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Sacrilegious Defection 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOLT MINISTER 
 REBUKED, 
 
 AND 
 
 Tolerated Preaching of the G S P E L 
 
 V I N D I C A TED, 
 
 Againft the Reafonings of a Confident 
 
 Queftionift, in a Book called 
 
 £ Toleration not to be abufed. 3 
 
 With Counfel to the * 
 
 NONCONFORMISTS, 
 
 And Petition to the . 
 
 PIOUS CONFORMISTS. 
 
 By one that is Confecrated to the Sacred 
 Miniftery , and is refolved not to be a 
 
 wilful Deferter of it , in truft that any underta- 
 kers, can juftifte him for fuch defertion at . the 
 Judgment of God •, till he know better how thofe 
 can come off themfelves, who are unfaithful Pa- 
 
 ftors, or uniuft Silencers ofpthers. • <tfi 
 
 J ; ___ 
 
 i Cor. 9. 16. For though I preach the GofpeL I have 
 nothing to glory of : For neceffity is laid upon 
 me, yea woe is unto me, it I preach net the 
 GofpeL 
 
 i Tim.i.iz, <& z.$>& 3.6- For which caufe I fuffer 
 thefe things, neveithelefs I am not afhamed, &c. 
 
 1 TheJ. 2. i$,i£. Who both killed the Lord j'efus and 
 their own Prophets,, and have perfecuted us,3:c. 
 
 Printed in the Year, i6ji. 
 
U) 
 
 1909998 
 
 
 Tolerated Preaching 
 
 OF 
 
 Cinifis (jofpbl 
 VINDICATED, 
 
 CHAP* Ii 
 
 Of the Jntbor and the Title* 
 
 SECT. 1. 
 
 Am one my felf that am fd 
 
 greatly defirousyf His Maje- 
 
 fties Clemency,and efcarthis 
 
 prefent Toleration fhould 
 
 not be abufed by any, efpe- 
 
 cially fileaced Minifters 5 
 
 that if this had been all that 
 
 the Author endeavoured , I ftlould earneftly 
 
 have feconded him.And I am not without fear 
 
 A a Of 
 
 «JL 
 
 
(4) 
 
 of the Wtakne\S) Rafhnefs } Injudicioufnefs and 
 Jmyritience of fome that yet are earneft and 
 profitable Preachers. But when I find that 
 by viot-tbujing our Liberty , he meaneth , not- 
 ujing it, and that he hath the face to exhort us 
 to defer t our* Office , \v heft the King doth hin- 
 der them from forcible reftraining usj arid that, 
 when it is Gods work which we are vowed 
 to, he cometh to us ( as the old Prophet) in 
 Gods name j to charge us to forbear it , my 
 Confcience bids me help to fave the weaker 
 fore jthat need it,from fuch pernicious fallacies. 
 And if I fpeak plainly of the quality of bis ar- 
 guings, I defire the Reader not to interpret it, 
 asiflhadnot the hearty eft defire of Peace, 
 and :\\ Brotherly Love and Concord with all 
 conformable, godly, faithful Minifters. But 
 words are not anfwered according to their 
 nature , when the nature of them is not o- 
 pened. 
 
 SeB. 2. Who the Author is , and why he 
 refoivech his Queftion on the Presbyterian 
 Principles, and pafleth by the Epifcopal Non- 
 conformifts, as if he were fo ignorant of the 
 prefent State of EngUni y as not to know that 
 there are many fuch ( when at the Kings re- 
 turn,i<S6o.k was Bifliop Ufhers Form of Epif- 
 copal Government which they all offered for 
 Concord, who were employed in that work) 
 tbefe are little matters, not to be infifted on. 
 Only I fliall tell hjxd tjiat I haye mcc with few 
 
 Iris* 
 
Presbyterian Mmifters in England: though 
 moft have that name g ven them in their Li- 
 cehfes* A Presbyterian is one tkat is [For tbeDi- 
 vine Right of RHlir>g-£lders,unordained,havin£ 
 no Power to Preach and Admintjler Sacrament s\ 
 and for the Government of the Church by 
 Presbyteries, Claffes, and Synods, compofed of 
 Teaching-Elders in Parity with tbefe Ruling- 
 Elders Conjantt , fo that 2l (general Affembly 
 of them is the true Ecclefiaftical Head, otz 
 National-Church. ]] Of late, a Presbyterian 
 is like the Puritan of old : A word which 
 hath as many and as bad fignificatians, as 
 fpeakers have diversity of defigns or intents. 
 In one mans mouth a Presbyterian is an Epifco* 
 pal Proteftant of the fobereft.fort, who is nei- 
 ther for Setts, nor for Cbftrcb-7yranny; and fo 
 impudency hath called them Presbyterians 
 many years, who offered the faid Epifcopal 
 Form, which A. Bifhop^for proved to be the 
 true Government of the ancient Churches. 
 And fo we have made Epifcopal Presbyterians, 
 who are agawft unordained Elders, and for Bi- 
 (hops. In anothers mouth a Presbyterian is one 
 that is refolute againftP^rj.Inanochers mouth 
 a Presbyterian is one that is for the fenous pra- 
 ctice of a holy life. In another mans mouth 
 a Presbyterian is one that is againft Bifhops. 
 And fo Independents and many other Se&s 
 would be Preslyterians too. And in other 
 mens mouthes a Presbyterian is one that is of 
 A 3 Bi- 
 
CO' , 
 
 Bifhop Reynolds, and Dr. Stillwgfieets jucfg- 
 ment, that no Form of Government (befides 
 the meer Paftoral Office, and Church-Af- 
 femblies ) is prefcribed in the Word of God, 
 Jmt vari'oufly left to variety of occafions. 
 Among all thefe, when you (peak with a 
 Railing Ruffian, he muft tell you which he 
 means himfelf : But when we meec with a 
 Divine that underftandeth the common ufe of 
 the Word, we muft take him to ufe it in the 
 fir ft proper fenfe. In which fenfel fay again,, 
 that I am acquainted with few comparatively 
 that are for Presbytery ; but I know many 
 that are for Paftoral Adminiftration without 
 Church-Tyranny or Schifm. 
 
 Sett. 3. As the Author honoureth himfelf 
 with the praife of being a Lover of the Truth 
 and Peace ( which commendation all the con- 
 tending parties, from the Papijl to the Quaker 
 are as ready to give themfelves) fo I hope I 
 fhall theeafilier obtain his pardon, if (belie, 
 ving him) I fhall prove that it is Truth and 
 Peace which he oppofeth. And if I offer him 
 a better way to* fecure themj afluring him 
 that I agree with him in his main defign , to 
 t bring the Conformifts and Non-conformifts 
 9 nearer, and to a more amicable concord in 
 the Work of God, and not to drive any further 
 from mutual Communion than they are. 
 
 CHAR, 
 
K?) 
 
 CHAP- II- 
 
 Tie Nonconform/}/ J{efolutions, and the 
 true State of the £afe to be debated. 
 
 Sett. **T^E i c known to the Reader, that the 
 -L*name of Nonconformifis was noc 
 made by ourfelves > hut by others, (as the 
 names of the four Confeffors, Dan. i. was). 
 The Titles which we affume, as (ignifying 
 our own profefled Religion, are but thefe, our 
 Religion is Cbri/iian, and no other ; In oppo- 
 fition to dividing Se&s we are Catbolick* ; In 
 contradiftin&ion from Heretickjy we cleave to 
 the Serif tare as our Rule ; In contradrftin&i- 
 on from the Romtin Schlfm and Corruptions we 
 are Proteftants y that is, we protefl to cleave to 
 fimpleCbri$ianitj> and to the Primitive puri- 
 ty and {implicit j againft their introduced No- 
 velties and Vanities. 
 
 Seft. 2. hs to t\iePoir\to{ Church-Govern- 
 ment & fVarfhip (the quarrel of the prcfenc age) 
 l. We eafily confefs that we are not all of a 
 mind j which is no caufe of alienation of of- 
 fettions, nor fhould be a caufe oi mutual per- 
 fections ; It being our judgment that Chrilli- 
 ans are to bear With one another in greater 
 nutters, than Epifcopal , Presbyterians^ Inle- 
 ts 4 pw\ 
 
finientSyZnd Jnabaptifts difagree in. And 
 if any among us have done otherwife hereto- 
 fore, it was from a Vice Homogeneal to thac 
 of the prefent Conformifts , which now they 
 fmart for j and the Conformifts may repent of 
 in due time. 
 
 Sett. 3 . We take not the name of Noncon- 
 formists to be fuch a Cottwrntts or Hofe drawn 
 over the feveral parties by your prudence a9 
 ftall make them one, or tye them clofer toge- 
 ther than Conformifts and Nonconformifts are. 
 I pray you try, if you will not believe us, 
 whether Papifts or Quakers take us or you fap 
 their greater Adversaries. Remember how 
 after the Fire of London the Papifts in Print 
 did court you as men much nearer unto them 
 than we are, and much liker to befriend them. 
 And I doubt you will never make them think 
 otherwise. We take you for n^en of the fame 
 Religion with us, and much fitter for our 
 Communion, than fuch Nonconformifts as Pa% 
 gifts and Quakers are. 
 
 Sett. 4. But we that fuffer from you (Hear 
 it now>.Jbr^you fhall hear it from God ere 
 longj ) all the Poverty > Confinements, Cala- 
 mities, Sileiicings that have beer> infli&ed on 
 us , becaufe we would not [nhferibe^ fay , 
 {wear, and do— *— you know what; can no 
 more go agaihft our Confciences,, in Conform- 
 ing to one Another ■ , than to joh. Therefore 
 you rauft not think that Epifc&gal) Trtsbjtm? 
 
 ■ ■'.> 
 
IP* 
 
 4n, Independent, and Anabaptist , will be ever 
 the more of a mind for this Toleration. Till 
 Reafon change their Opinions, they will live 
 according to their different Principles , though 
 they love each other, and liye in peace. And 
 becaufe you feem to be ignorant oi their <Prin- 
 ciples and Purpofes , I will tell you fome of 
 them , that concern the matter in hand. 
 Sett. j.i. They take aMiniftry to be ordinari- 
 ly neceflary to the propagating of the Gofpcl & 
 the faving of Souls, Rom.io. 14,15.^$. 20.17, 
 - 1 8,&c. 2.They fuppofe that this Miniftry doth 
 not fave men , as Wizards think that Charms 
 do heal men, by their Presence, Titles, Names, 
 or Habits ; By (landing in the Reading-place, 
 or Pulpit, or being called the Parfon of the 
 Parifli , or laying his fet words over them 
 when they are dead 2 But by fuch publicly and 
 ferfonal, frequent, plain, ferious IvjlrnUions % as 
 are fuited to their ignorance feenritj, prefnmp- 
 tion , bardheartednefs, and love to fin ; and 
 fuch as in other cafes would be thought fit to 
 change mens minds and lives. 3. They fup- 
 pofe that when a well rrmmrnclrd - Speech ttnne* 
 hath been faid to ignorant impenitent people, 
 one day in a week, without any perfonal fa- 
 miliar conference to fet it home , and make 
 \t more intelligible , the moft make but little 
 more of it, than if it had been faid to them in 
 an unknown Tongue>or at Ieaft remain ftiU ig- 
 norant and impenitent . Yea, if Forms of Ca- 
 
 techifaas 
 
(IO) 
 
 techifms themfelves be taught them , it is ordi- 
 nary with them year after year to fay the 
 Forms, and never underftand the matter fig- 
 nified. 4. They fuppofe that a greater number 
 of the conformable Priefts, than they arc wil- 
 ling to mention,do Preach fo ignorantly and 
 dully in the Pulpits , and do fo little of this 
 perfonal or private work befides, as that there 
 is great need of a far greater number of affift- 
 aats, than all the yxzfent f Honconformifts be. 
 5 # They find that fome places, of many years 
 pall, have had no Minifters at all. <$. They 
 are not able to confute the people in too many 
 places, who tell them that their publick Priefts 
 are fo defective in their necefTary qualifications 
 for their Office, as that they hold it unlawful 
 to own fuch for true Minifters , and to 
 encourage them by their prefence , or commie 
 the care of their Souls to fuch* . 7. They think 
 that fome ocher places have godly , able Con- 
 formable Minifters, whom thcChnftian peo- 
 ple love and honor. 8. They think that Pa- 
 nfh bounds of Churches, are of humane pru- 
 dential Conftitution, and not of Divine In- 
 ftitution , or unchangeable. 9. They think 
 thac a IhrifhtfHattxMS a Parifh,is not aCbnrcb; 
 nor a Pari(hijner,*//*rJb a Church-member ; 
 for Infilcls y Paflfis % Htrcticks>Schifmaticl{s and 
 Tyijftnters may be Pariflnoners. 10. They 
 think that the Magiftrace hath the power of 
 the Temples and Tjthts % and/«£//V^ Mainte- 
 nance 
 
(«) 
 
 vance and Liberty^ but that he hath not the 
 power of Ordination or Degradation j but a man 
 may be a true Minifter without his confent , 
 and fo I chink all Cbnftians hold. 1 1 . They 
 think that fome of the Nonconformijts were 
 true Paftors of their fcveral Flocks , before 
 they were filenced and caft out. 12. They 
 think that the eje&ing them from the Temples 
 and Tytbes did not degrade them , nor make 
 them no true Paftors to their Flocks. 13. They 
 think chat the Magiftrates putting another Pa. 
 rifh Minifter in pofletfion of the Temple and 
 Tythes, did not diflolve the forefaid relation 
 of the former. 14. They think yet that pru- 
 dence requireth Minifter and People to con- 
 fent to fuch a Diffolution of their Relations y 
 where they cannot hold it without greater 
 hurt than benefit : Yea, and to confent that 
 theimpofed Minifter be their Paftor, when he 
 is fie himfelf, and the Worlhip performed by 
 him fit for them to joyn in. 15. But where 
 both are fir,they know no reafon but they may 
 take both the Ejettcd and the Impofed Perfoa 
 conjunctly for their Paftors, each being to Ad- 
 minifter to the fame Church, according to their 
 various Liberties &Capackies.i<5.They greatly 
 difference between London&c fuch like populous 
 Cities, & Country Pari(hes,becaufe the burn- 
 ing of Churches , the greatnefs of Parifhes , 
 *id the paucity ofMinifters in London is fuch, 
 that the tenth perfon in feveral Parifhes cannot 
 
 come 
 
(") 
 
 come to Church if they would. 17. In fuch 
 places therefore they purpofe to hold cheir 
 Meetings at the time of the Parifh meeting , 
 becaufe it will be no hindrance to it. 1 8. So 
 they do alfo in thofe Parifhes where the Parifh 
 Prieft is unfit to be owned in that Relation. 
 19. Where there is a faithful Pallor in the Pa- 
 rifh Church whom yet half the people cannot 
 hear, cheywill not draw the people from 
 him, nordifparagehim to hinder the fuccefs 
 of his labors , but rather perfwade them to 
 honor him, heat him, and obey his Do&rine; 
 and to judge of the Tolerated Minifter but as 
 of his fellow fervant , of the fame Religion , 
 helping in the fame Work , where all our la- 
 bours are too little. 20^ Where the Parifh 
 Minifter is faithful , and the Parifh fmall e- 
 nough, and neer enough to Affemble in one 
 place, and the people fatisfied with the Li- 
 turgical fuppofe the fobereft of the Nonconform 
 mi/is ( for they are not all of a mind ) will 
 gather no Church out of that Parifh , 
 but will joyn with that Parifh Church and 
 Minifter ( fuppofing them united by confent ) 
 and will ufe their own Minifterial Aififtance, 
 at fuch other times, and place, and manner, as 
 fhali beft tend to keep up Love and Concord, 
 and to further and not hinder the fucceffes of 
 the publick Minifter. 21. I hope no man 
 worthy the name of a Minifter , will dream 
 that Sngland fhould have no more Teachers, 
 
 thaa 
 
\ k 3J 
 
 than there arc ( or are like to be ) Nonconform 
 rnifts : Or will think it his duty to hinder the' 
 Labors of any fober Proteftant Minifters : Nay, 
 I hope they will all underftand , that it was 
 never more their Duty nor their Intereft to 
 cherifh all brotherly Love and Concord with 
 fuch; and woe be to that man who ever he 
 be, whether a Selfijh envious Conformist, or a 
 SchifmaticalfaElioui Nonconformifi , that after 
 all fuch (ins and fad experience of the fruits, 
 (hall yet hinder the Concord of Proteftant Cbri- 
 ftiansy I had almoft faid, or that doth not hear- 
 tily and diligently promote it. 22. He that 
 had rather ten thoufand perfons ftayM idlely 
 at home , or went to Sports or Drinking , in 
 Stefney parifh, or (jiles Cripplegate, or Sepul- 
 cbersy or Martins in the Fields, or Giles in the 
 Fields, or Clement Vanes, Sec. than a Non- 
 conformift fhould preach to them , I wUl not 
 foul my paper by calling him as he deferveth, 
 though he pretend that gathering a Church 
 out of a Church, is a thing that he oppofeth. 
 23. In all thefe Cafes following,the Noncon* 
 formifts will hold diftin6\ Church-Afl'erablies 
 from the Parifti Churches. 1. Where the 
 Parifh Church is not capable of them , as was 
 laft inftanced, by reafon of the number. 
 2. When the Parifh Prieft is one to whom 
 wife men may not commit the care of their 
 Souls , and one whofe Miniftry is not to be 
 . owned, ( 1 would there were none fuch.) 
 
 J, When 
 
C*4) 
 j. When the Eje&ed Minifter in faro corfci- 
 
 tntU & Ecclejta vere fie ditt* , recaineth flill 
 his Ancient Relation to his Flock, and part of 
 them Schifmatically feparate from him , and 
 joyn with an intruder publickly , that never 
 had a lawful Call, and the other half feparate 
 not from their ancient Pallor. Its poflible the 
 obtruder, though he have the Temple,may be 
 the Schifmatick. Ask Dr. wild, and Dr. Gun- 
 ning whecher they thought notfo i4.year$ 
 ago. 4* It may be fome that are more com- 
 plyant than my fclf with good peoples weak- 
 ness and humours , when there is none of 
 the forefaid Reafons, may rather choofe to be 
 Paftors to honeft Separatifts y or Anabaptifts t 
 than bydeferting them to leave them to do worfe. 
 And what great matter of injury or provoca- 
 tion fhould this feem to any peaceable man t 
 Envy is too odious a thing for any Servant of 
 Chrift to own. Is ij: in the power of Anabaf- 
 tifts to bring all their judgments to yours. 
 And till they can , muft they be quite caft off. 
 Who knoweth not how many Ages the Nova- 
 tianswtrt tolerated by the wifeft and godly- 
 eft Emperors and Bifhops ; yea, what black 
 characters are given by pious Hiftorians , of 
 Ithacins, and his fellow Bifhops, who firft in 
 France did fet the Sword awork even ag&inft 
 Herefies, and of Cyril at Alexandria, who firft 
 as a Bifliop ufed it himfelf. y .But that's ngt all : 
 What if any number of perfons as good as you, 
 
 (hall 
 
(hall think that the Liturgie is guilty of all 
 the Vifordtrs and Vefctts which once were 
 charged on it, and of fame Do&rinal Corrupt 
 cionsfitice: And what if they think that the 
 Pariih Churches arc void of Chrifts true Dif- 
 cipline,and are under an Alien, on£ which 
 they judge unlawful. What if they fay that 
 yet your Churches may be true Churches, and 
 all this may be fubmitted to, when we can have 
 and do no better j but he that can ferve God 
 in a manner more agreeable to his Word, is 
 bound to do it ; and not to offer God the 
 worft, when the King alloweth us to do our 
 beft. And if withall they ky,that you reiufe 
 them and they refufe not you : You will not 
 give them the Lords Supper ♦ uniefs they take 
 it kneeling ( which I think they may do, but 
 they think otherwife) you will not Baptize 
 their Children without the tranfient Image 
 of the Crofs as a dedicating fign, &c. If in this 
 cafe they choofe a diftindt Church-AfTembly 
 and Paftor,and Mode of Worfhip; what harm 
 is this to you or any one , and why fhould ic 
 break Love and Peace? 24. But in this laft 
 Cafe I fuppofe the moft of the Nonconformifts 
 that live in Country Parifhes which have good 
 Minifters of their own, will not call themfclves 
 a diftind Church (totally) but wiJI hold 
 their meetings as Ckappel- Meetings are held 5 
 Preaching the Word and Communicating ,"„ 
 the Sacraments in the beft way they can amono 
 
(I*) 
 
 ftemfelve's • but fo as not to unchurch thi P£J 
 rifh Church as none, or to withdraw them- 
 felves from their Communion ; but will keep 
 all loving correfpondence with them^ and fea- 
 lonably lometimes Communicate with them', 
 to fhew their principles by their pra&ice. For 
 the benefit of Chriftian L$ve and Coniord> may 
 make it beft for certain feafons to joyn even 
 in defe&ive Modes of Worfhip,as Chrift did in 
 the Synagogues & Temple in his time. Though 
 the leaft defe&ive muft be chofen when no fuch 
 accidental reafons fway the other way. And 
 perhaps fome Nonconformlfts own Adminiftra- 
 tions may be as defective as the Litwgxe. 
 15. Where the people are fatisfied with the 
 Parifh- Church Communion , I fuppofe the 
 Nontonformifls will only help to inllruft therri 
 at feafonable timss , and not meddle with 
 the Sacramental Adminiftrations. 2<f. The 
 fame practice may be done on various Prin- 
 ciples ; and many Nonconformifls may gather 
 Chuches in the forenamed Cafes, without turn- 
 ing Separatifts, or forfaking any of their for- 
 mer principles. Their differences will ap- 
 pear in theferefpe&s. i. They will not pro- 
 nounce any of your Pariftt Churches 7VW/, 
 which have lawful Minifters. 2. They will 
 not fay that your Worfhip is fuch as no man 
 may lawfully Communicate in. j. They 
 foil hold that Pariih-bounds are very conve- 
 nient ( chough not abfohiteiy neceffary } to be 
 
 Church-' 
 
Church-bounds : not taking every Parifliiqne 
 to be of the Church, but none (ordinarily)but 
 Pariiliioners to be of the Church. 4, They 
 are driven from tne Parifh-Mimftry againft 
 their wills, and had far rather hold their an- 
 tienc ftations. y. They will thankfully re- 
 turn to them when ever chey have leave j And 
 earnedly pray that thefe feeinings and fhews of 
 feparation may ceafe, the occafion of them be- 
 ing taken away. 6. They prefer their own 
 manner of worshipping God, as better than the 
 Liturgy in their opinion, and therefore to be 
 chofen when they may choofe ; but they ac- 
 count it not the only acceptable Wor/hip, but 
 are prefent with you in fpirit, defiring a part in 
 the prayers of all true Chriftians in the world. 
 7. They fet not up the Church-Governmcnc 
 of the People over thePaftors,or themfe!ves>nor 
 any of the reft of the Separates proper princi- 
 ples of Church-Governmenr. 8. Laftly, they 
 defire nothing more than as Neighbour-Mini- 
 iters in love and concord to carry on with you 
 the fame work of Chrift. And in all thefe 
 they differ fromS?paratifts, though they gather 
 Churches. 
 
 2.6. The grand Difficulty to theNoncon- 
 formifts in their prefent condition, Iieth but in 
 this one cafe, Whether in competent Pari[hesj 
 which have able and godly Conformable Mwi- 
 fters y tke obligation to hold Union and Communion 
 with the Parijh Churchy or tht obligation to ex*> 
 B " itcift 
 
C x* ) 
 
 ercife a more regular way of Church-VifcipHne 
 and Worfhip than the Parijh Churches do or mil 
 do j fhould be judged the more prevalent ; And 
 confequently whether they fhould gather 
 Churches out of Churches in this cafe. For in 
 the other forementioned cafes the anfwer is more 
 eafie. I (hall give my own opinion as follow* 
 eth : i. It is lawful and a duty to be a mem- 
 ber of fuch a Parifh-Church, when we can have 
 and do no better* 2. We cannot have or do 
 better, when it cannot be without a greater 
 hurt to the Publick Intereft of the Gofpel, the 
 Church, and the Souls of other men, than the 
 benefit to us and others is like to countervail. 
 That cannot be done lawfully which cannot be 
 done without doing more hurt than good, and 
 deftroying the end. 
 
 Obj. We muft do that which God bids us % 
 and leave it to him what fhall be thefuccefs. 
 
