1
BX
9333
B26
"
451. [BARON W.] BOOKSELLER'S
CATALOGUE. "An Historical Account of
Comprehension, and Toleration. From a
General Retrospect on the several Re-
formations at first, with the pernicious
Principles and Practices of that which the
Dissenters among us have always followed,
and so Factiously oppos'd, to our much more
Orthodox Establishment. Part I. By the
author of the Dutch Way of Toleration. "
1705. J. Chantry. 72 pp. Also bound up
with "An Historical Account of Comprehension,
and Toleration. From the Old Puritan to the
New Latitudinarian; with their continued
Projects and Designs, in Opposition to our
more Orthodox Establishment. Part II. "
1706. J. Chantry. 84 pp. Also bound up
with Bookseller's Catalogue listing 26 items
with prices, 4 pp., approx date 1704.
Original old calf, spine damaged. On the
title-page is signature M. Panmure; a
Scottish Jacobite ?
$56.00 £20. 0.0
M
1
ARTES
LIBRARY
31817
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
TUEBOR
SI-QUÆRIS PENINSULAM AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
AN
Historical Account
OF
Comprehenfion,
AND
TOLERATION.
From a general Retroſpect on the ſeveral Re-
formations at firſt, with the pernicious Principles
and Practiſes of that which the Diffenters among
us have always followed, and fo Factiously op-
pos'd, to our much more Orthodox Eſtabliſhment.
PART I.
By the Author of the Dutch Way of Toleration.
Horace, Epift. 1. I.
Quid verum atque decens, curo, & rogo, & omnium hoc fum.
Lud. Capell. de Liturgia.
Exorti funt in Anglia, Morofi, Scrupulofi, & Delicatuli nimium, (ne
fuperftitiofos plane dicam) homines quibus Ecclefia fua hactenus ufur-
pata Liturgia, vifa eft multis abroganda.
London Printed for J. Chantry, at Lincolns-Inn Back-Gate. 1705.
PRICE One Shilling.
M Panmure
+
BX
9333
.BR6
6089-190
THE
PREFACE
*
;
Hr this Account comes forth by halves, why fo late;
or indeed why at all? Are three fuch obvious Quefti-
ons, as every Reader must be fuppos'd to ask one
or two of them; whereto 1 fometimes thought, a
Reply from the Bookfeller would have been most proper, in a Preface of
his own; who must have acknowledg'd 'twas at his request it comes forth
in two Parts: Whether finding me less forwara in the matter, than
when I first promis'd the Copy; (as the different Scene affairs appear
in, gives too juft occafion) he thought half a Loaf better than no Bread;
or in complyance with the humour of the times, which dotes fo much upon
Pamphlets, as according to the rate they multiply upon us, muft in
process of time take up all our Reading. I expect no other than the extre
mity of the Diffenters Rage and Spight,in this charitable defign of Impar-
tially repreſenting their gross and dangerous Mistakes; that whilst they
are eternally cavelling against fome few little things according to their
own acknowledgment, in our Church, ſuch as relate only to the Exter-
nals of Habit Geſture, or the like, a Mole or a Wart, which the
comlieft Bodies are feldom without; they confider not their very Being is
as the monstrous Excrefcence of a Wen growing from the Catholick
Body, made up and continually fed, with nothing but Corrupt Mat-
ter, and ill digefted Humours.
But not to purfue fo foul a Metaphor, we will take that other, more
ufual in Scripture, of a Building, where we fhall find their prime
Architect Mr. Calvin, rais'd his Superftructure quite beside that
Foundation St. Paul mentions of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jefus
Chriſt himſelf being chief corner Stone, for taking his meaſures
negatively, that whatever had been done in the Roman Communion
muft by no means be retained, he ran quite beyond all Christianity, with-
out regarding that Sacred Million, which from Chrift to his Apoftles
was continued in all fucceeding Ages of the Church; or thofe Holy
Offices and Rites of Divine Worſhip, and Sacramental Admini-
A 2
ftrations,
Ephef.2.20
46
The Preface.
ftrations, which immemorial Practife recommended. Neither were
his Syſtems of Doctrine, delivered as they ought with that due de-
ference, which in all precedent times had been paid to the Antient Fa-
thers; but on the contrary Scripture most miferably wrefted from its
proper Catholick Senfe; to buoy up fuch Novel Conceits, as had no
confiftancy with the Analogy of Faith or Primitive Practiſe, all which
being intimated with a great deal of referve, and caution, by the fore-
mention'd first Broacher, as fearful doubtless of the Event, was not
only confidently propagated; but defperately improv'd by his Succeffars,
till among us they would not admit the Creed into their Confeffion of
Faith; nor recommend the Lord's Prayer in their Directory; how-
ever they continued the Sacraments by fome body, and in fuch a Man-
ner, as to efchem rather then regard Preſidents, with ſuch finifter and
by-reſpects to Interests Prejudice, and Paffion, and Infatiable Ambiti-
on and Schifmatical Perverfenefs, that they became altogether the fame
in the Chriftian Church, as the Pharifes in the Jewish, with an af-
fected Piety, and Traditional Doctrine of their own, the Goſpel was
made of the like no effect by the one, as the Law by the other..
·
But as for thoſe numerous Off-ſets, the many Equivocal Generati-
ons, which Sprung from feveral Kinds, and followed upon the Presby-
terian Rebellion; a great many of them regard not fo much as their
Admiffion into the Church by Baptifm, either when Infants, or Adult,
tho' as effentially requir'd by God the Son in the New Teftament, as
Circumcifion by God the Father in the Old; and fuch as would
feem to retain any thing of it, have it perform'd in fuch a perfunctory
flight Manner, and by fuch perfunctory Perfons too, as Chrift's Com-
miflion feems to be fuperceeded by the Parties own, or the Congrega-
tions Call. And for the other Sacrament.'tis the only Consciousness I
can obſerve in them of their great unworthiness,that they care not to think
or to be told of it, yet can any thing be more express than our Saviours.
Declaration, Jo. 6.53. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man,
and drink his blood, ye have no lite in you; which tho' perhaps
primarily spoken of his Body being actually. Sacrific'd upon the Crois,
yes doth the Sacrament neceffarily follow thereupon, in the perpetual
Commemoration thereof; fince therefore they chofe to climb over,
rather then enter in at the appointed Door; and regard not the Bread
of Life, wherewith the whole Family of the Faithful hath been con-
tinually fed, and nourish'd up to the perfect Man, the meaſure of
the fulness of the Stature of Chriſt: What a stretch of Charity
will it require to believe fuch Perfons Members of that mystical ſpiritual
Body, which pay fo little deference to our Saviour's own Inftitution;
and abfolutely renounce what hath been in all Ages Practis'd by the
Church of the living. God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth.
May
·
The Preface.
-
May it not then be own'd a reaſonable and modeft Propofal, that theje
Jeveral Parties which have fo little of Old Chriftianity; with that
peaceable difpofition of Soul, which it principally requires, fhould in return
for the Liberty of their Novel Conceits, Euthufiaftical Calls and
Fantaftick Delufions,be reſtrain'd, from inveighing, and plotting againſt
the Legal Eſtabliſhment? And that without fome restraint they will not
forbear we have had ſo many fad experiences from their first Rife, that
twas no little furprize to fee how earnest fome were to have them once more
try'd in the preſent Criſis of our New Elections, wherein to fhew
themselves no Changelings, they proceed with their uſual Prudence and
Moderation, to afperfe with the Grofleft Standers, and most abo-
minable Lies, all fuch Perlons as they fufpect of Averſeneſs to the
Hypocrifie of their Occafional Conformity, with fuch other dark De-
figns, as must certainly occafion fuch a Stretch; and having gain'd
their Point herein, which they bid very foully for, their Fulfome
Flatteries, and Feigned Tears will become really formidable, whilſt
their Church and State Friends must expect no other Favour than
what Polyphemus promis'd Ulyffes, to be laft Devoured.
1
When the Puritans found Queen Elizabeth in good Earneft, for-
bidding, as we find, in Sir John Pickering's Speech, their Friends in
the Houfe to yield an Ear to their many Importunities and Cla-
mours, as formerly; they fat down in Defpair, lofing ground every
Day during that Reign; but finding the next more remifs, they felt
to their old Work, and ſo poiſon'd the Commonalty, as never an Ele-
ction pass'd without an additional Ferment of their Leaven, which
four'd too many of all Degrees to the Extremity of Madness and Con-
fufion; fo fatally rented against Charles I. with all Perfons and
things which tended to the Prefervation of our Antient Eſtabliſhments:
Whereas could that Excellent Prince have obtain'd one fuch Church
of England Houfe of Commons (for among the Peers he was al-
ways fure of a Majority) as we have had these three or four last Ele-
ctions, we might have been as happy as Unity, Peace and Piety can
make any People, all which, God knows, we have been ever fince far
from, and fo like to continue, fince our many New Modellers are
for Rediculing all fuch as enquire after the Old Paths.
To fhew further that our Diffenters are not fo dreadful a Pack of
People, till given out for fuch by fome Perfons, or Parties rather, who
have further ufe to make of them. I remember Charles the Second's
first and best Parliament (however the Factions may rail) did once
upon Occafion move for an Enquiry, Who they were that intimi-
dated His Majefty with the number and formidableneſs of the
Fanaticks, the Diffenters, whereupon an Inqueft being made, all
that could evade it would not come under that Denomination; which
occasioned
The Preface.
occafion'd a very small return, and altho' the Toleration A&t hathrendred
them more diftinguishable; and their feveral Herds when United may
make up a Noifie Legion or two, but their Throats difcharge no Bul
lets; and if they find the Government in earnest neither their Tongnes
nor Hands dare wag. And not to let them know or feel fo much,in the Fudg-
ment of that great Statefman the Lord Treaſurer Burleigh is a great
defect, for thus I find him difcourfing his great Miftrefs, in reference to
the fame Set of People, 'Tis faith he, The Poifon of all Government,
when the Subject thinks the Prince doth any thing more out of Fear
than Favour, and therefore the Romans would rather abide the
utmoſt extremities, than by the Peoples clamors be brought to any
conditions. And in a Letter to the fame purpoſe, To make them con-
tented abfolutely, I do not fee how your Majefty either in Con-
fcience will do, or in Policy may do it, fince you cannot without
diſcontenting your faithful Subjects; and to faften an unreconcil'd
Love, with the lofing a certain Love, is to build a Houſe with
the fale of Lands, &c. For there is much more to the fame purpoſe,
which shows with what deliberation things were then carried, how great a
regard was paid to experienc'd Principles, and folid Maxims of State,
and thereby those two formidable Factions the Papifts and the Puritans;
equally refrain'd from their defigned Miſchiefs, for tho' the latter did not
appear fo foor, yet they grew on jo faft, and threatned fo impudently, e-
Specially in that formidable Year 88, as if in Confedracy with the others;
and were accordingly for the time to come, both of them alike proceeded
against, the many disturbances, which each of them have jointly, and fe-
Let. Prot. perately fince created, speaks too much Truth in what Monfieur De Witt
told Sir William Temple, That the English have fcarce ever Acted
with any true Intereſt of State fince that Great Queen's time. The
Art of Governing by Parties was not then in fashion,for tho' there were
feveral in the Court, yet none prevail'd fo as to turn the Ballance of Af-
fairs, the common good was their conftant Result: whereas there is more
of Truth (than ufual with him) in what Myn-Heer Toland (for Ipre-
fume by this time he is all mett all Dutch High and Low together) ob-
ferves, that in fome late Reigns, the whole Government was manag' d by
Parties, and which was worse all Anti-parties to the Establishment,
for firft the Papifts had too much countenance, and 'twas their Commiffi
on to Countenance all fuch as were Enemies to the Church, tho' no less to
the Crown;for at Rome,however they flatter themſelves here,if the King
will not let them have all, his Party kindness fhall have no regard, and jo
it is with the State Calvinist, and Fanaticks too.
;
In confirmation whereof as to both Parties, Bishop Stillingflect in his
Preface to the unreaſonablenefs of Separation, quotes Jone of the
the Jefuit Cozens's Directions for reducing Popery into a Country;
and
The Preface.
and among the rest a Letter of Advice, from a great Minifter at Rome,
to Father Young an Englishman of the fame Order, concerning the beſt
way of managing the Popish Intereft in England upon His Majeſty's
Reſtauration, 1660. To obſtruct a Settlement of the Church, and
incourage Faction, were his two principal Charges; and to traduce all
Such as fufpect the Defign, as proud and felf-conceited Enemies to Peace
and Moderation; are they not fuch as rais'd the Odium of High Church
Properties herein? and that the Diffenters have all along Ad amuffim
follow'd thofe Prefcriptions, that great Man irrefragably proves,
But tho' Parties were too prevalent throughout K. Charles II d's whole
Reign, yet to charge him as continually troubling his Head with Subtil
and Dark Defigns, must be only to continue the thread of his Invectives
against the whole Royal Family; poor Gentleman, his temper was quite
contrary, too eafic and carelefs, by which means they all ferv'd them-
felves upon him, and most of the Troubles and Dangers he met withal,
proceeded from that his Indifferency. His Brother indeed troubled his
thoughts too much, but let them be so overpois'd with Zeal, as nothing of
found Knowledg could take place, otherwiſe he would never have trufted
to fuch broken Reeds as Dillenters; who according to our Author's as-
count, not only Took the liberty of their Publick Meetings, but became
his Parties in Office of Truft and Honour, in Corporations and elfe
where, which faith he, was in plain truth, to thank him for Governing
without Law, and to Act by Vertue of his Arbitrary Power, and
bow far they would have gone on, if they had not found a better Game to
Play, we may have occafion to how hereafter.
፡
Yet the confident Controuler stays not here,but brings the Charge homs
to the Late, the Reign he then writ in, and tells us from an Eminent Per-·
fon, that the Diffenters (which I prefume he takes in a full Latitude, for
all the confiding (Common-Wealths-Men then in Vogue) were the-
Tories of the Revolution, and Instances of their being almost all for
« Standing Army, with fome other Invidious Points; to the Army he
ſhould have join'd the General Naturalization of Forreigners to make
it up, and it shows a truly generous Spirit in thofe Perfons which are ca-
lumniated with fuch Mob Nothings, as Black Lifts, Tackings, &c.
that they do not recriminate the just Reproach of that infamous Attempt,.,
which would have tended more to Enslaving the Nation, than all that
was fufpected from precedent Reigns; for that a Foreign was more to be
dreaded than a Native Force; ſo that of all the Severals, theſe more.
efpecially ought to be excluded for ever having to do, either in the Legiſla-
tive or Executive Power; but when Parties are prevalent, fuch Ter--
giverſators will not fail to be of that which is fo; till by their
till by their many in-
direct and Scandalous Arts, fecuring a Plurality at the inftant Elections,
they themſelves will be the only Party, and unless permitted to All over
stein
The Preface.
again Tom Double and his Noble Friends, with the Doctor for farther Di-
rections will ſcarce bave fo much Gratitude as to regard what with so much im-
portunity hath been hitherto pass'd by. There is one Thing further to be urg'd in
this matter much ad homines, viz. A Retrospect how the Progenitors of thefe
Parties behav'd themſelves when got into Power, where we ſhall find them Alt
with the like Temper and Moderation, as a Pack of Wolves to a Flock of
Sheep, or a Turkish Army in a Chriſtian Invasion, the Presbyterians could
never have carried on their 41 Rebellion, but by excluding, or frighting away
the most vigorous of the Royal Party; which the Independant with their Army
of Myrmidons, retaliated in a total Exclufion of that Clafs; and notwith-
ſtanding their many Struglings, carried on the Church and Monarchy's Ruin,
upon their Principles: without letting them pertake either in the Booty or Power,
which must much regret fuch haughty Afpirers, when Cromwell Aped the King,
he won'd have Parliaments too; but no Occafional Conformifts, neither Roy-
alifts, nor his own Properties, which he had fo artfully Gull'd, were permitted to
fhew their Heads, much less their Teeth, in thoſe Aſſemblies; without an Affu-
rance aforehand, not to question, what he had no more Right to, than Lucifer,
or himſelf, to the Kingdom of Heaven. I shall give but one Instance more,
which will be much a propo to the Parties at prefent concern'd, the Diffenters;
that little while Richard Cromwell trod the Stage, Mr. Baxter carefi'd and
flatter'd him at a fcandalous rate, as an Inheritor of his Fathers Virtues, a
Non-parel of every thing which tends to a Pious, Pruder, Faithful
Governor, in the Dedication of his Holy Common-Wealth, whilst the Book
it felf was Defign'd, and as axactly Calculated for ufurpation as the Levia-
chan, with much Impudence, triumphing over, and trampling upon the Church,
and Royal Caufe; and that they might be the more abfolutely kept down; he
propounds as a neceffary Regulation of Elections to Parliaments, that all thofe
who by wickedneſs had already forfeited their Liberties, (that is the Ca-
valier Party fo wicked as to ſtand up for their King) may neither Chole, nor
be Chofen: Now have we not here a juft Allegation, against Mr. Baxter's
Abridgers, and all their Fraternity, for the fame Sauce to ferve our Gooſe,
as did their Gander, what their Patriarch occafionally propos'd to
one Ufurpation, may most reasonably be transferr'd, to fupport the Le-
gal Eſtabliſhment against their fetting up another.
But thefe Confiderations come too late now, for if they gain their Point at the
prefent Elections (to compass which, what Mean, Indirect, Ungentile Arts
are us'd, we are every day inform'd) 'twill foon appear what reafon these worthy
Gentlemen had who prefs'd the Occafional Bill, as on the other fide, to what
account our Fanatick Compliances, and Conimon-Wealth Collufions will
turn, how the Low-Country Fogs, and Scotch Mifts will thicken upon us, for a
Storm was never known to rife in the North, but it reach'd the utmost of our
Southern Coaſts, with doubled Force and Devaſtations, altho' 'tis fcarce pofſi-
ble to out-do what it hath already done at Home the dread whereof doth fo vio-
lently shock my, which yet fome think too, Sanguin temper, that 'tis with great
difficulty I am able to keep up fo much of the the Chriſtian Varro, as de Ec-
clefia nondum defperare.
May 10th. 1705.
AN
(1)
A N
Hiftorical Account
O F
Comprehenfion and Toleration.
C
Omprehenfion is a New Word made to promote an Old
Defign, the Principles, and Projects of Puritanisme, fet
out in a more modifh Drefs, and cunningly Adapted
to the prefent Juncture of Affairs, Perfons and Per-
fwafions; which by length of time, habituated Spight, or Suc-
cefs of Enterprife, are fatally improv'd, from what they were
when that turbulent Set of Men began to undermine the Peace
and Eftablishment of our Church. My Purpofe therefore at firſt,
was to begin this Account from that fignal Revolution in the 60th
Year of laft Century, when the forementioned Faction, after an
Attempt of 80 Years, fucceeding in their Defign for 20 more,
the Goths and Vandals, &c. made not greater Devaftations upon
Primative Rome, than thefe Unchriftian Reformers upon our Church
and Monarchy: And yet, after all, were fo far from Eſtabliſhing
their darling Difcipline they had continually contented for, or
Dagon Covenant then fet up; as to be contemptibly run down,
by feveral New Broods of Upftart Sects themfelves had Spawn'd,
who run away with the Spoils they had won, and with great Re-
gret took out of their Hands the Compleating thoſe Miſchiefs
they affected to accompliſh'd, which nevertheleſs were feverally
carry'd on, with fo much arbitrary Infolence, and Inspiration Vil-
lany, as Euthufiafme govern'd all, no place was left either for
Truth or Scripture, fober Sence, or fincere Religion; till the Nation
Allarm'd thereby refolv'd as one Man to fecure themſelves and
Pofterity, from the extremity of Ruin, by returning to thofe
old Eſtabliſhments in Church and State, which theſe Mens infatua-
tions had made them fuffer fo much in the Subvertion.
Such as liv'd in thofe Healing Times, and judg'd of that great
Turn, by the outward Show, the appearance of things how frank-
ly, how generally the Royal Grace difpen'd its Pardons on the one
B
Hand;
(2)
44
Hand; with the thankful acknowledgments, and Solemn pro-
teftations of future Obedience on the other; concluded all former
Animofitys would expire in a Loyal Emulation of out doing each
other therein, tho' more experienc'd Perfons, which had not on-
ly feen, but felt their felfwill'd Difpofition, and implacable Enmity,
guefs'd otherwife, that all this was a force upon their Natures,
a kind of Occafional Conformity, the exigencies they were bought
under oblig'd them unto, but that when a more favourable op-
portunity occur'd,which they would move every fone to bring about,
thee Dogs would certainly return to their own Vomit again: And fo
they continued all that Reign, one while fawning, at ano-
ther barking, which they did very formidably, when their party
had got a plurality in the House of Commons, and at the Oxon
Seffion were just going to fix their Teeth, but the Nation being fo
lately, and fo defperately bit by them; upon the Kings appeal
to his old Friends, they Abbor'd their proceedings, and protected
his Perfon and Government.
f
}
The next unhappy Prince miferably led afide by the Romish Su-
perftitions, (which too his Exile by the Factious Rebellion originally
caus'd) and contrary to his firft Refolves defigning to force them
with a high hand, (which 'tis thought one perfidious Minifter,
who call'd himſelf Proteftant, propted him more unto, than the
Pope and all his Fraternities, and found it turn to his Account in
every thing but Reputation, next Revolution) was readily affifted
therein by the Diffenters, who afforded him a Select Pack of
Regulators to hunt down the Church of England, by decrying all
Members thereof at a defign'd Election, as the others did in their
Affemblies. But this lafted no more than one heat tho during
the time very warmly purfued; for a more agreeable Scent com-
ing in their way, 'twas immediately taken up with, and finding
the Game Started by another, very Currishly "forc'd their Old Ma-
fter out of the Field, and follow'd the freſh Loo; however not
without affurance of being better fed, with a continuance of
their Breed according to the feveral kinds, and liberty for every
one to hunt at Random as his Humour leads him..
