Catholics (which is a factious distinction) do allow. Yet I acknowledge the Preeminence of the Bishop and Church of Rome; and by the Grace of God will assert and maintain that, and whatever is truly Catholic amongst them: But the Corruptions and Usurpations of the Papacy, and all Popery I utterly disown and detest, as Injurious and Scandalous to the most Holy Christian Religion; and hearty desire the Reformation of that, but without the Destruction of the Church, or least diminution of the just Rights or Authority thereof.  
And for my not Communicating with this present Church of England at present, it is, 1. For such Reasons as all Catholics in the World approve as just and necessary: 2. It is not as an Adversary, but as a Friend; but first as the Servant of God, to bear my Testimony to the Truths of Christianity, against their Corruptions and Unfaithfulness, which I have briefly noted in my Profession of Faith, and other Write in Print: And secondly, by way of Admonition to them, that they may be moved to remove the Causes of all our Dissensions, and of the Secret Curse that is upon it, that it may become a Glorious Church indeed. And that you may not think, as you are very apt to do, that I am too blunt, and use hard words without sufficient Cause; I will give you an instance or two of what I here say.  
The Corruption of the Liturgy by Cranmer, and his Schismatical imposing it upon the Church by Parliamentary Authority without the Consent of the Clergy, is undeniable matter of fact: And it is as certain, that there soon followed the Destruction of all the known Actors in it, and principal Promoters in Parliament; and itself was first cast out here, and immediately become a Curse, and a Bone of Dissension among the Exiles at Frankford; and after there return, and so continued till our late Civil Wars, when it was a second time cast out; and when restored again, again proved the same, and hath so continued to this day. And if this were not enough for Confirmation of it, I could show you as manifest Indications of the Subtlety of Satan in the Corruptions of it, as these Matters of Fact, but that it would be too long for this place. But one Instance more I here give you; and that is so gross Abomination, that their Minds must be darkened that do not perceive it: It is the exposing of what is most Sacred, the Holy Eucharist, to the greatest Profanation that hath been known in any Christian Church, except by some Schismatics; upon whom the Dogs, to which they threw it, become Instruments of Vengeance for their Impiety. It is one of the great matters of Shame in this Church, that there is nothing of true Christian Discipline in it; nor can be, unless they had such Apostolic Spirits as would obey God rather than Man. And it is another, that they no● only want means to keep Dogs from the Altar, but they are even called to it, contrary their own Inclination; (by the Test,) and they themselves dare not but deliver the Sacred Elements to them. And all this is but the Effect of their Erastian or Cranmerian Heresy; their precedent Betraying the Rights of Christ's Church to Slavery, under th● Usurped Authority of Man. And if all this together be considered, how much short it is of Worshipping the Beast, Sacrificing to Heathen Gods, and what was done by those called Traditores of old, I leave it to you to compute.  
If it be well considered how much of the genuine Christianity, and of the Essential or Necessary parts thereof, are already suppressed under pretence of Reformation, or otherwise lost in this Nation, and how much more is going apace after; it may be perceived that there is no little need of another kind of Reformation than that External superficial one of Manners by human Laws, lest while we are wholly intent upon that as a mighty Matter; that which is the true Fountain of all real virtue be neglected, and exposed to the subtle Machination of such as but laugh at all that work, and are endeavouring to undermine and subvert all from the Foundation; nay perhaps be willing to join in the One, that they may with the more Advantage effectually destroy the other. Mr. Toland's Club behave themselves at their Meetings as soberly as any, and consult with as much earnestness and desire of effecting what they aim at. But those who should be the first Movers, and most Zealous Promoters of all good; are the Betrayers of all by their Laziness and Baseness, and the Original of the growth of all our Evil, by their Unfaithfulness both to God and Man; nay, the Principal Occasion of the growth of Atheism, Deism, and Apostasy, by the Scandal of their Greediness of Preferments in this World, and Unconcernedness for any thing else.  
This is what I think may satisfy you, and furnish you with Matter to satisfy others, concerning my Actions and Principles; but possibly may give you some Dissatisfaction in other respects: But if withal it do but open the way to a more sound Satisfaction, the Trouble will be but like that of a Purge or Vomit, which, by cleansing the Body of what was hurtful, prepares it to receive and digest sound Nourishment the better. And such I wish you may find it.  
Your humble Servant.