 Auf. True. But you muft prove then that 
 God bids you do it ; for we will not take your 
 word. Affirmatives bind not to all times : No 
 duty is at all times a dury ; Nay, out of fea- 
 fon it is a fin. He that faith, Pray continually, 
 would not have you pray when you fhould 
 ftfeach or hear, or be quenching a Fire in the 
 Town : He that commanded Sacrifice, fet fome 
 to learn the meaning of thel'e words [/ will have 
 thercy^ and not facrifice."] There is few of you 
 but would forbear a Sermon or Prayer to fave 
 your own or -others lives : And you receive the 
 
 Sac* a- 
 
Sacrament but once a morveth (at mod) which 
 the Primitive Churches ufed every Lords 
 Day. 3. The fame pra&ice than in one 
 place ( where ic will do more good than hurt) 
 is a duty , which in another place ( where ic 
 will do more hurt than good ) is a fin. 4. The 
 Cafe is now of fo great moment that no Mini- 
 fter fhould rafhfy determine it forjiimfelF, nor 
 upon the defires of feme of the people only ? but 
 fltould confuk with wile and fober men thac 
 are impartial. 5. The benefits to be expected 
 and compared , are thu-w, 1. The pleahng of 
 God (when we know it is his will) and the 
 prolit of mens Souls y by the moil regular 
 manner of D/fr/V ; and Warfhly: 2, The 
 leering up an instable example of right D;fci- 
 }>lit?e and fPbrjhif to other Churches ( but then 
 wee to them tha: f:c up a worfe. ) p The 
 fatisfyingtheCoiiiciences of feme honeil mi- 
 ftakiifg people y who think ( crroncoufly ) 
 that a Conforming Minifter may no: be Com- 
 municated with y cr at leaf! not in the life of . 
 the Litargicy or in a Pariih Church , br that 
 the Sacrament may not be received kneeling, 
 6. The evils to be feared , and compared with 
 the benefits, are thefe. i. The exafperating 
 of the minds of perfonsfor number or qualirjf 
 confiderable ; and fo alienating them from their 
 brethren, and h'indrmg their good. 2. And 
 thereby weakening the Proteflant inrereft, in 
 d time which requireth out greatcfl Concord. 
 
(io) 
 
 3. And thefettingofpartiesagainft patties,and 
 Churches againft Churches, and turning Re- 
 ligion into contentions and mutual oppositions. 
 
 4. And the countenancing of unlawful fepa- 
 rationsywhich will all ilielter themfelves under 
 fuch examples ; and the dividers will n:>t 
 fee the different principles on which we go , 
 while our practice feemeth to be the fame. 
 $. And fo ft'may be injurious to future Ages, 
 by feeming to give tliem prefidents for unlaw- 
 ful feparations. 6. And it is not the leaft 
 evil confdjuent, that wc fhall cherifh not only 
 the Error of thofe that think worfe of the Pa- 
 rifh-Worfhip & Affemblies than there is caufe ; 
 but we fhall alfo accidentally nourifh their 
 pride, who will think themfelves a holier peo- 
 ple, becaufe they Erronioufly over-cenfure the 
 perfons and practices of others. 7. The prime 
 great obligation for the cure of all this, doth 
 lie upon fome of the conforming fidejlt were ea- 
 fie for them, not to filence Chrifts Minifters that 
 are as wife and good as themfelves.lt were eafie 
 for them, not to punifh a godly perfon fo hea^ 
 vily as an Excommunication comes to, for the 
 weaknefs of fcrupling a Sacrament-gefture ; 
 and not to punifh their Children with being 
 unchriftened, or themfelves with Excommuni- 
 cation, who think the dedicating Image of the 
 Crofs unlawful , or think it their own duty to 
 enter their own Children into the Covenant 
 pf Go J, rather than Godfathers that have no 
 
 pro- 
 
(21) 
 
 propriety in them, and chey are fure never in-* 
 tend to take them for their own , or ufc them 
 as they covenant to do. 8. If on fuch oc- 
 cafions, true godly Chriftians are caft out of 
 their Parifh-Churches > whether they err or 
 nor, all Minifters are neither obliged , nor al- 
 lowed to defertthem , and fo to add cruelty 
 and affliction to the affliited^ p. They 
 that think they anfwer all by faying that thcfe 
 peoples fcruples are but Errcurs , do buc 
 I. Shew their felf-sfteem , who can call that 
 Errour which they have faid fo little to prove 
 tobefo (infomeoftheir inftances.) 2. And 
 heta 1 keth neither like a Pernor a Cbri(iia^ y 
 nor a Man, that thinkefh all that err iliould 
 be tart out of the Church. 10. To difcern 
 whether in this cafe a diiiincl Church is to be 
 gathered or nor , is a work of meer Chriftiau 
 prudence and muft be determined by com- 
 paring the good and evil confequents together, 
 and difcerning truly which preponderated. 
 And he that through Imprudence mifjudgeth 
 either way, doth linne. 11. Therefore 
 it is folly,' and fin for Minifters ( Conform- 
 able, or Nonconformable ) to expeft that in 
 this , all fhould go the fame way, and to cen- 
 fure thofe that differ from their Opinion, 
 when they may be under different circumftan- 
 ccs. 12. Th:y that live in London , where 
 it hath ever been ufual to go to Neighbour Pa- 
 rifh-Churches from their own, and where 
 B 3 caitome, 
 
(22) 
 
 Cuftome, and abundance of accidents make 
 theinconveniencieslefs, have not fo much a- 
 gainft their different Church. meeting? , as 
 ;ho.fc in Countrey Towns and Parifhes have* 
 13. Thofe that live where the 'Honcanformifit 
 are the main body of the people , and the reft 
 arefuchfor number and quality, whofe dif- 
 pleafure is of lefs publick coniequence , have 
 the lefs againft their diftin£t Church-meet- 
 ings. J4. Thofe who iive where the Non- 
 ccnformlflszrc few , and the Conformlfis for 
 nurrber and quality moft considerable, and 
 are like to be greatly exafperaced by difhnrt 
 Churches, muft deny their own perfonal 
 conveniences, lather than hinder a greater 
 good, and may not: do that which others may 
 do. 1 jv When the publick good forbids it, the 
 tolerated Miniftcrs muft not gather ditiinft 
 Ghurch-rAGfemblies , but joyn with the pub- 
 lick Churches, and help the people by their 
 inftru&ions at other times. i<5. When the 
 publick good forbids it not, the tolerated Mi- 
 niftcrs muft hold diftinit Affemblies, for aflift- 
 ance in DottrincyWorfhifjxidL Vifcifllncj as near 
 as they can to the will of God* But fo as to 
 furthered not difgrace nor hinder , the ho- 
 neft Parifh-Minirters } living widi them in 
 Unity,Love,and Peace : and whether dc nomi- 
 ne their Affemblies fhali be called dlflintl 
 Churches > is a cafe of no great moment , 
 though 1 think that it is fitted to take them for 
 
 l " ' ■'■'■■" / iiftfA 
 
diflinB Cburchif 9 fecnndum quid, and not fim- 
 pliciter, as many Chappels be : Seeing though 
 in the Affemblies they diftin£Uy worihip 
 Godj&c. yet they hold perfonal Communion 
 in a godly conversation with the reft of the 
 Chnliians in the Parifh, and fhould (ome- 
 times alfo aflemble with them. And fo much 
 for my own opinion in this cafe. 
 
 27. If Chriftians would but give over the 
 cenforioufncfs , contentions 3 and afaufe of 
 others, which different Aflemblies in the fame 
 Town are ufually employed in, I fee not 
 what great hurt it would do any , for Ana- 
 baptifisy Separatifts , &c. that canno: joyr* 
 with the Parifh-Churches , to have leave 10 
 meet among themfelves, and worfhip God to- 
 gether in peace. 
 
 28. As the weaknefs of the people incli- 
 jiech them to caufelefs feparations and disjuncti- 
 ons, fo the doleful Pride and Selfifhnefs of the 
 carnal part of the CUrgle , hath in moft Ages 
 made them too impatient wich the peoples 
 weaknefs ; and make fuch a noife and ftir in 
 the World, if a few dq but withdraw from 
 their Communion, as if all that difowned 
 them, difowned Clp ft- And all ,bccaufe Pride 
 would make every man a God to the World , 
 on whom all mult depend , whom all muft 
 honour and obey , and no man muft contra- 
 did: ; and all that depart from them, an* 
 fuppofed to accufe and undervalue them. And 
 
 B 4 thu* 
 
(2 4 ) 
 
 thus as of our own fehres , fome men arife to 
 draw Dilciples after them , fo others fee the 
 Churches in a flame, tor fear of Iofing any 
 of their Difciples or efteem • and between 
 both, how fadly and for how many Ages, 
 have the people of Chrift been torn in pieces. 
 What harm doth it me or any other (if my 
 Pride will let me be quiet ) if men that differ 
 from me in fome Points of Judgment,do quiet- 
 ly Worftiip God , by thunfelves. But ic is fo 
 rare for Separated Aflembiies, not to make it 
 their Religion and work, to make others odi- 
 ous, and fi6iioufly to draw Difciples and aflb- 
 ciaces to themfelves, that they muft alio thank 
 themfelves , that others are fo impatient with 
 them ; fo certain it is that all fides are too 
 blame. 
 
 2p. The right Diocefan hoideth that a Bi- 
 fhop is effential to a Church,and confequently 
 that we have no more Churches than Diocejft$ % 
 and that Parifh-Churches are properly no 
 Churches, butChappels, or Parts oi the Dio- 
 cefan-Church : And if io , i. Then he that 
 feparateth from a Pariin-Church , feparateth 
 from no Church ( though we think other- 
 wife. ) 2. And as he that went to any Pa- 
 riflh in the Diocefs , kept (till in his own 
 Church, fo a tolerated Church may be as good 
 a Church, as fuch a Parifh, and it fhould not 
 be rnade a hainous matter tor any to go to it, 
 by them that allow men to go frcm Parifh to 
 ♦ £ari;(lic 3P ? The 
 
30. The tfonconformifls hold that the Mi- 
 nifterial Office is not to betaken upon tryal, 
 or for a time, but durante vita cum capacitate > 
 And chat it is no lefs than , 1. Horrid 
 Sacriledge; 2. Perfidious Covenant-break- 
 ing; 3. Difobedience to God; 4. Cruelty 
 to Souls ; y.And unthankfulnefs for great mer- 
 cies, if any of us (hall defert our undertaken 
 Offices ( yea though a filencing Diocefan 
 fhould forbid us the exercifeof it , unjuftly. ) 
 Therefore Preach and Officiate while we can, 
 we muft. 
 
 31. Having told you thus far the Noncon- 
 formifts Principles^ I will add, that [ If there 
 be any fuch Conformable Clergie men, as firll 
 will do all they can to filence and ejed: u>, 
 and forbid us to Preach the Gofpel of Salvati- 
 on, whil'il many hundred thoufands that lie 
 in ignorance and impenitency^need more help, 
 and then will do all they can to hinder 
 our Reltauration, and to keep us hlent : And 
 laftly, when His Majefties Prudence and Cle- 
 mency giveth us liberty to Preach , when 
 they can no longer hinder us by force , would 
 ftroak us into filence and neglect of our Office, 
 by a few fuch filly and confident reafonings as 
 this>i^Wufeth,asif to hinder our Miniftry 
 and Labour one way or other were their in- 
 tereft and work, I will not offend the Readers 
 .Ears, by giving them the name that I think 
 they deferve 5 but wifh thcoi to read > 1 Tbef. 
 
 2.15, 
 
2. i Jf>»^> And to tell them ( by what names 
 or Titles foever they be diftinguiftied ) that J 
 that am a dying man, would be loth to 
 (land in their cafe before God, and that if they 
 and I were well agreed, that there is indeed a 
 God,a Chrift,a Heaven, and a Hell,I think we 
 fhould the eafilier be agreed in all the reft of 
 our differences. Some Teachers need theft 
 -plain Admonitions. 
 
 chap. in. 
 
 The Queflionijls ftating of his Queftion 
 confidered. 
 
 Sett. i.L-TAving difclaimed the approving 
 * -"-and Cenfuring His Majeliies De- 
 claration) he queftioneth [ whether it be ad- 
 vifeable^efpeciallyfor the Presbyterians 5 either 
 in Confcience or Prudence, to take advantage 
 from His Majeflies Declaration^ to deny or r*- 
 bate their Communion with the Parochial Con- 
 gregations , and to gather themfelves into di+ 
 flintt and fepar ate Churches. 
 
 Sett. 2. Here note, i. That the Epifco- 
 paly or Eraftian Nonconformifts, have none of 
 his efpecial advice. 2. That he feemeth to 
 fpeak to none in London or elfewhere who 
 denied their Communion with the Parifti- 
 
 Churches 
 
(Rtt.) 
 
 Churches before ; but only to thofe t^at 
 would take advantage fo to do from His Maje- 
 fticf Declaration. 5. That he calletli them 
 not Parochial Churches , but Congregations. 
 4. That he joyneth two queftions into one , 
 which therefore mult be diflinctly an- 
 fwered. 
 
 Sett. 3 • My Anfwer is, 1 . It is not advis- 
 able for zny Nonconformifts , who before held 
 rhe Parifh Congregations to be true Churches, 
 and their communion lawful , and ufed to 
 communicate with them , to change thefe 
 principles, nor to renounce, or totally forbear 
 fuch communion. 2. But it is advifeable for 
 them, when they are caft cue of the Parifh- 
 Miniftry, and forbidden to Preach in the Pa- 
 ri ill- Temples, but have leave to exercife their 
 Mimftry eliewhere, accordingly eUewhere to 
 exercife it ; either in flared, or cccafional Af- 
 femblies , that fhali be fans or no farts of the 
 Parifh-Congregations, as the variety of places 
 and cafes fhall require, which Afkmblies fhali 
 be diftlr.fl; and [(parate from the faid Perjfh- 
 Congregations , either as Chappels be, or 
 ( fomewhere ) r.sone Parifh- Congregation is 
 fepartte from ar.cther , being not one, nor in 
 one plncc, if you will call thac feparation. But 
 thisbutfera time, with Piofeffion of great 
 unwillingness and of a dehreto return into 
 the Parochial Miniitery , as foon as you can 
 procure them leave : Bur rciolviog not to be 
 
 mi 
 
Idle, Cruel, Sacrilegious , and Perfidious till 
 then, buc to live wich all godly conformable 
 Minifters, with Chriftian Love , and Peace, 
 and Concord, if it be poffible, and you will 
 give them leave. 
 
 Sett. 4 # When you fay [ They cannot but 
 under/land the Declaration to be a very (IriU 
 Prohibition of all fucb private Meetings as the 
 Law flUes Conventicles] you know not 
 whofe under/landings you talk of* I. We 
 know not , that the Law doth not call our 
 Houfe-MeetingSy now tolerated ( though the 
 door be open ) Conventicles : If not, it had 
 been well for us, if you would have proved ic 
 fooner. 2. And if you are fare that the Law 
 calleth none of the Papifls tolerated private 
 Meetings, Conventicles, we knew not fo much : 
 And why fhould you feign us to be as wife as 
 your felf. 
 
 Sett. 5. As to your three wayes, I anfwer 
 you ; 
 
 i # I believe the Presbyterians will joyn 
 with the Independents, not as a SeB ( as you 
 call them ) buc in all that they think good and 
 warrantable. 
 
 2. That they will exercife their Miniftery, 
 as they are by Covenant engaged, for Chtift 
 and mens Souls , and will bear with you > if 
 you call that [ fetting up for themfelves ] 
 ( hoping yet that you fee not up wholly for your 
 /<r/wjthatfpeakfo. ) 
 
 3. An4 
 
3. And they will worfhip God with the 
 Se& of the Diocefan Prelatijls in the Parifli- 
 Churches alfo, as far as will ftand with the due 
 exercife of their proper Miniftery : But will 
 not promife you to give over Preaching to be- 
 come your conftant Auditors or Difciples. 
 
 Sett. 6. You underftand neither the Men 
 that you talk of, nor their Caufe : they take 
 not the Independents Affemblies to be [ the 
 Tents of Enemies ;] they leave terms of Enmi- 
 tj among Brethren , to thofe that have enm\- 
 r/in their hearts. Nor do they [ tamely de- 
 liver up the Canfe. ] The moft Nonconform- 
 able Minifters of my acquaintance, whofe 
 judgment I ever asked of that matter, do 
 feemto think as I my felfdo, that the Epif* 
 copal, Pretbyterians, Independents, and Erafti- 
 ans 7 have each of them fome Truth and Good 
 which above the reft they do defend ; and 
 each of them fome fpecial miftake, where they 
 err above the reft : And if we could know it, 
 we would take the Beft from among them all, 
 and leave the worfl: : And not maintain 
 Church-quarrels , under pretenfe , tha: we 
 muft not flit to the Enemy , and give up the 
 Canfe. 
 
 SeU. 7. O the confidence of this Advifer in 
 his own underftanding } that dare fay [ That 
 he isfure that the Presbyterians have no reafon 
 to engage in a way of publicly fVorfhip coniradi- 
 (iintt to oht Parochial Congregations, j 
 
 i.Thac 
 
(}0) 
 
 i. That is contradlflintt which is not oppo* 
 Jtte , or alverfe , hue either co-ordinate ( as 
 one Parifh to another ) or fubdrdinate ( as a 
 Chappel). 
 
 2. And what man / Is a P^ove and "Dedication 
 to Preach theGofpel , 7*0 reafon to Preach ic 
 elfewhere, when its forbidden us in your Af- 
 femblies? Is the alienation of Confecrated 
 perfonsxw Sacriledg: ? Is the notorious need 
 of many hundred thoufand SoulS no reafon } 
 Is rheexercifirg of a Worfhip and Difcipline 
 more agreeable to Gods Word than yours 
 (.we arc ready to give you the proof when we 
 have leave,) no reafon? Is the relieving of 
 many godly Christians, who are caft out of 
 your communion, becaufe they dare not Con. 
 form,*?* reafon ?Had we had leave to have con- 
 /^ted the filly reafonings of Mr. Fnlwood and 
 foirie filth ochcr Pamphleteers , produced a- 
 aginft the Nonconformists , we had Ion<* ago 
 flic wed you caufe to reprefs fuch felf eftccrri, 
 which dare fay [ I am fufe, they have no 
 reafon ]. 
 
 Sett. 8. And this man that is fure they 
 have no reafon for tt y could ii.ftance in no 
 greater than the Objection, that It will feem 
 an undervaluing their liberty , and ingratitude 
 to the King. 
 
 i. We have no reafon to be ungrateful to 
 the King, nor to undervalue our Liberty. 
 
 2. But did that move the London Mini* 
 
 fters 
 
fters and others,to Preach all this while, before 
 the Declaration. 
 
 3. When you have proved that Greater 
 Hurt than Good , will follow our Preaching 
 and Miniftry ; and when you have proved 
 that though all the Papists in England, do ufc 
 the liberty of the Toleration in the Declaration, 
 yet the tynconformitts muft not , bat filently 
 leave our (ufficient Conformists to do all the 
 workagainlt Ignorance, Infidelity, Popery f 
 and Senfuality themfelves ; I fay, when you 
 have proved this well, you may again blefs 
 the people with our filence , and perfwade us 
 tofilenceour felves, when you cannot do ic 
 otherwife. 
 
 Sett. 9. But he faith (p. 6. ) Their inge- 
 nuity and gratitude to (jod and the King will 
 he better exprejfed by their Conformity, and Loy- 
 al obedience to the known Laws, than by the ufe 
 of the Liberty permitted to the contrary. 
 
 Anfw. He knoweth that we muft not give 
 him our Reafons againft Conformity. He 
 cannot but know that many that Conform 
 not, in all the matters of Subfcriptions, Decla- 
 rations, Oathes, Difcipline, &c. (not medling 
 with other mens Confciences>) do think ic 
 would be in them a compofition of fuch hai- 
 nous crimes, as they do forbear to name them, 
 for fear of feeming to be accufers of other s ; and 
 to be unpeaceable: And if he think that fuch 
 toysj as Mr* FttfooofyMr. Stilemans y and Mr. 
 
Hinkleys,&c* ihould fatisfie them, hethinfcs 
 contemptibly of their underftandings. And 
 he that by fuch poor temptation* as tbofe , will 
 yield to what their Confciences fear, can fcarce 
 tell what he may not yield to before he dieth. 
 Let him procure us leave , but to publifh ours 
 Reafons agatnft Conformity and then let him 
 tell us that we were letter Conform P when he 
 hath anfwered them. It's eafie to talk when 
 none muft confute him, and to brave it againft 
 one whofetdngue is tyed. 
 
 'iVS. 10. His next Suppofition is, that the 
 matter of this Liberty is evil. I am glad it is 
 not evil for the Con for mi Jt s to Preach and 
 WorfhipGody left it would have been lawful 
 to none at all. We are glad that Chrift is 
 Preached, even by them that do it content}- 
 oufly 5 in envy and flrife> to add to our w4ff.itti- 
 ons and Bonis : But we will not our f elves give 
 over Preachings Praying , nor the reft of the 
 Chriftian Religion, becaufe fuch men can call 
 it evil. He that faith our Preaching is evil,mzy 
 tempt men to think that the Gofpel which we 
 Preach is evil,or that Infidelity, Atheifm y Senfu. 
 ality, and wickjdnefs which we Preach againft 
 is good or harmlefs. Is it good inyoH % and evil 
 in us to Preach the fame Gofpel ? If you curn 
 to them that Calumniate us of Preaching 
 Errour, or Sedition , the Law is open , our 
 Writings and Dottrine are eahly tryed : If 
 we fay evil , bear witnefs of the evil : 
 
 // 
 
 CI 
 
V IS J 
 
 If not 7 takjt heed of calling it evil , Ifa« 
 5. 20. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Whether to gather them f elves intodiftincl 
 andjeparate Congregations , is unlaw- 
 ful in the judgment of the Presbyteri- 
 ans themfelves i 
 
 Sift* i. T^He proving the Affirmative is hf$ 
 -■* work, pag. 7, &c. But the Pref- 
 bjterlans do no: love confu/ion , nor to difpute 
 fuch blindly-ftated Queftions. They diltin- 
 guifh, 
 
 1. Between bare Local diftinBton , and 
 ftparaiion *, and that which is eminently called 
 Separation in England, and denominated from 
 the Separati&SjV/hich is \_ffparating from the 
 Parijh-Cbftrcbes, Afinittrj y & H'crfhip, as £*//*£ 
 *<? f rn* Churches, Mimjlry and PForfhip ; or ac 
 lead fuch as noChriftians may lawfully Com- 
 municate with, in JhOrittf} Prayer , and £*- 
 cramentsywhenthej can have no belter. , ] In 
 the farmer fenfe ( as is faid ) one Paritli- 
 Church is feparati from another. And if 
 there he any difference in their Forms or 
 Modes of Worship j fo was there between £.*- 
 C fit 
 
(34) 
 
 fil at CafartAy and the Church at Neocefarea^ 
 and berween J?<m0* and MilUne* and between 
 almoft all the Catholick Bifhops for many 
 hundred years. Andfo now, one PariLh-Mi- 
 nifter prayeth freely in the Pulpit after Ser- 
 mon, and before; another by a Form ; a third 
 biddeth prayer before^ and a fourth prayeth 
 not afterward at all. And yet thefe are not 
 feparared Churches, any otherwife than Local- 
 ly* and infuch Modal differences. 
 
 2. They diftinguifh between a Parifh- 
 Church thatimpcfeth nothing on the Mini- 
 sters or People that God forbiddech i and one 
 that doth* 
 
 3. And between a Parifh-Church that is 
 Reformable in that which notorioufly need- 
 eih Reformation ^ and one that folemnly Co- 
 venanted! againft Reformation. 
 
 4. They diltinguifh between a Pariili- 
 Church that is fuch, and owneth it felf for 
 fuch : And a Panlh-Congregation that hath 
 no proper Biiliop, nor Paftor who hath the 
 power of the Keys of Government, but is cal- 
 led by its Rulers only a part of a Church, (Di- 
 ocefan ) and the Minilter, but the Diocefan 
 Bifhops Curat. 
 
 y. They dift : nguifh between a Parifh- 
 Church where the Minifters in queftion are 
 forbidden to preach, and the People to have 
 the Sacrament, or their Children to be bapti- 
 zed, unlefs they will fay and do fuch chings,as 
 
 they 
 
tney aare not go tor tear or uoa s anpieaiure j 
 And. a Parifh-Church, that drivcch none fuch 
 away from Miniftry or Communion. And 
 now will this Advifer prove that what any 
 Pre sbyterlans ever (aid in one cafe, muft reach 
 to all others, tha: are fo different. 
 