But fetting afide this ungrateful Metaphor (which yet cannot
be justly found fault with, being from Scripture and no ftretch
in the Application) one of the first things our New Revolution
refolv'd upon, was to gratify the Diffenters with a General Tolera-
tion, the only thing they had all along clamor'd for, and there-
fore in courfe prefum'd to ftop all their Mouths; but Faction
can no more forbear to Clamor than an Afs to Bray; and having
got
(3)
got the liberty of the Prefs, as well as of their Confcience, not a
Term paffes, (which is the Market for Libells, as well as Law)
without fome flanderous Invectives againſt precedent Goverments.
All Perfons, as well Princes, as Prelates, ay and Parliaments too,
as dar'd fince the Reformation, vigorously to ftand up for our
Legal Establishments either in Church or State, appear'd againſt
their Republican Anarchy, and Fanatick Infatuations, have been
loaded with fuch bitter Invectives and abominable Lyes, as none
but the grand Calumniator could furnish them withall: whilft
Rebells and Regicides, Scifmaticks, and Euthufiafts are their only
Saints.
But what did moft furpriſe all confidering_Patriotts, was the
mighty buffle they made at every Election of Parliament Members
both in County and Corporation, for fuch of their Faction as never
liv'd in our Churches Communion, and when there, would be fure
to vote it down; and becauſe the Sacramental Teft ftood in their
way, and had really excluded all Papiſts from having any thing
to do in the Government: theſe Gentlemen, with a more than Fe-
fuitical artifice, evade that by a new Diftinction of Occafional Con-
formity, that is tho' they never did before, yet upon this occafion
they will Communicate with our Church, which Judas is fuppos'd
to have done with our Saviour, and befide the fame intention
with him of betraying his Lord: there is this higher aggravation
againſt them, nothing lefs could be a qualification for fo damnable
a Treachery. Neither doubtlefs would they have proſtituted their
Reputation fo far, tho' their Confciences are frequently made bold
with, could any other expedient have been thought of, how to
gain a Majority in th Houfe of Commons; without which they can
never go on to that fo much wish'd for work of a tborough Refor-
mation; but having once gain'd that point they will not only
free themſelves, but abridg us, even of an Occafional, a private
Communion; it fhall then be nothing lefs, than, as in 41. the
Popish Mufs, Antichriftian Idolatry, with whatever other Calumnys,
a virulent malice, inflam'd by a blind zeal, and Sacrilegious Avarice
can fuggeft; and notwithſtanding that Liberty now indulg'd them
will be no readyer to Tolerate us, than their Brethren in Scotland
the Epifcopal party there.
That hereupon a Bill in Parliament fhould be propofed, and
profecuted, by the foremention'd Patriotts againſt fo grofs a piece
of Religious Sychophancy, cannot feem ftrange; nor that the Re-
publican Junto, on the other fides, fhould exert the utmoſt of their
intereft to prevent its paffing, fince 'twould have taken wholly
B 2
away,
(4)
1
Speech.
J
;
:
away, or very much blunted all the Tools of their factions at once 3.
but that any party or Members of our Church fhould abett them,
much more turn the Ballance againſt the moſt reasonable, and ef-
fectual Expedient, ever yet thought upon to preferve her Efta-
blishment, looks like a piece of Self Homicide; to be fure goes
upon a grofs miſtake to think that any thing from the Church
can gratify that Party without her Revenue and I would gladly
be inform'd by them, or either of the foremention'd their Church,
or Commonwealth friends,what fhadow of a reafon can be alledg'd,
for this their violent ftickling, but that of fubverting the Gover-
ment, Temporal as well as Spiritual: yes the right of Voting is their
Birth Right, and ought to be ftood up for,and yet their Freind the
Noble Peer,declares that private Right must always give place to publick
Safety, and was accordingly put in practife againſt the Papifts;
and if the Diffenters, inftead of being ferviceable to the Goverment,
and its beft freinds, have really acted thofe Mifcheifs, and Treafons,
the others plotted; and are as formidable by their Factions at home,
as thoſe by their Favourers abroad, doth it not look like party ta-
king, to be partial in the Cafe? and if this had been mov'd when
their Tolleration Bill was firft upon the Anvil, would they not
have parted with fuch a Trifle? for the Right of Clamoring at.
an Election, without fome finifter defign, what a mighty Privi-
ledge is it? I have heard feveral honeft well difpofed Perfons,
who ftudy only to be quiet, and mind their own bufinefs very hear
tily curfe the Fanaticks, for rendring every Choice fo troublefom;
were fay they, none to be chofen but fuch as we are affur'd
would make no alteration in the Effablish'd Government, the moft
confiderable of our Gentry and Freeholders, who can beft fpare
both Time and Mony, might agree upon proper Perfons, without
any more to do; without Cart loads of Cottagers, and continual
Competitions; to the breach of Friendſhip, and all good Neigh-
bourhood; with an Expence as Taxes go more regarded than
formerly; which to thofe Winter Elections in the late Reign, fo
thick upon each other, much augmented, tho' refolutely waded
thorough, becauíe look'd upon as procur'd by that reflefs Party,
and their Partifans; their Difcourfe, and Intereft making in the
Country have declar'd as much in this; wherein God be prais'd,
they have not hitherto prevail'd. To go one ftep further, were
their pretence of Confcience any thing more than pretence, they
muft think this a moft reafonable exchange; upon the cafieft
Terms imaginable, and be the better pleas'd with it, becauſe
borrow'd from their Friends in the Netherlands, whofe Govern-
イ
​ment
( 5 )
ment in most other things they are too prone to admire, and
would be initating; for doubtlefs 'tis the greateſt Security of
their Commonwealth, that no Sedarys have to do in it, altho' we
never find any there endeavour'd its Subversion: as ours have act-
ually done, and after all their plaufible pretences, defign it
again.
But the Diffenters, 'tis faid, are much altered in their Temper,
more Moderate in their Principles, more reaſonable in their De-
mands, fo that 'tis only the Stifnefs of fome, whom therefore
they, or rather their Church Friends, think to reproach with the
Character of High Church Men, which obftru&t a Coalition: All
which is plaufibly ſpoken, but fuppofing fuch a feeming change
may there not be more of Art, than reality in it; for Force and
Flattery have been all along the two grand Engines, which both
Papifts and Puritans with their feveral Defcendents, have inter-
changably made ufe of, and when the roughnefs of the one, like
the Wind in the Fable, occafion'd a more refolv'd oppofition,
the other like the Suns infinuating Rays, thought by that means to
gain a more favourable Reception. Thus the former the Paptifts,
upon Queen Elizabeth's coming to the Crown, defparing every
Day more than other of their Fire and Faggot Defpenfati-
ons, till at laft they faw the through Eſtabliſhment of a Reform'd
Church; continu'd inceffantly by Treafon and Treachery to Re-efta-
bliſh their old Superftitions: And when by numberlefs inftances of
an Extraordinary Providence attending all her Motions, they de
fpair'd of effecting any thing during her Life, their next Project
was to obftruct the Succeffion, wherein likwife failing, and their
moſt execrable Gunpowder Plot blowing up none but themſelves;
laying afide that Engine for a while, they betook themſelves to
the more foftning Method of Infinuation, and finding King James
very much affected with a Spanish match for his Son, by foothing
him therein, obtain'd a greater freedom, than their forward di-
fpofitions ought to have been allow'd, as indeed it was not only
his, but an unhappy defect in moſt of his Family, to have their
too good Natur'd Difpofitions impos'd upon by every cunning Intri-
guer very much to their own, and perhaps not lefs to the Nations
prejudice. In the next Reign a Popish Match fucceeded tho' with
another Crown, which muſt he attended with fome Priefts, and
they bufy enough, tho' altogether in the fmooth toung'd way of
Reconciling the Differences between us. The like Liberty was like-.
wife affum'd in the two Reigns after the Reftauration, with greater
Confidence,and more Connivance,which produc'd everlaſting Scribles
Pro:
شد
(6)
Farind.
Ser. P.
1060.
Pro and Con, not a little to our Church and Nations Diftration;
the only thing thefe Emiffarys aim'd at, and were fent for, whilft
their Principals at Rome, will no more recede one title from their
Trent Articles, than our Fanaticks forbear cavilling at our Confti-
tutions both Sacred and Civil; who have always gone in the fame
Courſe with their Romifh oppofites, for as they began,and continued
their Clamors and threats all Q. Eliz. Reign, fo was it rais'd to a
Hoot and Cry ia the two following,upon the foremention❜d Conni-
vance,or rather lefs feverity in Executing the Laws than formerly, al-
tho' feveral Politick Reafons were affign'd thereof,(befides the Arti-
cles of Marriage)of weighty Confideration: And becauſe the Church
Party would not fly in the Face of Majefty with like impudence
as themſelves, without either Sence or Civility, they muſt be al-
together of the fame Leven, confederate with them in bringing in
all their Innovations both in Doctrine and Worſhip: And perhaps
there was not one thing which ferv'd them more, in promoting
the Peoples Infatuation, and Rebellion thereupon, than their ma-
king every fuch Motes in Government to be Beams, Mole Hills
Mountains, till their Peftilent Breath had blown thofe Sparks into
fo violent a Flame as produc'd the many dreadful Defolations
aforemention'd. But when the Tyde turn'd, that Right and Juft-
ice took place again, and they faw what a Noofe (had not an ex-
traordinary ſtretch of Mercy interpos'd) every one of their Heads
might be run into, then Unity and Peace was their only Subject,
and a Coalition the defire of their Souls; which yet according
to the Tedious and Impertinent Account Mr. Baxter gives in his
Life, of that Affair, they could come to nothing of a Coalition
among themſelves; thofe few he joyn'd withal, being less than
half a ſcore, with much difficulty accorded in their Refolutions;
which two were moſtly in Generals; and he owns 'twas thought
dangerous to take in more as foreſeeing they thould never agree,
in fhort Faction and Difcord are fo become their proper Element
as to be out of them, is as unnatural, as Air to a Fib, or Water
to a Bird; according to that Branch of the Character which a
Worthy Divine, turn'd out of all by their Oppreffion, experi-
mentally lays down, Silent and Crafty when overpower'd, but Loud
and Cruel when they prevail, Lambs when they lift, and Lyons when
they can.
Neither doth it appear to me that their Demands are fo reafo
nable as they give out, and moft of our Chureh Men by their fi
lence feem to acknowledg: I met with a Zealous abettor of the
caufe, who faid the whole diſpute was de Land Caprind, and the
reft
(7)
reft of them Difcourfe and Write at the fame careleſs rate, with
out ever confidering to how just a Recrimination they expofe
themſelves and all their Predeceffors; was the Concern of no
more value than a fingle Hair, which caus'd the Kingdom to ſwim
in Plood, fo many Years together? Sequefter'd all Loyal Gentlemen
and Orthodox Divines of their Eftates, and took away many of their
Lives, tore in funder every Limb of our Ancient Conftitutions, and
to perpetuate their Villany murdred the King himſelf, and all this de
Lana Caprind for a matter of nothing? And is it for no more
they ftand out ftill? The more fhame for them; the Satyr in the
Fable would not converfe with the Man who blew hot and cold
with the fame Breath, and have we not here the exact Moral.
But then what is this nothing fuch a Noife is made about?
Indeed 'tis nothing on their fide, for they will not fet one ſtep
towards the Church, till fhe devefts herſelf of her Ceremonies, her
ways of Worship, of Difcipline and Government, very inconfiderate
Matters, and ought therefore to be given up; in their Efteem
perhaps it may be fo, but will they be Judges and Partys too;
may not two or three Quares be propounded on behalf of the
Church, as firft whether we are, or fhall be the fame in Doctri-
nals? I know indeed they give out fo, and 'tis Probable will
Subfcribe our 36 Articles, fo much there was of Chriftian
Prudence, and true Moderation in the Compilers; But have
they not ſeveral Modern Conceits of their own? Some of
which the Antient Church was never acquainted with; and
the reft never thought fit to impofe, that they have fuch,
and have been very forward to join them with the Subfcription of
our thirtynine Articles fhall be made appear in the Sequel. 2. Give
us leave to Quare whether the Ceremonies and Difcipline of our
Church, are fuch inconfiderate Matters as to be given up, efpe-
cially, fince we have 3ly. no Affurance, that in granting theſe
they may not make freſh Demands; altho' I cannot ſee what
they can demand more, fince according to the Latitude they
will certainly take and their Friends in Power give concurrence,
thefe Conceffions will not be a Comprehending them in the Church
but the Church comprehended in, that is, fwallow'd up by them:
the Apprehenfions of which makes me reflect very often, and
fear fhe may be now in the fame Condition, as when that in-
comparable Prelate and Martyr Arch Bishop Laud lamentedber on the
Scaffold, not only befet by many Storms from without, but what is
much worfe, like an Oak cleft to Shivers, with Wedges made out of
its own Body; for it feems to me that Comprehenfion hath got in
יר
;
its
(8)
its Headalready, and is now endeavouring by feveral fruglings and
windings to wriggle in as many Limbs or Members, as they can of
that Heterogeneous Body; for the whole is too Monstrous to fol-
low: And having got thus far, there is as little doubt but they
will claim their Ufurpation by Right, not Favour, tell you it ſhould
have been fo at firft, had they carryed on the Reformation as it
ought.
Now upon this Confideration, thefe prefumptuous Allegations, I
conceive my ſelf likewife oblig'd to look fo far back as the begin
ning of our Reformation too the original Inftitution of our
Church and Family as it hath hitherto ftood eftablifh'd by Law;
where without taking Notice of thofe Reproachful Epithets High
Church and LowChurch, or Whig Church, (which that party with
Pro. I. 8. great affectation, have of late affum'd to themſelves) any Church,
no Church, or all Churches, for fo they are now jumbled together;
'tis the true Church alone I fhall Enquire after, fee who was the
Mother which bore us, and what were the Laws fhe gave us. As like-
wiſe the ſeveral deſcending Fathers who inftructed us therein.
From hence we will ftep abroad, and take a view of the two other
Grand Reformations in Germany and Geneva; and thereby difco-
ver how theſe eternal Fault-finders, tho' ours by Birth, as well
Spiritual, as Natural; Profelyted themſelves to the Groundleſs
Novelties of a Foreign Eſtabliſhment, and as is ufual with all
Renegados, prov'd fo violent and bloudy therein, as to become a
continued peft to our Church and Nation ever fince. For tho'
the Puritans, the Prefbyterians, which firft made the Breach, and
began the War, are now a very inconfiderate party in compariſon
to the numberlefs other Sects and Factions defcended from them,
and very
little refpected by them, yet they all A and Unani-
mouſly agree upon (and 'tis in that alone there is any Thing of
Unity among them) thofe Grand Fundamentals of Scifme and Re-
bellion, their foremention'd Protoplafts or Sires, brought from
Geneva, or borrowed from their Author. Here then'twill be
moft proper to commence my Relation, and that I may obferve
fomewhat of Method, fhall carry on my difcourfe under theſe
following Heads.
1. Make a fhort Abridgment or General View, of the Luthe-
ran and English Reformations with the profound Deference each of
them paid to Antiquity the Catholick practife of Primitive Chrifti-
anity, and pureft ages of Religion.
2. Obferve how that of Mr. Calvin at Geneva, had fo little
regard to Antiquity and practife of the Primative times, as it
feems
(9)
ſeems rather to Eſtabliſh a New Religion than Reform a Corrupt
Church; which was a great miſtake there, and hath been as un-
reaſonably preffed by their too many followers among us. For I
fhall,
3. Obferve that our feveral Sets of Diffenters, by their facti-
ous, and inceffant Endeavours, to Eſtabliſh that Reform, or
New form of Geneva, have been altogether as dangerous to our
Church and Government as the Roman attempts.
4. Obferve that the bringing, or breaking in, of Comprehen-
fion upon our Eftablishment, tends directly to the ruin of our
Church; fo that the Government, having Indulg'd them the Li-
berty of their own ways, or Confciences, as they will term it, ought to
ftand upon its old bottom, and by all juft means, fecure its felf
from their further Encroachments, and Mifcheifs.
WE
Sect. I.
E are then to begin with what Luther did, in order to
this great work, for to Reform is to fet things right,
or bring them back to their Original Eſtabliſhment; never was
Houſe fo well built but now and then it will need repair; nor
any Inftitution Sacred or Civil, but in long tract of time, it may
decline from its primitive perfection, become Corrupt in its Admi-
niftration, debauch'd in Manners, divided by Factions, with feve-
ral fuch like Diftempers no lefs incident to Bodys Politick than
natural. And hereof the Church of Rome is as fad an inftance
as any History affords, in the groffeft Defection from that Ortho-
dox Doctrine, and Exemplary Piety, for which fhe was fo juftly
celebrated throughout all the times of Primitive Chriftianity, and
fome while after. Indeed there were' feveral difmal Circumstances
conducing hereunto; more eſpecially the Barbarous Invafions of
the Goths, Vandals, &c. upon the greateſt part of Chriſtian Eu-
rope; whereby as that great Empire with all its Civil Sanctious
was totally fubverted; fo the Deluge of Ignorance and Super-
fition confequent thereto, became no lefs deftructive of all
true Learning, and fincere Religion; from whence by degrees,
that excellent Building of Gold, Silver, and precious Stones, was
buryed in the Rubbiſh of their great City, and nothing but
Wood, Hay, and Stubble fuperinduc'd thereupon; fo that by de-
grees, all Spiritual Difpenfations became perverted to their Tem-
poral Grandure, with fuch Novel Doctrines, and ways of Worship,
as might be moſt conducing thereto. Nay the Power of the
C
Keys
(10)
Key's came by degrees to Ufurp, that of the Sword, would have
all Sovereign Princes depend upon, and claim under it. And al-
tho' this was much oppos'd, and ftrugled againft, yet the Old
Vicar, either by fomenting Quarrels among them, or engaging
their Subjects to Rebel against them, Crufade Expeditions, or the
like, feldom fail'd to carry his point. Here then I muſt take
leave to pauſe a little, and ferioufly admire, (however fometimes
it hath been ridiculoufly apply'd) the wonderful things which
God brings about by contemptible means; for when many pious
and learned Men fail'd in their endeavours for a Reform of
Church Corruptions; and no fewer great Potentates in re-
treiving their juft Rights: A little Contemptible Fryer, by op-
pofing one of their Impofitions, tho' ill enough, yet had they ma-
ny worſe, and that not without fome regard to private intereft,
becauſe his Order was not imployed to Publifh the Indulgences,
whereto they pretended a Right by Preſcription; gave fo great
an Alarm to all Germany, and from them the reft of Europe; as
the Pope was from every hand called upon for a General Council, that
the Church, and more eſpecially his Court, might be Reformed.
What arts they us'd to evade this, how by continued clamors
forc'd upon it; and how cunningly they fhuffled matters all the
while it was depending, that is about 60 Years, off and on,
would be too great a digreffion from my defigned Subject to
Conc. of relate, and therefore fhall only add, the Excellent Hiftorians
brief account; That the Council procured to unite the Church,
bath ſo eſtabliſh'd the Scifme, and made Partys fo obftinate, as the
difcords are become irreconcilable; the Pope, and his Ecclefiafticks
managing things fo dexterously, as the fole benefit accrewed to them-
felves; their Exorbitant power, which as they fear'd others defigned
to moderate, became thereby fo establish'd, and confirmed, over that
part which remain'd fubject to them, that it was never fo great nor
foundly rooted.
Tren, p. 2.