 Sett. 2. He next queftionech, i. [Do you 
 not allow cur Parochial, Churches to be true 
 Churches ? ] 
 
 Anfw. Yea, thofe of them- that have true 
 Pa/tors, but no others, (in a political or orga- 
 nized ferSe.) 
 
 2. Quefl:. And mil you not account 
 
 fuch Congregations a* jball be gathered to jour 
 allowed places to be true Churches alfo ? ] 
 
 Anfw. In fome places we will, and in fomc 
 we will take them but as parts of the Parifh- 
 Church i And in fome we will take them but 
 for temporary Affemblies, waiting for a fixed 
 better ftate ; And in fome we will take them 
 for Churches fecuniumquii, but not fimp I 'let- 
 ter ; Even as the cafe of each particular place 
 requireth. 
 
 Seft. 3. And hence follows the cry of 
 Schifm, Independents, Brorvnifls, rank^Separa- 
 ti/isy &c. As if the Minifters qf Chrift did 
 know no difference between noife and fenfe. 
 Yea, we are told of Schifrn from the Church of 
 England, when I wouLd give him all the mo. 
 ney in my purfe, to make meunderftand whac 
 the Church of England is. 
 
 C 3 i. t 
 
Eccltjitftical Head "that muft denominate it, 
 as an eflential part. 
 
 2, 1 take it for granted he fpeaks of a Church 
 organized in a proper political fenfe, as confti- 
 tuccd of a Pars regtns y and a Tars fabdit* j 
 and not as an ungoverned Community. 
 
 3, I take it for granted that we have two 
 Archb ihops, and they tell me, that one is not 
 under the Government of the other. And if 
 that be true, we may have a Church of Cantcr- 
 btiry^ud a Church of York } but no one Church 
 ©f England as denominated from one of them 
 as Head. 
 
 4, I take it for granted that the Convoca- 
 tion is not the Conftitutive-Head, i. Becaufe 
 it is fo feldom in being, that then we fhould 
 feldom have ^ Church of England : For the 
 Eflence ceafeth with the effential part. 2. And 
 the Canon thundreth againft them that deny 
 the Convocation to be the Reprefentative- 
 Church of England. If it mean of the whole 
 Church, Paftors and People, then the People 
 ru'e, and make Canons by them (as the Sepa- 
 rates hold :) And it is the Head of theChurch 
 only that we -enquire after. If they mean the 
 Clergy } then the Reprefentative-Church or 
 Head mufti be fomewhac diftindt from the 
 Real reprefented. If it be the whole Clergy 
 that is the Real Reprefented-Church or Head, 
 
 then 
 
(37 ) 
 
 then we are Popular, or Presbyterian ; for the 
 Presbyters are the major pare by far. And 
 what Rulers are they that never rule the 
 Church as one, by themfelves , but cnlyby 
 Reprefentatives. I confefs eafily that many 
 Churches united under one King, and living 
 in one Kingdom, and having thereby fpecial 
 opportunity for Synods, and Correfponder.ee * 
 and Concord, may be called ene Church, by 
 a denomination, i. accidental, 2. and hu- 
 mane, no: ufed in Scripture 5 And we will noc 
 be fo quarrelfome as to avoid that language 
 where men will needs ufe it : But it is the 
 'thing, and not the Name, that we enquire 
 of: Hbat is that One EJfential Conftitutive- 
 Head which maketh the Churches of England 
 to be aU one Church, in a proper political fenfe, 
 that is, as a Governed* Society} None queiti- 
 on the Civil-Head j none queftion the need of 
 Communion and Agreement among all thefe 
 Churches. But the Queftion is only of the 
 one Ecclefiaflick. Confiitutive Head. And if 
 
 m you will have the Queftion to be de nomine, 
 pardon us for holding that forma denominat. 
 But if you will denominate many Churches 
 [One] from One Accident, inftead cf One In- 
 dividual Form or Effence ; and if you will ufe 
 terms in Divine Matcers, which God never (o 
 ufed in his Word, we contend not againft you, 
 but only defire to underftand you, when you 
 
 - charge us with Schifmfrom the Church of E g. 
 C 3 Ian U 
 
land* We have obferved what hath been the 
 effe&of fach another enterprizein the Roman 
 Empire : It was thought meet by Princes that 
 where the Empire was One , the Church 
 fhould be in fome fore One alio, which was 
 under them. Whereupon %oms had the chief 
 Patriarchate. But in time, i. this Humane- 
 Unity (name and thing) is pretended to be Di- 
 vine j 2. And thisO/?* Imperial Church (un- 
 der one Emperour ) is taken to be One Vni- 
 verfal Church y as if the Indians, TerfianSy 
 and all other Chrifiiaxs (even the Abejfian Em- 
 pire) had been part of it, and the Orbit Ro- 
 mano* had been Orbis Univerjalu. 3. And 
 then no man is a Chriftian that is not baptized 
 into this Pj pal Church, and made a Subjedt 
 of the Pope. Tell us what you mean by our 
 Schifm from the Church of EvgLni ? We di- 
 vide not our felves from the King or Kingdom, 
 or from the particular Churches as concordant 
 in any neceflary thing. If it be only that we 
 agree not with the Major Vote in all Subfcrip- 
 tions , Oaths, c D\[ciyl'int or Ceremonies : No 
 more did. the Bifhops in the Roman Empire, 
 who had various Liturgies ; nor Cjildas wirlt 
 the Britainsy nor ^mbrofe and {JMartin with 
 the Vrench and Italian Bifhops ; nor the Epi- 
 fcopal party in Scotland heretofore with the 
 Presbyterians, when they were the major parr* 
 Is every difference in things unnecefl'ary from 
 the major part, a Scbrfrnftomthem? The 
 
 J3ifhops 
 
B'fhops thoughc not fo in England fifteen 
 years ago: We do noc go fo far with you, as 
 Gilda* with his Brit i ill C'ergy, who pronoun- 
 ced him non exlmlum Chriftianum , no ry- 
 cellent ChriflUn^ that called them Pritfis or 
 Ministers^ and not rather ProditoreSj Traitors , 
 as hehimfelf did. Nor do we make fuch a 
 Schiftn as Martin feemed to do,who renounced 
 Communion with the Bifliops and their Sy- 
 nods (all his life) who had profecuted the 
 Pri[cilianijls \tfith the Secular Sword. Yet 
 neither of thefe holy men are called Separatifts 
 or Sch'ifmatickj* 
 
 But perhaps k is our "Disobedience to the 
 Church that is our Schlfm from ir. i. Buc 
 everyone that maketh himfelf an Ecclefiaftical 
 Governour over other Pallors and Churches, 
 is not therefore their rightful Lord. The King 
 we know, and his Officers we know, bur we 
 know nor all that call themfelves our Lords 
 or Matters. Not but that obedience is the 
 eafieft courfe of life, to a quiet humble mind : 
 But fidelity to our King ccmmandeth the dr- 
 owning of Usurpers. 
 
 2. We confefs that we do noc actually 
 obey the Civil unqueftionable Power in every 
 particle about Gods Worfhip which hath 
 been commanded us } I need not tell you 
 why. No more did the Chriftians for three 
 hundred years after Chrift j nor the Ortho- 
 dox Bifhops in the dayes of Cor, ft antics, 
 C 4 \ mar, 
 
(40) 
 
 Valtns y &c. nor the Proteftarits now iri 
 trance , nor the Calvinljls now in Sweden , 
 marks Saxonic ; nor the Lutherans under 
 inift Governours, &c. We compare not 
 our Rulers ro any of thefe, in any other re- 
 fpedt, but only as Rulers j but it you your 
 felves are refolved to fay and [ubfcrite y and 
 (wear, and do whatever lawful Rulers bid you, 
 its poflible that before you dye, you may 
 fhew that indeed you are not of our minds. 
 
 3. But who ever took every aft of difobe- 
 dience in a Circumftance, in a Family or 
 Kingdom $o\& 2. Schifmlxom that Family or 
 Kingdom} Do you rule by fuch a Law of Work* 
 or Innocency,\\ T \uch cuts oft men for every diso- 
 bedience, and cenfuretb him that cbeyeth not 
 perfe6Uy in all things? 
 
 4. And mechinks this fhculd not be your 
 meaning, becaufe by Nonconformity, we more 
 difobeyed cur Rulers before their Toleration, 
 than Jincc ; and yet it is our preaching after 
 that you call our Schifm from the Church. 
 You fee what trouble you put men to, to un- 
 derftand you, becaufe you fpeak unintelligib- 
 ly and confufedly. 
 
 If you tell me that the Presbyterians owned 
 a National Church in Scotland. I anfwer, 
 
 1 . So do I, as before defcribed , that is , as 
 denominated, 1 From an accident, and noc 
 from an Individuating Form y and therefore 
 equivocally and improper I ft 2 And humanely <> 
 and fo UKxetffmh, ' 2. -And 
 
(40 
 
 2. And if Scots or any Presbyterians do it 
 btherwife, that's nothing to me , who am no 
 more bound to their Opinion than yours. And " 
 fare the Church of England is not called One 
 in the Presbyterian fencers an Ariftrocracie^ 
 or as Headed by the whole Clergie con- 
 junct. 
 
 Sett. 4. The reft, p. 8 , 9, 10. need no 
 other anfwer, then 
 
 1. That the old Puritanes never held it un- 
 lawful for them to preach in houfes, even when 
 they had no Toleration. 
 
 2. As they held it lawful to hold Lay- com- 
 munion with Parifh-Churches that have true 
 Minifters, lb do we. 
 
 3 • They never (aid, it was unlawful to hold 
 communion with any be/ides the Parifh-Chur- 
 chesj no more will we. What Law tyeth us 
 to be fuch Schifmatickj as ro renounce com- 
 munion with all ocher Churches, except 'Paro- 
 chial and Conformists^ or what Nonconformfts 
 ever held it ? 
 
 4. Whofe confcicnce fhould fooner accufe 
 him oiSchifm; A Conformifts, that will hold 
 Communion with none but his own party, but 
 feparateth from all the other Churches in the 
 Land? Or ours, that refolve to to hold com- 
 munion feafonably with all true Chriflian 
 Churches among us^ that teach not Here/it, 
 nor preach down Holinefs,Lct/r or Peace, and 
 deny us not their communion, unlefs we will 
 
 fin. 
 
v4z; 
 
 Cm > Let the impartial judg which of us is 
 the Sc'}ifaziick > ;<m<\ St par at I ft. 
 
 y. Do you not hold it lawful for a Miniftcr 
 to remove from one Parifh to another j and 
 for any man for his fouls edification, to re- 
 move his dwelling inio another Parifh where 
 is a better Minifter? A^d what if fort/ Fa- 
 milies do (o? who caileth any of this Separa- 
 tion ? And what if it had been into the Pa- 
 rifh o(Vedbam y A(kby, whitmore, TreSton y 
 whenjobn Rogers^ Arthur Hilderfham , John 
 Ball, John Dod> all Noncoxformifts, were al- 
 lowed to preach there without Conformity; 
 Had this been Separation and Schifa^ox not? If 
 'je4y what Law of God or Man forbad ii? What 
 Church did they divide from? If nay y why then 
 is it Sehifm to joyn with [ucb men in other 
 f laces* Where lyeth your Point of Sehifm 
 or Separation ? Is it for going out of their own 
 Parijhes? I. So Men in London have ever 
 done to other Parifh-Churches. 2. And 
 who ever made zParifo and a Church Syno- 
 nyrnal, Jure Vivino ? Shall mutable conveni- 
 encies be turned into immutable ntcejfities * 
 What thenfls it for going to a Nonconformist i 
 fo did thofe before mentioned. Is it for go- 
 ing to a private houfe f i. So did many Epif- 
 copal Paftors fourteen years ago. 2. And 
 fome in London iince the Fire. 3. And , 
 its an ill argument againft thai), that would 
 » fain 
 
fain Preach in the publick Temples, if they 
 could have leave. As far as I diicern, this dull 
 of Schifm which you would call into other 
 mens eyes , obligeth you to wink hard , 
 left it be blown back into your own. 
 
 Sczl. $. The love of peace, and the fear of 
 frightning any further from Pariih. commu- 
 nion than I defcre, do oblige me to forbear fo 
 much as to iefcribe or name the additional 
 Conformity , and that fin which Nonconfor- 
 mists fear and fly frcm , which maketh ic 
 harder to us that defire ic, to draw many 
 good people to communion with Conformity 
 than ic was of old. But when both Law, and 
 Love of Peace and Concord forbid us , fo much 
 as to name the Caufes , it is difingenious for the 
 culpable to take that advantage againft us, and 
 to urge us to do thac which they them- 
 lelves cannot bear. 
 
 Se3. 6. But with full fail of felf-eonceir- 
 .ednefs he next ccaies upon us, with this as an 
 undeniable proof, thac [ our Members are ta- 
 ken out of trite Churches. ] Who would gain- 
 fay a man of fuch underftanding? 
 
 But i. Do not thofe, as aforefaid, that re- 
 move from one Parilh Church to another, re- 
 move from true Churches ? 
 
 2. How many Bifhops have written thac 
 the Church of Rome is a true Church ( as 
 Halls Collection againft Burton fhewech you) 
 and mufl no Churches therefore be gathered 
 out of them? $ f What 
 
(44) 
 
 j. What advantage then bath every foci- 
 ifh Superfluous Prieft above God , and over 
 all good Chriftians ? God bids us worfhip him 
 according to his Law, and to do all things in 
 <W*rand decently, and to edification* And 
 mult not God be obeyed ? No, if the Prieft 
 will not confent : For if he will worfhip God 
 foolifhly, with non-fence, undecently, difor- 
 derly y again/} edification, you cannot help it ; 
 his followers may be a true £hurch ftill, and 
 then no man muft remove to worfhip God bet- 
 ter than pleafeth the Prieft. He that is fal- 
 len under fuch drunken Readers, as I was bred 
 under in my youth, that were drunk many 
 times oftncr than they preached ( I am ready 
 to prove it , for they never preached, but were 
 drunk oft;) this poor man and his Family 
 muft venture their Souls on this fottifhDrunk- 
 ards conduct, becaufe it is a true Church, and 
 they muft not go from a true Church^Nhzz a 
 trick hath theDevil found to bind men to con- 
 ftancy in his fervice, fo it be done in a true 
 Church! Alas poor England, whofeTeachers talk 
 confidently at this rate, becaufe they can fay 
 that they do it in a true Churchy & did not the 
 Parliament take a Church out of a true Churchy 
 when they fcpa rated Covent-Garden from 
 Martins Parifli. And fo it is when PariQies 
 are divided into two, one part is feparated 
 from the other, 
 
 Stft* 7- But fa&ious Difputers fee but on 
 
 one 
 
one fide. You thought not that you your 
 felf were all this while proving your felvcs 
 Schifmatickf- I undertake to prove thatPiP 
 ftors and People are the Conft'uutive Ejfentials 
 of a true Cfc«rrA:That Dv.SeamanJs\t*CaUmj y 
 Dr. Manton } Mr.Cjouge,Dr. Bates r Dr. Jacowb, 
 and abundance more fuch , with the people 
 fubje£t to them, as Pallors , were true Chur- 
 ches. 
 
 Prove you if you can,that on ^#£.24.16^2. 
 they were degraded , or thefe true Churches 
 diflolved, on any reafon, which any Chur- 
 ches for 6co years after Chrift would 
 own. 
 
 4. I f not , you feem your fclf to accufe 
 their Succeflors, oiSchifm> for drawing away 
 part of the people from them ( meerly by the 
 advantage of having the Temples and Ty thes ) 
 and fo gathering Churches out of true Chur- 
 ches ; fo ordinary is it for felf-efteeming men 
 to talk to their own reproach and condem- 
 nation. 
 
 Sett- 8. But as to his fecond Objection, I 
 Will take his part ,»'and though we differ not at 
 all from the DoClrine of the Church oiEnglancL 
 ( till the new Doftrine about In ants was 
 brought into the new Rubric^ ) yet it is not 
 in minutioribtu that we differ from the Confor- 
 mifis ; gather from it what you can. God 
 knowech we think the macters in difference ; ve- 
 xy far from things indffircnt* 
 
 CHAP. 
 
k* u ) 
 
 C H A P. V- 
 
 Whether the "Declaration make the Non- 
 conformist preaching more lawful^ or 
 their duty, than it war before f 
 
 Sett, i. T TIs Sett. 2. Pro. 2. is impertinent. 
 XjL For, i. Heknoweth little, if 
 he know not, that the Tfynconformifts did before 
 take fuch preaching and meetings to be lawful, 
 and a duty in refpeft of the Law of God 5 where 
 they had opportunity to ufe them. 
 
 2. But they take it for a double fin, to neg- 
 lect a duty, when they have Liberty granted 
 them by the King co perform it. But he 
 knoweth we take God for our abfolute Sove- 
 raign , and think that none cin repeal his 
 Laws, becaufe that none hath any power but 
 from him ; and we fuppofe that he will pafs the 
 final fentence on Kings and us. To what pur- 
 pofe is it then among Chriftians to quertion , 
 whether Men make it lawful for Chrijls Con- 
 fecrated Minifters to preach, when Cod com* 
 mzndeth it. 
 
 Sett. 2. But pag.i^.hztbinkj he may fafely 
 fay, \that the "Declaration doth not fo much <u 
 uncommwi and unin]oyn any things which the 
 
 Larr 
 
JjXW properly commands or wjoyns J. 
 
 ^/w. Say you f o ? i. The Law com- 
 mandech Ma^iftrates to execute the penal 
 Laws. The King forbiddeth them : Is not 
 thac to uncommand them? 
 
 2. The Law commandeth us not to meet 
 above four in a private houfe for worfhip, o- 
 therwiie than, &c. The King fafpendeth , or 
 difpenfech with this Commandjand not only 
 wich the penalty. And is not a lufpenfion of 
 a Precept an ur.commandiKg^ though not a 
 Handing of the contrary? I will not in- 
 flame in Juries inducing Papifts, 8cc. 
 
 Sett. 3. But he (ubuily tells us that the 
 Declaration meddles neither with the 7V*- 
 cep:ize nor Punitive parts of- the Law, but 
 only with the Execution, which is exirinjiekjo 
 both. All La.vyers muft come learn anew 
 -of him, what it is to difpenfe with a Law. As 
 if the Command [ Ton {hall examine and pnnifh 
 fuch Scfucb «fff,]and the prohibition^** jW/ 
 not punifh them, but ptotctt them ] were not 
 comrarv. Nor the prohibition [Ton (hall hoc 
 meet above four ore. ] and the difpenfation, 
 [ Yon ma j mect : $: 
 
 Sett. 4. But ail this is utterly impertinent 
 to them whofe Confciences never allowed 
 them to forbear their Mimftry in formal obedi- 
 ence to any mens prohibition , bu: only whea 
 they had not power or opportunity to exer- 
 ofe j It's no duty which cannot b:done. And 
 
 Lice»fc 
 
ZjV*»/* maketh thztpo/fiMcwhich was Impoffiblel 
 He that imtieth rtiy feet, accidentally maketh it 
 my duty to go. 
 
 Sctt. y. pag. 16. Let Mr. Crofion anfwer 
 for himfelf ? but the other two named by you f 
 Ball and Baxter have much againft you , but 
 nothing for you ; and underftand themfelvcs 
 better than you underftand them ; and he that 
 furviveth, taketh himfelf to be abufed by your 
 Allegations, and provoketh you to cite any of 
 his words, which are againft Nonconformijls 
 preaching as they have opportunity* If you 
 had rather that we were all ufed as Mr. Jof. 
 Ailtin was, you may fee by his Preface to his 
 Life, whether he was not for iuch fufferings ra- 
 ther than filence. 
 
 Sett. 6. His reviving his pitiful Obje&ion, 
 That we have the approbation of Authority for 
 feparation, is but a contemptible fp or ting of 
 himfelf at the game he is beft skilled at; Objeft* 
 ing nothingjXiax. he may feem to anfwer it with 
 fomething. 
 
 Sett. 7. But p. 1 8. he will bring us to Vto- 
 pia (Mortu invented it ) and there he will 
 fuppofe[the Villanies of Tbefc^^Murder and A* 
 daltery unpunijhed,znd public)^ Meeting* allow- 
 ed where they (kould be prattled. ] 
 
 An[w. 1. What ftijjld the poor Noncon- 
 formifis hear , if they thus Commen:ed on 
 the Clemency of the King? 
 
 2. But 
 
(49) 
 
 2. But becaufe yd* will force dumb men to 
 fpealc!, fuppofe that kt the fame Utopia y the 
 Philosophy Schoob which had faithful Teach- 
 ers , and the Chriftian Churches that had 
 faithful Paftors y were deprived of near 2000 
 of them at once , and thofe that came in their 
 places, had the confeht but of tb$ leafl: part of 
 the people; and chat they were fuch as< did Do- 
 Urinallj declare to the people that millions 
 may be PER without fin, & that they,* x ani- 
 aw,approve of all the (jrcgorian Liturgie , and 
 every thing therein, and of all the Lutherans 
 Confubltantiation, and Church-Images ; and 
 when in Baptifm they'had vowed to fight a- 
 gainft the World , the Flefti , and the Devil 
 under Chrift, they fhould contrarily upon 
 deliberation make a folemn publick Covenant > 
 that in their places,&callings,they wbuldnever 
 endeavour to reform Cardinals, Inquifitions^ 
 High-placts , Confubftantiation , Churcb-Ima- 
 gcs>px Church-tyranny, & fo in part renounce 
 ehfcir Baptifm : And fuppofe a clement Prince 
 fhould releafe the eje&ed Teachers from their 
 reftraints, and allow them to fee up private 
 fchools of Philofophy and Divinity , and the 
 people fhould fay, We cannot in confeieftee cafl: 
 our Souls on the guidance of the P E R* 
 and therefore crave the benefit of 
 your conduit : If thefe fuffering men jfhall 
 feek to reconcile them to the P E 7^S * 
 D and 
 
anddefire them to have a better opinion of 
 them, but yet tell them, that they will not 
 deny them their own beft help ; Qutre, 
 whether they finned by not being? E R* 
 themfelves, or by not being cruel deferters of 
 mens Souk ? and which fide is to be compared 
 to the Mtrdtrers and Adnlt$rers} I know 
 this is notour Cafe in Enghni-, but if we 
 muft follow you into Utofia or CMtria, let us 
 have the equitable judgment of the place. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 ■ . ■* 
 
(**) 
 
 CHAP, VL 
 
 Of tie Inconveniencies of our Tolera- 
 ted Meetings. 
 
 ScU. i. lWTOthing more cafie than for men 
 x\ that have fome great advanta- 
 ges, to force inconveniencies upon other mens 
 greateft Duties. And we look to do nothing 
 in the World fcarce that fhall have no incon- 
 venience. I eat not one meal often that doth 
 not make me fick. But muft I. therefore give 
 over? I can tell you of more than a few in- 
 conveniences of your own preaching , and 
 Church-worfhip • and yet you will not give 
 it over. But if any fhall make thofe inconve- 
 niencies againft our wills, and to the grief of 
 our hearts,& then tell us that to avoid them we 
 muft Sacrilegiouflj and as Soul- murderers de- 
 fer: our Mmiftery , we fhall eafilier anfwer 
 them,then they will fhortly anfwer God. 
 
 St&. 2. His firft inconvenience is,th at [jp# 
 frail Uj down the Cudgels and beg the peacc,&c. 
 of the reft of the Scftaries, m yell as the Inde- 
 pendents. ] 
 
 Anfw. A hard point to that Se<ft that is 
 D a 7W- 
 
Turba gravu pact, placidaq^ inlmlca qmeti' y 
 
 who know not how to lay down the Sword m 
 But if we have been at Cudgels, we mean 
 not to live and die at a wdrk fo unfuitable to 
 our Religion and our minds. Reproach not 
 him that (aid [ // it be pj[ible : at much as in you 
 lyethjive peace My with allmen\But if it be our 
 diflikj oiScbifm that are the Cudgels you mean, 
 you are anfwered already. Pretend not to 
 know our minds better than our felves. When 
 were we againft our own Preaching, as we 
 had opportunity? 
 
 Sett. 3. He would next raife a fufpicion, 
 [ That oar Principles change with the times ,] 
 and yet faith [ It u a thing not eaftly objerved 
 in m in any thing el[e\\ Condemn not your 
 felf then by fufpeding it in this , till you bet- 
 ter know our minds : [ Or elfe, which u worji 
 of all, that our inter eft lay at the bottom , and 
 TV 06 the only Spring and Wheel of our xjealy and 
 all our motions >&c] 
 
 Anfw. Who had been the more accufable of 
 this Carnality and Hypocrifie, in the eyes of 
 any ftanders by, the Conformijls that take up 
 the Principles that go along with Safety , 
 Wealth , Preferments and Dignities ? or the 
 Noxconformifts, that have near ten years been 
 deprived of all Ecclefiaftical maintenance ? 
 fome lived in extream poverty , and fome lain 
 in Jaitej &c. Sure, if we accufe not pu ? even 
 
 you 
 
j9*>o£ hypocritical following carnall intereft, 
 one w.quld think a little modefty might have 
 cured the Canker that moved thefe iufpicions 
 or accufations oftu, either as to thefe or for- 
 mer Opinions. But my expe&ation of mo- 
 defty, 1 fee by the following words, needs a 
 pardon. 
 
 Sett. 4. He addeth [Conftder I hefeech 
 you^bow like u Independent-Apes jour new Con- 
 gregations will make you^looh^ , &c. ] 
 
 jinfw. That is to fay^Come Nonconform^ s y 
 if you will not he beaten from your Makers 
 worker we will try whether we can feoff and 
 fcorn you out of it ; if that will not do , we will 
 pretend Cbrifls Name and Authority as forbid- 
 in g you+ For as Chrift^ Matth. 4. fo you mnfh 
 encounter a three-fold temptation. But we 
 take pleafure in infirmities, and can hear to be 
 made as the ofF-fcouring of all things,remem- 
 bring who was cloathed in Purple, and then 
 mockt as being like a King. If you will take 
 my Spoon and Knife from me , and then fay 
 that I eat lik* an Ape or a Beafl, 1 will not be 
 fo prated and fooled out of my meat. It' with 
 Diogenes I had caft away my Difh to ufe my 
 i)are hands, or forfaken my Houfe to live 
 in a Tub, I had defer ved your derifion ; but 
 if you take my houfe & all my goods from me, 
 you. (hall not mock me out of my poor Tub 
 alfo ; We would avoid all appear ance\of evil ; 
 Butpnly in things indifferent 7 we will not 
 D 3 ceafe 
 
ctskGhripianity preaching otpraying^whtnyoxi 
 can make it by your Artifice appear like evil % 
 Let's hear the inftances. 
 
 Sett. y. [i. Tour Churches mil be gather* 
 ei as theirs. J 
 
 Anfw. As much as all the Churches for 
 three hundred years were j or the Meetings 
 of Flavians, Meletity> and others at Antioch* 
 when they were prohibited the Temple. And 
 as Dr. Wilis and Dr. Gunning* were fifteen 
 years ago. Or if you will , as the Joannites 
 were in Constantinople, till Chryfoftoms name 
 and bones were honoured by wifer men than 
 thofe that caft him out. 
 
 Sett. 6. [ 2. Ton can aiminifter Baptifm $r 
 the Lords Supper > to none but thofe of jour fe* 
 lett number^ 
 
 Anfxp. i. Is it becaufe we mil not y or be* 
 caufe you mil not give us leave ? Who then is it 
 long of? Oformodefty/ Tye mens feet, and 
 reproach them for not going / 
 
 2. But is ic not better to give an Alms to 
 the bodies or fouls, of fome men % than of none 
 at all? Argue thus with yourPhyficians^r^ ca* 
 meiicate none but your felett Patient ; Ergo, 
 you are to be fcornei if you meiicate any at all. 
 And I profefs, were it not for the poor peoples 
 fake, and my duty to God, I would give you 
 ( that defire it ) all my praftice , and all the 
 gains, 
 
 ^.But 
 
j. But why may wc not in the allowed 
 places cxcrcife our Miniftry, in baptizing the 
 Children of any one of your F locks thztfhall de- 
 fin it, ot giving them the Sacrament} I yet 
 underftand it not, unleis for the avoiding of 
 your envy and difpleafure. 
 
 Si&. 7. [ ?• Tou cannot exereife Difcipline 
 b$U by the confent of your people. ] 
 
 Anfw. i. We cannot be PaSiors to any a- 
 gainft their wills : If yon can , and take that 
 for your honour, keep it, for we will have no 
 part with you. We find indeed that it is 
 your Opinion to eafrcife your Discipline on tu 
 againft onr mils. 
 
 2. But though we cannot take men for 
 Cbriftians > nor for our fpecial Flock. > nor 
 bring them to repentance, noryztabfolve them 
 againft their wills, we can admonifh and tx- 
 communicaxe them againft their wills , and de- 
 ny them the Lords Supper from us • if they 
 firft voluntarily fubrait to our Miniftry. We 
 take it not for our part or honour to do in thefe 
 things fo much as you can. 
 
 SeSt. 8. [ 4. ^either can you have any 
 Cb*rcb-Government but in your jingle Congre- 
 gations % and that Uo Independent on all c- 
 tbers. ] 
 
 Anfve. 1. Who is that long of? Is it not 
 you that forbid it us ? 
 
 z. But indeed we never defired to play ihe 
 D 4 Bilhops 
 
U 6 ) 
 
 Bifhdps iri'othtt mens Dioccfs:If we pietencU 
 ed to govern .jM»would you take it for our Qir± 
 thodoxnefxh I think not. I would you were 
 of the iaftie Opinion,,& I would die tope were 
 of the fame Opinion, and would Jet other 
 men alone, and excrcifehis .Difcipline oyer 
 tione that he bath nothing to do with. Bax* 
 ter whom you name hath told you, that Bi- 
 ftop $^*r profeft his Judgment to him., that 
 even Biftiops in a Council (though they are 
 therei (goyernours of the Flocks , yet ) meet 
 not for Government pf bne another hyVote^ 
 or of ether. Bifbops , but fcr Concord* And 
 ^r otitis de Imp. f urn. pot. haxh fhewed you 
 that Canons' are not Z^wbut Agreements. 
 
 z. r But why may not majiy ot us Miilifters 
 meetiapne allowed place, fpr fuch Agreements 
 in our Paftoral Go vernmei^t ? And no great- 
 er dependence do wedefire: I affure/yoi* we 
 ihoul4 be glad if all the fijenced Minifters thefc 
 thirty years had been left dependant on the 
 Piocefans. ; 
 
 Sect. $>. He addethf Thm & others are 
 Independents by choice and Trofejfion , you will 
 makf jo Hr f elves fo bjneceflity ; and that necejfir 
 tj fttch>as joh wilfully throw your [elves into, a- 
 gainft all the light of Presbyterian ~Con(ciencc % 
 Trndence and I nt ere ft, by a needlefs and fin ful, 
 a fcandalow and mifchievous Reparation. ] 
 
 Anfw* i # Such confidence upon fuchjn- 
 
fignificaht tcafonings, is a great dilhonour to 
 the wic and humility of the Author. He that 
 no better knoweth their judgments , can tell 
 joh, what all the light of the Presbyterian con* 
 fcienceis. 
 
 2.He can prove that ourMiniftery is needlefs^ 
 finfuly &c. becaufe he can call the exercife of it 
 fep oration : As it the paucity of ignorant and 
 ungodly Souls, | aad the fufficient number , abi- 
 lity y z>cal, and diligence of the Conformijls made 
 us and our Labours needlefs indeed. Alas f 
 what thoughts have thefe men oi fouls, of jin y 
 oiholinefsy of repentance, and of their own 
 fufficiency and labours. But, Sir, who made 
 you a fitter Judge of the need of fouls, thati 
 themfelves and all others ? Next perfwade us 
 that Tutors are needlefs, becaufe all in Eng- 
 land are born learned. I have much ado to get 
 fervantsin my own Family that have tolerable 
 knowledge and piety: And can our Conform- 
 ifls alone fufficiently teach many hundred Fa- 
 milies , and prove that other mens help is 
 needlefs ? Try firft whether you can perfwade 
 men ,. that you alone are fufficient to teach all 
 the Children in your Parishes to fpeak, and 
 to drefs them 3 and feed them, and that all 
 other perfons help is needlefs. Get them to 
 fall all till you feed them your felves , and 
 coake them believe they need no other meat. 
 We that have conferred with all the people of 
 
 our 
 
our Panihes when we were permitted, found 
 that multitudes were almoft as ignorant asHi*. 
 thefts : And yet our excellent fucceflburs, that 
 do no fuch thing ( as to any two of them that 
 ever I knew or heard of) but fee their faces in 
 the Churchman prove all our Teaching needle fs 
 to thefe poor ignorant fouls : Is this humility, 
 and Ministerial fidelity ? Its^?* in us to preachy 
 and duty to the Conformists i lam glad they 
 take it yet for a duty to any. 
 
 3* But is it not as eafie for us to fay, That 
 you have needle fly, and fitfully % andfeanda- 
 httfiy taken our places , ( I mean as to the 
 Church-Relation, & not as to the Temples and 
 Ty thes, ) and drawn fome of the people to 
 feparati&n from thofe that were before true 
 Churches > We fay not fo ; but put not your 
 felves on the hard task of difproving it, if you 
 are wife. 
 
 4. But our necedicy 5iV,hath vifible Caufes. 
 
 1. God and our ownconfent at our Ordi-» 
 nation , made our nectjfity of exercifing our 
 Miniftry ; We are not afhamed of the Gofpel 
 of Chnft, nor that ic was our choice : But God 
 hath laid this nectjftty on tes , and woke untom 
 if we preach not the ^ofpcl^ae we have opportu- 
 nity. 
 
 2. TheBifhops tofome of us, and fenier 
 Paftors to others, by Minilterial kwftiture im- 
 pefed this neccflity on us. 
 
 3. The 
 
3. Th# great neceffity of multitudes of fouls 
 ( which nothing but grofs ignorance de fa8o % 
 Infidelity , or Impudency can deny ) concur- 
 rech to caufe this neceflity. 
 
 4. The Law impofeth a necefficy on us, 
 not co preach among you in the Temples : If 
 then God fay, Preach, and the Law fay, 
 Preach not in the Temples , we may conclude 
 we muft preach out of the Temples ; if we have 
 but as much wit as King James's Hounds had, 
 that at a double way, if they find the. Hare 
 hath not gone one way , will take it for 
 granted he is gone the other* Here is then but 
 two makers of our neceffity, the Impofer and ibe 
 Bcflraincr; Reproach neither of them if you 
 will take our council. 
 
 ScH. 10. He addeth [ In vain do you thinly 
 to help jour f elves, and tofatisfie the World, by 
 pleading the moderation of your Principles, And 
 that you do believe our Parochial Congre- 
 gations are true Churches , which the other 
 Sectaries deny : For befides that many of the 
 Independents acknowledge the fame , thu is the 
 great aggravation of your Schifm : For why 
 then do you feperate from tu ? ] 
 
 Anf+ i. We are glad that you confefs the 
 Independents themfelves are fo moderate to- 
 wards you. 
 
 2. We perfwade none to feparate from 
 
 you. 
 
 3 .Do 
 
(rfo) 
 3. Do you filence us, and depofe us from 
 the Miniftry, and forbid Baptifm and the 
 lords Supper to all thac have not as wide a 
 fwallow as your felves, and then ask , Why 
 [0 far ate you from hj f 
 
 I 4. Do you draw Churches to your 
 pelves out of our true Churches that were be- 
 fore you, and then charge your att on us ? 
 
 5. Why come not yon to the private Chur- 
 ches among you that have all this while been 
 kept up? t.g* In London y why may not Dr. 
 Mantouy Dr. Annefley> Dr. Jacomb , and a- 
 buhdance of fuch , as fairly charge thofe that 
 go only to the Temples, for feparating from 
 chem ? They fay , They are as true Chuches 
 as you. If their not hearing you is feparation, 
 why is not your not hearing of them [0 ? Big 
 words when men are got into the Saddle make 
 not their Caufe good. 
 
 6. But it feemech that acknowledging you 
 true Churches will not fatisfie you, without 
 (what ? ) attnal hearing yon. But doth not 
 every Cbappe^and every neighbor Parifh then, 
 and all the World befides your Auditory, fin- 
 fully [epafate from yon ? Some men can tri- 
 umph in fuch rcafonings for themfelves , as 
 would make another fick to read them. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
(Si) 
 
 CHAP- VII. 
 
 Of the inconvenience from our Brethren* 
 fence of Toleration, 
 
 ScB. i.L-Jls next Se£Hon, pag. 21, &c. is as 
 
 A : Ameer del ufion as any of the reft. 
 Firft, he argueth from the Presbyterians be- 
 ing always againft a Toleration. Reader, all 
 fober Divines that ever I met with , ufc here 
 to diftinguifh between Tolerable and Intoler- 
 able things and perfons, and to conclude that 
 the Tolerable muft be Tolerated >and the other 
 not, though they all agree not how much is 
 Tolerable. Now what doth this man but talk 
 confufedly, as if they had been againft all To- 
 leration. Look up man without blufhing, 
 and tell the World, Whether ever the Presby- 
 terians maintained it a fin toTolerate Presbyte- 
 rians. Alas , for thofe poor people , that can- 
 not try fence from nonfence / with what fluff 
 will fuch men carry them away? If you talk 
 of the 'Toleration of any that are Intolerable, 
 what have wc to do with it any more than you? 
 Sett. 2. Any more than you y did I fay ? 
 Sir, vilifie not the wits of thofe Clergy men 
 
 that chiefly contributed to our *— fo as 
 
 to 
 
(6z) 
 
 co imagine that they did not know What they 
 did, and forefee this day. Honour their *#« 
 derfiandings more, than co take them for fo iV- 
 norant, ( especially being lowdly foretold it f ) 
 as not to foreknow, 
 
 i. what number and fort of men would be 
 laid by. 
 
 i. How the people would judge of them and 
 their Caufe. 
 
 3. How both they and the people would go 
 through their fuferings. 
 
 4. How wife \ fenfire, and merciful Hu Ma- 
 jefiy would be y when he faw all t hu (I ir y and dif~ 
 fatufa&ton of his people. 
 
 y. And that the preaching offilenced Mini- 
 fters in private, would encourage all other Setts. 
 
 6. And when ever the door was opened for 
 their Liberty y all others would endeavour to 
 tbruft in with them. Who then I pray you 
 hath done more for Toleration , you or 
 ,we? 
 
 Sect. 3. But his next hath no bonnds, and 
 grieveth me to read it ( O pofterity, how will 
 you know what to believe?) viz,, p. 22. 
 [ Have not you lately refufed the comprehenfton y 
 artd denied fo great an advantage to your f elves y 
 becaufe you could not have it without a general 
 Toleration. 1 
 
 Anfw. No, Sir, we have not ; nor fliould 
 you have by a queftion Yenccd fuch a fallhood. 
 
 Name 
 
(*3) 
 Name the men that offered us a comprehend- 
 on, and the men that refufed it ? If you tell 
 us that;**, or fuch another offered it to one 
 of your neighbours , you may poflibly make 
 your words ridiculoufly true : But if you 
 mean that either the King or Parliament of- 
 fered it, tell us when, and and who were the 
 refafers. If you mean any Parliament Speeches, 
 it is not fit for us to talk about them. But 
 you will not I fuppofe prefume to fay that the 
 Parliament ever offered either Toleration or ac- 
 ceptable comprehenfion ( that is , to take in 
 2{onconformijts ; ) much lefs both. 
 
 There was a Rumor of one Mans Speech, ^cal- 
 led a Presbyterian , as if it had founded like a 
 refufal of fome abatement , but if you will 
 talk with him as I have done, he will foon 
 /hew you the falfhood of that Rumor. 
 
 If you could have proved that any fecret 
 perfon ever refufed fuch an offer, can you 
 thence fay to the Presbyterians that they refn- 
 [edit? 
 
 If you mean an offer that by a great Mini- 
 fter of State was made , be better informed of 
 it your felf. 
 
 i. That it was not refufed y but very 
 thankfully accepted. 
 
 2. That for the Toleration of other men, be* 
 pies themfelves , thofe two or three that 
 meddled in it, anfwered. 
 
 14 That 
 
(«4) 
 
 i. That it was their defire that all ToU< 
 rablc T>ijfentiers might be tolerated* 
 
 2. That it was His Majefties work and not 
 theirs. 
 
 3 . That therefore thofe that were to be 7*- 
 lerated r were accordingly to be fpoken to of 
 the Term*, for we were capable of treating of 
 the Ca(e and Terms of none but our felves* 
 And after this the endeavour for our Com<- 
 prehenfion went on to our content, till the 
 Parliament (ate, and prefently lluit the door 
 againft it. 
 
 I know of no other offer but this, which 
 thofe few that dealt in it well know was far 
 from being refufed ; fo chat a greater (lander 
 could fcarce have been laid on men chacliave 
 ftii fo greatly defired A COMPREHENSION 
 OF ALL SOBER PROTESTANTS IN 
 THE PUBL1CK MINIS TRY, and A TO- 
 LERA.TION ALSO OF ALL TOLE- 
 RABLE DISSENTER S,under Laws of 
 peace and fafety : This was (till the thing 
 which we begged for in vain : But who fhoulcf 
 be accounted Tolerable , we were never called 
 to give our publick Opinion or Advife, that I 
 know of. Repent of fuch Calumnies , and 
 ftudy not to aggravate your Fault by Etf- 
 cufes. 
 
 Indeed, if the offer had been mfcde to them 
 of a Comfrehenfion on condition . chey them* 
 
 felves 
 
I Of ) 
 
 ,civcs would have APPROVED of an V*l~ 
 verfal Toleration ot all thofe whom they ac- 
 count Intolerable. I doubt not but they 
 would have faid, We tbankjtttly accept Com- 
 prcbenjicn> but cannot approve of (tech a Tolgm 
 ration, but leave your own rvorkj to your own 
 Krifdom • we cannot go againfi oar Cor.fcicnccs 
 for any Liberty : But other mens aftions , are 
 not ours. 
 
 Sett. 4. And he addeth oLi fpeeches againft 
 Toleration, Univerfal intolerable Toleration? 
 Wherein we lament his want of common 
 fcnfe ormodefty. 
 
 1. If he would infinuate that we are for 
 mVniverfal Toleration^ becaufe we preach 
 when we have liberty and opportunity, What 
 dealing is to be expeded from fuch men? When 
 he confefleth that we have been ftili againft 
 fuch a toleration ? When we have almoft 
 twelve years ago , cryed out , even to un- 
 mannerlinefs, that if poffibly we might have 
 been heard, to the Reverend Prelates^ Cast not 
 out fo many in the necejfities of the people ? O 
 drive not godly people from your Communion for 
 nothing I If yon can prove Cr offing , and your 
 Sacrament-kneeling lawful, with Subfcriptionsy 
 Canonical-fwearing to you, &c. yet all that 
 think^otberwife fhouU not be excommunicated 7 
 or forbidden to preach Chrijis Gofpel : We have 
 Fornicators > and Drunkards, &c. enough to 
 £ excom* 
 
I 6 ?) 
 
 excommunicate : O drive not upright con felon a* 
 tie Christians from your Churches ! Force not 
 Ministers to private preachingmd faff&w&h 
 which will certainly occafton Setts, and of en a 
 door to you know what. And when we can no 
 whit prevail, if thefe very men themfelves fhall 
 fay, that it is we that are for Univcrfal Tole- 
 ration, with what Forehead — ; — 
 
 What man that hath not lived in a dream theft 
 12 years, hath made any doubt but that it hath 
 been the interest and defire of Infidels , Papifis 
 and Quakers, that our ejections and prejfures 
 might be a* great as might be, that fo the Pro- 
 tefiants might be weakned & broken by their own 
 Divijionsy and the chief oppofers of thefe men 
 be either confumed, or forced by mifery to petiti- 
 on for Toleration, or at leaf} that it might be 
 granted as for our fakes, and we might be faid 
 to open to them the door, that they that con feft 
 we have been moft againfi it, might be able 
 (but qua front e ) to fay that it was our doing and 
 not theirs. But when mens wits have thus 
 play'd the game to the utmoft , they are buc 
 abufing themfelves : For they mufi dye, I tell 
 you^theymufl dye y & be judged by that God that 
 batetb Malignity, Cruelty, and Hypocrifie, and 
 Will detect all frauds before the Worlds when all 
 that is now admired by the dreaming World^fhaH 
 be levelled^ obfeured, and appear contemptible^ 
 even to them that fold their Souls to obtain it. 
 
 Sett. 
 
V °? ) 
 
 Sett. f. Once more Readeiyperufe all the 
 
 Citations of this Author, out of Mr. Edwards^ 
 Mr. Trap (a Conform*/}, yet num'ored with 
 US ) or the Jus Vivinum Presbyterii ( faid to 
 be written by Dr. Roberts, a Conformiji^ only 
 read them not with this Authors Spectacles or 
 Eyes, and then tell me like a man of truth , 
 whether thou doft believe that their meaning 
 Was, [ An Univerfal Toleration is unlawful : 
 Ergo, Presbytery mafi not be Tolerated , if any 
 others get the power ] or whether ever the 
 Nonconformlfis faid, [_We are not to be Tolerated] 
 or, Whether the Epif copal men told Cvomwcl 
 in his Ufurpation, [It is unlawful to tolerate mf\ 
 Ic is ftrangc that any party who think them- 
 felves only or chiefly fit for Legzl poffejfion % 
 fhould yet think themfelves Intolerable. 
 
 But if he talk of the Tolerating of others, 
 that are indeed intolerable , let him calk to 
 them that have to do with it ; and let him firfl 
 talk his friends into the tears of true Repent-* 
 ance ( if they be not paft learning) even from 
 the greateft EXPE RIENCEiz felf. 
 
 Sett. 6. But the man will ferioufly prove 
 What he faith, p. 2 j. [ £an you more jig 
 cwn y recognize, or more exprejlj giv* jour un- 
 feigned affent and confent unto, and approbation 
 ef both Toleration and Sch-.fm , than not only 
 ie firing to efcape the penalty of the Laws , and 
 to live quietly m afiatc of fepxration by zertue 
 E z of 
 
tfitj but alfo by taking the utmoft advantage of 
 it, for the ereUing diftinU and jcparate Con* 
 gre git ions to jour [elves* ] 
 
 Anfl.N he mean that we approve of the To- 
 leration of onr [elves, & all the Tolerable J furc 
 we never did deny it : Let the enemy of man- 
 kind glory in the contrary, as his proper ver- 
 tue. But if he mean ( as he plainly feemeth ) 
 that we approve of the 1lniver[alitj of Tolcra- 
 tion ; Come, weigh his proof. 
 
 i. By de firing to e[c#pe the penalty of the 
 Laws. 
 
 Anfxo. Now you fpeak fenfe i we feel your 
 meaning. It is a crime worthy the name of 
 Schifm, to defiie to be unpunifhed , when 
 you defire our punifhment : We do not tota 
 feftore telum recipere : What if you were for 
 hanging and burning w ? were it Tolerati*- 
 nifm & Schifm to be unwilling to be hang'd or 
 burnt ? While we have fuch Ithacian Matters 
 in our own Coats, blame us not to defire 
 Toleration, and to thank the King for faving 
 us from our Brethren. 
 
 The penalty of poverty j and lofing all Mi~ 
 nijlerial maintenance, we never efcaped fince 
 you fucceeded us : Yet God that bids us ask 
 for our daily bread, would not have charged 
 our de firing it, on us as our fin, if the Law had 
 forbicitus. Poor Jofeph AUeine and many 
 another are gone, and did not efcape the pe- 
 nalty: 
 
flaky : I never heard chat Bradford or Hooper, 
 or Latimer were accufed for de firing to f/<r<*p* 
 penalty. Was it Jofepbs fin that the IJhmae- 
 lites and Egyptians were more merciful to him 
 than his Brethren? 
 