But for the other part, which had already feparated, as they
abfolutely diſowned the Popes Authority in calling a Council,
fo 'twas likewiſe thought highly unreaſonable, that the Church
to be reform'd fhould fit as Judges in their own cafe; and there-
upon continu'd to promote, and carry on that Reformation,
which had got much ground before the Council was call'd,
or fat to any purpofe. For Martin Luther, who led the van,
from that of Indulgences, fell to ftudy many other points of
Papal Innovations, and was no lefs forward to oppoſe them as
fuch; and having ftood out many Debates and Conferences
with
(
(II)
1
with the Popes Nuncio's, and many other Learned Men of that
perfwaffon, (manag'd generally with to great vehemency, and
thereupon widning the Breach than otherwife) found himſelf
not more oppos'd by them, than -countenanc'd by feveral the
moft confiderable Princes in Germany, and many Free Citys; and
ſeeing them fo daring as to publifh their Centum Gravamina
in a Diet at Nuremberg, he thought fit to fecond them by as
bold a defiance, Abolishing the old Mafs, and fetting up a New
Liturgy, which he had been fome time in framing, to fupply
its place. This was begun at Wittemberg 1522, and briskly
follow'd by moſt of the Princes and Places which had abetted
him. And this I take to be the firſt Eſtabliſhment of a Refor-
med Proteftant Church; altho' the Proteftation, from whence that
denomination aroſe was not till fix years after. What affiftants
Luther had in drawing up his Liturgy, I no where find, Ma-
langthon about that time join'd with him, and did always con-
tinue moft ſteady to him; and therefore if any help 'tis moſt
probable from him. But whether fo or not, 'tis altogether a-
greeable to the practife of former times, the Epiftles, Gospels,
and Collects as of old, with feveral other Forms of Prayer, add-
ing none of his own Compofing, but when a fupply could not
be had from them. Moſt of the Holy-days were obfery'd as
in former ages, with the Crofs in Baptifme, Kneeling at the Com-
munion, and many other innocent and fignificant Ceremonys,
commended to the Church by moft pure Antiquity. That they
look'd upon Epifcopacy, as a diftinct Apoftolical Order, is cleer
by their retaining the thing, tho' with a different name ; the
Revenue indeed is moſtly ſwallow'd up by the mortmaine of Sa-
criledge, which the Princes generally conferr'd upon ſome of their
Younger Children by the title of Adminiftrators, yet the Superin-
tendents, as they are term'd, having a Priority of Place and
Power foie other Minifters, fo is there a Maintenance allow-
ed proportionable. And 'tis more probable their Adminiftring
the Sacrament in both kinds was from the like Primitive Au-
thority, than John Hus's Califtini, or Sub utrâq; in the neigh-
bouring Bohemia. In fhort there is nothing in the whole E-
Atablishment confiderably exceptionable, but that uncooth Word
and Doctrine of Confubftantiation, which whether Luther fram'd
from fomething like that which they fay the Old Greek Church
maintain'd: or having not weather'd the prepoffeffions of a Cor-
poreal prefence whilft in the Roman Communion, and yet his very
fences informing him that there was no tranfmutation of the Ele-
C 2
ments,
( 12 )
ments, thought thus to folve it by a Concorporation, I fhall not
refolve, indeed 'tis pitty fo much was ever refolved in that
Myfterious point; yet Luther was fo warm and poffitive herein,
and the generality of his Followers continuing in the fame
humor, have ſtood, more eſpecially upon that account in a
total defiance of all other Reform'd Churches; and in their heats
will declare themſelves more ready to fall off briskly to
Rome, than have any Correſpondence with them: where by the
by I must take leave to obferve, how grofly they miſtake
the Church of England, in fancying we difagree from them in
all other points, as the Calvinists, becauſe in that of
the Sacrament; whereas 'tis altogether the contrary, for as our
Lyturgy was compiled with like deference to Antiquity, fo as to
Doctrinals we are moſtly the fame and this the Ld. Bishop
Pref. to the of Sarum, if he had pleaſed, might have let the eminent Di-
Expof. of vine of that Church he difcours'd in Germany under-
39 Artic. ftood, that we differ as they do, about the fame important
matters, concerning the Attributes of God, and his Providence;
Concerning the guilt of fin, whether it was to be charg'd on God,
or the Sinner, and whether men ought to make good use of their
Facultys, or truft entirely to an irrefiftable Grace? Theſe matters
of great Moment, Reprobation Rigors, Stoical Fatalitys, Superlapfa-
rian, and Sublapfarian Crueltys, have been as briskly bandyed be-
tween our English Church men, and Prefbiterian Calvinifts, as
any where abroad and greater miſchief iffuing thereupon; the
more is the pity. One thing furprizes me, that he mention'd
nothing of the Sacrament, (unleſs his Lordships memory fail'd
him) themoſt indeed only important Controverfy between them,
neither is it to be pafs'd unremarqu'd, that if we differ'd only
about Forms of Government (whether Ecclefiaftical or Temporal)
it might not be thought an important matter? as to the former
furely it muſt be of great importance, to know whether Epif-
copacy was not at leaft of Apoftolical Inftitution, and then to fet
up a new fangled Commonwealth Hierarchy of Presbiter and Lay
Elders more than 1400 Years after, be not a grofs Innovation
upon one main Effential of the Church; but more of this in the
fequel. So likewife for the Civil Government let thofe intru-
fted therewith confider how infecure they are, if fo pernicious
a principle, as that Fundamental one of the Geneva Reformers
get once among them, viz. If the Supreme power or Magiftrate will
not Reform Church and State,the People may: yet have they not moft
curfedly put this in practife, wherever they could ſcrew them-
felves
(13)
felves in, throughout all Europe? but of this likewiſe in a-
nother place.
to
But being upon this fubject, 'twould be no little prejudice
the memory of Luther, fhould I omit to take notice how oppo-
fite he was to all the foremention'd Principles and practifes; for
as he vigoroufly oppos'd the Pope, made daily progreffes in dif-
covering how his Spiritual Superintendency was ufurp'd at firft,and by
degrees wholly proſtituted to Secular Grandure, and Temporal In-
tereft. So did he never begin, or carry on any Reformatlon, but
by the approbation, and with the affiftance of the Supream Ci-
vil power, as in Saxony, Brandenburgh, Wirtemberg, &c. His Difci-
ples, and Followers continuing the fame courfe in Denmark, Śwe-
den, and indeed all the Northern parts of Germany, being rather
call'd to, than forcing themfelves upon the Government; or if
there were any took contrary meaſures, he oppos'd them with
no leſs vehemency than the Romish party. Indeed it cannot be ex-
pected that fo great a Revolution, in fo many feveral places,
hould not be attended with many and great irregularitys nei-
ther ſhall we deny that Luther might not in feveral things
be too dogmatical, but his notions being generally more Ortho-
dox, and better grounded than thoſe he oppos'd, his poffitiveneſs
was in feveral refpects rather beneficial than otherwife; confider-
ing that as foon as things came to an Establishment, he was not
more threatned with danger from the Romish party, than expos'd
to trouble by thoſe which join'd with him in the fame Work:
For being Excommunicated by the Pope, and Profcrib'd by the Empe-
ror, his Patron the Duke of Saxony, thought it confiftant with
both their interefts, that he fhould withdraw from Wittemberg
into ſome private unknown place, during which recefs one
Caroloftadius whom he had affifted before in a diſpute with Eckius
a bold Romanift, preach'd a different Doctrine, and ftirred up lib. 3.
the People in a tumultary manner to caft the Images out of the
Churches; upon which account Luther was recall'd by his.
friends, and condemned this act of Caroloftadius; fhewing that
that was not the way they ought to have proceeded in, but
that the Images were firft to have been removed out of the
mind, and the People taught that by Faith alone we pleaſe God,
and then Images availed nothing: That if they had been in
this manner remov'd, and the Minds of People rightly in-
form'd, there would have been no danger from them, and they
have fallen of themſelves: Adding moreover that he was not
againſt removing of Images; but that it ought to have been
C
{
6
C
C
done
Sleidan
(14)
'done by Authority of the Magiftrate, not by the Rabble and
promifcuous multitude. In the mean while, he was likewife care-
ful to excufe this Return to his Patron the Duke, becaufe with-
out his privity, affigning this as the principal cauſe.
Caroloftadius being thus borne down there by the Authority
of Luther, forfook that Station, and betook himſelf to Thomas
Muncer, and a Gang of his, who were all Euthufiafts, and that in
the moſt formidable fence, right down Levellers, pretending that
by Conferences with God, he bad commanded them to deftroy all the
Wicked, and to begin a new World, wherein the Godly and Innocent only
S. lib. 5. fhould live, and have Dominion; which by degrees was thus ex
plain'd, that it was most confonant to Human Nature that all Goods
fbould be common, and that without any diftinction of Dignity, or
Quality, be indifferently enjoyed by all Men. By thefe curfed induce-
ments, affuring the Country Boors, and Corporation Mob, the
Liberty of other Mens Eftates, as well as of their own Confciences,
they prevail'd upon them to rife up in vaft numbers, throughout
Swavia, Franconia, and many other parts of Germany; to the
no little diſturbance of the publick Peace, and their own fatal
Ruin in the end. And what a difmal havock, John of Leyden,
Knipperdolling, and their Fanatick adherents of Anabaptifts, made
at Munſter, none can be ignorant, who know any thing of Hifto-
ry. During all which Commotions, the feveral Generals in the
Field, did not manage their Swords with more fuccefs, than Lu-
ther his Pen, (whereof Sleiden gives us an excellent Abridg-
ment) by undenyable Authority, from Reafon and Scripture, de-
monftrating fuch courfes, to be contrary to God, and all ends
of Religion whatfoever. And as this may well be thought no
fmall inducement for all the Temporal Princes, Etablifh theirChur-
ches according to nis mode,huce her fo much care of their Safe-
be
ty: So it appear'd fine time after, now much it had been intereſt
to have follow'd .. advice, in a concern of like Nature: The
paffage is the more confiderable, and of greater credit becauſe
from Bodin, a Romarift noc Lutheran, nor friend to Luther, o-
therwife than Truth oblig'd him This Author difcourfing of the
feveral Monarchs in Europe who had Jura omnia Majeftatis true
Right of Sovereignty, would not allow the Emperor of Germany
to be of that number, and thereupon feems to excufe the Prin-
ces of Germany, in taking up Arms for Religion againſt Charles V
but withal tells us, when thofe Princes confulted Luther, an id
Fure Divino licet? Whether it were lawful in the fight of God?
Ille negavit, be refolv'd it utterly unlawful; and fetting afide his
Diftinctions, Bodin paffes a fad obfervation upon what was done
lib. 5.
(
againſt
( 15 )
}
againſt Luthers advice, Ita funeftum bellum, Reiq; publica calami-
tofum fufceptum eft cum ingenti Principium ac Civium ftrage, quia
jufta caufa nulla videri poteft adverfus Patriam arma fumendi. And
may we not take it for an extraodinary mercy that Luther dy'd
juft before this War was ingaged in, where his too great Patrons
the Duke of Saxony, and Landgrave of Hefs were both taken Pri-
Joners, and the Truths he had fo vigoroufly maintain'd feem'd for
fome time altogether overpower'd, how they were retriev'd, would
be too great a digreffion here to relate. And therefore I fhall
only further obferve, that if Zwinglius; Calvin, Beza, with the
reft of their Fellows, and Followers, had reform'd upon this Or-
thodox and truly Chriftian Principle, how many Millions of
Lives, ay and Souls too, might have been faved from perishing
in the Gainfayings of Corah.
Our English Reformation comes next to be confider'd, for tho'
that of Zwinglius and Calvin began before us, yet if we followed
any Modern Precedents it was Luther rather than them ; to be
fure we went both upon the fame General Retrospect as to An-
cient Practice, and 'tis probable receiv'd much Light from their
blind fides, the many miſtakes all of them ran into: Befides
ours was much longer in Agitation; undertaken with more Pre-
meditation, Confult, and Study, than the precipitancy of Affairs,
heats of Difpute, and tumultuary
Oppofitions, would give thofe o-
ther time to Cool, or leifure to digeft fuch Weighty matters as they
ought. And therefore 'twas altogether Prejudice in our Puritans
at firft, to clamor, and make a noife that we did not follow
other Reformed Churches; there was but one they would acquiefs
in, and that we took a more juftifiable courfe, the Learned Hook-
er fully proves throughout his 4th Beek, which was foly pen'd
in return to that Cavil, and clearly evinces the weakness, and
heterodoxy of their Exceptions. And I was forry to find in a
late Concio ad Clerum, the Foreign Divines recommended to the
whole Body of our Clergyin Convocation; if defigned for no more
than our pitty and Prayers, as to the many fad Exigencys they
at prefent lie under, no man can be a true Chriftian, who hath
not a fellow feeling thereof: But if the Recommendation deſigns an
imitation of, or nigher Conformity to them, as the Expreffion
feems to intimate; the Addrefs had better been made on the o-
ther fide, to fhow how much they deviate from the more Ortbo-
dox Conftitutions of our Church, and 'tis ftrange that in a matter
fo long, and cleerly debated, our rifing Dignitarys ſhould dif-
cover fo little understanding of her, whi muft in courſe pro-
duce a very indifferent Zeal for, and Affection to her.
To
(16)
>
To begin then with what Henry VIII did, 'twas rather a Re-
formation of the Court than Church of Rome; deveſting the Pope of
all that Vfurp'd Power, which as St. Peters Succeffor, he pretended
to have over all Chriftian King's and Princes,, in the Western Em-
pire more efpecially; tho' as occafion ferves, his claim is Univer-
Jal, over the Whole World. And tho' there might be ſomething
of private affection which hurried him thereunto, yet the con-
fequences thereof feem to be providential: And a confiderable
ftep to what was further carryed on the next Reign: For tho' he
perfever'd in thofe prejudices a ftri&t Education had habituated
him unto; and according to the Violence of his Temper per-
fecuted many who diffented; yet his throwing off the Pope Su-
premacy, and throwing out thofe Regulars who maintain'd ´it, O-
blig'd him from Politick Ends, to countenance feveral who de-
fign'd further Alterations: By which meanes the Bible appear'd
in the English Tongue, and fome Godly Tract's were Publifh'd, which
not only diſcover'd former Corruptions, but were very Inftructive
as to the Effentials of Chriftian Life and Doctrine. And for the
· Controverfal parts, there was a Laudable courſe begun then, and
continued afterwards, which I do not find practis'd in any For-
reign Reformations; tho' it muſt be acknowledg'd very useful,
and highly Commendable; when any thing in order to a Change
came under Debate; 'Twas put into feveral Questions, and gi-
ven to the Biſhops and others the Learned'st of the Clergy to Study
each Point, and deliver their Judgments therein: The Appendix to
the Hiftory of the Reformation, afford us a Specimen in each Volumn,
tho' his now Lordfbip the Author, laments that moſt of them
muſt be loft by the confufions which follow'd in Queen Mary's
dayes. There was one thing more wherein Hen. 8th. tho' tis
probable not defignedly, forwarded this great work, for fufpect-
ing that fuch of the Nobility both Spiritual and Temporal; as
had been moft Zealous for the Roman Rites, would not be fo
regardful of his Son as he defir'd, fome he took off; others he
confin'd, and left out moft of the reft from being Executers to
his Will, and confequently muſt have little to do in the Government
when the Crown fhould Defcend to him.
1
Which foon after happening, and the Coronation Ceremony's
over, the firſt thing taken into Debate was the Settlement of Ře-
ligion, which being a very Weighty Concern, and of great diffi
culty in thofe divided times, the Government began with a Pro-
clamation againſt all Popular Tumults and fuch like dangerous
Innovations, in Pulling down Altars, defacing Images &c. Whereto
fome
(17)
}
fome had itching Fingers here, in imitation of fuch, too frequent,
practices in Forreign Parts.
Soon after a Commiffion was iffued forth; for feveral Bishops
and Learned Divines, to Examine all the Offices of the Church,
and confider what amendments were moſt proper, wherein they
proceeded according to the foremention'd Method, of Refolving
every Question, as they found it either us'd or abus'd in prece-
dent Times. The Communion Service was what they firft began
with, as the Greatest Myftery in Chriftian Religion; and the moft
perverted from Primitive Inftitution: From hence they went on
to all the other parts of Divine Service, as well confulting the
feveral ufes which had been here among us; as the Remaines of
thoſe Ancient Liturgies which bear the Name of Apoftolical and
Primitive Fathers, with whatever Laudable Additions good men
had made thereto; remarking all along fuch Forgery's as had
been made fubfervient to Superftitions Rites: proceeding I fay
in this courſe, they Compyl'd, as to the main, thofe Excellent
Offices in our Church, with fo much Industry, Care, and Judgement,
as many juſtly thought them all along attended with a more
than Ordinary affiftance of the Divine Spirit.
From hence they proceeded to digeft feveral Articles for avoid-
ing Diversity of Opinions, and ftablishing of confent touching true
Religion, with certain Homily's or Sermons to be read in Churches
All which having undergon the Fiery Tryal, with fome of its
Compilers in Queen Mary's dayes, were Received again, and Review-
ed upon Queen Elizabeth's coming to the Crown, upon which
fome few Alterations were made in the Lyturgy; (as had been
before Ult. Edv) and a Book of Articles with the Addition of
many more Homily's: All thefe, I fay, Legally Eſtabliſh'd by
an Ad of Uniformity; and the Queen farther Authoriz'd by an
other Act Recognising her Supremacy, to Affign Commiffioners which
hould exerciſe all manner of Priviledges and Preemminences belong-
ing to her Ecclefiaftical Furiſdiction, Compleated the Reformation,
and Establishment of our English Church, in fo exact a fummary
of all things pertaining to Orthodox Doctrine, and Divine Worship;
as had the like courſe been taken abroad, they had done much
better there, and lefs cenfured us; the whole being carryed on
with an eſpecial regard, to the Word of God, the Ufages of the
Primitive Church, and general Current of the Fathers: And then
for External Adminiftration, and Deportment, in fuch Decency,
and Order, as kept an Exact mean between the Pomps and Va
nity's of Romih Superftition and the Unmannerly Ad-
D
dreffes
!
(18)
Brittish dreffes of Separation Serdidness, as our Divine Herbert devoutly
Church fings forth And this we may juſtly apprehend to be the rea-
fon, (tho' unthinking people urge the contrary) why our Church
is to violently affaulted from each of thofe Oppofites, becauſe
The efchers whatever Exceffes on either hand they have run into.
Such Perfons as undertake to reconcile Civil differences, have
been obferved feldom to oblige either party; and it far'd much
worfe with Erafmus, Wicelius, Caffander, Grotius, and fome other
fach like peaceable difpofitions, who undertooke the fame way
of Mediation upon a Religious Account: and when a whole Bo-
dy, fo confiderable a Veffel, as our Church, undertake to fleer a
fteddy even courſe between two fuch formidable Rocks, 'tis much
if neither this Schylla nor that Charybdis draw her into their
wide and deep Gulph's. Yet this fatisfaction God hath blefs'd us
withall, that tho' we have not the moft, yet we have the beft,
and heft Eſteem'd from either of them. The Romanists tho' their
Charity is moft fcandaloufly fwallowed up by felf Love, yet
feem to fear, and that many of them in the beft fence, to Re-
vere us more than all the reft, as well knowing how Regular-
ly we are fix'd upon that Apoftolical Foundation from which they
have fo Reproachfully fwerv'd; in confirmation whereof; I fhall
here mention, the Obfervation of that Judicious Author in his
Europa Speculum, But of all places, their defire and attempt to
recover England, have been alwaies, and ftill are the ſtrongeſt;
which altho' in their more fober moods, fome of them will
acknowledge to have been the only Nation that took the Right
way of Fuftifiable Reformation, in Compariſon of others who have
run headlong rather to a tumultuous Innovation, fo they con-
ceive; whereas that Reformation which hath been in England
was brought in by a peaceable and orderly proceeding, by general
'confent of the Realm, Reprefentatively affembled in Parliament
a great part of their own Clergy according, and conforming
thereunto, No Luther, No Calvin, the fquare of our Faith.
"The Succeffion of Bishops, and vocation of Ministers continued, the
Dignity and State of the Clergy preferv'd,the more Ancient Ufages
of the Church not. Cancell'd. In fum no humor of affecting
contrariety, but a Charitable endeavour rather of conformity
with the Church of Rome, in whatſoever they might, not gain-
faying to the Expreſs Law of God,which is the only way of meet
Reformations, thereby the fitter to be an Umpire to the reft.
"Of all places in the World, they defire moft to recover this,
'making full account that the reft would foon follow. But to
C
C
'
6
C
a9
1
(19)
as high a Tide as they are rifen in their Defires hereof, to as
'Low an Ebb are they faln in their hopes, being lefs now I
'perceive than Ever; having feen her Majefty fo often, and fo
'Miraculouſly preferv'd, their Treafon's difcovered, their Excom-
•munications Vanish'd, their Armyes Defeated, their Books anſwer-
ed, and cheif Champion difcourag'd. Thus far this worthy Gentleman
both as to their Fudgement of us, and their Deſigns againſt us,
with the happy Succefs of the then Excellent Queen in a tho-
rough difappointment of them all. And as her prefent Majefty
did at firſt reſume the fame Motto, fo God grant the may per-
fevere in the fame Undaunted Refolution, otherwife it will be found
impoffible to Quell them, or thofe feeming Oppofites of theirs,
which yet exactly agree with them, in the like implacable Spirit,
and deftructive Enterpriſes.
I am next to take notice, how Forreign Proteftants ftood affec-
ted to us, and of what Quality they were who paid greateſt re-
pect to our Church and Reformation, but in Order thereunto I
muſt take leave to Obferve, that our Learned Men, when that
great work was undertaken, apply'd their Study's two diffe-
rent wayes, fome look'd back (as I have all along hinted) to
the Original Inftitutions in the firft and pureft ages of Religion;
and thought by rubbing off, and cleaning the main Trunk and
Branches, from that Mofs, that Filth and Corruption, which either
Length of time, the Sloth of fome, or felf intereft in others
had fuffered to gather, and grow upon it, the Readyeſt way to
have Her once more appear in Primitive Perfection. Others
finding thoſe abroad had taken a shorter course, refolv'd to fteer
the fame, and gave themſelves up to fuch Syftems of Do&rine
Difcipline and Worship, as they found there Abridg'd to their
hands, without the trouble of Examining, how they agreed
with the Analogy of Faith, or Authority of the Ancients: Now
the Former of thefe were all along the Principal Reftorers, and
chief Pillars of our Church, tho' the other frequently got in,
to her no little prejudice; for fuch Leaturing Divines, and Popu-
lar Prelates by neglecting that Order and Difcipline they had
in charge and countenancing others of the fame Kidney, caus'd
all that difrefpect, Slander, and Reproach, which their worthier
Brethren were laden with and in the End funk under. For to
this paſs they brought us by Degrees, every True Church men
was infallibly tending to Popery, when they who laid the charge
were all that while doing their Buſineſs; and whether We are
not acting the fame part over again in the Reproach of High
D 2
Church
( 20 )
Th
Church; there is more reafon to fear than Disbelieve
Now
if we look abroad, all the learned Men of the former Rank
paid, Generally a Profound deference to our Reformation, Where-
of Dr. Durel in his Vindicia. Eccl. Angl. gives irrefragable in-
ftances; hay even Calvin, and Beza, with thofe Worthy Helvetian
Divines, which were ſo obliging to our Exiles, whilſt among
them, were generally impos'd upon by Falſe or partial Relations,
and therefore when rightly inform'd by a true ftate of the Cafe,
and reaſonableneſs of the thing, feem'd at leaſtwife to quiefce;
tho' if otherwife their prejudices ought not to be our precedents.
In the mean time with me, fuch an Authority as the Learned and
Judicious Caufabon fhall weigh more, than a Thouſand of their
Impertinent Allegations. Quod fi me conjectura non fallit, totius
Reformationis pars integerrima eft in Anglia, ubi cum ftudio veritatis,
viget ſtudium Antiquitatis. As likewife that Excellent Scotch Divine
as well for Temper, as Learning Dr. Forbes who term's ours Om-
Grot, Epif• nium Reformationum Reformatiffimam.
J.Caufa
bon Epijt.
at Sain.
ad voet.