 But, Brother , what good will our fuffer- 
 ings do you ? What harm wil it do you if we 
 efcape ? Do you feel your felf ever che more at 
 liberty when we are in the Common- Jayh ? 
 Are you the fuller , becaufe fome Noncmfor- 
 tnifls wanes Bread ? We have been heinoufly 
 accufed by others , for coming within five 
 miles of any City, Corporation, and place 
 where we lately preached ( when Chnft 
 faid, If they persecute you in one City, flee to ano- 
 ther : ) As if it were lawful to defert all the 
 Souls in Cities and Corporations , or to take 
 you alone for fufficient, where the very num- 
 ber of Souls proves you lead fufficient. But 
 would you be at more hearts-eafe > to think 
 that none of us are within five miles of you, 
 nor teach any of the people the Gofpei of 
 Chrift? You have with lefs noife endured 
 Infidels and Papifis enough within five miles 
 ot you ? Alas, when the Stone is fet on rolling 
 down the Hill, where will it flop ? 
 
 Sett. 7. But this is fpoken conjun&ively 
 jvith what folio we th: And what's that? 
 
 E * 2. To 
 
2. [To live quietly in a flate of feparati- 
 on — ] that is, Noc to be your fubjed hear- 
 ers ? But, 
 
 i. Have not many of hs 9 fonie conftantly, 
 fome at times , fat at your feet as your Dif- 
 ciples. 
 
 2. If Minifters be judged by you unwor- 
 thy to preach the Gofpel, have they not reafon 
 to think you judge them unworthy to naive 
 the Sacrament? 
 
 3. Are you Separates for not hearing them ? 
 If not, why are they fuch for not hearing you ? 
 But of this before. 
 
 SeB. 8. But theutmoftis [ Ereftingfepa- 
 rate Congregations to your J 'elves. ] 
 
 Anfco. 1. You mean , it is fin in us to 
 exercife the Miniftry which we are vowed 
 to , and noc to be Sacrilegious and cruel 
 to Souls : For can we Preach without Au- 
 ditors* And can thofe Auditors be no Con- 
 gregation ? And can that Congregation be out 
 of your hearing , and not be locally fepa- 
 rate y as every Parifh-Church and Chappel 
 is ? Muft two Congregations be one * or 
 elfe be Separatifts ? 
 
 I know two Churches fo near that the 
 people may hear each other, and yet they 
 arc two, and therefore one is feparate : And 
 I pray, which of them is it ? It may 
 be all in Englani feve Canterbury , or ra- 
 ther 
 
CO 
 
 ther Gla&enbury,zxt Separates , for fcpa- 
 rating from the firji Church : As if Pytba- 
 gorat juftly curfed the number of two , be- 
 caufe it was the firft thatdurft depart from 
 unity ; and all Churches in the World 
 were Separates except Jerufalem. 
 
 I pray you Sir, tell me, What if a Tolera- 
 ted 'Presbyterian ihould read the Common- 
 prayer in his Church , and ufe all your 
 Ceremonies ( though he fear Perjury , and 
 Lying , and Violating his Baptifmal Vow ) : 
 were this a Schifmacick or not ? If yea ;Then 
 fo is every neighbour Parifh-Minifter , or 
 Chappel Curat. If not ; than it is not a 
 iiftinU Congregation that makech Separa- 
 tes. And then what if he do not u(e the 
 Liturgie ; doth that make a Separatiji ? 
 Were you all Separatifts that ufed it not 
 fifteen years ago? 
 
 * I iliall next expe& to hear that he is a 5/- 
 paratifi that readeth in his own Common* 
 Prayer- Boc^ and not in yours. 
 
 But I doubt the Separation is in this, 
 that the Tolerated Minifter will not be your 
 Curat, and ruled by you : But remember 
 that fome are Presbyterians , and therefore for 
 Parity of Minifters ; and I and many o- 
 thers are fo much for Epifcepacy », as that we 
 would not have Prelatical Jur lfdi&ion given 
 to thofe Parifh Priefts , who themfelves arc 
 againft Presbyter 7, and for Prelacy* 
 
 E 4 CHAP, 
 
U*J 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Of Inconvenience from the Nature o£ 
 the Practice* 
 
 Sett. i. TN all this Se&ion, let the Readef 
 ■* confider , 
 i. How few words there be, which a 
 Papift Prieft in Pari* might not fay againft the 
 Protcftants. 
 
 2. Whether this be not the fummeof all, 
 [ Preaching the Gofpel hath hazards y incon- 
 veniencies and likelihood, o£fru(lration ; There- 
 fore it is your folly and fin to Preach it,] 
 
 3. Whether there be not much that would 
 not almofl: as handfomly have ferved Celfm^ 
 'Julian) Porphyry, EmafitU) or Symmachns a- 
 gainlt Christianity? 
 
 Sect. 2. Do not you excommunicate and 
 drive from your feveral Parifhes the Member^ 
 of Chnft ? for no: eating with your Spoon, 
 and then reproach them that will cake thern 
 in whom you caft out? 
 
 Sett. 3. We ftill hold that Memb^s of the 
 fame particular Church, fliould not live at a 
 
 difiancc 
 
( 73 ) ■ 
 Hflanci fo great , as to make them mcapabU 
 of ordinary Perfonal Communion. 
 
 Sett. 4. We take your Warning : Udepen* 
 dents j as you fay, may over-reach us ; Peo- 
 ples inconftancy and wealchefs may fruftrate 
 much of our Labours ; Quakers and Papifti 
 may deceive fome 5 We^adde, And you and 
 others may keep us after all in Poverty, and 
 in Jaylsj for ought we know* And what of 
 all this ? Therefore preach noU Next fay^ 
 Therefore be no Chriftians^ Therefore damn your 
 twn fouls } if jour temptations be fo great. No, 
 Sir, But, therefore we will ferve Chrift the 
 more refolutely, and truft him for our prefer- 
 vation and reward, TheCiod whom we ferve 
 is able to deliver us : But if he. will not, be 
 it known unto ycu, that we will not ceafe to 
 preach his Gofpel, while we can, and we fear 
 not being lofers by him. 
 
 Sett. j. But your will feemeth to bear down 
 
 ^our Experience, while you would tempt us f 
 y the difcouragements of Difficult Afficmb- 
 lin&, and the Peoples Poverty. Have thofe kept 
 us from doing what we could till now ? Will 
 our Poverty be greater than you Conformifts 
 have made it ? Have we ferved God about 
 twelve years without one bit of the Levites por- 
 tion ? and cannot we do fo till we die ? There 
 is an harmony in all your duccurfe; To tell 
 11s of the diicouragement of Poverty from 0* 
 
 tbcrS| 
 
(74) 
 
 thers, that would help us, were they able, 
 iwhen your Party hath fo long kept us with- 
 out a bit of Bread, but what Alms, or fome 
 mens own Stocks afforded theni, is juft like 
 the reft. It fufficeth us to tell you, that we 
 preach not for Riches, and we will not ceafe 
 through Poverty. Talk at this rate to one 
 another. 
 
 SeQ. 6. When you fay, that a Toleration 
 may reduce the common fort to an indifferency in 
 Religion. 
 
 I anfwer,Get your friends together then that 
 have brought it to tbatpafi, as that [ It muft 
 be this or worfe] and bring them to weep over 
 their fins before God ; That if a miferable 
 Nation may not be faved from the Fire that 
 you have kindled, your Souls yet if poffible 
 may be faved. 
 
 Sett. 7. But, (f*g. 29. ) you too boldly 
 make your felves the Stewards of God's Blef- 
 fings^ and as Magifterialiy, without proof, 
 pronounce that we are out of his way, and in 
 cppofition to bis Church , and contrary to bis 
 Word. 
 
 Anfw. For my felf I have long been of an 
 opinion,which one day you will pardon, that, 
 Perjury, Perfidioufnefi and *Perfecution , proud 
 contending who (hall be great eft, and covenant- 
 ing never in certain points to obey Cbrifl againfl 
 the World and the Fle(h, is not the way of God : 
 
 If 
 
(7$) 
 
 If you take mc for lingular, there is no re^ 
 medy. 
 
 2. And what Word of God is it that we 
 contraditt ? I reade in the Rubrick of lome- 
 thing about Infants, Certainty the Word gf 
 Cod j but I never heard in what Chapter or 
 Verfe it was. 
 
 3. And which is CbrifPs Church which we 
 oppofe ? What Chapter and Verfe faith, that 
 only Subfcribers, Swearers, Declarers and Con- 
 formifts are the Church of Chnft ; and thofe 
 that fear an Oath and Conformity are none 
 of it? 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Of Inconvenience from our prefint 
 Conformity. 
 
 Sett. 1. 
 
 HE next confeffeth that [ melt of tu have 
 hitherto held fome meafurc of Communion 
 with the Church of England ] And now [if we 
 depart and fall quite away ] (when we purpofe 
 to go no further from them, but rather come 
 nearer if they will give us leave) then faith he 
 \Toh mllpublifhto the World, that your comply 
 
 ance 
 
C 76 ) 
 
 Una with us before the Toleration^ was not out 
 vfftnfe of Duty j or love of Peaa and Unity , or 
 any other good end j but meerly out of Jltvifb 
 fear of Punifhment, &c^\ 
 
 Anfw. 1. We will not refle& by recrimi- 
 nation, becaufe we would not provoke you 
 more than needs. 
 
 2. As far as I can promife, we will judge 
 of you no worfe than we have done t nor de- 
 ny any Communion with you which we have 
 ufed, and can ufe without ncgledting our own 
 work. As I conftantly joyn in myParifh- 
 Church in Liturgy and Sacraments, fo Ihope 
 to do while I live (if I live under as honeft 
 a^Minifter,) at due times. But what if I had 
 leave without Conformity to preach in the 
 next Parifh-Church ? I cannot then be in 
 yours at the fame time. He that preacheth 
 not, may hear you conftantly : But he that 
 may preach himfelf, mull not ceafe his Mini- 
 ftry, to be ftill one of your Flock. We long 
 ago published our Judgments, that It is a fin 
 not to joyn with a left-worthy Minifier % and a 
 left-orderly Mode of IVor(hif>, when we can have 
 no s better • And that it is a fin to tye onrfelves 
 ordinarily to fuch when we may have better lawm 
 fully, that is {confideratis confiderandis) upon 
 terms whereon it will not do more hurt than good* 
 You fee then on what terms we may vary our 
 r ^ra&ices, without the crimes recited by you. 
 
( 77 ) 
 If now when iVe are preaching our felves, yotj 
 will fay thac we are it parting from joh, ( be- 
 caufe we cannot be in two places at once), and 
 then come on with all thefe Calumnies, we take 
 but this to be your meaning ; 
 
 i. To tell us thac you think we io value 
 the honour of our Names and Reputations with 
 you, as that you can make us falfe to our 
 Callings, rather than be cenfured by you. 
 
 2. That you have alwayes a Quiver full 
 of fuch Arrows provided, and refolve, that if 
 we will not give over our Miniftry, and be ru- 
 led by you, you will make as many as you 
 can believe, thac we never had fenfe of Vmy 3 
 love of Peace or Unity, or any good end, but mcer 
 jlavifhfear. So men, it's like, would fay of 
 Chnft, when fometimes he preached openly, 
 and fometimes departed from mens fury inta 
 the Wildernefs or obfeure places ; Or of Paul 
 thac was let down by the Wall, in a baskec, 
 and when he departed from the Jews Syna- 
 gogues which he had before frequented ; or 
 thofe that fled from one City to another. Ic is 
 a duty to preach when I can, and no duty 
 when I cannot : And if others make the [can\ 
 and the [cannot,] is it / or they that change 
 my practice ? But if you teach men fuch ap- 
 parently cauflefs Cenfures and Reproaches,you 
 may have many Diiciplcs 7 buc not very gooi 
 *ncu And fane will thus paraphrafe your; 
 
(7*) 
 words, [If the King will not let us perfecuU 
 them for preaching , we are refolved we wii 
 flander them y and make men believe ( on hov> 
 hard terms foever they ferve Cbritt ) that they 
 do it aU but a* cowardly {elf peeking Knaves*] 
 What abundance have called me Rogue of late 
 years, that never knew me, or fpake one word 
 to me before,or heard one ?rom me I As to the 
 reft [That we proclaim our cowardife, or a love of 
 licentioufneft, or put on liberty for a cloaf^ofma- 
 leioufnefi] it ail fignifiech but what you have 
 a lift to fay, and calls co us to long for the judg- 
 ment-day of Chrift, but yet co look well to 
 the integrity of our hearts, and try our way 
 before we go it. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. X. 
 
 Whither qht Miniftry b] Mvifions wiU let in 
 Poperj. 
 
 Sett, i. T Love this Author much the bet- 
 1 ter, becaufe he fpeaks againft di- 
 vifions , and becaufe he feemeth willing to 
 draw thofe men towards him , whom others 
 drive from them , and becaufe he feemeth 
 careful of our Proteilant Intereft, and defi- 
 rous of fome kind of unity to that end. But, 
 alas, have we fo many years ago befoughc his 
 party with all humble petinon and importu- 
 nity, anddifputcdit with them •, that they 
 would have pittyon the confidences of thou- 
 sands fearing God, that they would have 
 mercy on the thoufands of ignorant fouls that: 
 need all our Teaching ^ that they would not 
 cat our fo confiderablea part of th: Prote- 
 ftant Miniftry that fhould hinder Poperv, 
 and would notneceffitate unavoidably thofe 
 divifions,which by weakningthe Proteftaftft, 
 would do the Papifts workj and under the 
 fad denial of oar petitions, mud we now hear 
 that {the Pop* jbd/l come on the Puritans pick?) 
 That wcrd \Jhall~\ we have bin long hi arintj 
 and feeling. To be Matters of th? Game is 
 a great advantage for the difpofai of other 
 mens reputations in this World, a littla 
 r wh.lc. 
 
f8*; 
 
 while; but in the next, the fport is fpoiied, 
 Se&. 2. And rsaSiy, Wiii Popery come in 
 ever the more for our Preaching} (do you 
 It we ftiajl Preach for it?) or ever the Ids, 
 if we renounce our Miniftry ? Why rben will 
 nor [cur filcncc too prevent it; and fo we may 
 ail hi hient leit we preach in Popery. 
 
 & ecr. 3 . Bnx it U Divlfiors that will do it. 
 No doubt of it,if it ever be done. Come and 
 impartially debate the cafe w*- h us, w ho have 
 bin the great caufes of Protectants divifions, 
 Confurmifts or Non-Conformifts ? But I am 
 afhanocd to fay that it needeth a debate. But 
 
 chat you would yet repent of what is part, 
 inflxad of reproaching thofe that you have 
 afili&ed \ And for the time to come, if we 
 have not unit) and peace ^ for my own pare 
 
 1 can fay, it (hall btjour doing, and wilful do- 
 trig, to refufe it. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
(83) 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Vottnfel to the N on- Conform'. ft s , Afinijrers 
 and People. 
 
 BRethren, you hear by this Author that 
 the Conformifts are greatly afraid of 
 Popery , and that the danger by feme will be 
 faid to be from you-.but who ever raketh you 
 for the Papifts friends, the Papifts themfelves 
 wiil never fo edeem you. You fee that fome 
 Comfor miits are defirous of peace and concord 
 with you, for the common end, the Churches 
 ftrength againft all adverfaries. God forbid 
 that you fhould not be as forward to love 
 and peace as they. I have thefe following 
 counfels to give you before I go out of rhe 
 World , expeding to have von ere long in a 
 condition, which will require more vpifdom, 
 holivefs, and for tit tide t than I fear themoft are 
 yet pofTcfTcd of. 
 
 I. Refolve by the grace of Go J, again fl aH 
 temptations*, ad through all difficulties, faith- 
 fully to ply jour Minifterial worl^You fee how 
 muchSaranis againtt it, and how he tryeth 
 every way to hinder it : fomerimes by force 
 and tears, fam-rimes by flatteries, fornetitnes 
 as that old Prophet feduced the other, by 
 tomihg as in Chrifts name, a-, an Angc 
 tl^htj and by Minifleri of RighteouiV.e^. 
 
 F % Hi 
 
He maketh not light of your Miniftry , elfe he 
 would not do fo much again ft it -, O do not 
 vou make light of it. Our Ordination, 
 Vow and Covenant is Holy ! If Ananias and 
 Sapphira dyed for alienating conftcrated mo- 
 ney by a lye, what (hall we expec^if we alie- 
 nate conftcrated perfons by a lye : Souls are 
 precious, fia is ftrong, Satan is fubtile, the 
 World is deceitful, the ftefh is unreafonable, 
 deceivers have great advantage, time is (hort; 
 O therefore work while it is day, for the 
 night cometh when none can workj Our own 
 floath and finis the moft dangerous filence. 
 How many fouls feed or famifh, live or die,as 
 we do our duty, or negk A it ? Can you fpare 
 your fle(h or labour , when you think what 
 impenitent fouls muft feel for ever • and what 
 the Sandlfied (ball enjoy ? Would you not 
 ftiine your felvesasStmin the Firmament? 
 Would you not be found by Chrift fo doing ? 
 Would you not convert Sinners from the er- 
 rour of their way, when it is the favingofa 
 foul from death, and covering a multitude of 
 fins ? What ever Word of God deceivers may 
 abufe to ftop your mouths, be fure that holy 
 Covenants mull: be kept •, that Sacrileges a 
 fin} that nature it felf tells you* no man hath 
 power to nullifie your Obligation to Charit\ 
 it felf in the work of mens Salvation ^ that* 
 the love of God dwelleth not in you , if you 
 fee your Brother have n ce d y and (hut up the 
 
(85) 
 bowels of your com paffion from him: Men 
 may regulate your charity for good, but not 
 deftroy it. If the poor were famifhing about 
 you, no Law can difoblige you from reliev- 
 ing them. Be fure that neccjfitj is laid on all 
 the Minifters of Chrift (though not by the 
 fame t»ay as it was laid on the Apoftles^ ) and 
 woe be unto them if they preach not the Go- 
 fpel. Fear none of thofe things that you (hall 
 fuflfer .- they are the prognofticks of your 
 Crown; You fhali judge the world that judg- 
 eth you : It will be joyful to \\£*r,Tkefc are 
 they that came out of great Tribulation, &c. 
 Even Dr. Th. Jack^fon notably concludeth, 
 that the reafon why Martyrdom among Chri- 
 ftians now, is rarer than among Unbelievers 
 heretofore, and that more fuffcr not, as John 
 Baptifi did of Herod , is not becaufe Great 
 ones among Chriftians are not ready to do as 
 Hrr^did, but becaufe Minifters more omit 
 their duty j The deareft duty is the moft gain- 
 ful. 
 
 2. 1 befeech you, Stud) harder that you may 
 now fo preach , as that you may convince men 
 fraElically, thzt you are really ufeful & needful 
 to the Worlds and that your Jilence is a real lofs. 
 They that now take your labours to be need* 
 lefs, are tempted to it by the weaknefs of too 
 many. They can fcarcc find in their hearts to 
 fay fo of any Eminent judicious Men ; If 
 when you have fo long made the World be* 
 F 3 lieve 
 
C86) 
 
 Ikve.that filencing yoius a cnofl heynotis fi% % 
 you dial now preach fo r<3W?/y,fo incongruoujly 
 fo injudicicufy, & unskilfully, 'of coldly as to. 
 confute your ieivc«,& harden t^hoft that were 
 for your filence, hew great will your (heme 
 be? If you will be thoughpffione ufeful than o- 
 thers think you,preacb letter i>ow than others 
 do. I really fear, left meer Ncn-covftrmty 
 have. brought fome into reputation as con- 
 fciexcious, who by re eah^pxe aching will ii>fe (ffc 
 reputation of bung judicious, more than their 
 filence loft it. What now will you do better 
 and ww? than others to prove that the Nati- 
 on cannot fpare you ? I expeft not great 
 Judgement &C Learning in ali the younger (oit, 
 nor thole that in thtfe times have bin kept 
 from ftudy, by labouring to get their chil- 
 dren Bread: but verily the iyjudicioujyiefs of 
 too many' among you, is for a lamentation. 
 But thegartd calamity is , rhar the moft inju- 
 dicious are ufuatlj the tnoft confident and felf- 
 CQYiCeited \ and none fo commonly give way to. 
 their igverant z,eal t tocenfurcy hack^bite^ and 
 reproach others, us thofe that know not what they 
 tall^of. I impute not this to youasNon- 
 Confbrmiils, but as fens ©f Adam : for ex- 
 perience hath convinced me t th*t PRIDE 
 OF UNDERSTANDING, when 
 men have little to be proud of, or confidence 
 of al! mens own apprthenfkyns , is the vice of 
 Men, Women and Children , when they arc 
 
 F aft 
 
(*7) 
 
 paft eighteen year*; of age, which feemeth to 
 be moft defperately uncurable. Few forts 
 
 y v hut i e always in the right, and o 
 erroneous in comomibn of t'lem : as D.d- 
 laras riccy ft* i^nora, ce of tluir Kc: 
 So that I fca r not the pr:va\ ncy utfcepticifm 
 in the wo r ld ( hough I fear infidelity ; ) 5V/f- 
 coriceitednefs , I warrant yo.i will keep ic un- 
 v.ich ancient* as Ep-kretn S)r>ts,M4Curi?<s, 
 M*riin, &c. who were of little Learning but 
 holy a^.d humble, and prciumed not above 
 their knowledge -> Were honoured in ths 
 Churches : bat when the Egyptian Holy 
 Monks would. fluty their humble pride and 
 ignorance, by tumults and z alous madnefr, 
 to feek the blood of the Bifhops , that belie- 
 ved not that God had Hands and Feet like 
 Men, and to deftroy thofe as ungodly that 
 were not as foolifli as tfumfelves, wtm cou'd 
 have bin more fcandalous again;: the honour 
 of Godlinefsand Chriftianity ? 
 
 3. Over vdue not ywwn -Preaching, ani 
 under vaIhc not other mens , becztife tr/ef are 
 C-oHformfts. T ht nttmber *nd necejji-ties of the 
 ignorant and ungodly indeed do make your la- 
 bours neceflary, wtreyou lefs fie than many 
 of the Conformifts : but that proveth you 
 i\oi more able) or your preaching better than 
 theirs. Partiality may make fame of your 
 own mind, think all weil that you fay , and 
 all weak tha: others fay : but the reft of men 
 b 4 will 
 
(88) 
 will the more dcfpife you. Be no* wife in 
 your own conceit ^ Look not every man at 
 his own gifts and worth , but at the gifts and 
 worth of others: In honor prefer one another; 
 Pride is the firft born of the Devil : and pride 
 of knowledge and goodnefs is more common 
 and pernicious, than pride ofCvmel)nefs f 
 Wealth, or Greatness. Mark that Preacher 
 Conformable or Non-conformable, who ftri- 
 veth hardefi for his own honour, and would 
 raife it by difhononring other s % and is moil im- 
 patient of all that clowdeth him, and is onely 
 for thofe that fet him up • and look out no 
 further for a mark oib*dneft> but take that 
 man for one of the worfi, how well foevcr he 
 preach or pray. Except Chrifts Apoftles had 
 bin converted to the teachable humble ftate of 
 little Children, they could- not have entered 
 into the Kingdom of Heaven, Math. 18. 3. 
 You wear not the Livery of Chrift , if you 
 are not humble, and apter to think meanly of 
 your own gifts and doings, proportionally, 
 than of other mens. How unfavoury is it to 
 hear a Non-conformift come from a profita- 
 ble Sermon of a Conformift, faying (to hin- 
 der the peoples benefit,^ This is poor drjfiuf, 
 and carping at every incongruous word ^ as 
 much a* to fay, lean do much better .-Through 
 Gods Me» cy f jome Conforraifts preach bet- 
 ter than many of you can do. 
 
(89) 
 4- Tet difference between Conformable Mi- 
 niters , and own not the Atiniftry of any that 
 are utterly incompetent and into erable\ Hear 
 them not ordinarily : for though I fay not 
 that all their Miniftrations arc nullities, yet 
 I fay that you fhouid not encourage an intol- 
 lerable undertaker, todeftroy himfelf and O- 
 thers. By into erabU men, I mean, 
 
 'F*r ft, Such as are ignorant of \or erroneous a- 
 gainft theeffcntials of Chriftianity. 
 
 Secondly ,Such as are utterly unable to teach 
 them others. 
 
 Thirdly, Such as malignantly Preach down 
 
 the pra&ice of a holy life. Or in a word, 
 
 thofe whofeMimftry is fuch,as really tendeth 
 
 to do more hurt than good y from fuch turn 
 
 away. Yea v where the Conformable Mini Iter 
 
 may be tolerableyin cafe no better could be had, 
 
 jet if indeed his teaching be fo trifling, and fap- 
 
 lefs, as is like to do but little good, let compaffion 
 
 -move you , to take more liberty jour f elves to 
 
 teach the people there, than under tvorthjer 
 
 Men. Too many fuch young raw triflcrs, 
 
 I confefs I have heard my felf : and I would 
 
 not have order or humility pretended, to turn 
 
 Pteaching into a Ceremony, left all Religion 
 
 be next taken but for a Ceremony. It is a 
 
 ferious work, and muft be ferioufly done. 
 