And Inftar Omnium the Admirable Grotius who declares with
a Certum est mihi, Lyturgiam Anglicanam, item morem imponendi
Adolefcentibus in memoriam Baptifmi, Autoritatem Epifcoporum,
Presbiteria ex folis Paftoribus compofita, multaq; alia ejufmodi, fatis
congruere inftitutis vetuftioris Ecelcfia, a quibus in Gallia, et Belgio
recèſſum negare non poffumus. Neither can I omit the Judgment
of a Noble French Pecr, afterwards Duke of Sully and Lord
High Treasurer, who coming Embaffador to King James, from
Henry IV. and having feen the Solemn Celebration of our
Service at Canterbury, and in his Majefty's Royal Chappel, did of
ten Publickly declare, that if the Reform'd Churches of France
had kept the fame Orders as here in England, he was affured
there would have been many Thousand Proteftants in France more
than were at that time. I might fwell my Difcourfe into as large
Volumn as the whole is defign'd, with Authorities of this kind,
from Perſons of fuch profound Learning, and unbiafs'd Judg-
ments, as there can be no ecception againſt them; yet will it
be but as Charming a Deaf Adder to the foremention'd Syftema-
tical Students, who fucking in fo many prejudices with their
Covenant Milk, and Presbiterian Pap, and Nurtur'd up from
them in a continu'd Spirit of Contradiction, think it right
down Popery to look beyond John Calvin, and a Venerable E-
fteem for Antiquity the mark of the Beat; in Confirmation
whereof give me leave to mention a Paffage in the Appendix
to the Friendly Debate, taken from the Life of Mr. Bernard
Gilpin
1
C
C
(2
( 21 )
·
Gilpin, that worthy Northern Apoftle as fome juftly term'd
him, he liv'd in the beginning of Reformation, and had an
high Efteem in all thofe parts for his Learning, Preaching,
and Piety, upon which Accounts I prefume it was a Perfon
of fome Reputation amongſt the Puritans, dealt very earneſtly
with him about their Difcipline, and new Models of Reformati-
on, when they forth; But Mr. Glipin's Anfwer was, He would
not allow that any Human Invention, fhould take place in the
Church, instead of a Divine Iuftitution, how faid the other
do you think this form of Difcipline an Human Inftitution,
I am faid, Mr. Gilpin altogether of that mind, and as many
as turn over the Fathers, will be of my Opinion; O but the
later Men, fee many things which the Fathers faw not, re-
ply'd the Difciplinarian and the prefent Church feems better
• provided of many Ingenious and Induftrious Men; at which
'Mr. Gilpin feem'd fomewhat mov'd, and anſwer'd, I for my
'part do not hold the Vertues of the later Men, to be compar'd with
"the Infirmities of the Fathers; which Words he us'd on pur-
pofe, as defirous to root out that ftrong Conceit, he per-
ceiv'd the young Man had of his own parts and party.
This Paffage is cited in the Appendix to fhow what Opinion, in
thofe early times, the moſt knowing Men had of the jus Divi-
num of Epifcopacy: But is a general Evidence upon what Princi-
ples our first Reformers went; and all that Reform from them,
defign nothing less than Deformation.
C
Sect. II.
Muft now come according to my propofed Method to the third
Reformation, begun by Zwinglius a Canon of Zurich in Swif
ferland; but finifhed by John Calvin at Geneva: For fo foon as
Luther had broke the Ice, Zwinglius refolved to follow in the
fame Paffage, falling firit upon Indulgences, and then went gra-
dually on to many other Innovations: But in a quite different
manner, for here they fell immediately to a defacing Images,
decrying the Establish d Fafts and Festivals of the Church, abolishing
fet forms of Worship, &c. Yet one thing they retain'd which I Dr. Burn..
find done no where elfe abroad,the Dean and Chapter continue a 1. Let.
Corporation, and enjoy the Revenue as before, for which, fays
my Author, they labour hard, for they have two or three Ser-
mons a Day. But as they foon followed the one upon the
other, fo there as foon happen'd an unhappy Breach between
D 3
them
(22)
them, about the Holy Sacrament which the latter would have
only figurative inftituted to Commerate the Sufferings of Chrift;
as much fwerving from the Antient Doctrine of the Church,
which always held a Real Prefence; as the other which had
ftretch'd it to a Concorporation: This fome Moderate Perfons
endeavour'd to reconcile by a Conference, which as it ufually hap-
pens when Men have been all along Dictators in their own ways,
made the Breach irreconcilable; as it happened, between fe-
veral others in Matters of leffer Moment, a thing not only
fcandalous in its telf, but very prejudicial to the Caufes
they were carrying on, as my Lord Herbert judicioufly ob-
ferves.
This Swifs Reformation was likewife attended with a Civil
War, feveral of the Cantons ftanding up for their old Rites, rais'd
an Army to fupprefs thoſe of this new way, which they as ftoutly
maintain'd, for tho' Worfted in the firft Engagement, and their
General Zwinglius flain, who it feems affected to command in
Temporals as well as Spirituals, yet having better fuccefs afterward
till both partys were Wearyed with Reciprocal defeats; they com-
promis'd the buſineſs by indulging each other their feveral Per-
fmafions, and have fo continu'd to this very day.
And as the Reform began there with a Civil War,
War, fo
did their Neighbours at Geneva begin theirs by a right down
Rebellion, which two Divines, having well cond their
Leffon among the Swiss) came and promoted; for ha
ving infinuated into the Mob the lower part of the People,
till they thought them ſtrong enough to accompliſh their
defign, firſt put them upon a popular Tumult; wherein the Bi-
fbop, their Temporal Prince likewife, and all his Clergy, were forc'd
out of Town; and then fell to Reform, that is deform the Church,
throwing down Altars, defacing Images, with thofe many other
Sacrilegious outrages, whereof Swifferland had fet them a prece-
dent, and they continued to follow in every place they could
creep into throughout all Christendom. Moreover the two fore-
mention'd Divines, eſpecially one of them Farellus were chief
Affiftants and Directors, in new modelling their Government into a
Free State, altogether popular, and this with fo little regard to
themſelves, and Religion, as all matters Ecclefiaftical, and Irre-
liglious diforders could have no cognifance taken of them but
in their Common Council; neither was it otherwife in any other
of the Popular Churches among the Swiss; excellent Affemblys to
determine matters of Faith, and judge of Sound Dourine.
·
At
''
( 23 )
At this loofe rate things, continu'd fome few years; till
John Calvins coming thither, only en paffent, as 'tis faid, in
his way to Strasburg, or Bafil but giving fome Eſſay of his parts,
or Gifts, was courted to ftay among them, firft as preacher, and
then moreover as Profeffer or Divinity Reader, this Perfon being
French by Birth, of a much brisker temper, and deeper Judgment
as well as higher Spirit, than thofe flegmatick Swifs and Germans
he found there, was refolved not to live in fo precarious a con-
dition, and Negotiates with the People to abjure the Papacy,
with all obedience to their Bishop; and then admit fuch heads
of Doctrine, and Forms of Difcipline, as he, and his Collegues had Hook.Pref.
deviſed for them, with the former part of thefe propoſals the
People readily comply'd,but not without much difficulty prevail'd
upon, to ſwallow that of Difcipline; and had no fooner done it,but
according to their fickle, headſtrong humor thought themſelves
trick'd out of that precious Liberty, they had fo happily acquir'd
and would not be oblig'd thereby; Calvin on the otherfide
remptorily declaring, he would never adminifter the Sacrament to
fuch as refus'd fubmiffion to what they they had worn; and Se-
conded therein by his two Affociates they were all three Expell'd
the Town.
;
pe-
;
Straßburg was the Patmos of this new Evangelifts, retreat, where,
tho' he writ no Revelations, yet his Writings and preaching ren-
dred him every day more eminent than other Which made
the Geneva Brother bood very much afham'd of turning him out,
and thereupon with a continu'd importunity folicit his Return
as poffitively refus'd on his fide, uniefs they would admit a
compleat Form of Difcipline to remain in force ever after, to
which Toak, that fteady people once again fubmitted, tho' in all
probability much more fevere than that for mhich they had
excluded him; to be fure nothing in the Romih Inquifition can
be worfe; fince as our great Bramhall, and others in their Ana-
tomy of that Diſcipline, as it was exactly put in practice by the
Scotch Covenanters, tis an High Commiffion in every Parish and
Family; where all perlons of every Quality and Condition, muft
groan under the Arbitrary Decrees of an unexperienced prag-
matical Prefbiter, who knows no Lom but his own Will, nor
will obferve any Order, but what fpeaks his own intereft or bu-
mor: Nay as to Family concerns, if there arife any private
jars between Hufband and Wife, Parent and Children &c. The
Cognifance thereof mult come to thete Domeftick Cenfors, Scire
volunt eft fecreta domus, et inde tineri.
Neither
(24)
Neither yet did it end thus; the People, as they always do
when to late, began to reflect, once more, upon the Arbitrary
Difpenfations they brought themfelves under; and Mr. Calvin as
foon confirm'd their fufpitions, by the Summum Jus of his Dif-
cipline for having procured a Prohibition of Dancing when first
fecled there, which, by the by, 'tis thought hindred that Reform
many Thoufand Profelytes, fince nothing is more agreeable to the
brisk airy Genius of the French ) ſeveral of the moft confidera-
ble of the Magiftracy, being merry at an Entertainment, fell to
that prohibited diverfion of Dancing; notice whereof being given
by fome false Brother, they were all called into the Confiftory and
confeffing the fact, upon being put to their Oaths, received their
feveral Cenfures, fuch as had any Offices being turn'd out, and
the reft expos'd to fome open flame, this we may well imagine
muſt exasperate the men in power to the utmoſt Reſentment;
and in a fhort time there was a fair occafion given to exprefs it,
for Calvin having in his Confiftory, proceeded againſt a confide-
rable Perfon in the Town, to the higheſt Cenfure of Excommunica-
tion; the Common Council was fo manag'd, as not only to Abfolve
him from his Cenſure by their Town Seal, but with their ufual
Mob Wijdom Decreed that Excom. and Abfol. did belong proper-
ly to them Hereupon Mr. Calvin no lefs high in his Refent-
ments, but much ſteadyer in his Refolves, took occafion to declare
Before this Decree take place, either my blood, or Banishment fhall
fign it. And two days before the Communion was to be Cele-
brated, he fpake to this effect, Kill me, if ever this hand doth
reach forth the things that are Holy, to them who the Church hath
judged Defpifers. This fo cool'd the former heats of the Council
as they immediately fufpended the Decree, and agreed the
controverfy fhould be referr'd to four Helvetian Churches, which
they might befure Calvin would engage on his fide, as in the
event they found, and for ever after tamely comply'd.
This tho' in ſhort, is a true account how Mr. Calvin eſtab-
liſhed his Power, without which he could have had nothing but
a Mob Church, void of all Settlement either in Doctrinals or
Worship; yet this after all is but a novel device, (a meer human
invention however Spiritualiz'd by the Party) as the great Hook-
er judiciously obferves, without the leaft Arity from Scrip-
ture, or a Apoftolick and Primitive practiſe; altho' he owns it
fo well adapted to the prefent State of Affairs there, as the
wifeft man living could not have better'd it. Aud upon that
account feveral of our moft Eminent High Church Divines, as
they
( 25 )
they would be now term'd, have been fo charitable, as to impute
and excufe their want of Epifcopal Ordination, from the Circum-
ſtances, the Exigencies they lay under, as Bishop Bilfon, Andrews
Primate Bramhall, &c. and while 'twas fo, non culpa veftra abeffe
Epifcopatum, fed injuria Temporum as the faid Bishop Andrews,
writes to Molineus their cafe was really pityable : But then as Mr
Hooker further take notice, that which Calvin did for eſtabliſh-
ing his Difcipline was much more commendable, than what he
taught for countenancing it, tho' he went not fo far as Beza
and his followers therein, with too many of their Imitators a-
mong us who after feveral forces and wire-drawings of Scripture
ftraining every Sentence and Syllable to prove the Elderflip
and parity they fo much dote upon, find as little countenance from
thence, as the Romanifts for their Popes Supremacy, or Doctrine
of Traufubftantiation. But what the Word could not do, the
Sword for fome time effected, totally fubverted what was un-
doubtedly Apoftolical, and Primitive for a Novel Device, as I muft
continue to call it, which fome have with too good reafon quefti-
oned whether any thing be in it of Chriftian Inftitution.
From the obtaining this Confiftorial Supremacy (which differs
only from Popery as that of a Single perfon from a Common-
wealth Tyranny) We may commence the thorough Eftablishment
of their Geneva Reform, which before, both there and in Swiffer-
land, abounded fo with New Lights and Mob Freaks, as every
upſtart diſcoverer, was thought to bring forth a clearer Revela-
tion. one prejudice more eſpecially was unreafonably doted upon,
that the further they removed from the Church of Rome, the
more perfect were there attainments; fo that inftead of Reforming
the Old Church, they feem'd all along to defign the Building of
a new one; by which means the whole World muſt be Unchristian'd
for feveral Centurys, and they muft Preach the Gospel de novo,
and propagate the True Faith as the Apostles did at firft; upon
which account the Lutherans call'd them Evangelici, Gofpellers,
in decifion to their bold Affumings; as if Chrifts promiſe of continu-
ing his Church had fail'd, in fo folemn an affurance that the gates
of Hell ſhould never prevail against it, or that it might not continue
the fame in Effence,howeverCorrupted,as well as a man is fo,however
inhumanly unjust, or moft exceffively debauch'd; Naaman faith our
great Prelate and Martyr was the fame perfon when Leprous and clean-
fed, and then applys it in our being cleans'd from Roman Leprofy.
Nay Calvin himself owns this in his Inftitutes, Quemadmodum Lib. 4.0.2.
Sape diruuntur adificia, ut fundamenta et ruina maneant; its non
E
paffus
(26)
{
paffus eft Ecclefiam fuam ab Antichristo, vel a fundamento fubverti
vel folo aquari. &c. Yet finding this Notion very popular, and
much in vogue when he came among them, that whatever had.
been done among the Romanifts, muft by no means be continu'd;
without the leaft regard to Catholick practise, would have the
Scriptures the only Rule for Difcipline and Government as well as
Faith and Manners; and having by his now acquired Tower, pre-
cluded all future Controll, made his own forc'd Expofitions, of
like Authority with the Text, which as Mr. Hooker obferves
muſt be look upon as everlastingly required by the Law of God,
against whofe Statutes there could be no exception. In which dan-
gerous conceit the Whole Succeffion in all parts hath been ſo pof-
fitive and impofing, as the Council of Trent Decrees, and Pius
new Articles, fall little fhort of their Affumings.
4
And this is what our True Church-men, call them High that
pleaſe, have been all along ſo much fcandaliz'd at, and fo fadly
lamented: but becauſe they may be fufpected of partiality; I ſhall
entertain the Reader with the Lord Chancellor Clarendon's judicious
obfervation, as to the two foremention'd Extreams. It hath been
an artifice introduc'd to perplex mankind, and to work upon the Confci-
ence, by amuling, and puzling the Understanding, to perfwade men to
believe there is but one Church, and one Religion in which men may
be faved, that by their confident averring themſelves to be that Church
and of that Religion, others may be prevail'd upon to be of that par
ty: And they who with moft paffion abhor their Prefumption and fo
withdraw from their Communion, adhere to the fame unreasonable
Conclufion, and will not fuffer them to be a Church at all, or capable
of falvation, and form their own Church upon thofe principles
only which contradict the other; whereas there is room enough in
Animad on heaven for them all, and we may charitably and reafonably believe,
S. C.p.127 that many of all Chriftian Churches will come thither, and that too
many of every one, will be excluded from thence. Thus far this
Right Honourable Perfon, according to that entire affection he
had for, and cleer underſtanding of our Church in particular as
well as the Catholick Church in general. Hereunto it may not
be improper to add My Lord Herberts Sentiments as to the State
of the Church before Reform'd, with what he would have had
more regarded when undertaken: Had they [the firſt Reformers]
paid a deferrence to this Orthodox Catholick notion of Chriftian Uni-
ty and fundamental Belief, without preferring their own Singularitys
Hift. of and too much admired Modells, they might have prevented all juft oc-
3.p.71&c
cafion of diflike from the Common Adverfary, and been joind together
in
(27)
A
in ſuch a ſpiritual Confederacy as ſhould have fhock'd the Infallible
Chair.
Now from this breif account of their Geneva Reform, its Rife
and Progrefs, how carry'd on and finiſh'd: We fhall proceed
to the Matters by them Eftabliſhed, whether they Relate to
Points of Belief, Difcipline, or Government; and take more efpeci
al notice of five things highly Exceptionable, as no lefs difagree-
ing from the Ancient Church; than Modern Reformations Cotem-
porary with them: Wherein our Diffentcrs have altogether fol-
low'd, or muſt extravagantly ran beyond them as, 1. That tho'
they pretend to, and may accord with our Articles of Doctrine
yet have they alwaies endeavoured to impofe others, neither fun-
damentaly neceffary,nor trulyOrthodox. 2. Their no regard to fuch
Publick Offices of Prayer, Interceffion and giving thanks, as the
Church hath had incontinual ufe from the Apoſtles times.
That we ought to have an Exprefs Authority from Scripture,
for all Circumſtances of Divine Worſhip, and every other indif
ferent Action. 4. Their Parity in church Government without Epif
copal Power and Ordination. 5. Their placing all Civil Power
Originally in the People.
3.
1. My firft Exception againſt them is for impofing feveral Points
of Doctrine neither Fundamentally neceffary nor truly Orthodox.
The Eſſential of Chriftian Belief, are fo fully laid down in Scrip-
ture, and fo accuratly fum'd up in our Creed, as there is no one
truly qualifi'd for that facred Society, that is, of an humble meek
and obedient Spirit, who without any further difpute, will not
ſtudy to hold the Myſterys of Faith in a pure Confcience. But
fuch good Corn was never known without Tares or cockle; the
Apoftles themfelves had their Gnofticks, ( a Fanatick crew of con-
ceited Enthufiafts, which gave themſelves over to all Uncleanefs;
pretending indeed to know every thing, when they knew nothing as they
ought to know, but according to the Wife Son of Syriacks obferva-
tion, were deceived by their own vain opinion, and an evil fufpition
overthrew their judgment; ) with too many more of the
like perverfe minds, who to gain a preeminence among men, be at
the head of a Party, deferted the Truth and made Shipwrack of
of their Faith; but the exact Difcipline of thofe times, with the
hand of heaven fo fignally appearing upon fuch as by Church Ecclus 3..
-Cenfures had been given over unto Satan, fo regularly kept up
purity of Doctrine, as well as Life, that Gojpel Truths were
much more invaded when the Temporal Power took the Church
under its Protection, than in the three Centurys before: When
E 2
the
I Co.8.2
24.
!
( 28 )
the flames of Perfecution rag'd, nothing but a full conviction of
Soul could bring men over to the Crofs; but when Chriftiani-
ty became the Eftablished Religion, all came in and among the reft
many doubtlefs of their Philofophical Heads, who thought they
might as freely exerciſe their Wits that is their curious Nicetys
or impertinencys rather, upon the Doctrine of Grace, as they had
before of Nature. To be fure then Councils were conftantly
call'd, and not only Canons, but Creeds multiply'd ; whilft
the Hereticks the Oppofers of Sound Doctrine, finding fuch Affemblys
the Grand Confervators of the fame, ftudyed means of corrupting
them; by engaging fometimes the Emperor, oftner bis Court,
and Confidents on their fide whereby the one contradicted the o-
ther, and hath made a it a matter of difficulty to diſtinguiſh.
the Orthodox, from Scifmatical Councils and Canons, and as the
Empire was divided and run to decay,the Bifbop of Rome took the
fame fame courfe, pack'd Councils to confirm all his Innovations
in the Church; and Ufurpations upon the Civil Power- Al-
tho' before he got to his height, the feveral Nations which
had divided the European Empire among them, coming over to
Christianity, held feveral National Councils, as in Germany, France,
Spain and Brittany too; whofe Canons and Decrees, have been
many, of very good ufe, in feveral Controverfys, with the Ro-
manifts, and others. And the fame Expedient ought doubtlefs
to be still continu'd, fince there is no Univerfal Monarch
every Prince is obliged to take care of his own Church, Confult
his Clergy in matters Spiritual, as well as his Lay Subjects in
matters Temperal, frame Articles and Canons by advice of the
one, as he doth Civil Sanctions from the other, and this courfe
was taken at beginning of the German Reformation, the Aufburg
Confeffion is well known to be the confent of all theLutheran Chur-
ches; into which afterwards our 39 Articles were taken. But the
Geneva Divines were fo inhumanly rigid in the points of Elec-
tion and Reprobation, with feveral other Doctrines confequent
thereunto,equally oppofite to all found reafon,and true Religion; as
both Papifts and Lutherans took great, and which was worfe juft
Scandal thereat; for that Excellent Autbor of the Trent History
tells us. that when the Council there fell upon free will, and then
pag 197. of Predestination &c. in the Books of Luther, Auguftan Confeffion
c. Nothing was found which deferved Cenfure but much in the
Writings of the Zwinglians whofe Horrible Decrees Calvin had
about that time more fully laid down in his Institutes, and
and however ill digefted by the forementioned Partys fuch as
fol-
1
ܐ܂
( 29 )
follow'd his Dictes which like other Noveltys took extremely
with unthinking Perfons, ftudyed nothing more than to advance
them, as they did every thing elfe which came from hisPen or Prac-
tice; for the Judicious Hooker tells us, that of what account the
Maſter of Sentences was in the Church of Rome, the fame or more Pref. par.2
among the Preachers of the Reform'd Churches Calvin had purcha-
fed, fo that they were deem'd to be the more perfect Divines who
were moft skilful in his Writings. His Books aimoft the very Canon
by which both Dedrine and Difcipline were to be judged,&c.
From hence likewife it was that the Synod of Dort deduc'd
their V. Articles, in drawing up of which, fome of their Divines
were not aſham'd to affirm that God is the Author of fin, that he will-
eth fin, ordaineth fin as fin, and that by no means he would haveall men
to be faved, teaching it in theirWritings as well as Pulpit Difcour-
fes, that Deum Reprobis verbum juum prepeponere, non alio fine quam Arcan.Deg
ut inexcufabilis reddantur. With many fuch like dangerous and blaf Cont Re-
phemous paradoxes. Twas reported our Affembly of Divines atWeft- mon.p. 95.
minſter 1643. Had a great mind to adopt the forementioned Articles
into ours, or rather that Church of theirs, they were Covenanting
to erect: But their Wifer Mafters the Commons, had confin'd
them to debate of nothing, but what fhall be firft propounded
by them, and thought this more efſpecially, too hot a point for their His life pɔ
warm heads to be truffed with yet Mr Baxter, according to his 1. P. 73.
ufual Affurance, affirms, that the Chriftian Church fince the days
of the Apostles, had never a Synod of more excellent Divines (taking
one with another) than these two at Dort and Westminster: All
which speaks a man of Partys rather than Judgment;
whereof how little he had, how fickle, and unſtable that
little 'his whole Life fpeak: there is an Epigram, which Ec-
choes out a truer character of the former, in two lines, with more
Wit and Truth, than is contain'd in that vaft volumn of his
numberless, and tedious impertinencys, Dordrachi Synodus! No-
dus, &c.
L
But that our Puritans had all along before not only approv'd
thefe Articles but endeavour'd to have them Eftablifhed, is mani- con at H.
feſt from feveral inftances. The first thing fuch of that party 6. P. 24
as appear'd on their behalf at the Hampton Court Conference
demanded, was, that the nine Allertions Orthodoxal, as they
worded it, concluded upon at Lambeth, might be inserted into the
Book of Articles; which King James having never heard of,
the Bishops inform'd him,that by reason of fome Controverfys arifing
in Cambridge about certain points of Divinity, my Lords Grace Allem-
E 3
bled
P'40
( 30 )
bled fome Divines of efpecial note to fet down their opinions, which
they drew into Nine Affertions; and fent them the Univerfity for the
appeafing those quarrels, and thereupon his Majefty refolved thus,
that when fuch Questions arife among Scholars, the quieteft proceeding
were to determine them in the Univerfity, and not Stuff the Book
with all Conclufions Theological, They alfo mov'd that is Doctor
Reynolds, by their Confent I prefume, that the Book of Articles
might he explain'd in places obfcure, and enlarged where fome things
were defective; but more especially that the 16th Article where it is
faid that after we have received the Holy Ghoft we may depart from
Grace, the meaning whereof tho' he acknowledg'd to be found, yet
he deſired, becauſe they may feem to be contrary to the Dodrine of
Election and Predestination in the 17th Article, thofe Words may
be explain'dwith this or the like Addition, viz. that neither totally
norfinally.But there fult of all was that after a full debate and confide-
ration, concerning every one of the faid Articles, and the donbts mov'd
about the fame,there was no caufe found, for altering any thing in any of
them, and as little for the 16th as any other, Such a procedure
at this time of day would have fix'd upon them all the re-
proach of High Church, altho' they then paffed for the Wi-
fer men, not to make an infraction up our Conftitutions, on
fuch petty Caprices and Cavills,
Here then before I defcend to the particulars, they are defigned
to be charged with, it will be requifite further to premife this
General Obfervation or reflection upon that Allegation of our
Diffenters which in this juncture more eſpecially they ate con-
tinually thundring in our ears, That they agree with us in all
Doctrinal points, and fince fo things of leffer moment ought to be
difpenc'd with; A very plaufible pretence, and for ought I have
hitherto obferv'd paffes without Control, because excepting thofe
three Articles which relate to the Difcipline and Government of
our Church, the other 36 they moft readily fubfcribe to; where-
as among their many other Shifts and Evafions, at which they
are the beft, that is the moft artful, in the World, and I cannot
except a Fefuit ) I know none have more of Fanatick Sophiftry
in plain terms of Falacy and Falfbood than this; for firſt, tho' our
Articles be drawn up from, and fo exprefly agreeing with the
Word of God, as no others feem to have taken the like care,
yet it appeared juſt now, that at Hampton Court Conference they
could not forbear cavilling againſt them, and at the fame uneafy
humor we ſhall continually find them, ftretching fome to a great-
er Latitude; refraining others to a Stricter Senfe, with Procrafte's
cruelty, bringing them all to their own meaſures. Neither 2.
-
is
( 31 )
Is it probable, when they fo frankly made the foremention'd De-
claration 'twas confider'd that the Book of Homilys muſt be own'd
to contain a Godly and wholfom Doctrine, for the Doctrine of Obe-
dience there fo earneftly enforc'd, exprefly contradict what they
have all along acted, and juftified, at a lame rate, indeed, by
writing; more of which in a Paragraph by its felf. but then in
the 3d place, will they have no other Doctrine but ours? have
they not many others of their own? and if ever got into Power
again, as they are much fonder of them, fo will they be forward-
er in enforcing them; as we felt it fometime done by their Di-
rectory Covenant &c. Nay fhould they only be Comprehended fo
as to preach in our Churches, would not thofe Novell, and fe-
veral moſt Dangerous Doctrines be the chief Subject of every Preach-
ment to the People great Delufion, and perhaps the Governments
Subverfion in the end
Thus far in General, as to our firft Exception relating to
points of Doctrine, particulars are more convincing, whereto we
now coine, and I
1. Charge them as very deficient and Erroneous, in the main
Foundation of Faith its felf, which according to their Syftem con-
fifts in a Notional rather than Practical Belief; a Confidence in God
rather than Conformity to him; fo great a dread of depending
upon themfelves, as never to cooperate with Divine Affiftance: now
two reafons or Conjectures rather my thoughts fuggeft why Cal-
vin and his Followers fo much affected thefe uncooth Concep-
tions of Faith. Either firft that ftrong conceit generally enter-
tained by them, as mentioned before, that the further they
went from Rome,the Sounder the Doctrine: now altho' tis true,thofe
Merit-mongers have moft grofly perverted all Good Works to their
Temporal advantage, made that Divine Grace, Charity, to become a
fure, and a fin,by perfwading the Weak and the Wicked, that Heaven
may be that way purchafed: Yet fuch as think to avoid this ex-
tream, by depending upon a bare Belief, run into another al-
together as dangerous: that Faith without Works is dead St,
Fames declares, and the Works St Paul declares againſt were
Legall not Evangelical performances, which he every where as
eatneftly preffes as the other, and whatever Chriftian depends
upon the Promifes of the Gospel without an Uniform practife,
or take thote Fremifes othew te than they are, that is not
Alfolute but conditioral, will rely upon a very imperfect faith
altogether infufficient to that grand end, the fuftification of
their perfons, and confequently Salvation of their Souls, doth not
our
(32)
our Church ſpeak with mnch confiftancy, when declaring Art
11. We are accounted Righteous before God, only for the merits of
our Ld. and Sa. Jefus Chrift by Faith, and not for our own works
and defervings. Adds moreover in the next Art. 12. Albeit Good
Works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after Justification,
cannot put away our fins, yet are they pleafing and acceptable to God
in Chrift, and do fpring out neceffarily of a true and lively Faith,
infomuch as a true and lively Faith may be as evidently known by
them, as a Tree difcern'd by its fruit. Let our Diffenters preach
no other notion of faith but this, or never pretend our Doctrine
is the fame.
My other reaſon why Calvin and his Followers fo much affect
this Notion of Faith, becauſe no other agree fo well with their
Doctrine of Predeftination, for fince all thofe Decrees are Abfolute
and Irrespective; and the promiſes of Salvation in Chrift how
univerfally foever propounded muſt be reftrained only to the
Elect, there is no room left for any others to come in, nor much
required from thoſe fix'd upon, fince 'tis the Decree not practice
which makes the Chriftian, for whether we take Calvins Super-
lapfian way, or Beza's Sublapfian, or Dr. Twifles third way, the
Chriftian is in every of them a meer Machin, Promiſes, and Threat-
nings, can take no place, he may as foon add a Cubit to his
Stature, as put on the new man, which, according to St. Paul,
after God is created in righteouſneſs,and true holiness; and than which
there is nothing that Apoftle more earneſtly exhorts, and per-
fwades us unto; but men of peevith ill natur'd froward difpofiti-
ons, are pro ne to think God like unto themfelves, and frame
Eph. 4.24. all their Ideas of him accordingly. With how much more
Prudence and judgment hath our Church proceeded in her Articles
of Predeftination which is exactly drawn up according to the
tenor of Holy Writ, with this excellent Caution and Advice
in the cloſe thereof, eft receive Gods promifes in fuch wife
Conf. H. as they be generally fet forth to us in holy Scripture: and in our
C.p.19. doings, that will of God is to be follow'd which we have exprefly
declared to us in the Word of God. To which purpofe, it
was an excellent Difcourfe the then Bishop of London, the
great Bancroft, made to King James, at the Hampton Court Con-
ference, concerning their Notion of not falling from Grace;
very many faith he, in thefe days neglecting holiness of life, pre-
fume too much of perfifting in Grace, laying all their Religion upon
Predeftination, If I shall be faved, I shall be faved, fhewing it to be
contrary to good Divinity, and the true Doctrine of Predeftination
+
wherein
ད
( 33 )
Against
wherein we fhould rather Reafon Afcendendo, than Defcendendo, thus
I live in Obedience to God, in love with my Neighbour, I follow my
Vocation &c. Therefore I truft God hath Elected, and Prediftinated
me to Salvation; not thus, which is their vfual courſe of Argument,
God hath Prediftinated, and Chofen me to Life, therefore if I Sin
never fo Greiviously, yet I fhall not be Damned, for whom be once
loveth, he loveth unto the end: and thereon fhew'd his Majefty
the clofe of our Article, as I juft now mention'd which extra-
ordinary care and tenderness of our Church, the great Land
likewife Magnifying, makes this remarque to his Adverffary
the Jefuit, and confequently their whole Church; If the Church of
Rome, fince he grew to her greatness, had not been fo fierce in this
courſe, and too particular in determining to many things, and making
them matters of Neceffary Beleif, which had gone for many Hund-
red Tears before, only for things of pious Opinion; Chriftendom (per- Fiſher pag,
Swade my felf) had been in happyer Peace at this Day, then I doubt, 33.
we fhall ever live to fee it. And the like reply may be as juftly
made to our Adverfarys the Calvenifts too; who inftead of Scrip-
ture, took all their Dodrinals from Mafter Calvins Inftitutes
and Comments; and tho' far diftant from the Foundation, im-
poſe as ſtrict an Affent, as to the Apoftles Creed; whereas tho'
Calvin, by the ftrength of his great Parts, rather than Reading,
efpecially the Antient, writ very Elegantly, and Judicioufly,
where nothing of Party was concern'd, but if fo no Man more
partial, upon which account all impartial Readers have given him
this Character, vbi bene nemo melius vbi male nemo peius: So like-
wife in his Converfation he was rugged enough, frequently re-
proaching his Brethren, (eſpecially if they contradicted him in
his Points of Prediftination &c.) by the Names of Nebulo,
Canis, Satanas; of which unhappy temper he complains to Bu-
cer that he had a great conflict with that wild Beaft impatience,
that raged in him and was not yet tamed, and doubtleſs gave him
a fevere Specimen thereof, otherwife his mild Spirit would not
have been fo rough as to tell him: Judicas prout, amas, vil odifti:
amas autem, vel odifti, prout libet: and I wiſh fad experience had
not confirmd to us, how frequently the fame Temper and Princi-
ple have gone together.
2. My next Exception relates to their Doctrine of Fuftification;
all difputes about which began with the Forreign Reformations;
the Fatber and Schoolmen never confidering diftin&tly any fuch
Point of Doctrin, looking upon the Word as ufed incidentally
in fome Places, for Points more clearly exprefs'd in other terms,
F
by
(34)
·
·
by the fame facred Penmen. But at the beginning of thofe Re-
formations, the right Stating thereof, feem'd a matter of great
Importance, nor fcarce was any. Controverfy profecuted with
greater Zeal, and earneftnefs: as likewife the Presbiterians and
Independants among us during their Rebellion, and afterwards as
the latter got the afcendant, had many warm debates about this
Doctrine, or word rather; For to all fober and intelligent Per-
fons, the feveral Questions depending thereon, feem rather to
confiſt in the manner of Expreffing things, which all agree in,
with the Signification of Words Capable of a larger or Strider
fence; So that the Debate might have been eafily refolved, had
not a Spirit of contradiction led them to oppofe, or never confult,
our Churches Determinations; which in the forcited 11th Arti-
cle, tells us we are accounted Righteous before God, that is Fuftfy'd,
only for the Merit of our Lord and Saviour Fefus Chrift by faith.
A wholfome Doctrin, and full of Comfort as more largely is exprefi'd
in the Homily of Juftification: which Homily I muft obferve is not
under the Title of Juftification, but more fully expreft the
things thus, Of the Salvation of Mankind by only Chrift our Saviour,
from Sin and Death Everlafting; from whence 'tis evidently clear-
that Salvation and Fuftification are the fame thing, Divine Juf-
tice accepting the fatisfaction paid himſelf by his Son, in amends
for the Debt due, and reparation of the injury done him by all
Mankind, thereupon acquits the Dept, and remits their Offences:
exprefly according to St. Paul's Declaration, being juſtify'd_by
bis Blood, we shall be faved by bim from Wrath. as in another
Ro.3.9. Place, In whom we bave Redemption through his Blond, the forgive-
Epb. 1. 7. nefs of Sin: fo that here we fee Juftification is exprefs'd as the
Refult of Chrift's Redemption in the A&t of Gods Remiffion con-
ſequent thereto, Which being more miftically expreſs'd by this
our Apoſtle in other Places, all modeft and peacable Men would
refer hither for Explanation; Without fo many Preachments and
Prints as the World hath been troubled withal upon this Sub-
jed, yet this had not been fo well worth our taking Notice of,
but for fome other more Pernitious notions deriv'd from it, as.
3 Their Doctrin of Self Affurance, which according to their
Mafter Calvins Definition of Faith, they challeng to themſelves
Fuft.lib. in a firm and certain Knowledge of Gods eternal good will
3.parag. 7. towards every one of them in particular that they fhall certain-
ly be faved in the end; Nunc jufta fidei definitio nobis conftabit,
disemas effe Divine erga nos benevolentia, firmam certamq; Cogni-
tionem &c. and the Dutch Profeffors at Leyden, in the Synopfis
pu-
( 35 )
purioris Theologia, not long fince, enlarged very pofitively
upon the point firmus affenfus --- quo unufquifque fidelis ftatuit
non folum promiffum effe credentibus Remiffionem peccatorum, fed fibi
in particulari, conceffum, eternamque Juftitiam, et ea vitam &c.
So that it ſeems according to theſe mens conceptions the other
World is made for the bold too, Crede quod habes, et habes, he that
with a confident afſurance can believe himſelf choſen, hath the
trueCharacter of theEled without being put to the trouble of that
fear or trembling, wherewith more modeft Chriftians, according to
St Pauls direction, think to work out their Salvation. St Peter like-
wife exhorts us to ufe diligence to make our Calling and Election fure,
whereas if we know it to be fure, there need no further diligence
to make it fo; no doubtlefs the Apoftle doth not enjoin us to
Secure it in our opinions, but to fecure it in the event by a fin-
cere obedience and holy life: To which purpoſe the Wife Man, un- Pro. 28.
der the Old Law, declares him bleſſed that feareth always; fo
feareth as to become more folicitous and watchful over his heart,
more circumfpect and diligent in correcting the many Errata's
of his Converfation; according to Tertullians Eligant remarque,
Quem cenfeas digniorem nifi emendatiorem; quem emendatiorem, nifi de Pen.6
timidiorem? Whereas on the contrary, St Paul himſelf exprefly
condemns fuch haughty Affumers, by that fevere declaration not
he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commen
detb, whereto I cannot but add the great Hammonds Paraphrafe
for 'tis not our own good Opinions which qualifies us for reward of
acceptation, but the fincerity of our actions before God which may
render us acceptable in his fight.
14.
4. Their Converfion their Regeneration Dodrine, that God at fome
Critical time do infufe into them,the Eled, an intrinfical Righteouf-
neſs, a habit and from thence a State of Grace and that in fo
Fgnal a manner, as the time when, and the place where must be
remembred; a Holy Sifterhaving fomewhat of a Religious Qualm
in an Hyfteric Fit, immediately fancys the Sprit took poffeffion
of her heart; and fo it might a Spirit of delufion, not to call
it worſe. And whoever of the Brotherhood lies at any time un-
der a more than ordinary Remorfe of Confcience for fome notorious
villany, immediately concludes his pardon feal'd, and his Adoption
fecur'd. Now altho' neither the Calvinift abroad, nor the Puri-
tan here, ſtarted this notion at first, yet is ita very natural confe-
quence from the forementioned felf Affurance prefumptions, the
leaft touch of Enthufiafme will raife it immediately as feveral
of their Moderns have done, and with the Independants 'tis a
moft
F 2
(36)
Life pt. 1.
p. 72.
1
moft pretious Doctrine, fcarce a new Difciple would be admitted:
without it; and therefore Mr. Baxter giving an account of the
Tryers in Cromwels time, a Hodg Podg of Presbiterians and Indepen-
dants, tho' moſt of the latter, which were to Examine, and al-
low all Perfons admitted to any Cure of Souls; among other
faults mentions this as one, that they were too particular in enqui-
ring after Evidences of Sanctification; as indeed 'twas their dar-
ling Question, for which many were rejected, as prefuming
to argue rather than anſwer, and others upon that account
would not engage themſelves to their impertinencys: But how
comes Mr Baxter to pass fuch a Cenfure, doth not his Call to
Tit. 3. 5° the unconverted, fuppofe the greateft part of the Nation without
Christianity? and thofe many Hundreds of his Kedderminster
People whom he would not admit to the Sacrament, Reprobated
upon that account? Nay it may from hence appear for what
reafon the greateft part of them have fo little regard for ei-
ther of the Sacraments; firft as to Baptifme according to this
conceit of theirs it can do nothing till the Call; and when that
comes 'tis accompany'd with fuch a Plethora, fuch a fulneſs of
the Spirit, as to become ipfe facto a perfect man,without any ftreng-
thenig or Refreshment from the other; whereas St Paul terms
Baptifme the Laver of Regeneration, and the Fuftification, we for-
merly ſpake of is coupled with it, He faved as by the Laver of
Regeneration that having been justifi'd by his Grace we might be
made Heirs of everlasting life. So likewife to Titus, according to his
mercy he faveth us by the washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of
the Holy Ghoft. From hence then every true Chriftian is to Com-
menee his Call, being hereby thoroughly enabled to grow in Grace
as well as Stature, have the fincere milk of the Word as freely Com-.
municated as that of his mothers breaft: In our greener years we
are Catechifed, and inftructed, and when we arrive at a
riper understanding, we look back upon thofe firft Principles
from whence by manifeft evidence and full conviction we are
built up in our moft holy faith; and they that neglecting this
method of our common Salvation, expect that Chrift ſhould ſtill
fend Apoftles, work Miracles, and in prefumption thereof, ftile
every remorfe of mind, or check of Confcience, the call of an ex-
traordinary Spirit muft have a care they do not miſtake the De-
vil for an Angel of Light, or at leaftwife prove one to themſelves
in crediting the dangerous delufions of their own vain Imagi-
nations.
$
5. But:
( 37 )
5. But 'tis not a fingle Call they can acquiefs in, but go a
great deal further which I come to in the laſt place, and can-
not forbear to term it not only dangerous but damnable Doctrine,
viz. their Pretenfions to the Spirit, that from thence they are ac-
tuated in all their undertakings, taught as the Apostles were by the fame
Divine Spirit, and guided into all truth; a moft Blafphemous Pofition,
equally deftructive of all true Religion and Civil Government;
And indeed to that purpoſe it hath been more or lefs made ufe
of, by all the feveral Fraternitys of our Diffenters. The Pref
biterian Rebellion, more particularly their Church Models, were
altogether from Infpiration; Mr. Cafe telling the Parliament, that
what was faid of the Gofpel would be certainly verify'd of their
Covenant, the found thereof shall go into all the Earth and the words
of it to the end of the World. And curfe ye Meroz was their con-
ftant Subject, and every other Text of Scripture which related
to Ifrael the People of God, was exprefly for them, whilft the
King and his Cavalliers were the feven accurfed Nations, and muſt be
rooted out; which they had by no lefs exprefs command than
Mofes, or Joshua. But then in a fhort time the Independants,and
Army Saints pretended the fame againſt them, and vouch'd the
Authority of Heaven, for the moft execrable actions Hell it felf
could put them upon; not that the grand, the leading Vilians
lay under any fuch infatuations, but to carry on their miſchiefs
the People muſt be fo poffeft. And fo doubtless their Holders- Jud. 16.
forth to this very day, when they amufe their Auditorys with
imey great ſwelling Words, of the pretiousfness of the promifes
and participations of the Divine Nature, of an Union with Chrift
and the Demonftration of the spirit, and of Power, are confcious
enough of that charge which follows in the 19th v. againſt
fuch as Seperate themselves, that they are fenfual, and have not the
Spirit, altho' there may be others of lefs fence, and fubtilty, fo
habituated to their phrafe Divinity, and Myftical Nonfenfe, as to
fancy they fee Vifions, when they do but dream dreams, having been
a long while inur'd to it, come at laſt to believe their own
Lyes.