 5 tfj°* live where the Conformable Parifh 
 Minifter is faithful ( truly endeavouring the 
 falvation of his Flocks) 1 charge you in the 
 
 name 
 
(90) 
 v*me vfChrift Do not onely y \f pojfib/e, as much 
 4$ in you Ijeth, live i* love> fa-mharity and 
 -peace with him, but alfo do all that pit can to 
 maintain his honour^ and promote his rvorkj. Be 
 not Strangers to him : Diitance breedeth 
 uncharitable thoughts. If you hear or fee a- 
 ny thing that you diflike, go privately and 
 lovingly, and tell him of it : if any behind 
 his back dilhonour him, rebuke them. If he 
 look for fome fuperiority over you, and fome 
 ,<pbfervance from you, deny it not : It is a 
 duty to fubmic to one another. Youcan tell 
 a Prelate, that he that will be the greateft, 
 muft be the Servant of all : Praftice as you 
 preach. He that fcorns to ftoope is proud, 
 as well as he that would have Men ftoope to 
 .him. Live with him as a Brother and as a Ser- 
 vant, in meeknefs, humility, and gentknefs 
 of behaviour : And do not like our young 
 paiiionate Perfons,traTt*ple vipon him,as if his 
 Conformity had put him, as a (inner, below 
 you as more Holy thaahe, and under the 
 Magiftery of your Reproofc You and I 
 think that he hath Tinned : But he thinks 
 that it is we thai (in : And he that is without 
 jfin, let him cafi the fir ft Hon \ I charge 
 you Love him, as your felve^and behind his 
 back fay nothing, and do nothing/ bat what 
 is fit to teftifie fuch love. Let all men. thus 
 jknow that you are GhrilK Difciples : For all 
 your Nonconformity, you are no better 
 
 than 
 
(9U 
 
 than he, if you be not more Charitable than 
 he. If you kt you** ftlves in a dividing way, 
 f: crctly to rejoice at his Difparagemcnc, and 
 to draw a<; many frcm h:m a< you can ; you 
 ae but Deftrojers of the Church of God : 
 Cail your fdves what you will, I will call you 
 Deftrojers if you are Divider -/.Yea much that 
 elfe would be your Duty, mull be omi teed to 
 avoid Divifion. The worl^of God y the good 
 of Souls, the Deforce of the Prtfeftart Re- 
 ligion againft r^,rcqi.iireyour mod con- 
 joyned ftrength ; \nd you are berriyers ofal] 
 tlufe,if you are Divider s.S\\ppo(z your felves 
 as ChappeUCurats under the ParifhMini- 
 ft;r>,and fo in concord perform your work, 
 6. Therefore go as oft-a&yoH can to his Con- 
 
 fregation s and hold Communion ferfonully ■■- 
 m, and lead the people with joh. Do not fay, 
 Now we have opportunity to do better, it-is 
 unlawful to jojn with themthat do worfe : Tar 
 though it be not lawful for you to regleft 
 your own Duty and opportunity> it is lawful 
 for you by D-sei as weu as j-Vord, to ftew 
 your Chriflian Concord md Comm^rsori : and 
 fo to dojaxyy make it a: t! at time mi.ch better 
 which elfe inroga r d of the manner would be 
 worfe. 0:herwifc if ene Preacher, p;ay and 
 preach better than all the* reft, all the people 
 fhould be bound to foifake their v Minifttrs& 
 go to him as one that doth better. But bsnttm 
 $fi ex caufis integris: Difjunttion and HI effects* 
 
 may 
 
(n) 
 
 your better mode of Worfllip mrfel 
 
 7. Therefore in Parifbes where all may well 
 hear the Parifb Minifttr y I would not havejou^ 
 without necejfity, preach at the fame hour as he 
 doth, but at fome middle time ; that you may 
 not feem to via with him for Auditors,nor to 
 draw the people from him • But let them go 
 with you to hear him, and after come and 
 hear you (or before} ) But in London and 
 great Parifties where all cannot come to the 
 Parifh Church , as alfo in Pari flies where the 
 Minifter is not to be owned \ I perfwade you to 
 no foch obfervation : It is fo inconvenient to 
 the people there , to be caft upon unmeet 
 hours, that I perfwade you not to doit. 
 
 g. Where the Parifb Minifter is to be heard 
 by jot* and jour hearers^ Ithinkjtbeft to preach 
 ther but once a dty,a nd at fome neighbour place 
 that hath mo ft needy the other part. My rea- 
 fons are, 
 
 Fir ft, Becaufe the people cannot hear and 
 digeft four Sermons a day, nor three well : 
 and thofe that hear you twice, will not go 
 to the Parifh Church 5 and fo you will but 
 draw them away , from that which might 
 profit them as well as yours. And it ispreaeh- 
 Ing well that more affs&eth people , then 
 Preaching long or 'often. 
 
 Secondly , Becaufe, alas, you will hardly 
 live, where fome Neighbour Parifh hath not 
 fa bad a Minifter , as that the p:oplehave 
 
 more 
 
mors need of help ^ and ihe reft of youc 
 pains may be beftowed on Week-day Lc 
 dares, as the people have leifurc. 
 
 9. Therefore I greatly defire, that in fuch 
 places you would beftow the greater half of 
 your labour in private, in skilful exhorting 
 people from houfe to houfe ? If you did not 
 fo before you were filenced, repent betime ^ 
 If you did, you have found the benefit of it. 
 This is it, which few Conformifts do, and in 
 this you may beft live as their true Affiftants. 
 Publick hearing without perfonal conference, 
 fcldom bringeth men to underftand well 
 what you fay. Brethren, let me ask yotsas 
 before God : Why hath no more of this bin 
 done while you were filer ced? Is it not too 
 much Hypocrifie, to cry out againft them 
 that forbid us Preaching, which is one half 
 of our duty, ar.d in the mean time wilfully to 
 negled that part which none forbid us ? I 
 fpeak not of them that were driven fiom all 
 Cities and Corporations where their ac- 
 quaintance enabled them, and forced to live 
 where they had no fuch opportunity 5 nor of 
 them that through poverty had not time. 
 But molt men might have done naore this 
 way than was done} This way thePapiits 
 have done their work. And it is very confi- 
 derable^hatmoft that come to your Chapptl v 
 Meetings, are fuch as you take for the IcaQ 
 needy, as being alrea^' turned unto Goc 
 
 Bu 
 
(n) 
 
 But from houfe to houfe "you may fpeak with 
 themoreignoiar:: : for fome ot them its like 
 jvillhearyoa, ' ifinceiity incline^ men 
 to that way of duty that hath lead oltcnta- 
 tion. 
 
 10. Preach Faith and Repentance, the 
 tommon Catechifm principles , (which are of 
 greateft need and ufe,and rcq «ire the grcatcft 
 skill in Preachers,) -and do net on pretence of 
 going higher , trouble the peoples hexds with 
 umieceffarj things, nor turn thcin after vain 
 /anglings : much Kftagainft Confoimity, or 
 any thing that rcflcftcth upon the Pariflt 
 Minifters. , You may quickly kindle in your 
 Religious Hearers a taftious opinionative 
 kind ofzral, that (hall make them firebrands 
 in the Church* and no whit tend to favd 
 their fouls. And you may deceive your felves 
 i>y exercifing fuch an opinionative zeal,while 
 you think you are doing the work of Chrift. 
 O how happy had [he Churches bin , if in- 
 ftead of all the Schoolmens & old contenders 
 curlofities ofthe Trinity, and alt the blind 
 difpurcs of Predeftination and Free-will, and 
 aii the b\.fle about Eptfcopacie, Presbytery, 
 Independency , Anabaptiftry , &c. the 
 Churches had Heard the Baptilftul Covenant 
 it felf, With the Creed, Lords Prayer, and 
 D caiogue wtl! opened, and mens hearts 
 had bin more fired with the love of God in 
 Chnil, rather than thur heads hcacedwith 
 
(95; 
 
 fiich cortroverfie*, as the poor people cannot 
 manage, but only by unskilful Teachers, arft 
 tempted by them to be difturbers of the 
 Church. 
 
 1 1 . If there be any among jour people? that by 
 fuch a ftnful unpeaceable z^eal? vrih be c en faring 
 & deriding ConjcrmifisJndependents^Anabap' 
 tijis, or any hemft tolerable a\ Renters } z nd trill 
 be reproaching thim behind their backs <>and ma- 
 ^jVgthim odious to the Hearers , rebuke them 
 Jbarply, and cherifh rot their fin • And if 
 they hear not, rebuke them before all, and if 
 they amend not, caft them out of your Com- 
 munion : and as you love your felves, the 
 Church and others, let not the proudtft cen- 
 ferious people be yourMafters : Take heed 
 of that bafe complying humour, that maketh 
 feme they dare not difpleafe them, leaft they 
 fhould call them as bad as they do the Con- 
 formifts. For if you come to this, it is the 
 Women and Boy that have leaft knowledge, 
 and moft proid cenforious psflions, that will 
 be the Church Governours. Keep your Au* 
 thority, let them take it how they will, and 
 be rot f.rvile followers of the peoples errcurs 
 and irregular ways. 
 
 12. Pojfefs your Hearers with true Gofpel 
 
 principles of Love, that they maj be fir/} pp>re y 
 
 , then peaceable and gentle. Preach zeaioifly 
 
 for Lovcy zgainft love-killing envious z?al. 
 
 Teach them to know that all men are imper- 
 
 f<a 
 
{90) 
 ftSt and faulty, and foisall Mens Worfhip 
 of Gad ; and that he that will not commu- 
 nicate with faulty Worfhip, muft renounce 
 communion with all the World (and all with 
 him.) Unteach them that falfe conceit,that 
 all Book-prayers are unlawful, yea, or all 
 that is impofed ; Read over to them thofe 
 Pfalcns that have frequent repetitions and re- 
 fponfes, that they may know that fuch are 
 not unlawful. If it be lawful for the people 
 to fimg Gods praife , it is not unlawful to fay 
 it. Do you doubt of the confequence ; Prove 
 to us. , what difference there was between the 
 ancienty?tfg/«£,and our Laudatory faying, and 
 you will find your task too hard. Unteach 
 them that paultry principle, of placing Re- 
 ligion in being crofs to the reft of the Congre- 
 gation. As when they will not (land up at 
 the Creed, or at all the Hymns of praife, 
 when reafon andufe tell us, that (landing up 
 k a convenient praifing gefture $ and when 
 the primitive Churches ( from an unknown 
 original, calling it an Apoftolical Tradition) 
 unanimoufly commanded (landing only, in all 
 the Lords Days Adorations 5 which btcaufe 
 we cannot now well obferve, it is decently 
 confined to praifes only. And in this the 
 Conformifts do better and more decently than 
 you : and it is forry perverfnefs to fly from 
 a better way, becaufe that others ufe it. Un- 
 teach ihem t^eir unwarrantable felfmad' 
 
 TeH 
 
{97) 
 Tells of Church Communion ; as if there 
 mull be any other proof of Holinefs needs gi- 
 ven, befides a fober prefeffionnf Chriftianiij, 
 fthat is, of the Baptifmal Covenant ) not 
 proved! j contratdifted by Herefie y or a wicked 
 life : If we are Non-Conformifts, becaufe 
 we cannot comply with all that we think to 
 be invented uncapable terms of Communion 
 from others, w ! ,y fhall we make fjch engines 
 to divide the Churches our felves, and do the 
 very things which we condemn in others. 
 Unteach them their expeditions, that nil the 
 Church wuj} be {At is flea of the Jincerity of each 
 Communicant • or that the pre fence of the U4- 
 rvorthji who are admitted by their own falfe 
 profejfionj or by the Afwifters fault , doth _ 
 make it unlawful! to other* there to commu- 
 nicate. T he Book called, The Cure of Church 
 Divifions will tell you more fuch dividing 
 principles , which you m-jft unteach them. 
 rhe Minirters that have bred and cherifhed 
 thefe, have bin our fubverters, and are our 
 [hame : and fuch principles are the fhame of 
 too many welt meaning honed people. Woe 
 to the felfifh Teachers , that for their per- 
 tonal intereft, dare not contradict them, but 
 :herifh them into tluir dividing errours y 
 vhen their eyes are opened, and they fee tlteir 
 niftakes, they will be tempted to (hew their 
 >wn diflike of them, by running as hr on the 
 rxtrearae of formality -,In a word, help to fave 
 G Rett- 
 
Religious people rrom Demg juperjttttous 
 while they cry out againft fuperftition •, aid 
 make them know that a Religion which con- 
 fifteth in our own modes and ways of worfliip, 
 and in decrying other mens, may ftand with 
 all unmodified fin ; and that the fle/h is no 
 more denyed by fitting, than by kneeling* and 
 that to fay I am Godly becaufe my geitures, 
 and orders are more Scriptural than the Con- 
 formifts, is a pittiful way for an Hypocrite 
 to cheat his foul : and make them know that 
 few things have hardened menagainft Reli- 
 gion, and made Non-Gonformifts a fcorr 
 mftead of being helpers of mens fouls y fo 
 much as to fee that many place rheir Religi- 
 on in fuperftitions of their own, Touch not. 
 tafinot* handle not$ and make it piety to a- 
 void that as fin, which is no fin : and ther 
 men judge of all the reft by this. 
 
 1 3 . And I will prefume co tell you my opi- 
 nion, as of a matter , not abfolutely neceffa 
 ry, but at this time, of fuch convenience,** ii 
 I were to keep a Church- Meeting, I wouU 
 refolve upon ic, as my duty : and that is,tha 
 jour own pr attic e now (hew a found znd. healing 
 judgement about that Church-troubling Centre* 
 verfie of Praying freely, or by Forms • §vti 
 that now you would fe.a fox ably do both. Th< 
 contention about this hath bin (Tnildifh, anc 
 yet a fire not yet quenched in the Church 
 while one belyeth God,as if he had forbiddex 
 
 al 
 
K99) 
 II FREE Prayer in the Church; and cr 
 lers belye him as if he had forbidden all 
 ormi or 5^-prayer : when God hath left 
 otb free, to be done as edification mod re- 
 irireth. His underftanding is low that 
 linketh eicher of them firaply unlawful -, 
 id he knoweth little in fuch matters, that 
 loweth not, that both -ways have)nany zvA 
 'cat conveniences , and both have many and 
 •eat accidental inconveniences, (which having 
 mmerated elfe where I muft not now re- 
 at.) And they that are all for the one only, 
 the other only, (hall have all the inconve- 
 ences with the benefits : but he that will 
 tfonablj ufe both, (hall have the benefits of 
 th, and the leaft part of the inconveniences 
 'either) Therefore in the Churches of Eng- 
 ndy free prayers were allowed in the Pal- 
 ts, after the Liturgy. 
 
 And pardon me far faying, that w : hen this 
 tty controvefiie hath fo much diftrafted us, 
 ofe Minifters. thatufc but one way onely, 
 :m fcandaloufly to the people to be onely 
 r that way, and fo do harden them in their 
 rour, and keep the fire burning in the 
 iurch. Hethatprayethonjy by Book 
 »rm, perfwadeth the poor people that-free 
 *)er is Fanatical, uncertain and uni 
 d they that never pray ctherwife, perfwL 
 e poor people, thac all Forms or I 
 ay ers are unlawful - 7 if a whoje partv 
 G 2 
 
in forbearing all Forms at fuch a time as this, 
 when fo many take them for unlawful. , And 
 fo they corrupt mens very Religion , and 
 teach them to make dutits and fins to them* 
 felves which God never made, and thereby 
 fet them in a way of Hypocrifie, Self delu- 
 fion, and endlefs quarreling with others. 
 
 I prefcribe to no man ^ and toleration fo 
 far taketh off publick Impofitions, as that 
 none can now fay, This Form is impofedon me y 
 and therefore unlawful. But fthough I will 
 not bind my felf) I here tell the world, That 
 if my firength and toleration, and a calljhwld 
 ever more give me opportunity for the free exer--i 
 cifeofmine Office, I would fometimes pray free- 
 ly without Forms , and fometimes ufefeme part 
 efthe common Liturgy , and fometimes nfethe 
 Reformed Liturgy , which in 1660. was agreea 
 on by the Commiffioned Non-Confofmifis <, 
 (though being done in cxtrcam haft,itfhould 
 be reviewed and perfe&ed : ) I would ordina- 
 rily pronounce the Creed, {as the Faith which 
 the Church Jjfcmbleth in the yrofeffion of,) 
 and ordinarily recite the Lords Prayer and 
 ^Decalogue y and read two Chapters and the 
 Pfalms : And they that would not joynin 
 this way of Worfhip, fhould freely go choofe 
 thtm a Teacher more agreeable to their opi- 
 nions : fori would not fcrve the humours of 
 any in their dividing errours. 
 
 And 
 
(101) 
 
 And Brethren, endure me to tell you, 
 
 i. Thatpleafing the ignorant profeflfors 
 i mours, is a fin that flieweth us too hu- 
 iane and carnal, and hath always fad effcSs 
 claft. 
 
 2. And thatlconfefs to you I think jour 
 ayisfhert^ and chit it is now of moreim- 
 orunce,what the future effects of your courft 
 nil be to pofterity ^or tbofe to come, than how 
 c will take with your prefent followers. And 
 /hen the Hiftory of this Age is written , do 
 hat now which you would have there re- 
 orded. My chief meaning is, This will be a 
 ontr over fie when we are dead and gone : Do that 
 tow, which being recorded may be ft tend to the 
 >ight decifion of it then. Leave to Pofterity 
 \ow jqh have liberty, that example (as well as 
 void;) which thou would have them follow. 
 rempt not future Contenders to plead that 
 ill Forms are unlawful by your examples. 
 
 If any fay, JVejball thus loofe our people^anX 
 heSeparatiftjiwho will cheri/b allfuch humours, 
 vill have them all : I anfwer, We have too 
 ongtryedthe pleafing ^ay already, and fee 
 :hat we cure not, but chenfli their difcafe. 
 rake Gods way, and let us deny ourfelves, 
 as well with the humourous people as we have 
 done with the Conformifts, .and then leave 
 the iffue to God. And if they will follow 
 Separates, it is fitter that they be mifkad by 
 fuch erroneous perfons, than by you. 
 
 G 3 H And 
 
(uoz) 
 14. And on this occafion let me 
 word to this kind of Religious people : 
 notafliamc to you that your worthie 
 nifters (hould be fain to go befides thei 
 judgement in Gods Worfhip to humou 
 And that they muft tell the world, We \ 
 mix Free-prayer and Forms in public) 
 the people then will be gone to the Si 
 rifts. I fay not that they go againft 
 Conferences • For their confidences ha 
 reded them to omit what elfe would ha 
 fitted, left croAing your humour, it ( 
 drive you away to your own fubvei 
 But how came you to be fo much kolji 
 wifer than the Holyeft and wifeft of 
 Teachers? Mark, is it not more of the 
 men and Apprentices thac are of this 1 
 than of the old experienced Chriftian 
 it not a high degree of Pride for perf 
 your ftanding and under/landing* to cor 
 that allmoft all Chrifts Churches I 
 World for thefe thirteen hundred years a 
 to this day, have offered fuch worfhip 
 God, as that you are obliged to avc 
 and all their Communion in it } And th; 
 moft all the Catholick Church on t 
 this day , is below your Communic 
 ufing Forms? And that even Calvin ai 
 Presbyterians, Cartwright, Hildcrfham 
 the old Non- conformifts, were unwort 
 your Communion: Would yQU have run 
 
cm D$d or Perkins , or from Cyprian or 
 fugufiihe, and faid, They are formal Fel- 
 ws % not to be joyned with ? Doth God ufe 
 Miracle to make felf-conceiced Women 
 nd young Nfcn, fo much wifer than the moft 
 icient ftudious experienced Divines. It is 
 ?ft then m t :-n Preachers before we grow 
 d and to avoid ft udy and experience left ii 
 
 inorant than we were. e 
 
 Brethren and Friends, I profefs for your 
 
 any of you are our joy, and it is 
 
 - that we have done and fuffered for 
 
 isces $ Bjt I muft tell you (for Adver- 
 
 ricswill cMl i: you) that for your ignorance, 
 
 judicial fnsfs , pride, [elf* conceit ednefs^ you 
 
 ir grief zndjhame. We are hit in the 
 
 feth xv\tk (vch fglf wife ignorant giddy un- 
 
 aceabie followers ; And we have nothing to 
 
 y , but to blufti, and fay that you mean 
 
 t/l, and that it is not kng of us. Can Gods 
 
 >irit which ordain eth Elders to be Paftors 
 
 his Church, be the Guide of your jadge- 
 
 ents, when with fjch fhamelefs pride you 
 
 tup your errours againft the knowledge of 
 
 >ur Guides ? \iyoa are wifeft bzyou the Pa- 
 
 )rs y (which fome are prone enough to ar- 
 
 gate.) Itfliameth us, it grieveth us, to 
 
 e and hear from England ^ and from New- 
 
 ngland,t\\is common cry, W* are endangered 
 
 DivifionSj principally becaufe the felfcen- 
 
 G 4 ceited 
 
(104; 
 
 ceited part of the Religions people , mil not be 
 ruled by their Pallors, but mufl have their way, 
 and will needs hi Rulers of the Church and 
 them. 
 
 Yea, I tell you with truth and grief, I am 
 confident (ntxt to mens own fin, which lea- 
 veth them to a judicial delufion,) nothing hath 
 done more to jet up Popery and the Prelacy you 
 dijlik$> than the fcandalous in fiances of your un- 
 rulinefs and Church tearing humours: And 
 that you have made more Papifts, than ever 
 you or we are like to recover. Nothing is 
 any whit confiderable thataPapift hath to 
 fay, till he cometh to your cafe and h\th>Doth 
 not experience tell you , that without Papal uni- 
 ty >> and force y thefe people wiU never be ruled or 
 united? \t\$jou that tempt them to uf:fire 
 and Fagot , that will not be Ruled nor kept 
 in concord, by the wife ft, and holyeft and 
 rood fclf-denying Minirters on Earth . Even 
 Ainfworth the Learnedeftand GodlyeftPa- 
 floroftheSeparatifts, though he went with 
 them beyond Sea , and was of their opinion, 
 and carded wooll to maintain hirafelf while 
 he was their Teacher, yet could Rot keep that 
 one feparated Church in peace. And rauft 
 you, even you thatftiould be our comfort, 
 become ourfhame, and break our heartland 
 make men Papifts by your temptation. Woe 
 to the World, becaufe of offences, and woe 
 to fornc by whom they come. 
 
 I 
 
I thank God, I fpeak not my own cafe • I 
 think thofe many Religious people that I 
 have had the overfight of, are as ready to be 
 ruled by me, and a* undivided, as any that 
 cwr I have known ? But alas, in too many 
 places it is otberwifc: Should the Minifters in 
 London, that have fuffcred fo long , but ufe 
 any part of the Liturgy and Scripture Forms, 
 though without any motive, but the plea- 
 fing of God,& the Churches good,what mut- 
 tering and cenfuring would there be againft 
 them? And woe to thofe few Teachers that 
 make up their defigns by chcrifhing thefe di- 
 ners. One would think that their warn- 
 
 bia fair . But ft nati fint ad bis 
 
 ingHam > The Lord have 
 
 mercy 01, 
 
 15. Seeing p'aces and numbers and other 
 Church-circun,ftances are matters left to hu r 
 mane prudence, be fnre that you prudentiallj 
 difcern the diver jit j of duties, according to the 
 diver fit j of pUces and occafions. Thefe things 
 I here include, 
 
 -F/ri?, That you be not of thofe Church- 
 tearers opinion, who muft have all go juft one 
 way, in all thofe undetermined variable 
 things- And will cenfure all, and take them 
 for dividers, that do not as they do. 
 
 Secondly, That Edification or the Public^ 
 good is the end, rule and meafure of thefe Pru- 
 dential actions. 
 
 Thirdly 
 
( I TO J 
 
 Thirdly, That in looking to this rule and 
 end , you muft not look only to your pre- 
 fent Congregation ortheprefent Age, but 
 to all the Churches abroad, and to pofterity. 
 