Our great Hammond in his excellent Difcourfe of Foundamen-
tals, having_infifted, with fome others, upon moſt of the for-
montioned Doctrins, as highly preiudicial to the grand defign
of Religion, an Holy Life and upright Converfation, falls upon
this as the Dregs, and moft diftructive of all the reft; for faith
he, to pretend that whatever our own heart incite us unto, what
they fuggeft, or dictate, is the Spirit, the Word, or the Revelation
F 3
of
1
( 38 )
1
of the Will of God within us, is the principle of all Villany, (the
fame that hath always Acted in the Children of Difobedience) inhanced,
and improved with Circumstances of greater boldness and impudence,
than ever the most abominable heathens were guilty of, either in
their Oracles or in their Mysterys, Thus far this Worthy Doctor
by whofe Authority, as well as our own continued experience
we may conclude an Infpir'd Chriſtian, at this time of day, to be
a right down Madman, and one of the fevereſt judgments Al-
mighty God brings upon a Nation; and feldom done but when
he defigns its ruin. For fuch were the Zealots among the Jews
who according to Jofephus's relation, conduc'd more
more to the
accompliſhment of divine vengeance upon them, than the whole
Roman Army: and from thence to come home to our felves, for
there is too nigh a Parallel; 'twas a Generation of fuch by-
gotted Furys, which turn'd the Scales in our Unnatural Civil
War; and all a long affifted, Cromwell, till his Hypocrify made
him his Highness, carryed him by their means to his defigned
heigth; but perceiving what Propertys he had made them, that
they had been only Stalking Horfes to his Game, their Spirit
altogether mov'd againſt him, and rendred them no leſs formi-
doble than the Royal Party, the few Years of his Ufurpation; and
threw that unthinking fellow bis Son out of the Saddle before
he was well feated in it: tho' by the Signal Providence of Heaven
that Act of theirs prov'd no lefs to their Diſappointment turn-
ing as much to the Nations Establishment, as they defign'd its
Confufion: yet however formidable their experienced Venom,
and Implacable Malice had reduced them, thefe fubtile Serpents
frequently found one means or other to creep into the Bofome
of our Government, and were cherish'd there notwithſtanding
their often Hifings, and threatning Teeth, till now at laft united
into Legions, they doubtlefs Difpare not of Stinging it to Death;
and too too like fince we feem unwilling to moralife the Fable,
in following the Countrymans wife Example. Theſe are fome of
thoſe fatal Enlargments, which our Englifo Sectarys have made
upon fuch Taxes or Pofitions as their Geneva Mafters left them,
tho' of late they depend more upon their own inventions, and
think it no leſs an Accompliment to recede from them, than
they from Rome, which every Day are ſtarted afreſh, as the in-
tereft of their Party requires, their Unclean minds, or Enthuſiaſtick
conceits fuggefts, or Covetous defires think advantageous. There
is one thing further may feem requifite to be taken Notice of
that tho' the Antient Puritans before fubdevided into other Seas,
in
(39)
in oppofing the Doctrine, and Conftitutions of our Church, did
bear themſelves continually, upon the Authority of Calvin, and
the example of thofe Churches which came molt near the Geneva
Platform; yet in their Sabbath Doctrins had not only none to
follow, but found Calvin and thoſe other Churches molt directly
oppofite to them; Nothing can be more exprefs than Calvin, a-
gainft fuch as Craffà, carnalique Fudaifmi Superftitione ter Judeos
Superant ; and 'tis affirm'd by fome, at one time he had
thoughts of transfering their Sabbath to Thursday; which had
been more tollerable than feveral of his other Innovations; to be
fure all his time, and to this very Day there, the Elder Men
Bowl, the Tounger exercise their Arms, or ufe any other Innocent Re-
creation, after the Publick Dutys of the Day were over, with as
much freedom as that Declaration allows, which made fuch a
noife in King James and Charles I. Reigns; for this indeed was
the caufa Latens why our Sabbatarian Zealotts would have that
days Obfervation founded foly upon the Morality of the 4 Com-
mandment as ſtrictly obliging us as the Jews, that thereby they
might cavil at, and run down all the other Fafts and Festivals
of our Church, as Human Inventions, tho' moſt of them Apof
tolical, and the reft in the Ages immediately fucceeding; and
that without ever confidering, that our Chriftian Sabbath, was
by the fame authority Tranflated from the laft to the first Day
of the Week, and therefore by keeping fo ftrictly to their Mo-
faical Mumyfimus, they ought all to comply with what their
Difciple Brabourn propounded, and go back to the Saturday
Sabbath, whereof he Writ a Book in Fuftification. But not to en-
ter upon this peevish Controverfy which (whoever defires to con-
ſult may find exactly ſtated in the Juft Defence of the Royal Mar-
tyr, who among many others was moft barbaroufly Slander'd
upon this account,) A Chriftian Life ſhould be one continued
Sabbath. he who lives every day, as he ought, will find little
obligation to obferve one more than another; and this Super-
Atitious Fudaifing humor, we are now difcourfing of, will be found
to prevail moſt among the Factious of Corporation Traders who
may fondly hope, by a rigid obfervance of a feventh days Worship
to expiate the Fraud and confenage of the fix precedents exactly
according to their Predeceffors the Pharifees, who were continual-
ly carping at, and cenfuring our Saviour for the many Miracles
he wrought on the fabbath day, whilſt their hard and impenitent
hearts would not underſtand what that meant, I will bave mercy
not Sacrifice; as likwife that the Sabbath was made for Man, not Man
for the Sabbath.
And
}
( 40 )
And this former, doth neceffarily require one Remark more,
that as the Puritans, and Prefbiterians, receded from their Pa
trairch Calvin in the Doctrine of the Sabbath; fo their feveral
Spurious broods of Sectarys have no lefs receded from them in
point of Scifme, Which when the Independents firſt gather'd
their Congregations and retired into the Low Countrys was much ban-
dyed between them as Dr. Stilling fleet gives the account at large
in his Excellent Difcourfe, The unreasonableness of feparation.
But when thefelatter, got their turn of Superiority in the Grand
Minift. of Rebellion, they made the Covenant a Nofe of Wax, and all their
Law p.140 Difcipline
Difcipline a Rag of Antichrift
Rag of Antichrift; declaring Confcience a furer
Guide than either Conclave or Confiftory, and having been fo long
a time abridg'd of her juft Freedom, the Lord had ordained them
to fet her at Liberty, and exert that juft Light ſhe ſhould have
always been poffeft of. This made the Geneva Bull roar as
loud as ever the Popes had done, that a violent Scifme was break-
in upon Gods whole Inheritance, which made fuch Ruptures as divided
Church from Church and fet up Church against Church, and confe-
quently in a short time must abfolutely deftroy the Church, the pow-
er of Godlynefs and truth of all Religion. When in the
Year 72. K. Ch. 2. Declared for a General Tolleration, a cerrain
Perfon I knew Printed 3 or 4 Sheets with this Title The Noncon-
formifts Plea for Uniformity. Being the Fudgment of Fourfcore and
four Minifters of the County Palatine of Lancaster. Of a whole Pro-
vincial Affembly of Minifters and Elders in and about London. And
of feveral other Eminent Preachers, English, Scottish, and New
English, concerning Tolleration and Uniformity in matters of
Religion. All which pafs'd between the Years 45 and 50; when
the too Factious having over power'd the King, they fell to this
Pen conflict between themfelves; 'tis pity their fwords did not
clash as much, then there might have been an end of them both.
But the forementioned paper was Printed very much a propo,
to ſhow how fcandaloufly the Prefbiterian had fhifted Principles
between that time and 72. For what they firft urg'd was with
irrefragable truth if apply'd to the Eftablish'd National Church,
from which they fo unchriftianly feperated, but then to comply
with, and conduce to the compleating thofe mifchiefs they fo
folemnly foretold, muſt be anfwer'd for in another World, tho'
ſecure enough to eſcape in this; for matters are now come to that
pafs, as there is nothing of Chriftian fociety or Comunion among
them, all Religion lies in their ears and having heaps of Teachers
to gratify that itch according to their own Lufts, no wonder
that
(41)
they are turn'd away from the truth,and as the Apoſtle there adds,give
beed to Fables, for fo they attend them generally, as our Gallants
do a Play, hear them out, and then cenfure the performance, with
which vain affectation, feveral have been fo foppifhly carryed
away, as to attend in the morning a Prefbiterian fembly, After-
noon an Independent, and at Night an Anabaptifts; altho' in one
regard they may be thought to have reafon, that is, their Re-
ligion fill to choofe. Now to urge the Authority of the Fathers,
with an univerfal confent of the whole Church, that Scifme is the
most damning fin any Chriftian can be guilty of, would be to as
little purpoſe, as Washing a Blackemore; but muft that of St.
Paul i Co. 12. be altogether Apochryphal, where he enjoins us to
take the fame care of the Spiritual, as we have of our Natn-
ral Bodys, and fee that every part contribute to the mutual decency,
Service, and fuccour of the whole, no terms of betterness ftood up-
on, I am better than you, and I than you, nor of defyance neither,
I have no need of you, nor I of you, all agreeing to prevent a
Scifme, as the Body of Chrift and Members in particular. Neither
yet can it be expected, that this moft Sacred Authority fhould
meet with much regard from fuch as endeavour nothing more,
than False Doctrine, Herefy, and Scifme in the Spiritual; with
Sedition, Priny Confpiracy, and Rebellion in the Civil Body.
I have been the longer upon thefe Doctrinal Exceptions, be-
cauſe nothing is more frequently alledg'd by the Diffenters than
that nothing is more Exceptionable in thofe points; whereof I leave
the Reader to judge, and muft further obferve that tho' they do
not clamor fo much of the Predeftination Rigors as formerly,
'tis becauſe the Nation is come over to larger and freer thoughts,
and fo no longer to be impos'd upon, by that artifice at leaft;
but that as to the generality, they ſtill retain them, and would
if in power impofe them; take this fpecimen from their Brethren
at Geneva, and their Neighbours the Swifs, which my Ld. of 1Let.p.58.
Sarum, relates with fome regret as follows, The middle way that
Amirald, Daille, and fome others in France took in the matters that
were disputed in Holland, concerning the Divine Decrees, and extent
of the Death of Chrift; as it came to be follow'd in France, ſo had
it fome Affertors both in Geneva, and Swifferland, who denyed the
imputation of Adam's fin, and afferted the Univerfality of Chrifts
death, together with a fufficient Grace given to all men ---- theſe came
to be call'd Univerſaliſts, and began to grow very confiderable in Ge-
neva, two of their Profeffors of Divinity there, being known to fa-
vour thofe opinions. Upon this, thofe that adher'd fridly to the Op-
G
pofite
( 42 )
pofite Doctrine, were enflam'd, and the contention grew to that heigth,
that almost the whole Town came to be concern'd, and divided into
Partys. And tho' the party of the Univerfalifts was confiderable in
Geneva, it was very small in Swifferland; therefore fome Divines
there, that adher'd to the old received Doctrine, drew up fome Arti-
cles in which all thefe Doctrines were condemn'd; together with
If this confent of Doctrine, for fo they term'd it, had been made only the
Standard against which no man might have taught without incurring
Cenfure, the feverity had been more tolerable, but they oblig'd all fuch as
fhould be admitted to the Miniftry, or a Profeffors Chair to fign Sic
fentio, according to a Maxim that hath been so often fatal to
the Church, enter'd into peoples Confciences, and either fhut out
young men from Imployments, or impofe a Teft upon them, which per-
haps fome have figned not without ruglings in their Confcience..
Will his Lordship affure us the fame courfe fhall not be taken
here, nay have not his Kyrk Countrymen led the van, with the ut-
moſt ſeverity; and when fo, did their Brethren here, ever fail to
bring up the Rear in like manner?
་
To be fure from hence we may collect, that tho' fome of the
Diffenters may be come over to more favourable apprehenfions
of Almighty God, (as in Cromwel's time I remember, there was
a fet of Independents call'd Freewillers, which made a mighty
jangle among them,) but upon a ferious debate, it will appear,
that to recede from their Old Doctrine will fhake the very Foun-
dation of their caufe; for who then fhall be the Eled of God,
the chosen ones? the faithful feed, the Remnant of Jacob? the
Saints of Chrift Fefus? What then will become of that claim,
to Rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron; and break them in pieces like
a Potters Veffel; to bring under fubjection, or totally extirpate,
all Antichriftian Prelacy, and Popish Superftitions; without this Cant
I fay, thefe proud vaunts and haughty Affumings, 'tis
impoffible they fhould keep the Mob to their Leur, make the
'Doctrine of Stoicks, and moroffness of the Cynicks, a four, fnarling
difpofition, the grand Teft of ferious Godlynefs, of all True Religion,
as if, according to a foremention'd great Mans obfervation,
Religion and Piety depended upon a morofity of manners an affecta-
of gefture, a new mode and tone of Speaking; Whereas
b. to the the contrary he complains, their unfociable Rigors, and unchari-
table cenforioufnefs, bad altogether levend the Old good Manners,
the Old good Humour, and the Old good Nature, for which our Na
tion was of Old fo justly celebrated, Tis not the outward but in-
ward Man which give the true Denomination of Sanctity, a be-
Ld.Ch.
Par.
1
>
on
ing
(43)
ing as the Apoſtle exhorts Renew'd in our minds, and transform'd
in our hearts; A Singularity of look and habit, a Sullen feparation
from, and demure contempt of, fuch Customary ufages, harmless diver-
tifements, and pleasantness of Difcourfe as may be innocently com-
ply'd with, is the effect not of Religion but ill Nature, Spiritual
Pride, Parifaical pragmaticalnefs, to which fet of Men, and ano-
ther they pretend to be very diftant from, a Modern Author,
makes them exactly parallel. But if you mean faith the Con:
to the Non Con: That they are in good earneft about their
<
C
C
.
C
c
C
I
vid.p. 159
Religion; fo are many of the Nuns and Fryers and other de- Frend, Deb
vout People among the Papifts who ferioufly fay their Ave 1 pp.15
Maryes, and Pater Nofters, and would not omit them for all the
World. And fo were the Pharifces a very ſerious People,
'efpecially upon a Sabbath, and would not neglect their Devo-
tions, (in which they were earneft, and long) for any good.
And affure your felf a man may be ferious in Religion and yet
an Hypocrite: That is, he may in good earneft do many Dutys, and
love to pray, and hear, and Repeat fermons, and the like; and
'all the while, he may in as good earneft Love the World very
much, and to fay no more, love the praife of men, and defire
to be better thought of than his Neighbours, in fhort he may
love money and Efteem, being Covetous and Cenforious as the Pharifees
'were; and then having given a further account of thofe their
Jewish Predecessors, concludes from thence, that Men may
be converted from grofs Prophanefs, to Sins of a more Spiritual
and invifible nature, to Diabolical Pride, and Malice, and Rage,
againft all that oppofe their Sect. And therefore you would
do well to confider again, whether there be not many fuch
'Converts now, that hate us, as much as they do Common Prayer;
and are Zealous for little elfe than to make men Nonconformists,
and to difgrace thofe that are not- This Anthor whoever
'he was, whether dead or alive, Whig Church, Low Church, or no
'Church, was then certainly High Church, and fpake fuch folid
truths, fo fenfibly expos'd and confuted our Diffenters number-
lefs Evafions and Cavils, throughout the feveral parts of his De-
bate; as whoever ferioufly and impartially Reads, mult judi-
'cioutly conclude, there is nothing but Cant, and Cheat in all they
'pretend to, or make profeffion of.
<
C
C
.
·
2. My next Exception againſt this Reformation, is the little or
no care was taken of fuch Publick Forms of Prayer, of Praife and
Thanksgiving, with fuch other Religious Offices as had been ever
practis'd in the Church of Chrift. What we did herein hath
G2
been
(44)
Let. 3 par.
22.
been already ſhown; as likewife that Luther upon abolishing
the Mafs, Subſtituted a Liturgy in place thereof. Whereas
Zwinglius with his Followers at Zurick, and elfwhere, as the fore-
mention'd Letter informs us, appointed Sermons in place of the
Let.1 p.50 Mafs, which too, his Lordſhip the Author obferves to have devi-
ated from the Original defign as intended for an Explanation of Scrip-
ture, running over a whole Chapter, and that in much less time than
the Exercife now take up; but that would not captare vulgus fo
well, which was in all at firſt, altho' now it ſeems they are fenfible,
how great a part of their time they confume, and too often, to very lttle
purpose. Our great Hooker hath three or four large Paragraphs to
refel the like deference, and partiallity among us, and very fo-
berly takes up their great Patriarch of Calvinifme here, Cart-
wright, for his many ſhifts and Evaſions in appropriating the faving
power of the Gospel to Sermons only, as if the Scriptures were chiefly
defign'd for the Preacher to Scholiaft upon, and ſhow his gifts, Which
by their diſcourſe they feem'd willing to have the World believe.
were as abundant in them, as the firft Propagators of the Chriftian
Faith, a prefumption, exprefly pretended to, would verge very
nigh upon Blafphemy, for as our Bleed Saviour was the Eternal
ays in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt Bodily; ſo thofe
Holy Men which he Commiffion'd, Spake not by the will of man but
as they were mov'd by the Holy Ghoff, and what the Church hath thus
received from them in Scripture, can alone, properly ſpeaking,
be call'd the word of God; the Miniftration whereof being fince
committed to men fubject to Errors and infirmitys, who may
decieve both themſelves and others; as we cannot fo infallibly
depend upon their judgments; fo tis as 1 faid, the height of
Prefumption, for them to pretend the like plentiful Effufion of
the Divine Spirit. And this I take to be the othe
grand miſtake of thofe Geneva Gofpellers, as they term'd them-
felves, both abroad and with us, that extraordinary Aftance which
attended the firft promulgation of the Chriftian Faith, for
the Converfion of an Infidel World, is ftill pretended to by thofe
pretended Difpenfers of Heavenly Myſterys, and then thofe feveral
Texts of Faiths coming by bearing of the Neceffity of Preaching the
Gospel, with the like, are apply'd to a Chriftian Congregation,
which never lay under the prejudices of any falfe Religion, and
perhaps underſtand the principles upon which they are to act
better, many times, than the party who fo bold affumes the
information. Befides in an Etablish'd Church there are feveral
wayes of Preaching much different from that, of our Pulpit Ha-
π
rangue
1
(45)
A&.15.21
rangne, and indeed that of the Apoftles, had little affinity with
it, eſpecially when Men launch out into fpeculative points, and
party Controverfys; St Paul declaring, Repentance towards God and
faith toward our Lord Jefus Chrift to be the fum of all he had tefti-
fied both to Jews and Greeks, which he taught not only Publickly a.20.21
but from houfe to houfe; nay he terms Reading or Hearing the Scripture
read to be preaching, and for ought I find, with fome Explanations
thereupon, was all they had of that kind in the Jewib Church,
Mofes of old time had them that preach'd him being read in the
Synagogue every Sabbath day; and fo it is laudably continued as
part of our Lyturgy; the whole New Teftament being read throughout
three times a year, with the moſt practical, and edifying parts of
the Old; and if Catechifing were continu'd as the Church re-
quires, (which can never be expected fo long as Parents and
Mafters ofFamilys with whom that charge fhould commence,are too
many of them as ignorant as thofe under them) the Effentials
of Religion which are now only heard and forgot; would be then
understood and Remembred; and till then Sermons themſelves
will be much more ineffectual, for to fpeak freely, preaching to a
Christian Congregation, is not fo much to tell them what they
do not know, as put them upon the practife of what 'tis pre-
fum'd they have been already taught, perfwade them to live up
to the purity they profefs; and whoever pretend to more than
this, are fo far from Rightly dividing the Word of Truth, that they
Arive only about Words without Truth, profane and vain Bablings
to no profit at all, but fubverting the Hearers.
Thus we fee how natural it is, for weak and prejudic'd minds
to run from one extream to another; the Romanists do not
more fuperftitiously value themfelves upon being prefent at, or
feeing a Maſs, with repeating an Ave, &c. Without partaking
of the other, than the Calvanists in hearing a Sermon, where
of faith my Letter, they have two or three moftly every day; upon
which account the French Wits of the other periwafion, fpite-
fully indeed, but with too much Truth, term'd that Religion a
meer Preach, and the Learned Spalatenfis, who very well under-
ftood Church Antiquity, and practifes, makes this reflection, In
concione folâ, totum ferme Divini Cultus ritum collocant, non tales
erant antique et pi& fynaxes. And our Westminster Affembly brings lib.7.c 2.
it as a fevere charge againft our Church, particularly the Prelates pref.10 the
that they made preaching inferior to Common Prayer. Comparifons Dired.
were ever obferved to have more of Odium than Argument, for
as in that time of the Prelates, there was as much found Or-
thodox
G 3
(46)
Dr. Ham
monds.
Direct
thodox Preaching as ever in this or any other Church; fo there
was the foolishness in the litteral fenfe, and Factioufness of preaching
which the Prelates endeavoured to fupprefs, and for want of
Countenance and Affiftance therein, what Confufions follow'd? But
the Prelates had another charge againft them, much jufter, be-
caufe better grounded, and of more fatal confequence; that the
view of preferr'd Preaching to a moft fcandalous neglect or flight of the
Lyturgy, which thofe Lecturing Divines at the beft, us'd no other-
wife than as Mufick to entertain the Auditors till the Actors be attired,
the Seats full, and it be time for the Scene to enter. Yet having
faid all they can of Preaching cry'd it up as indeed it is, for very
ufeful, and if not abus'd, edifying Ordinance, the Church is not-
withſtanding called the Houfe of prayer, and Prayer the Key of hea-
ven, a much more eminent part of Divine Worship, and much
more beneficial to fuch who prefent themfelves as they ought
indeed under this Gofpel Oeconomy, which we all fo folemnly pro-
fefs, 'tis our daily and next the holy Sacrament our only Chrif
tian Sacrifice; for though by the one oblation of that great
The.5.17 Expiatory Sacrifice the Son of God, we are freed from the burden
of the Law, God no longer requires the firflings of our flucks nor the
Calves of our Stalls, yet ftill there are the Calves of our Lipps our
Sacrifices of Prayer, of Praife and Thanksgiving, which ought to
be offered up as thofe others were, in our Morning and Evening ad-
dreffes; and in this fence our beft Expofitors underftand that in-
junction of St Paul, Pray without Ceafing, nay St. Auflin Explains
the Word in, exprefly to that purpoſe, Nullo die omittan-
tur certa tempora orandi. And it may be further obferv'd that
befides the Jewish Sacrifices, and Oblations, which in ſome fence
were Rites of Supplication and Thanksgiving, there were fet
Forms of Prayer fome which the Prielt join'd with the Sacri-
fice, others which the People offer'd up in the outward Court,
whilft the Incenfe was burning in the Sanctury. Moreover
befide the Places appointed for Sacrifice, there were feveral A-
partments in the Temple, to accommodate any Fraternitys or Socie-
tys of men, as come thither to put up their petitions unto God,
or perform any other acts of Religious Worship, and in one of
theſe it was that the Apostles and their new Converts fo con-
ftantly aflembled, for when the Text faith they continu'd daily
with one accord in the Temple, no man of fence ever underſtood
it otherwiſe, than that they made attendance to their Offices
at all fet bours appointed thereunto; and accordingly we find in
the next Chapter the firft v. Peter and John going together into
7.2.46.
3. I
the
(47)
the Temple at the Hour of prayer being the ninth hour,that is,our three
a Clock, which all Regular Chriftians have ever fince obferv'd as
one of the flated times of Devotion. And as our Saviour, whilft
upon earth, taught his Difciples, a Form of Prayer, ſo being af-
cended up into Heaven to Reign with the Father, they likewife
compofed other Forms, in the Devouteft acknowledgement and
humbleft Supplication, of all and every Perfon of the Bleffed Tri-
nity; and tho' we find it not Recorded, yet doubtless there was
one for Adminiftration of the Holy facrament, which was as frequent
with them as their daily bread. And as thofe Officer which bears
the Names of St. James, St. Peter, St. Mark, with other Apoftles
and Apoftolical men, have pafs'd through ill hands and been
much abus'd; Yet is it a fufficient proof that fomething of that
kind was left by them, or the Church in thofe early and cu-
rious days, would have given us notice of the impofture: Thofe
of St Chryfoftom, St. Ambrofe, and St. Bafil are more certain ; fuch
Jet Forms being foon after Eſtabliſhed by General and Provincial
Councils, and then Corroborated by the Imperial Sanction of the
great Juftinian; which even the Smetimnuan Club acknowledged;
and therefore it argued aftrong preſumption, in one Dr. Collins,
(not the famous profeffor but a Non. Con. of that Name)
whom Young Calamy in his Catalogue, crys up for great accom-
pliſhments, yet I think he mentions not Church History, and 'tis
well he did not; for this Doctor falling upon that truly Lear-
ned and good man Doctor Falkner, for what he had Writ in de-
fence of Lyturgys and fet Forms, fpeaking of their Original, thus
expreffeth himſelf, we do believe that Gregory the Great under the
protection of Charles the Great, was the Father of all those that dwell
in thefe Tents, and that, eight hundred or a thousand years after
Chrift. Whereto Dr. Falkener replys, 1. that Gregory the great dy-
ed 604. Two bundred fhort of his fhortest computation. 2. That Gre-
gory fhould be under the protection of Charles the great was likewife
impoffible, being dead about 200 years before the other began his Reign,
What thoughts can we have of a man that begins a Controvely
with fuch a blunder as this? Or of that Learned Critick the
Friendly Debate mentions, who Writing upon the fame Subject,
tells us Curie-Eliefon is made up of two words, one Greek, and the
other Latin: And therefore to fupply this ignorance of theirs, they
have the confidence to alledge all Antiquity is Popery, tho' it
comes down from the very Apoftles, fcripture being the only Ca-
non for all Externals of Divine Worship, even to Place, Pofture,
Habit, with every the meaneft Circumftance of corporal Addrefs;
but more of this by and by.
To
(48)
Mat. 6.7
P.30
To return therefore to Dr Collins, who indeed was the Cory-
pheus of the party from Norwich up to London, the Subject of
of his Debate with Doctor Falkner was, that 'tis unlawful for
Minifters having the Gift of Prayer, to perform their minifterial Acts
by Forms compofed by other men; whereto the Doctor replys that
the Gift,or Grace of Prayer, for that is the more proper Word, doth
not confifts in the verbal Expreſſions, a varying of Phrases, an
altering the order and method of our Address, that wonuncia our
Saviour finds fault with, vain Repetitions, and much speaking, or
babling, as it is elſewhere term'd; But in a pious Addrefs of the
Heart, Soul, and Spirit unto God, he bestowing the Supplys and Affif-
tance of his Grace, which kindle and excite pious difpofitions in feek-
ing unto him, with earnest and affectionate defires, a lively faith, and
the Exercife of an inward Devotion: All which may be much
more effectually diſcharg'd by a preſcribed Form than any of
the Miniſters private Compofitions, or Extempore Evomitions, for
they are all the fame to the People, or if they be fo fooliſh
as to prefer the other, becauſe new, what they have not been
us'd to, the greater is their miftake, variety of Words, and
unknown Expreffions, muft needs breed diffraction in any well compofed
mind, and they that take them otherwiſe, are affected
more in fancy than heart, for on the contrary, no perfon can
fecurely fay Amen to a Prayer he did not know before, efpecially
for many years laſt paſt, which have abounded with fuch un-
Chap. 2. becoming and Scandalous Expressions, as mult highly diſturb any
fober Chriftian, and adminifter too juft grounds of derifion to o
thers not fo well difpos'd.
Se&. 3.
Doctor Falkner having thus made it appear, that Publick
pre-
fcribed Forms, are much more advantageous, and agreeable to
all the Ends of a well compofed Devotion, than the private Con-
ceits of any particular Perfons whatfoever; goes on and makes
it further evident, that nothing elfe was in ufe throughout the
whole Catholick Church for the firſt fix bundred years after Chrift;
(the very time from where his Antagonist would have them Com-
mence) which I curforily gave an account of juft now; for thofe
which follow'd fo great a Cloud of Ignorance and Superftition gra-
dually overfpread the whole Body of the Church, as all Devotion
tended thereto, became as Dark as the Cells to which it was
cheifly confin'd, their Zeal as blind as their Images; and their
Faith more in his pretended Vicar than Chrift himſelf. Now
among the reft, it cannot be expected but that the Liturgy fhould
fuffer in theſe general depravations; yet fo as the venerable afpe&
of
(49)
Antiquity would remain the fame, when their many frivolous
Arts, their fucus and daubings, their patchings and paintings, are
wafh d or taken off. And this is what every Reformation ought
to have had an eſpecial regard unto, and taken care of, but on the
contrary to leave every man to follow his own crudeConceptions,and
cry down all others who will not proceed according to the fame
Innovating humor, is to make a New Religion not Reform the
Old.
On the otherfide the progrefs, or pretended improvements herein
which by leveral degrees are arriv'd at fuch a curſed piece of infa-
tuation,as Extempore Nonfence, and many times exprefs Blafphemy is
cryed up as an extraordinary Evidence of Spiritual Gifts; is to
me a full confirmation, that it was not without the afliftance
of a truly Divine Spirit, the Frimitive Fathers, and their Succeffors,
took care by Eftablifh'd Ferms or Lyturgys, to prevent fuch hor-
rid Prophanations of that Sacred Office, as, we now a days muft
Tolerate, nay fome would have them brought into the Church.
Whereas 'tis really an Innovation upon the Geneva Reform, for
as they all along have carefully confind themfelves to precompos'd
or premeditated Forms; fo our Old Puritans were generally as
cautious upon that account, 'twas the Brownifts Family of Love
and fome other fhrub Sects, which pretended to more Spiritual
Worship, a purer Religion, than the Puritans themſelves profefs'd;
from whence Independency growing up, and from prevailing in
the Army got the whole Kingdom under their power; there
was fcarce a Trooper but was gifted at this rate, pray'd and preach'd
Such taking Nonfence, as they commanded all the Sifterhood wher-
ever they came, and 'tis to be fear'd, propagated the Breed,
which ftill continue fo troublefom. Nay Cromwel himſelf, never
car'd to hear any man who preach'd or pray'd fence, and in com-
mon Converſation affected none fo much as thofe who had ſome-
thing of rapture in their difcourfe; by which means it grew fo
modifh as feveral of the Presbiterians ran with the fream, and
continue the freak to this very day, for indeed as the People
are infatuated, nothing will take without it; to which pur-
poft, this paffage may be thought worth relating, having it from
a Perton prefent, Dr. Wild more eſpecially known for his Iter
Boreale, leaving his living upon the Act of Uniformity had a
Conventicle at Oundel I think, or fomewhere in thofe parts, and
being of a pleafant and free Converfation, feveral Gentlemen
not only kept him Company; but heard him Preach, tho' not
of his way, one of which obferving how ftrangely loofe, and
H
fop.
(50)
1
1
1
foppifh he was in hisPrayer, alamode the party,caus'd it to be taken
in fort hand, written fair at large, and then fhowing it the Doctor
as from another, defired his judgment, the Repeated Clamors of
addreffing God Almighty, wherewith it began, he feverely cenfur'd,
but going on, and finding it his own, he brake off, with
a blush and filence, which gave the Gentleman an occcfion to ex-
poftulate, why he would abufe himfelf and his Auditory, not to
fay blafpheme God and Religion, with fuch fcandalous ftuff; where-
to he reply'd the people thought it moft their Edification, and that
was what they ought to ftudy, and fo brake off the difcourfe. I
knew a Perſon who defigned the fame thing upon moſt of the
confiderable Meetings in London,'tis pity it did not go forward, Yet to
give them their due,all the leading Prefbiterians who had been Af-
fembly Men, and Interlop'd the feveral fequeftred Headships in the
Univerfity, kept to a fober well compos'd Form,and would frequent-
ly,in Publick and Private, Reflect, and complain to what an height
of impudence our Religious pretenders were grown, in belying the
Holy Spirit of God: I hope they reflected likewife who occafion'd it.
J
But nothing conduc'd more to the keeping Young Students
fteady, in thoſe times of Spiritual Levity; than Dr. Meric Caufa-
bon's excellent Treatife of Euthufiafme, as an effect of nature, when ma-
ny times mistaken, either for Divine Inspiration, or Diabolical Poffef-
fion. Showing how in all Ages it had been pretended to, and
made ufe of, by Poets, Philofophers, Statefmen, Orators, and Di-
vines fuch as they were, to very great purpoſes,and performances,
both good and bad; fo far above our Modern Apes, as they
ought not to be mentioned in the fame day, their Poetry was
Seraphick, their Philofophy dived into the deepeſt of Natures Myf
terys, and their Oratory able to Captivate the cleereft Judgments,
as well as beft fetled Affections; whereas our Canting whining
Fopps, have nothing but Trash and Tautology, Hums and Haws,
hawking up Prayers, and then fpit them in God Almightys face.
this brings me to the Doctors laft Chapter of Precatory Enthu-
fiafme, which he makes a branch of Rhetorick, and terms it a
vehement ardor, or fervency of mind wherewith nature hath
endow'd fome men above others,and if pois'd with equal difcretion,
and Judgment is a Gift, and will be ever well imploy'd; but when
inſtead of a natural advantage, 'tis ignorantly miſtaken for true
Chriftian Zeal, it hath been the occafion of much mifchief in
the World, and a great fumbling block to fimple People,drawing
them into the contagion of pernicious Harefis, and abominable
impietys; inftances whereof he gives feveral, particularly that
And
Balf
( 51 )
Id, ibid.
Blasphemous wretch Hacket in Q. Elizabeths days, whofe perfor- p. 275.
mances of this kind, made his followers believe him wholly
poffeft by the Spirit of God, tho' his Blafphemys fpake it expref-
ly from Hell, which he fear'd not to belch forth even at his
Execution. He mentions likewife Bafilides, about that time Duke
of Mufcovy, fo cruel and bloody a Tyrant, as to exceed Nero and
Caligula, yet a great pretender to this fort of Devotion, and
much admired for his performances therein, till by degrees he
came to feigned Vifions and Revelations; but his end likewife
fpake what he deferved. Nay the Doctor will not believe it
was a divine Spirit rais'd Ignatius Loyola almoſt four Cubits above
the earth, which poſture Maffieus in his Life faith he was feen in
at his Devotion. Whether was the Author, or his pretended Saint
the greater Enthufiafts, for our Authors Kefolutions as to the fore-
mentioned horrid Inftances, he thinks they might at firft be ac-
tuated only by the ftrength of their Natural Abilitys, and habitu- p. 95.
ated Acquifitions, till Fride and Popular applaufe exalting their
vain minds, they mistake the Devil for an Angel of Light, and are
led Captive by him at his will. yet if only fo formerly, as En-
thufiafme hath much more prevailed this laft half Century than
ever, fo hath the Devil held a more immediate correfponce with
fome of his moft confiderable agents that way, whereof I fhall
prefume to trouble the Reader with an inftance or two. The
firſt I have in a Book entitled the Countermine, written about the
the Year 72. when King Charles declared for a General Indul-
gence, where our Author defigning to convince all who are not re-
folv'd against all Conviction, That their way of Extempore Prayer
is fo far from the Gift of God, or proceeding from his Divine Spi-
rit, it as may be the gift of the Devil, and that fuch as are under
an irreparable State of Damnation may have it in Perfection, tells
this Story. At St. Ives in rhe County of Huntington within the
memory of Many Perfons now alive; there was a Woman, whofe
name I do not remember, tho' many in that place do very well,
one of thoſe call'd Puritans and conftant frequenter of Godly
Meetings, or Religious Exercifes: This Woman came to be fo
eminent, efpecially in this Gift of Prayer, that ſhe was generally
'admir'd, and looked upon as a Saint of the first Magnitude: The
Noife of her Fame, and boaft of her Party, brought many
Neighbouring Minifters, in the adjacent Countys of Cambridge, and
Huntington to hear her pray; which fhe did in that Ravishing
'manner, as they never parted from her without excefs of ad-
miration and aftoniſhment. After fome time this holy Sifter
H 2
C
C
(
t
as
1
(52)
Part, 2
118.
Ravilloc
Redivivus
36.&c.
6
6
C
.
'as many others then did, went over into New England for Liber-
ty of Confcience: For a while She was there in great efteem, and
heigth of Reputation; but the Devil ow'd her a Shame, and fhe
him a Soul, being at laſt ſuſpected, and accuſed for a Witch, and
brought to Tryal confefs'd her Guilt; that her Contract with the
Devil was; that in lieu of her Soul, which he did confign to him,
he should offt her with the Gift of Extempore Prayer; After which
"Confeffion, Sentence pafs'd upon her, and fhe was accordingly
executed as an abominable Witch. The Friendly Debate men--
tions a Female, which I take to be the fame with this; for 'twas
about the fame time fo many flock'd over into that purer England
as they would have it term'd, 1637. And the us'd the fame En--
chantments, making moft of their Boston Babes become Converts
to her New Phrafes, and foft Doctrines of Free Grace, Glorious Light,
and helding forth Naked Chrift; with many fuch new difcoverys
as are there related from the proceedings of the General Court a-
gainſt her, for all their Ecclefiaftical Difcipline was ineffectual
till the hand of Civil Justice, laid hold upon her, and then fhe
began evidently to decline, and the faithful to be freed from
her Forgerys: What Puniſhment the Hand of Justice inflicted is
not related, tho' they are known to be fevere enough, to any that
come under their Clutches.
The Scene of my other Story was in Scotland, where one Weir,
a bigotted Zealot for their Covenant throughout that Rebellion,
rais'd himſelf by that means, from a Common Soldier, to be Ma-
jor of Edenburg, a Military Office, which gave him the Command.
of the Guards, and had all Loyal Prifoners under his charge,
whom he treated with moft inhuman Infolence and Cruelty.
This vile Wretch had acquir'd a particular gracefulnefs in Whi-
ning and Canting, above any of the Sacred Clan, and deliver'd him-
felf in a far more Ravibing accent, than any of their Minifters
had attain'd unto, by which, and fuch like Hypocritical Arts,
he got fuch a Name for Sanctity and Devotion, that happy was
the Man with whom he would converfe, and bleffed the Family
where he would vouchfafe to Pray. ------- he had indeed, con-
tinues the Relation, but by what affiftance will be feen hereafter,
a wonderful fluency in extempore Prayer, and what through En-
thufiaftical phrafes, Extafys, and Raptures, he made the amazed Peo-
ple prefume he was acted by the Spirit of God. Befides praying,
he uſed to exhort and blejs the Familys in which he pray'd, but
never undertook to preach for fear of invading the Minifterial
Function of their Covenant Rabbys, which they were jealous of
After
( 53 )
After this manner, and in this mighty Reputation, he liv'd till-
the Year 1670 Which was the 70th Year of his Age; when no
longer able to endure the remorfe of his awakned Conſcience, but
to ease the inquietudes of bis guilty mind, was forc'd to accufe him-
felf. How accidental the bint was which gave him the firft a-
larm, with the Circumftances of his Confeffion and Commit-
ment, would be too tedious to be here related, and will be brief-
ly fum'd up in the particulars of his Libel or Inditement as
follow;.
1. That he intic'd, and attempted to defile his German Sifter Jane-
Wier when she was but ten Years old, or thereabouts, lay with her at
fixteen, and fo continued in a State of Incest, for the greatest part of
their Lives.
2. That he committed Inceft with Margeret Bourdon, daughter.
to Mein his deceafed Wife.
3. That he Committed frequent Adulterys, during the life of
his faid Wife, both with marryed, and unmarryed Women. parti-
cularly 'c.
4. That to his Fornication, Adulterys, and Incefts, he proceeded
to add the unnatural fin of Beastiality in lying with Mares, and
Cows, particularly &c.
The Sum of Jane his Sifters Libel, is reducible to two Heads.
1. Incest with her Erother. 2. Confulting Witches, Necromancers
and Devils; particularly &c. Whift he was in Prifon, he made.
feveral other Confeffens, and Acknowledgements, particularly that
he never prayed to God in private, nor had power to speak when he
attempted it, nay furthermore that his fluency in Prayer, by which
he ravish'd the People, proceeded from the Aift nce of the Devil, who,
he faid helped him to the Words, and Phrajes in which he expreffed
himself. Yet notwithstanding this fad fence of his condition," he
could not be brought to the leaft fence of Repentance, nor hopes
of pardon,but return d upon the many Exhortations thereunto, how
fure he was that his Sentence of Damnation was already fealed in
heaven. His execution likewife was attended with fome Cir-
cumſtances very ftrange, and not fit to be related But I muft
re ate one of his Sifter, that the prefumed as much as the other
difpair'd, thinking her Inceft, and Sorcery, might be expiated, by
her conftant adherance to the Covenant,which the called the Caufe,
and Intereft of Chrift. And when upon the Ladder blam'd the
People rather than her felf, for coming to fee a poor miferable
Woman die, whilst few or none wept and mourned for the breach of
the Covenant. Fefu God was ever Religion thus Prostituted?
H 3
Yet
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:
Yet may we not justly fear the whole Covenanting Faction, to be more
oflefs under the fame Infernal Powers, for Rebellion is as the Sin
of Witchcraft, and Lucifers Grand Apoftacy was never more exactly
parallel'd than by the Covenant.
nature,
I beg the Readers pardon for thefe long Relations, and defpair
not of obtaining it, upon this free declaration, that there is no
one thing, my thoughts can fuggeft, which ought to be expos'd
with greater Zeal, than their Scandalous pretences of this
as moft Destructive to all true Devotion, and fincere Piety; that a
voluable tongue, hard forehead, and heated fancy, fhould pafs for
Divine Inspiration, not to mention Diabolical Contracts, which
we find have fometimes been ; and Men fhould dare to addrefs
the Majefty of Heaven, with fuch matter, and in fuch a manner.
as any Temporal Prince, or Ordinary Superior would reject with
the utmoſt indignation, fuppofes them little acquainred (how
great foever their pretences are to Scripture) with the Royal Prea-
chers advice, Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be
bally to utter any thing before God: For God is in heaven and thou up-
on earth; therefore let thy words be fer.
I cannot leave this Exception without relating one paffage
more, for as none are fo forward to fix Antichrift as the Factions
we diſcourſe about, the Pope is Antichrift, the Church of England
Antichrift, all are Antichrifts but themfelves; fo never any fell fo
exprefly under that Denomination as they; in the account which
Hyppolytus a Primitive Martyr, in the third Century, gives thereof,
for faith he, in the times of Antichrift, Ecclefiarum ades facra tugurij
inftar erunt, Pretiofum corpus et fanguis Chrifti non extabit, Liturgia
extinguetur; Palmodie decantatio ceffabit, Scripturarum recitatio non
Dr. Ham- audietur, The Churches fhall be like Styes, the pretious body and blood of
Chrift fhall not be to be bad, Lyturgy fhall be extinguished, the finging of
the Pfalmady fhall ceafe, the reciting of the Scripture not be beard.
monds
Veiw of di.
·P. 117.
+
Now as it appears from hence how exactly our Church con-
forms to thofe Primitive Practifes, fo let fuch as Diffent from,
and decry her, ſee how the can free themſelves from being the
very Antichrift mark'd out by this Holy Father.