 Fourthly , That nothing here (hould be 
 rafhly done, but by great advife. 
 
 Fifthly*, That therefore other Brethren, (as 
 well diflenting as confenting Minifters) 
 fliould for fafety be confultcd with, not to be 
 your Governours, but for Counfel and for 
 Concord. 
 
 Sixthly y To which end correfpondencies 
 of Minifters is neceffaty. 
 
 16. In thofe places where the name of a di- 
 fiinff Church, and that your administration of 
 the Sacraments is like to do more harm than 
 good, it is your duty to forbear it, and only to 
 Teach. How to difcernthis. Prudence and 
 Counfel muft dired you : If there be a wor- 
 thy Parifh Mtnifter, and the people arc all or 
 almoft all fatisfied (or may be fausfied by you) 
 to communicate with him according to the 
 liturgy,andif your own adminiftration would 
 ftir up fo much offence and hurt, as that the 
 benefit cannot countervail it, the cafe is plain. 
 But ifyoulivein London, or where all the peo- 
 ple cannot come to the Pari/b Church, or the 
 Afinifier is intolerable , and the good is like, 
 (on prudent advifej to be apparent! y greater 
 then the hurt, I know not but you may 
 
 I, Know your flock by name. 
 
 2. And 
 
1 107; 
 
 2. And take it either as a Chappel (in fome 
 places) or as a dirtied Neighbour Church (in 
 other places.) 
 
 3 . Duely Adminifter the Sacraments. 
 
 4 And foberly and wifely ufe Chrifts Dis- 
 cipline. 
 
 17. BefurethvX the Concord of all the true 
 Proteftant Non-Conformifts Churches, be eft a- 
 bUJhedupon the (imj.le ancient Catholic^ terms y 
 and not upon any felf-devifed Additions: 
 That is,that all chat own the Scripture in ge- 
 nera! , and th? Baptifmal Covenant, the 
 Creed.Lords Prayer, and Decalogue in par- 
 ticular (as the fummary of Holy Belief, holy 
 Defires,and holy Brattice*) be taken for fel- 
 low Christians, till it be proved againft them 
 that bv Here fie or rrickednc/s they nullifie this 
 prordlion. This is the Rule and Teft of uni- 
 versal concord. Here all agree : And if after 
 this one Church will ufe Forms of Prayer,and 
 another will not, one will Baptize Infants, 
 and another will delay it, &c. they are dif- 
 ferences that rauft be born, where Love and 
 Reafon cannot heal them, without breach of 
 Charity, Concord or Communion •, yea in 
 the fame Church, fuch different opinions 
 may be born, further than as thofe that dif- 
 fent from the Paftorsmode of worfhip , will 
 feparate themfelves when none reje&eth thtm. 
 We have all naturally a Pope born in us, and 
 when men have never fo much talkt againft 
 
 Popery 
 
Popery and Prelacy, too many cenfure or run 
 away from all that arc not of their way. 
 
 If any tell you that fo wide an enterance 
 will let into the Church Socinians and other 
 Hereticks, who will rais-expound the words, 
 Ask them again, 
 
 Firft , Whether Baptifing men is not a 
 taking them into the Church ? And whether 
 the Apoftles and Churches for many hundred 
 years , required any more of thofe that were 
 Baptized? And whether their bufinefs be to 
 fhew themfelves wifer than the Apoftles, and 
 the primitive Church ? 
 
 Secondly, Whether Hereticks will not fub- 
 fcribe to all the Scripturc,while they mifinter- 
 pret it -, And whether all the Scripture there- 
 fore be not big enough for a Creed ? 
 
 Thirdly? Whether all Herefie be not a con- 
 tradiction of fome of the aforefaid Articles 
 of Faith,and he that faith, I believe this Creed 
 and all that is contrary to it, renounce not all 
 Herefie. 
 
 Fourthly , Whether all Laws be faulty 
 which men can mifinterpret- And whether 
 the > Law muft be changed and enlarged as oft 
 as any break it. 
 
 Fifthly, Whether all the Volumnsof Ge- 
 neral Councils, be not yet too little by that 
 rule, the fence of many being ftill contro- 
 verted? 
 
 Sixthly , If we mud have new Creeds and 
 
 Church 
 
Church Articles as oft as Hercticks mifer- 
 pound the old,whether it be not in the power 
 of the Devil and Hereticks to make our Faith 
 ridiculoufly alterable every year, till it grow 
 intolerably voluminous ? 
 
 Seventhly , And who is it that mud be ftiil 
 the Creed-makers or menders ? And where 
 will they flop ? And how (hall we know when 
 we have all? 
 
 Eighthly, Is he a wife Paftor, that rcadeth 
 how the Churches have ever fince the Coun- 
 cil at Nice bin difira&ed with new Creeds, 
 and yet will take no warning? Read how 
 Hilary Pitt, inveigheth agair.ft them. When 
 they vexed Hierome himfelf with fufpicions 
 of Herefie about the Trinity, (becaufe he 
 was not for the term Hypoftafis as a per/on) 
 his anfwer was, They askjne of my Belief (or 
 Faith) as if Ih^dbin New-horn (or Baptised) 
 without a Belief: As if he (hould fay, Is it not 
 a true and fufficient Creed or profeffion of 
 Faith, which we all make at Baptifm ? Why 
 eife are we Baptized ? 
 
 Ninthly, Tell them, that Pallors indeed 
 rouft know more than all the people: but noC 
 by having a new Creed or Scripture* butac 
 their Ordination they are to give an account 
 of a fuller HnderftandtHgthz fame Creed tban 
 the people rouit do : And the Ordainers muft 
 examine them where they fufped them of He* 
 refie. 
 
 Tenth!;, 
 
(1*0) 
 
 TcntU], Laftly, Ten them that no more 
 than this fehtcfffary,a^he*fo0r} but if any 
 after prove an Heretick, the accufer muft 
 prove it by him j and w* at is the ufe of 
 Church Difcipline*, but to reform him or cart: 
 him out? And Laws will >u ferve alone in- 
 ftead of judgement. 
 
 If they fay that a Herttick may do much 
 mifchief before it can be pi- /ed againft him, 
 Tell them, 
 
 1 . That it muft not be Thoughts but Words 
 that do mifchief in the Church ; And Words 
 are proveable. 
 
 2. That fuch proud tyrannical overdoers, 
 have bin the Churches undoers ? And it is they 
 that have done as much mifchief as mod He- 
 reticks : And that they thar will be fo much 
 wifer and better than God , as to keep out ai 1 
 Herefie by their feif-conedted ways, are the 
 men that let in Herefie and Impiety, and 
 keep or caft aut faithful Paftors , and are the 
 Officers and Agents of the g r tat Divider and 
 Deflroyer of the Churches, 
 
 Let me add, Brethren, we that have lived in 
 an Age, when the Engines of Church*Dhi- 
 fion have fo fadly profpered * and have Smar- 
 ted thereby, and born our Teftimony againft 
 them, are doubly obliged to leave this Tefti- 
 monj of ours to Pofteritj to warn them , that 
 if poffible they may efcape the fnare $ And 
 ihcrefore TOPUBLISHTHIS OUR 
 
 JUDGE- 
 
< in; 
 JUDGEMENT, and OUR OWN 
 CONCORD ON THESE PRI- 
 MITIVE TERMS to all the World, 
 as againft the Romijh tyrannical-uncertain- con- 
 founding- Church- dividing , and ftilL growing 
 Articles of Faith •, Remetnbring that the fame 
 men that have made their Religion fo big as 
 that the French Impreffion of it {viz,, their 
 Councils) is too dear for the purfe of a Non- 
 conformable Minifter - ? can yet tell you that 
 even Faith in Chrift himfelf (explicite) is not 
 abfolutely neccffary, at leaft to juftification, 
 and that the knowledge even of much of the 
 Law of nature as well as of theGofpel may not 
 be abfolutely neceflary,as Stnft* Clara y Deus- 
 Nat-Grat. Problem. 15. and 16. provethcut 
 of the Schoolmen at large. 
 
 18. Afanage your Aiinift trial cenverfe pru- 
 dently and fhufiy. The converfe of Minifters 
 is of great ufe, and therefore frequent Meet- 
 ings needful : Ufe them to thefe ends, 
 
 i. To advife and prevent the tffcds of 
 rafhnefs or imprudencie in Church affairs : 
 when every weak man hath the ufe of the wif- 
 dom of all his feniors, it is fafc. 
 
 2. To prcferve Concord ^and prevent back- 
 biting*, animofities and faftions, and dilcor- 
 dant fcandalous Angularities. 
 
 3, That young Minifters may be Learners 
 as well as Teachers , and may grow up under 
 the Helpes of their Seniors^ 
 
(112) 
 
 [ 1 think therefore you may beft thus im- 
 prove your Converfe. 
 
 1 Often meet for faftingand prayer, to 
 lament our former and later fin , and to 
 pray for the Church of Chrift and for all 
 men ^ for the King and all in Authority, 
 that we may live a quiet and peaceable life, 
 in all Godlinefs and honefty. 
 
 //. Set up conftant regular Difputations, 
 (not about trifles, nor with litigious licen- 
 cioufnefs ) But about the grounds of our 
 Religion, efpecially the differences between 
 us and the Socinians, and Papifts ; And this 
 with School order, under Moderation. Be- 
 caufe, 
 
 i. Too many of us are young and unftu- 
 dyed in thefe matters, and little fit to deal 
 with the Philiftins Goiiahs, and have great 
 need to increafe in holy defenfive skill. 
 
 2. It will by the bounds of order prevent 
 ail contentions and wrangling*, and medling 
 with Rulers or other mens matters, and all 
 lofs of time by impertinent difcourfe. 
 
 III. Counfel and Cencord about Church 
 pra&ice muft take up the reft, of your time. 
 And thefe three ieafonably ufed Prayer, Dif- 
 f motion, and Counfel will conduce much to 
 your growth and ftrength. 
 
 But fee that Minifterial Meetings turn not 
 frem Counfel and Agreement to Formality and 
 V juration of a Ruling power over one an- 
 other, 
 
v us ; 
 
 other, and fo degenerate not into Synodital 
 Church-tyranny * much lefsufurpe the Ma- 
 gistrates right : For Synod* ill managed 
 f:ave bfn the Fevers and Pleurifes of the 
 
 Chirr ches. 
 
 1 9. Therefore btfitre to keep out, both the 7j- 
 ram) of A<f ajar Votes, a^dof the frond Ma- 
 gi ftrrial (elf- arrogationi of any individual s 7 t\±&t 
 tbtnl^af! ethers m*ftft6op to them. 
 
 1. When it is once thought that the Major 
 WW muft carry it, an Itl&clan Synod* will 
 tyrannize-, and every weak felf>corfceited 
 roan, that hath nothing of fence to fayagainft 
 you, will charge nine Learned judicious grave 
 Divines with Ikfoltnty, if they will not be go- 
 verned by ten that are unlearned or injudici^ 
 ous fdfeiteemers. " VoUing is not for govern- 
 ment, but for Concord V And not to be ufed f 
 (left it feent an appear&nce or introduction of 
 ufurparion,) except in cafes where nicer Con- 
 Gfr/isyour work. 
 
 - 2.' But nothing hath more plagued the 
 Church-than the Pride and Jrrogancy of fomd 
 oPthft ftiftoh , that think theyVe wronged 
 ifrfieymay notRiile: Think not that this 
 Sftfrit isbnly in Papife or Diocefans $ Pride 
 isthebeartoftheold man, and born in 111 \ 
 And doleful experience teileth how itfurvi- 
 veth in too many AntiprelaticaF Ministers, of 
 bumbling principles, and unhumbled foiils/ 
 Do We not know that the Pride of fame among 
 
ourjiives, uiac muu ve siu, ana ao au, tin 
 they have undone ally is the very thing, that 
 hath filenced fo many Minifters, and brought 
 us to the ftate that we are now in ? There 
 are fome men that mud only be heard in all 
 debates, and feldom hear ; who are angry if 
 they be gainfaid -, who think that nimble 
 Tongues, or popular Intereft, or grey hairs, 
 muft pafs for uncontrolled reafon. And they 
 ftudy to make parties, and fet up their own 
 Didates, by paffion or indirect contrivan- 
 ces : They can feldom debate a caufe , but 
 their fpleen fwelleth againft thofe that fay 
 not as they fay,but contradict them,and they 
 fecretly back-bite them to blaft their names! 
 They note thofe that follow them, and thofe 
 that oppofe them, and make two parties of 
 them, And all comcth from the common 
 fin of man-kind, An nnkHmbled overconfident 
 under ftanding. 
 
 Thefcmen muft firft be meekly (fcfired to 
 be quiet, and to let y oube quiet, and to re- 
 member that Non-conformifts are not for 
 felf-obtruding Prelacy ^ And that they are 
 Brethren and not Lords : If that will not do> 
 try by Prayer to prevail with God , for more 
 of humllit j and peace in his Minifters. If that 
 will not do, filently bear their importunity 
 with neglcft : If that do not, M^ct without 
 them: 
 
 3. And 
 
3* Ana yec mere is as great a iiinciiicru* 
 any of tbefe to be avoided alfo: Which is the 
 felf- conceit ednefs and Pride of the younger 
 and the more injudicious Sort of Minifteis, 
 hindering them from following the Counfels 
 of wifer experienced men. For thtfugh we 
 muft have no arrogant Lordly Ufurpers a- 
 mongus, yet all that know any thing muft 
 confefi, that in all profeffions wife and**- 
 imions men are few : It is but to few Divines 
 thatGodgivech clear aid accurate judgmentsj 
 And undoubtedly there is a threefold Supe- 
 riority and fubmiflion of divine obliga- 
 tion, 
 
 I. OfSubje&stomen in Office ove: them, 
 i. Of the younger to the Elder. 
 3. Of them that have lefs knowledge, to 
 them that have more. For Office and Seniori- 
 ty are but forma'ities, did thev not fnppofe an 
 •eximious fitnefs by Superior knowledge. If 
 therefore God endow here and there one 
 man with extraordinary judgement, it is 
 the wifdom and happinefs of the times to 
 know him, and to kindle their Torches ac 
 his fire : So did one Luther, one Afelanch* 
 thon % one Calvin , ont Ertfmus, one Jewel, 
 JVhitakers , Reignolds, Davenant^ &c. profit 
 many. You may go a hundred miles amongft 
 the lefs judicious for t, and raifsof that light 
 which one Amelia* ^neCamere, one Strati* 
 gifts, one le BUnc^&c. could (hew the 
 H % world. 
 
wono.* Ana ll is me riaguc or corrupted 
 r&ttitt that Tgnorancc keeptth men frorn knott- 
 ing it felf, and not one of a multitude (even 
 of Religious men J who are injudicious will 
 believe x\ at they are injudicious \ but every 
 man is fo much the more confident that he is 
 in the right and others errc,by how much the 
 more he errelh himfelf : fo cLat few ignorant 
 Miniflers are t^clable, but think that they 
 are coo wife to learn, becaufe by office they 
 undertake ts)tiach : But through Gods mer- 
 cy, rny own converfe I ath bin with an hum- 
 ble fort of Minifters, which was the occafiorr 
 of our unity and peace. And London and the 
 Conntrey have many 'fach, who! hope wifl 
 bcable to refill the dividing attempts of the 
 felf ignorant ar.d felf conceited. 
 
 20. La'tiy-, Spend this little time as inths 
 ycay fofp.eidj fujfirings and death : Your pre- 
 fent Winters day is ftu>rt. Work hard ; 
 Live wifely : Suppofe your tryal were the 
 next year : B.have your feives as men that 
 ftar.d in profpeft of the Giave : It is not like- 
 ly that God will pafs over twenty yars wil- 
 ful! divifion<, wantonnefs, proud contention j 
 felf diftraftion, fcandals, and great fins fa 
 little repented of/ that men cannot endure 
 tohtarthem ramed, with fo (hort or fmall 
 a fuflfcringas we have undergone. And the 
 fame Spirit yet blinding the guilty 5 and kecp- 
 rg fome of the feparating f arty to tapeni- 
 
Oi7) 
 tenrt, and working dill by unlawful means 
 to their unlaw ul ends, is the fearful PiOgno- 
 Ck, that more of the old effcft.are to be 
 r -oduced by the old uncured caufe. O be 
 nor partakers in the guilt and biindnefs left 
 you partake of the deftrudion, and demcnta- 
 tion be the fttre pr-Qgnoflicl^ of perdition, BtlC 
 O Lord fpare thy people, and blcfs thine In- 
 heritance, and lee not the weakne!>or will- 
 fuinefsof the Paftors orpeople, deliver it up 
 as a prey to the D^ftroyer. And though our 
 folly and fcandal have m^Je us afcorn, i*t 
 it not turn to the extirpation of true Religion, 
 and to the further advantage of Chnrch-t)- 
 rannji Ignorance* or Malignity in the world. 
 And if we the fooiifti (inful Paftors, have for- 
 feited our honour and ilaiion in thy Church, 
 let not the Tyrannical Foolifi and wicked^t 
 thofe that (hall be wifer, holjcr and more 
 faithfully and fuccefful I y diligent fucceedus. 
 
 CHA?. 
 
CHAP. XII. 
 
 An humble Petition to the Confofimifis. 
 
 Se%. i. T^Athers and Brethren, though I 
 I prefumed to counfel the Non- 
 Conformifts as my equals, I willprefuraeno 
 higher with you, than to lay my felf at your 
 Feet, and humbly a fecond time to become 
 your Petitioner for the fouls of men, for the 
 Gofpel,the Churcb,and the intereft of Chriff. 
 It is your Office to be Petitioners to mankind 
 for Chrift, and to befeech them in his Read 
 to be reconciled to God. And a man might 
 hope that one that (hould become a Peti- 
 tioner to you, that your felves would not dc- 
 ftroy that Church, might find acceptance and 
 prevail . But Satan hath got fo great advan- 
 tage, that the wifeft man living is uncapable 
 of fpeaking rightly to you without offence. 
 He that can draw men into great difgraceful 
 fin, hath thereby raifed a Bulwark to defend 
 his work. To be filent and comply , is to be 
 cruel to the /inner and himfelf, and who can 
 do it that believeth Death and Judgement : 
 To caii men to repentance, is utterly to lofe 
 th. m t,y implying that they have finned. O 
 Kttle did I once think rhat Repentance had bin 
 fo bard a work, when God offereth pardon 
 pf a:l other fins, a^ainft the Law of innocen- 
 
 fYt 
 
cjfcOn fo low and rcafonablc a condition. 
 
 Jett. 2. It is not in my thoughts to con- 
 found all Conformifts, as if there were no 
 difference among your felves. I know that 
 there arc many forts of you : 
 
 1. There are fome Learned real ous high 
 Conformifts, who think they have done good 
 fcrvice to God, by all that they have done 
 already ; and no doubt, were wife enough 
 to forefee what they were bringing to pafr, 
 and are not, by any fobeijman, to be accufed 
 of doing either they knew not what .or what they 
 did not fuppofe was goody and would countervail 
 */l that itfbould coft to procure it. Their work 
 hath profpered ; And the hinder part of it 
 is yet in their hands •, But it is alfo in the 
 hands of God. To thefe Reverend perfons, 
 I have formerly fpoken to their great of- 
 fenfe. 
 
 Seil. 3. 11. And I would there were no 
 Minifters fo pittifully dark, and young, and 
 raw, or fo much outof love and relijb, with 
 things Spiritual, through the prevalency of a 
 ftronger appetite, as that their incapacity 
 convinceth me, that I am not to expeft 
 much regard from them,as knowing with what 
 ears they hear. 
 
 Sett. 4 ///. There are alfo fome called 
 
 Latitudinarians, who love not Fopperyes or 
 
 violence, but are men of Reafon andfober Con- 
 
 verfationff though they are not fo tender and 
 
 H 4 fcrupulous 
 
(, WO ) 
 
 fcrupulous as the Non-conformifts, but can 
 break over greater rub?. 
 
 tftrfih 5. IV. And there are other fiUij 
 feber mrvilling Conformiftt, who by the bene- 
 fit of ' fubferibing in their own fence .hzvz ftrctcfct 
 the<nfelves to do what tbey have done \ \itho 
 conform on the terms of Mr. Sprint', 'ftib- 
 mitting to what would clfcbcoril , oneiyto 
 obtein the liberty of Preaching \ (far be it 
 from me to put in any leihfh ends.) Who are 
 unwittingly Conformijisj as the WefimwjUr Af» 
 femblywere* chat after took down Prelacy. 
 
 «$>#. 6. To al! of th-*rn that ,yet have tlrai 
 to hear, I humbly prefent thefe following 
 Requefts. 
 
 I. O be not tea angry with thofe that cenfon 
 joh as finners. Ideteit rafh cenforioufhefs ■• 
 But you know men that ditf.r in this world, 
 about Speculative*, n ay differ about matters 
 of Prtftice too : The J. -fuifts,Fry $xs and Jan- 
 fenifts do fo, in no:a/^'dr little things* 
 And in fuch a diff:rence>one party muft needs 
 G.nfure the pra&ifersof the contrary, a; (in^ 
 ners. If you and I differed about Ufury, 
 Stage phyes , Gaming, &c. one party muft 
 needs think that the other fide doliveinfin. 
 And who liveth and fir.neth not ? Either the 
 c:nfure is true or fa/fe: \Urue, fliould you 
 not be a* thankful as to one that would fate 
 you from the P'ague? Will fen do you lefs 
 h\\it than confute I If it btfalfe, Confider 
 
 I. You- 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 i. You are fallible • and the notfce of a 
 foffible ferniciens danger, ftiould be received 
 with felf-fufpicion and thanks 
 2. And you fltoutd love them the better for 
 their averfnefs to fin, chough they fliould mi- 
 itakc the matter of it. A proud heart faith 
 fwellingly,/^ I to fa accounted herein afinner* 
 A humble perfon will fay : AUs^Iamtoo likely 
 to mifhake and fin; but if I do not J will love, even 
 a mi (taken enemy of fin. And to deal faithfully 
 with you, Hadiko(eho»i(t Conformifts of my 
 acquaintance, bat come firft to the ableft dif- 
 fenters, and impartially heard and Weighed all 
 that they had to lay , and not fecretly flipe 
 into Conformity, as if they had bin afraid 
 of hearing all, I (hould have bin the more of- 
 fended with their Cenfurers. But Go4 
 hatcth fin , and fo rauft all that truely Jove 
 him. And they are our beft friends that do 
 moft to prefervc us from it. And they arc 
 our greaceft enemies, that would flatter us in- 
 to it. To Preach againfty?«, is your Mini- 
 fterial Office : And if any man thinks that 
 you make a fetemn Covenant to fin, that you 
 may have leave to preach againft fin - Yea 
 that you deliberately commit a great one,that 
 you may have leave to preach againft a lefs m 
 other men , this man deferveth to be heard 
 though he miftake. At Death arid J idgment, 
 nothing in the world butfw will be your dan- 
 ger ; Unjuft cenfures will be none. IF we 
 
 fay 
 
(122) 
 
 fey nothing to you yet its eafie to gather by 
 thccoflly terms on which we avoid it , that 
 wc take conformity for a fin. 
 And if any of the people carry it cenforioufly 
 orcontemptuoufly towards you (which we 
 abhor) remember that yoa take them for we ak. 
 and fievijb perfons: And honour or contempt 
 is valuable according to the quality of the ho- 
 rourer or contemner : You take your follow- 
 ers to be the wifer as they are the more : And 
 we bear their cenfures ofus % and much more ; 
 And cannot you bear the cenfures of a few 
 that you judge weaker ? Yoij will proclaim 
 the Non-Conformifts to be the ftronger 
 Chriftians, if they can bear poverty and re- 
 ftraints, withthecenfureof themoft, when 
 you cannot bear the cenfure of the feweft, 
 with liberty and Minifterial maintenance and 
 honour. 
 
 II. Bor your fouls fake and for the 
 Churches fake, T*kf heed of felfijbnefs and 
 Pride ', left it fill you with envy againftyour Bre- 
 thren that ferve the fame Lord) when joh thinly 
 the j any way diminifh jour refutation and ho- 
 nour. I would have others keep up your Re- 
 putation to rheutmofl; which in the name 
 of God, I charge upon them- Yea, and in 
 honour to prefer you : But if you think they 
 do not, remember that you arc the Servants 
 pf a Crucified Chrifi , who made himfelfofno 
 tepupathn, but too\upon him the form tfa Ser- 
 vant, 
 
vant, and yet this way got a name above eve* 
 ry name. As fure as you live, contending 
 for honour, is one of the rcadieft ways to 
 loofe it, and giving it to ethers, and con- 
 temning it! your fclves , is one of. the fureft 
 ways to get it, It is its motto, ^luodfequitur 
 fngio j cfHodfugit ipfe fecjuor. 
 
 Self-efteem, and Pride is odious in all : but in 
 a Minifter of Chrift more odious, than in any 
 man : but never fo odious as when it rifeth 
 to futh malignity, as to envy or hinder the 
 work of God, becauft another moreefteem- 
 ed doth it. It is a (in that I am readyer to 
 tremble to think of, than further to re- 
 prove. 
 
 And remember what work it hath made in 
 the Churches of Chrift already. Read but 
 what EufebiuS) Socrates, Sozomen y Evagrins, 
 Ntcephorus, Sec. fay of thefewdsoftheold 
 Biftiops : Read but the Afls of the Councils 
 ztEfhef. i,&2. of Chalcedony at Ariminum, 
 at Sirmium^ at Nice, zd.&c. and if hor- 
 rour and fhame do not overwhelm you, to 
 think what Chriftian Bifhops did, and that 
 fo early in the face of the Heathens, you are 
 not men. Read but how Nazianzene was 
 ufed at Conftantinople , by a Synod of Ortho- 
 dox Bifhops, when he bad overcome the Ar- 
 ridns : Read the Controverfies between Ba- 
 fil and AnthjmiHs y zwA others : Read the dole- 
 ful ftory of Theophilns Alexandrinus, and 
 
 the 
 
the Egjptidtt Monks, and of the fame Theo- 
 ph'Uus his manner of dealing a^ainft the Ori- 
 genifis, and of his double Lettered Prefent 
 which be fent by Ifidore a Prieft, to the Empe- 
 rour and Maximus> to be given to him that 
 got the better : Read the odious ftory of the 
 faid Theophilus and Epiphanies his proceed- 
 ings againft Chryfoftome, and his tje&ion by 
 a Councel of Bilhops : Read the proceedings 
 of Ithacins and Idacins and their Synods in 
 Snip. Severus: There is no end of inftan- 
 ces : Read but the deftru&ion of the many 
 hundred Brittifk Monks at Bangor, and the 
 great fufpicions that Anguftine taufed it.! 
 Look but on the face of the Greek and La- 
 tine Churches to this day, from the begin- 
 ing and caufe of their divifions: And fee what 
 the Lutherans have done oft times againft the 
 Calvinifis in Saxony \ and other parts of Ger- 
 many ,(&% in G*fp> fencers fuffmngs for one: ) 
 And fee what the Roman Papacy and Clergy 
 have done in the world by Lordly Pride and 
 felfiflinefs : And laftly, See what hath bin 
 done by it in this Land ; and at lad learn 
 by experience r and judg« of Church-mcns 
 Pride by the efFefts. 
 
 Brethren, what harm will it do to you, if 
 &Non Conformift preach by you? if many 
 follow him? If fomc prefer him before you? 
 Do not others prefer you before him ? What 
 if his followers think Conformity to be fin ? 
 
.Do not you ana yours tnuiKiootouriNonw 
 Conformity? It is not your felves that yoiv 
 preach for, but the peoples Souls : And why 
 may noc Cbrifts Gofpel profit them from an- 
 other as well as from you ? Nature teacheth 
 men to rclifh their own food, and partly to 
 feel what doth them good? Clemens Alex* 
 and. Strom, i . giveth it as the reafon why tire 
 Church (thev, not now) left it to every Com- 
 municant at the Sacrament, to T*kf their oven 
 fart, Becatifeman having free will, (hall be 
 thechoofer, or refufer of his own good. If 
 they choofe a worfe Teacher than you, it ia 
 not )oh but the) that are the ioofers : If they 
 choofe abetter, you have your end , if you 
 are Chriftians? If you preach not fow ellai 
 another, you are not fit to be Minifters of 
 Cbrift, if you be not glad that another doth 
 better, and is a blefling to the Flock. II 
 you preach better , its two to one but good- 
 nefs will have an infuparable attiaftion : Of 
 if miitake make them more capable of good 
 from another than from you, (houid you not 
 defire that they might have it ? Will you fay, 
 It is their partial humour ? I have heard ma- 
 ny Minifters fay fo, thax had reafoa to have 
 faid, It is ray unskiifulnefs ordnlnefs : But 
 fuppofe it befo* APhyfician will let his pa- 
 tient take his Medicioe from one mans hand, 
 if hercfufe it from another. The Father will 
 
 n s? !?! $h? Ir^y f a 5.!fb if k? ?*!* u ^ e n<* 
 
meat rrom mm, out rrom cne mocncr. if 
 the people had no faults or weakneffes, what 
 need were there of joh or other Minifters. 
 
 I am as apt to fpeak fharply agalnft the 
 humours and weaknefs of Religious people,as 
 moft that a/e not envious and malignant. But 
 I rauft give them this Teftimony,that though 
 many of them cannot well judge of judicionf- 
 nefs ii\ their Teachers, yet moft of them love 
 a fcrietis Preacher and a Godly Liver 5 And 
 few of them diftaft either Prelates or Confor- 
 mists, if they p reach ferioftflji and live Holi- 
 Ij. But when in all the Countreys they fee 
 fuch Preachers and Livers chofen outfory?- 
 lencingj all the world cannot keep them from 
 d ifl iking fuch Bifhops as (hall do thus . I am 
 moft confident for thofe of my old acquain- 
 tance , that if they had feen Bifhops (after 
 their long difacquaintance with them) to 
 have Preached and Prayed in a found and fe* 
 rious Holy manner , and fet themfelve* to 
 promote the labours of Godly Preachers,and 
 to encourage piety in the people and reprefs 
 iniquity , they would generally have loved 
 and honoured them, without refpeft to Pres- 
 bytery or Independency : It is Godlinefs 
 that Godly people care for. But fincc I and 
 abundance about us wereejt&ed, andfince 
 many of themfelvcs have bin laid in Goals,it 
 is no more in my power to make them love 
 
 fuch 
 
lucn DiinopS) man to rr.ast mem love mo 
 Goal it felf. 
 
 Yea further, Brethren, what if the Non- 
 Conformable Minifter do give the Sacrament 
 tofome, as you do to others ? What if they 
 think their way beft, as you think yours? 
 What if they call themfelves a Church and 
 excrcife Difcipline , (which without need I 
 would not have them do,) What harm will 
 this do to you or others ? If it do them harm, 
 let them thank themfelves : But to you it can 
 do none, unlefs the unchriftian Rn of pride 
 and envy caufe it : or unlefs by reproaches and 
 contentioufnefs they hinder the fuccefs of your 
 labours •, which is another thing. I confeft 
 I have ever bin jealous of fucb Arbitrary 
 Churches, where there ii room for all in one 
 Church, left they fhould turn Anti-Churches 
 and Theatres of emulati6n and contention ; 
 (which I charge all confcionable perfons to 
 abhor : ) But all this may be avoided at 
 cheaper rates, than (ilencing fo many labori- 
 ous Mintflers,or excommunicating all the peo- 
 ple that are Non-conformifts. 
 
 ///. foyn lovingly with jour Brethren , as 
 Servants of one Lord , to promote oneworl^ 
 Look not ftrange at them, if they defire your 
 friendfliip ; Yea, if any of them provocenfo- 
 rious and pievifti, if you are the more pa- 
 tient, condefcending^nd forward to love and 
 unity) and to further the peoples good>I (hall 
 
 take 
 
take you for better men than them < And fa 
 will all that judge by the fruits of the Spirit 
 Try this way inftead of wrath, andlcfere 
 undertake that ic (hall more maintain your 
 honour j with your peace of Confcience. 
 
 Brethren, our great account is near : The 
 Judge is at the door : It will be then convfbr* 
 table to give a true account of Minifferial fi* 
 delity,and hear. Well done good and faithful 
 fervant- rather than to hear, We have beaten 
 our fellow Servants, or unfaithfully kept the 
 Key of knowledge. The fouls of your charge 
 are *»*#/ and precious : It is-a hard and great 
 work to cure one : to make one Ignorant per* 
 fon underAand, one proud ptrfon humble* 
 one infidel to believe, one worldling to be- 
 come Heavenly, or one fenfualift to be a mor- 
 tified Saint : What help then do you need ; 
 what labour is requifite, to bring a Parifti o£ 
 many hundred or thoufand perfons to this 
 change! A> aur weaknefs tnuft make us all 
 cry cut, Who u fufficient for theft things^ fo 
 when one man hath ten memwork to do , he 
 may well fay, He is inefficient i Irtthefirfti 
 three Centuries, when one Congregation 
 had a Bifhop with a Colledge or Company 
 of fellow PrcvbyterSjthey were not too many* 
 though one onely could preach at once. I 1 
 fpeak not uncertainties * We have tryedthe 
 PaJtoral work •, and know by experience that 
 a Parifta of a thoufand (much more of many 
 
 the*- 
 
thbufond) families , hath work enough for 
 fnany the raoft able and diligent Minifters 
 inche Land : Yea;aParifh of an hundred Fa* 
 milieu needeth more help than any one Mi- 
 nifteriiable to afford them : Try thtra all 
 by perfonal conference houfc by houfe as we 
 have done, anu judge. Would you then have 
 the pebple taught, reformed andfaved, or 
 not ? If yea, Would you not have neceffary 
 help to do it? I cannot believe that roan to 
 know rtiiriy what it is to be a Minifter or a 
 ChrifHari, that perceiveth not a neceffity of 
 help if be can have it : And if you bad con- 
 verted all now living, thofc that are born 
 ntxtwill haveneedof as much labour as their 
 Parients : For ignoring fenfudlit] and pride 
 will be born with them. 
 
 Think God therefore that you may hav* 
 help; and take it, whether you meet in on* of 
 tm AflfembHcs : Help your tolerated Bre- 
 thren in their work, as thofe that more de- 
 fire thegood of the peoples fouls than they. 
 Coxifult together for the removing of impe- 
 diments, and for the (lengthening of each 
 other. And if any fadious, or froward Non- 
 conformift ihould happen to be your Neigh- 
 bour, go to him, and by love and familiarity 
 fcek to win and cure him ^ and you will win 
 the hearts of all good people. And if he be 
 really turbnlent, and do more harm in the 
 place than good, lam perfwadedthe reft of 
 
the Nonconformifts will rebuke him>anddif- 
 own him. Iadd> 
 
 IV. If any difference between you cannot be 
 compofed, in fie ad of troubling the people about 
 ft f quietly refer it to fome indifferent Arbitra- 
 tors. Is there not a wife man aijiong you ? 
 Muft Abrahams and Lots Servants, feparate 
 them for a Well I Mult Paul and Barnaba: 
 part for different cenfures of another mans 
 omiffion? Shall Chriftians, Proteftants, Mi- 
 nifies, the Teachers of Love, and Concord 
 and Patience, be fo wea^ fo felfifc fo bad+ 
 fuch contradiders of their daily Do&rine? 
 as not to be able to carry on Chrifts work in 
 peace; nor to make an amicable compofurc 
 of their differences ? If you arc Chriftians 
 indeed, the difference is not who fliall have 
 the mod followers, applaufe or honour bxxt who 
 feiveth God and faveth fouls , in the right 
 and truceffeftual way? And may not prayer 
 and confutation reconcile fuch a controver- 
 fie? For my own part I am confeious of 
 pride and (elffhnefs •, Yet I can confidently 
 fay, that when I had a Pafloral charge,where 
 I reeded many Affiftants , if I had known 
 where that man lived whom the people would 
 have loved, honoured and profited by, more 
 than my felf, I would have rid night and day 
 to get him to be the man : And when I have 
 beard my Neighbour Minifters that were 
 younger men (I can fcarce forbear naming 
 
 themj 
 
(MO 
 
 them) preach much moreaffe&ioriatelyand 
 profitably than my felf,|I have fate under 
 them with tears of joy. But alas, What hath 
 *en years filencc of fnch men , deprived the 
 fouls of the poor people of ! I never thought 
 it meet with Saint Francis and the Fryers, to 
 abafemy felf by going naked, or by, taking 
 on me to be an Awfe, or by filthinefs.or ridi- 
 culous behaviour ; A* if Heaven and a Swine- 
 fty were moft like : ($ee Foulis hisHiftory 
 of Popery. ) But I have thought it my duty to 
 cad away deliberately and knowingly much 
 of my Reputation, even with Religious peo- 
 ple , by the difcharge of fuch duty as I 
 knew would do it - y Believing that Reputa- 
 tion is one thing to be refolutely denyed for 
 Chrift, and that he that faveth his honour 
 (hall lofc it , and he that lofeth it for Chrift 
 (hall have everlafting honour. 
 
 Brethren, there is no great matters to be 
 done in the Church of Cteift in the midft of 
 fo many corruptions and temptation?, with- 
 out confirmed Reflation; RefolveC > bt wholly 
 the fervants of thrift, and to feek mens 
 Salvation, and to take no thought for your 
 carnal intereft and honour ; And then ths 
 God whom you fcrve will rate care of it. 
 Think not that other mens felfifhnefi or f ro- 
 wardnefs is an excufe to yours : Who know- 
 eth man, and knoweth not that pride and 
 felfijbnefs is as common as fin, that is , I* the 
 I z kit- 
 
laflrdying heart ofall our corruption? Will 
 you exped none of it in others, when you 
 know (if you know your felves) that you 
 bavc much of it in your felves ? 
 
 Plain-dealing is not the Sign of enmity but 
 love. Imuft tell you, that wc cannot but 
 think that you need Repentance , great Re- 
 pentance, for finning more (and that by /w£- 
 iic\ j dfliberatc , chofen , covenanttd , Mini- 
 fterialfirj) frotefling againft Repentance )in 
 the day when Judgements calkd us all to re- 
 new our Repentance for our foi roer fins. But 
 yet we fufpeft our own underftandings : We 
 know what different apprehenfions of thing* 
 good men may have : We know that we are 
 great finners our felves : We take not all this 
 to warrant our cenforious reparations from 
 you. But we befcech you be not too angry 
 with us, for differencing between good and 
 evil, between him than fweareth, and him 
 thatfeareth aa Oath. As long as we do it 
 to the cod and fuff.ring of our own flefh* 
 which difputtth in i\$ more cunningly and 
 ftrongly for Conformity-,- then all theZ>#- 
 ?eU, the JFullwoods, the StiUmans,&c. in 
 England. We have naturally no more love 
 to poverty, to fcorn, to a prifon, than you 
 have: And why may not thofe chat do no- 
 thing el fe almoft fay , that its like weftudy 
 co know the truth, as hard as any of you all ? 
 And the love of beggery, fcomand imprifon- 
 
 raerit* 
 
mentis nor likely much to byas us7 And 
 if you think that our honour with our party 
 doth it, you mutt needs think that we (who 
 fo fliarply reprove tbem,)do think very high- 
 ly of that poor defpifed party, when we pre- 
 fer their opinions, not onely before your 
 Afagnat-es & Plures , but alfo before our 
 Livelihoods, Liberties and Lives. Woe to 
 the Hypocrite that hath no better a re- 
 ward ! 
 
 And why fliould we do it ? Were we not 
 as capable of tht more Noble and General ap- 
 plaufe as you, if we could have taken your 
 way ? 
 
 As we are none of your Judges then , Be 
 you none of ours , but let us with Refolved 
 unity (though not uniformity) ferve that one 
 God whom we are all devoid to. Remem- 
 ber that to Preach Leve is your Minifterial 
 work- AndcopraAce it is your Chriftian 
 work. Refolve as much to craimain Chri- 
 ftian Lcve as inviolate, even to Martyrdom, 
 as the Martyrs did to ffiaintain the Chriftian 
 Faith. Remember Ridley and Hooper; You 
 may come to Ridley\ Confeflions ere you die. 
 We purpofe not tollnminifter you fomuch 
 a Gildas did his Brittains , nor to feparate 
 from you fo much zsMartindid to the death, 
 from all the Neighbour Synods and Bifhops, 
 for a far letter caufe than the filencing of 
 eighteen hundred Minifters. We take not 
 I 3 you 
 
OH) 
 
 you whom I now write to , to be conferring 
 to this work. (Though your filenceand non- 
 refiftance y hath bred fuch thoughts of you in 
 people, a* we would fain have you cure by 
 the contrary means.) We are for peace : 
 Be not you againft it : But we cannot buy it, 
 by deferring the Miniftry , to which we were 
 confecrated and devoted, nor by negleding 
 lb many thoufand miferable fouls. Bring 
 things in England once to that pafs, that re- 
 ally our labour may be unneceffary, in the 
 judgement of thofe that are not Infidels, Igno- 
 rant s y or Malignant enemies of a holy life, 
 and we will prefently gratifie all that defire 
 our filence, or our banifhment , and will not 
 trouble men with needlefs work. 
 
 Thus, Brethren, you fee, I have prefumed 
 no higher than to Petition you j And that 
 not to your coft or detriment j nor for our 
 prcferment,wealth op eafe : We aske you not 
 for food or ray men t ^ We crave from you 
 none of your Dignities,nor Eftates : Though 
 when I find this Author diffwadingusfrom 
 our Miniftry, becaufe the people are poor, I 
 think that reafon might almoft as aptly have 
 ferved toperfwadeus to live no longer , be- 
 caufe the world is too poor to keep us ; We 
 do but eat if we preach, and fo we muft if we 
 {Jo not : And I think it had favoured of no 
 excefs of Charity and Minifterial ingenuity, 
 |f he had rather faid * Brethren, joh muftper- 
 
 fernt 
 
('35J 
 
 form jour undertaken Miniftrj, and we and the 
 -peoples foals have need of all jour help ; And 
 the maintenance is given fort he work^t There- 
 fore you that worl^with us, Jball hive part of 
 the Church maintenance with us, at leafi a fifth 
 part, as was allowed to the e)e&ed by the Par- 
 liament, becaufe the people cannot maim ain you, 
 and A is hard toferve God without anxiety {while 
 jour families are in want. This Lad better 
 befeemed our Brethren - y but we crave aid 
 expeS no fuch thing from you 5 but only pa- 
 tiently to fuflfcr us to live and labour by you, 
 and let God provide for us as he pleafe. 
 
 And if we tad expeded that heretofore you 
 had Petitioned on Rulers, for the liberty 
 of our Miniftry, it had binnounrcafonable 
 txpe&ation. Ail kn:w that our own Petiti- 
 ons had no hope : Mimfters (hould of all 
 men have bin mod fenfibje of the Churches 
 breaches, lofs and danger, and moft compaf- 
 fionate of the peoples fouls : If you had but 
 humbly acquainted our Rulers, That all our 
 labours conjoyned are too little $ that you 
 needed our help, and the ignorant our teach- 
 ing • That your own Judgement was,that our 
 Miniftry was more neceffary than our per^ 
 fonal Conformity, 
 
 1. You know not but you might have bin 
 
 heard : For no doubt our Rulers thought 
 
 they did that which the Reverend Charch- 
 
 I 4 men 
 
men tlid advife or thinkbeft :I hope you do not 
 think that our civil Rulers would have done 
 all that they have done againft us, if it had 
 bin againft the Bifliops and conformable Cler- 
 gies judgment and advife : Civil Governours 
 are never fo cruel in matters of Religion, as 
 the Ruling and exafperated Clergy arenas the 
 Hiftories of all ages tcftifie. ° 
 
 2. Or at lcaft you might have had the 
 greater peace of Confcience, in all the confu- 
 fions that have followed, and fatd, It is mt 
 long fif us. 
 
 And you would have acquitted your felves in 
 the judgement of all your hearers , and they 
 would have bin the lefs prejudiced againft 
 your Miniftry. 
 
 Had you Petitioned and prevailed but for 
 thefe two things , you had healed ail our 
 breaches, 
 
 Firfi, That the door of enterance might not 
 have bin barred by any other fubferiptions, 
 proftffions or Oaths, than what were ufed in 
 the Churches of Chrift , till the exaltation of 
 the Papacy (for 6oo.years,)befides the Oaths 
 of Allegeance and fupremacy, andthefub- 
 fcribing the Doftrineofthe Church of Eng- 
 land, in the 39. Articles , according to tEo 
 I ith. of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 Secondly , That thofe (fo fubferibing) tyho 
 dare not ufe the Liturgy and Cerecaonies* 
 
 might 
 
night have leave to preach la the Qmrcbei 
 vhich ufe them, under Lavs which (hall re* 
 drain them from all unpcaceable oppofition 
 fo what they dare not ufe, or to the Gove rv 
 raent of the Church. And having raenti^ntfi 
 this, What if I added yet this claafe to ray 
 prefent Petition to you ? 
 
 V. That yon will yet Petition for us> or ra- 
 ther for the Church of Chrifi , that upon the 
 for ef aid terms we may be, ifpojfible* taken in to 
 the eftablijbed Mwftrj , If not<> jet tolerated, as 
 Letturers under youinfuch Churches, when 
 the Mimfiers defire us , mt taking any of their 
 maintenance from them* but t rafting God for our 
 daily bread. 
 
 By thU means you (hall have no need to 
 fear our injuring of your weaich or reputati- 
 on } Nor the (lengthening of the Papifls by 
 the weakening of Proteftancsthrough our own 
 divifions; (Onely let not the people who 
 fcruplc Conformity , be therefore denyed 
 Church- Communion and Sacraments.) 
 
 And now as God will judge , fo let the 
 world judge,& let pofterity judge whether we 
 are unworthy in coraparifun of the prefent 
 Minifters of England , to be permitted to 
 preach ChriiU Gofpel on thefe felf-denying 
 and felf-abafing terms • And whether they 
 that cry out of the danger of Popery, Infide- 
 lity, Profancnefs and Herefies* and yet had 
 
 father 
 
(W) 
 
 rather let them in all,than give us leave to «- 
 ercife that Miniftry to which we were confe- 
 crated, in poverty and fubje&ion ; and while 
 they cry out of Divifions, will not lay by 
 the Dividing- engines ; (hould rather accufe us 
 or the-mfelves,if the evils overwhelm us,which 
 they fecm to fear ? 
 
 It is not pleafnre* profit or worldlj prefer- 
 ments, that w* contend for : We would do 
 no man hurt or wrong : If our lovers of 
 Church-power do think us intolerable, be- 
 caufe we obey them not as fully as they defire, 
 we profefs before God and Man, that ir is not 
 becaufe we would not be fubjedt and obedient 
 to any, as far as will ftand with our obedience 
 to God, but only becaufe we dare not, we wi/l 
 not do that which we believe that God for- 
 bidcth us: And if we err e, it is not for want of 
 ftudying, perhaps as hard and impartially as 
 they, to know the truth : And to him that 
 thinketh he doth evil it is fin. It is fin,and no 
 fraall or tolerable fin , which our confeiences 
 fear, in our forbearing fubferiptions and 
 Conformity : If they alfo take it to be a fin 
 to fuflfer us to preach the Gofpel, and a. grea- 
 ter fin, than to fuffer the inundation of Infi- 
 delity, Popery and the reft which they fay is 
 ready to break in upon us , And if they think 
 our not Subfcribing, Swearing, e£r. to be in 
 us (o great a fin, that the punifhroent laid en 
 
 Swearers, 
 
Cup) 
 
 Swearers * Drunkards , or fornicators] will 
 not ferve turn to avenge it on Our felves, nor 
 any other of our perfo^al fufferings,unlefs the 
 fouls of many thoufands, and the Proteflant 
 Religion, and our Pofterity alfo fuffer for it, 
 the Judgments of God muft be endured . But 
 remember no*. Lord our offences, nor the of- 
 fences of our Forgathers, neither take thou 
 vengeance of our lins : Spare us good Lord ; 
 Spare thy people whom thou halt redeemed 
 with thy mofl precious blood, and be not 
 angry with us for ever. And haften O Lord 
 Jefus thy more Righteous Judgement. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
.g R-A ATA. 
 
 P. 13.1.22.*-. the thing, p. 19.I.3. del. that, p. 28. 
 I. ai. r. y -a, p. 4$. ?. 1$. del. 4, p. (5$. 1. 61 r. work, 
 p. #7.1. 28. r. by riot 6ri!y, p. 70. i. 3. for[?] r. [:] 
 P.89M. gbn iatofctabte, p. 92. 1. l. r. iaake your, 
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