3. My third Exception againſt their Geneva Reform, is an Af-
fertion they have been all along very pofitive in, That nothing
ought to be Establish'd in the Church, more than what is exprefly com-
manded in the Word of God; which as Mr Hooker obſerves cannot
be juftifid without doing wrong to all other Churches, both Jewish
and Chriftian: Several things being obferv'd in the former by
our Saviour himfelf, as well as his Apoftles, tho' no where
command
1
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commanded in the Old Testament; Neither did ever any Christian,
or Affembly of Chriftians, for more than 1400 Tears (unless they
will take the Pope in as a Partifan with them, tho' he owns the
thing, only will monopolize the right foly to himfelf) deny that
each paricular Church had Power to ordain fuch Rites, and Cere-
monys, as might moft tend to the Glory of God, and Edification
of the People: What relates to Faith and precife, the Scrip-
tures are the grand, the fole Repofitory, profitable for Doctrine, for
Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in Righteousness, &c. But
having fecur'd thefe neceffary principal points, the Eternals of
Difcipline and Worship, which are as the habit, and mean to the
Natural body, Circumftials of Addrefs and Deportment, have only
thofe gencral Prefcriptions of Decency and Order, of Submiffion
and Obedience to fuch Superior Powers, both Temporal and Spiritual,
as are ordain'd of God, and they oblig'd to obey not only for
wrath but Confcience fake. And therefore Mr. Hooker spends his
whole third Book in fhewing the unreafonablenefs and abfurdity
of this Pofition; making it withal further appear, that Novel
Device of theirs hath lefs of Scripture Authority, than any other
Ecclefiaftical Prescription in former times, or what differing Chur-
ches now in being require; and therefore when ever prefs'd home
with their own Deviations, from what they fo Dogmatically
charge upon others, they affume, a greater Latitude than thofe
others take or defire, for fometimes they interpret Commanded
not to be meant in fpecial, but in General, that nothing be done.
against the Word of God, which if they can prove to be any where
among us, it fhall be forthwith given up, in the mean while
'that good man obferves it, as an illgrounded and difingenious Ar-
tifice to be nice and fubtile in evading fuch as oppofe them,
yet fuffer their Notions to go uncontroll'd among the Vulgar,
nay incourage them to perfèver in their miſtakes and dangerous
Conceptions. And not much different from this we find other
Evafion, Commanded that is grounded upon the Word, and made
according, at leeft wife, unto the general Rules of Holy Scripture, but id pare S.
for fuch things as are found out by any Star er Light of Reason, and
are in that refpect received tho' they be not against the Word of God.
are notwithstanding unlawfully received whereto Mr. Hooker molt
judicioutly replys, that to be commanded in the Word and ground-
ed upon the Word are not all one; for faith be a man may live in
a fate of Matrimony, fecking that good which nature principally_de-
figned, yet if he rather make choice of the other in regard of St Paul
judgment i Cor. 7. That which he doth, is manifeftly grounded upon
6
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​the word of God, yet not commanded in it, becauſe without breach of
any Commandment he might have done otherwife. From hence he
goes on to their other ailegation, and declares, that no Sound
Divine ever denyed, the Will of God to be partly made manifeft
by the Light of Nature; and that thofe feveral Texts wherein
the Apostle reflects upon Worldly Wisdom, vain Philofophy, and the
like, relates to fuch Seducers, and Ear-ticlers, as Legan at fift
with pretences of Knowledge and Wijdom faljely fo called, and
thereby brought a Scandal both npon Reason and Religion at
once, which otherwife went decently all along together the one
as hand-maid to the other: Nay doth not St Paul tell us that
the Gentiles which had only the former, Confcience, that is practical
Reaſon, were judged, excufed, or condemn'd thereby: And tho' the
Word of God being in refpect of that end fr which it was
ordain'd, perfect, exact and and abfolute in it felf, yet reafon may come
in as a neceffary infrument, without which in many things, we could
not reap by the Scriptures perfection, that fruit and benefit which it
yieldeth, and therfore Mr. Hocker thinks it a very loote Opinion
which thefe Difpnies had fpread very far in the World, as if
the way to be ripe in faith, were to be raw in it, and Judgment;
Childish fimplicity, the Mother of Ghoftly and Divine Wisdom; lay-
ing down feveral cleer Pofitions to diftinguiſh Right from perverted
Reafon, and then fhews what geat ufe had been made thereof in
the whole Current of Old and New Teftament, whereby faith he
the Light which this Stor of Natural Reajon, and Wijdom cefteth, is
too bright to be bfcured by the mih of a Ward or two, uttered to dimi-
nish that opinion, which justly had been received, concerning the force
and vertue the cof,ren in matters which touch more neerly, the princi-
pal dutys of men, and Glory of the Eternal God. All of which be-
ing made out by many irrefragable proofs, he ends that Para-
graph, with this fummary conclufion, that in the Nature of Reafon its
Self, there is no impediment, but that the felf fame Spirit, which
revealeth the things that God hath fet down in his Law, may al-
fo be thought to aid and direct men in finding out by the Light
of Reafon, what Laws are expedient to be made for the guiding
of his Church, over and befides them that are in Scripture. Here-
in therefore we agree with thofe men, by whom Human Laws
'are defined to be Ordinances, which fuch as have Lawful Authority
given them for that purpofe, do probably draw the Laws of Na
ture and God, by difcourfe of Reafon aided with the influence
'of Divine Grace. And for that caufe it is not faid amifs of
Ecclefiaftical Canons, that by instinct of the Holy Ghoft they bave
(
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Ro. 14.23
made, and confecrated by the reverend acceptation of the World.
Mr. Hookers Authority and Arguments, fhall be feconded by
thofe of another Perfon of the fame Magnitude with himſelf,
as well for depth of Fudgment and cleereft Conception, as Sweetness
of Difpofition, I mean the Right Reverend and Right Learned Bi-
Shop Sanderson: Whofe Lot upon his retiring from the Univerfity,
falling in Lincolnshire, which abounded more than moſt places in
the nation with fuch as went then by the name of Puritans efpecially
whenabetted by their Diocefan Williams, whofe Trimming Tricks ha-
ving difcarded him at Court, he ftudyed his Revenge, and counte-
nanc'd Faction in the Country,which ever was,and ftill continue the
conftant practiſe of fuch flippery Ambodexters. This good Man San-
derfon finding in what Neigbourhood he was got, endeavoured
to let them right as to the Ceremonys of our Church, as appears by
his firſt Sermon ad Clerum, which good defign of his, met with
fo ill a reception (as it always happens from that perverfe par-
ty) that he was forc'd to preach another to vindicate himfelf
from their falfe and Malicious Slanders. Some Years after there
was a Metropolitical Vifitation, where he being fix'd upon to
Preach made choice of this Text, Whatſoever is not of Faith is Sin,
and cleerly demonftrates how falfely it had been perverted, to
that allegation of the Faction, That no man may with a fafe Confci Gen Pref.
ence do anything, for which there may not be produc'd, either Command
or Example from Scripture, and this he elſewhere tells us, is the
point wherein the very Mystery of Puritanisme confifts,the main foun-
dation upon which fo many falfe Conclufions are built, and the Fountain
from which fo many acts of finful Disobedience do flow. For
befides the foremention'd Sermon, in each of his Prefaces to thofe
incomparable Difcourfes which were Reprinted, and Printed to-
gether 1657. He earneſtly requeſts the Prefbyterians to confider,
what Defolations they had brought not only upon the Church,
'but themfelves, by this pernicious Principle, what advantages
the Independents, Anabaptifts, Familifts, in fhort the whole crew
' of Modern Sectarys had taken thereby. For faith he when this
gap was once opened, [What Command have you in Scripture, or
what Example for this, or that] und Eurufque Netufque, it was
like the opening of Pandora's box, all was let loofe; ſwarms of
Se rys of all forts broke in, and (as the Frogs and Locusts in
Ægypt) over fpread the face of the Land, nor fo only but as Court Ser-
often it Happens, thefe young Striplings, foon outftrip their pr. 10.
Leaders, and that upon their own ground: leaving thofe many
Parafangs befides them, who had fhew'd the way, and made en-
I
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trance for them. For as thofe faid to others, what Command
or Example have you for Kneeling at the Communion? for wear-
ing a Surplice? for Lord Bishops? for a pen'd Lyturgy? for keeping
Holidays &c. And there ftop'd. So thefe to them; where are
your Lay Prefbiters, your Claffes &c. to be found in Scripture?
where your Steeple houfes, your National Church, ? your Infant
Sprinkling? nay where your Metre Pfalms? your two Sacraments?
your obferving a Weekly Sabbath? for fo far I find they are gone,
and, how much farther I know not, already, and whether they
may go hereafter, for Erranti nullus terminus, God only knows. In
thefe and fuch like Expoftulations, did this good Man argue
with them, repreſent the miſchiefs their miſtakes, in this point
more eſpecially, had brought upon themſelves as well as the
whole Church, and Nation, but all in vain for as it pleas'd God
in a few years after by a fignal and even miraculous Provi-
dence, to bring us back to our Old Eſtabliſhments; fo the Chur-
ches Old Enemys, continu'd to harp upon the fame ftring, no in-
different things must be determin'd, every the meanest circumſtance
lib. 1.34. muſt be warranted from Scripture, which by their Popular fett
offs, never fail to take with their party, but when it came to be
Syllogiftically argued between Dr. Pierfon and Mr. Baxter at the
Savoy Conference, even as related by himſelf in his Life,
what pity ful ſhifts and Evafions was he put to; and notwithſtand-
vind. of ing his Abridgers rude Reflections upon the every way truly worthy,
himfelf and Reverend Biſhop Morley, what he chargeth him with is an
undoubted truth; that the Conclufion which he held without
Premiſſes to prove it was not only falfe but destructive of all Authority,
Humane and Divine, as not only denying all Power to the Church, of
making Canons Ecclefiaftical, for the better Ordering and Governing
thereof, but also taking away all Legislative Power from the King
and Parliament, and even from God himself; for that no act can be
So good of its felf, but it may prove by accident a fin, (his only
fubterfuge and Exception) and if to Command fuch an act may be a fin,
then every Command must be a fin: And if to Command be a fin, then
God can command nothing, because he cannot fin: and Kings, Parlia-
ments, and Churches, ought not to command any thing,because they ought
not to fin. All which is demonſtratively true; and I defire the A-
bridger to reflect who are the moſt competent Judges whether the
Commanding or forbidding a thing indifferent is like to occafion more
burt than good; the Governing Power, or fuch as fhould obey? If
every factious Allegation mult fuperfed the moft deliberate Efta-
bliſhments of Superior Powers, what will all Goverment come to ?
foon
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foon after Luthers death, ſeveral which paid him a due deference,
began to ſtart ſome Heterodox Doctrine of their own. Ofiander who
was gone from Noremberg to Pruffia, declar'd that Man was not
Fuftifi'd by Faith, but by the In-dwelling of Chrift, whether our Mo-
dern Sectarys took that Notion from him, I fhall not determine,
to be fure 'tis a common Cant among them. And fome Doctors
of Magdenberg, more efpecially Flaccius Illyricus; a hot headed
Slavonian, and much inclin'd to Enthufiafmes, charged the Divines
of Wittenberg and Leipfick, that their impofing Indifferent things
open'd a dore to Popery, laying down for a Rule, that all Rights
and Ceremonys though never fo indifferent in their own Nature, are
no longer fo if force, an Opinion of Holiness or Neceffity intervene,
neither indeed are they, but being indifferent in their own Nature,
hath not the Church power to fix them in order to its Edifi-
cation? Yet upon thofe that did fo, they fix'd the Nic-name of
Adiaphorifts. But every upftart Innovator, could not there com-
mand a Mob, and impofe his notions at pleaſure. For feveral
Citys, that is I prefume the Divines of them,fent to thoſe of Witten-
berg, and Leipfick, (where the Reformation began, and Lutber gene. Sled, 1.22
rally refided, ) more eſpecially Melangthon, for their Refolution
herein, who abundantly fatisfied them with the Reasonableness,
and Expediency thereof, and fo the Controverfy was at an end;
All Learned men as my Author faith, eſpecially in Saxony, condemn'd
their Opinions, and cenfur'd them for disturbing the Church at fo un-
Seafonable a time; but for nothing more than fo unworthily treating
Melangthon a man of fo much mildness and Learning. Thus we fee
how eafily any Controverfy may be decided, when men will attend
to Reafon and good Authority; for I do not find it was ever reviv'd
among them fince, whereas we have been quarreling upon the
fame Subject from Generation to Generation, and as far as ever
from a Conclufion; fince upon every State turn, they are forwarder
to get ground than yield any: I have already mention'd how little
the many Defolations they had brought upon Church and Kingdom
made them Relinquish thofe pernitious Principles, at the grand Re-
ftauration of Charles 2. and therefore no wonder if at the late Abridg of
Revolution when King William had taken the Crow, we find Dr. B Life p.
Bates Haranguing him to the fame Effect, in the name of all his 632.
Brethren, that he would Eftablish a firm union of bis Proteftant Subje&s
in matters of Religion, by making the Rule of Chriftianity to be the
Rule of Conformity: And a little further on; we do affure your Ma-
jefty, that we shall cordially embrace the Terms of union, which the
which the Ruling Wiſdom of our Saviour has preſcribed in his word,
I 2
what
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what a fardel of Univerſals is here? And how much of Dolus, of
fraud and deceit comprehended in it, where are the Terms of U-
nion to be found throughout the four Gofpels? Where any par-
ticular Rules prefcribed in the World? I can find none but the Gene-
ral Commiffion to the Apostles,as my Father fent me, even fo fend I you,
Fo. 2021
whofoever fins ye remit &c. Nay to what purpofe, was the Pro-
fo.16.13, mife of the Holy Ghoft. and the Mion according to the time
promifed, to guide them into all truth, if our Saviour had prefcribed
Mu.28.20 a Rule before his Afcenfion; and is not the fame Divine Spirit
tho' not in fo extraordinary a manner promis'd to all their Succef-
fors, the iono Overfeers, and Governors of the Flock even unto
the End of the World, the Confummation of all things? All which
had been the current Belief of the Catholick Church, till John
Calvin Reform'd from all that was Catholick.
And therefore to return the charge upon themſelves, I find this
allegation of having an Exprefs texts of Scripture for whatever
is done in the Church only made ufe of negatively againſt the
Romanists; Neither indeed could the People have been poffeft
with a more artful prejudice; this alone being fufficient to ex-
clude all Circumftantials of Religion, which among them, the
Romanists were too Numerous, and many of them, juftly exceptio-
nable: But for the pofitive part of Calvins own Establishments,
they have leſs of Scripture Authority, than any other whatfo-
ever, and when urg'd therewith, were forc'd to make ufe of
thoſe ſeveral fetches and Evafions I juſt now mention'd from · ·
Mr. Hooker, he was too wife a man, to have his Lay Elders pafs
for any other than a matter of Expediency; altho' his Bigotted
Followers among us, when they were got, or rather getting to
the Helm of Church Affairs in 45 and 46, their_two leading Claf-
fes in London, and Lancashire voted them Jure Divino, which was
no little furpriſe to all men of thought, that they ſhould run
down Epifcopacy as Antichriftian, and give a Company of Leathern
ear'd as well as Leathern apron'd fellows the Character of Divine
Right which undoubtedly belong'd thereto, then every body began
to cry out, the little Finger of Prefbitery would be heavier than the
Bifhop Loins. Nay their own Friends in that peice ofa Parliament
which had fo far fet them up, perceived their Aflumings, and were
refolved to let them go no further, for when the two Houfes had
Declar'd, that all Perfons guilty of notorious, and ſcandalous Offen-
ces, fhould be fufpended the Sacrament of the Lords Supper: The
Affembly likewife declar'd that these two Powers lay in the Eldership
or Prefbitery, and only in them: Whereupon the Commons defired to
know
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know what certain or particular Rules expreffed in the Word of God,
the Eldership or Prefbitery bad, whereby to direct themfeves in the
exerciſe or execution of thofe Powers? indeed their Powers were both
alike, a Rebell Sword, and thereby a Scifme, equally deftructive of
Soul and Body: In the mean while 'twas ſtrange their Zeal fhould
fo far blind their understandings, as not to perceive whilft they fo
earneſtly endeavour'd to eſtabliſh the rigors of Kirk and Covenant,
their Maſters the Commons refolv'd to keep them under, by a
Dutch Eraftianifme. And having mention'd the Covenant, I cannot
but obferve how pleaſant the Friendly Debate makes himſelf, as
to the point before us, for upon his Non. Cons. exclaiming a-
gainſt Ceremonys, how hard it was that things Indifferent fhould
be impos'd as neceffary, he makes it appear that there was no
leſs than five Ceremonys impos'd by the Ordinance which obliged
the taking thereof; for firft it was ordain'd, that during the time
the Minifters reads it, the whole Congregation fhould be uncovered
(which by the by, 'twas Superftition to be at Sermons) there
was one Ceremony. Secondly at the end of reading it they ap-
point that all fhall take it ftanding, there is another; Thirdly that
they lift up their Right Hand bare, which includes two more, firft
it muſt be the Right Hand not the Left, and then bare not cover'd
with a Glove; all which as they are very pofitive, fo no lefs
formal and Ceremonious as any one thing injoin'd by our Church,
neither indeed can any thing of that nature be done without
fome determination as to the Circumftantial part, the more unrea-
fonable their Cavils as to the Negative; whom therefore the
fame Author makes altogether like thofe St Paul cautions the col. 2.25
Coloffians to be wary of, forbidding them feveral things, which
under the Gospel Oeconomy, we are wholly left at Liberty to deter- 2. 15.
mine our felves, or be determined by thofe, who under God have
Authority to determine us; Touch not, taff not, handle not, kneel
not, pray not, wear not, &c. Make that neceffary not to be done.
which God never forbad; perfwade us that we dishonour him by
Doing, what he never commanded us to abftain from: This if
any thing is to burtben mens Confciences; judge them in respect of
Meat, and Drink, of an Holy-day, or a Sabbath day, vainly puff'd
up by their fleshly Minds. For 'tis from their lower Region of
their carnal appetites, all their pretended Intimacys and In-duellings
do arife, no Spirit really poffeffes them but that of Contradiction;
Scripture fhall ſpeak what they will have it, and no body elfe
have either Reafon or Religion to warrant them in whatever they
believe or do, by which means their New Lights, New Nothings,
1 3
are
1
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are in a foul tendency to exclude all Old Chriftianity, even to the
belief of what is reafonable, or practife of what is prudential: For
all the feveral degrees of Enthufiafme wherewith more or lefs
every Sectary is poffeft, are accompanyed with fuch an incorrigi-
ble Morofenefs, and fordid Scorn, of whatever is in juſt place, or
any other capacity above them, as the Teftimony and Judgment
of the whole Church; the Regular Authority of Governors, with the
Elaborate Searches and Expofitions, of the moft Pious, Learned and
Wife, in every fucceffive age, are no ways comparable to their
Illuminated Sence of Scripture, without the leaft fear, that their
unlearned, and unftable minds, may wreft them, as fome did in the
very Apoftles times, to their own Destruction.
4. What I fhall next Except againft, is their New Model of
Diſcipline, and Church Government; which however cry'd up for
the Ordinance of Jefus Chrift, the Pattern upon the Mount, ſo Di-
vine an Inftitution, as all that will not voluntarily, ought volun-
to be forced into a complyance therewith; yet as I obferv'd in
my laſt Exception, though they demand Scripture for whatever is
impos'd, more eſpecially upon a Religious account; in this fo
grand a point, Mr. Hooker appeals to his Followers here, with
us, to fhew one argument, Whereby it was ever prov'd by Calvin,
that any Sentence of Scripture doth neceſſarily inforce the fame, or any
of thofe other matters wherein their Opinions concur with his, againſt
the orders of our Church: And then Adds what a ſtrange thing
it is, that fuch a Difcipline as they speak of, should be taught by
Chrift, and his Apostles in the Word of God, and no Church ever
found it out, or received, it till that time: Whereas that the Go-
verment by Bishops as Superior to Prefbiters, is of Apoftolical In-
ftitution, we find no lefs demonftrable from Ecclefiaftical Records,
than that the Canon of Scripture is really and foly the Inspired
Word of God: All which hath been fo fully made out, more e-
ſpecially fince our Covenant Confufions gave it fuch an Antichrifti-
an Shock, as I fhall only mention Two or Three generals in
reference to its Scripture Authority, as 1. That it hath the Exam-
ple though not the diftinct precept of Chrift, who with the
twelve Apoftles, and the many other Difciples in the time of his
Refidence upon earth, Superior one to the other, are the Co-
py of which the Bishops, Prefbiters and Deacons, in the following
age were a tranſcript; who are therefore by St Ignatius, St. John
Contemporary, allowed to receive Honour, the Bishops as Chrift,
the Prefbiters as the Apoftles, the Deacons as the Seventy. 2. That
as far as concerns fuperiority of one Order to the other, (which
is
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is fufficient to eject the Prefbiterys equality) it is 'Authoriz'd by
facred Scripture practife, where it appears that when Judas fell
from the Dignity of being one of the Twelve, the Lot by direc-
tion of the Spirit, fell to Matthias who tho' before a Difciple of
Chrift, was not till then affum'd to the Apoftlefhip. Thirdly
fuppofing it to be in this manner Apoftolical, there is little co-
lour of reafon to doubt, but that the preferving it, is of as great
moment as many Doctrines of Christianity, not only becaufe many
Doctrines were not fo Explicitly delivered by Christ, but that they
needed further explicating by the Apostles, but alſo becauſe in
Gods Providence 'twas thought fit that Government fhould be fet-
led not by Chrift perfonally, but by the Apostles mediately from
him, and that they might not err in the Work, the Holy Ghoft
is promis'd to defcend upon them, and Chrift by that Power of
his to be with them to the End of the World, defending that
Rock on which his Church is built againſt all the Powers of Hell, and
Dominions of Darkness. This is as one ear from among the ma-
ny gleanings I have gather'd out of thofe great Worthys Hammond
Taylor &c. Who fo irrefragably maintain'd Epifcopal Right and
Antiquity, When the Tail of that great Dragon the Covenant had
caft down all the Stars in our Firmament. And here by no means
it muſt be omitted what a part our Royal Martyr Charles 1. bore
in this Controverſy, and how fucceſsfully he triumphed in main-
taining the fame. He was then at New-Castle in the hands of
the Scots, and they, with all their rough and rude treatments, not
able to prevail upon him to take the Covenant; fet the Coriphaus
of their caufe Henderſon to accoft him by argument; Where-
upon feveral Papers paffed to and again, between the King and
him, whereof take this account from a Country man of their own Hamis
now got into our Hierarchy, from theſe faith he, the Papers, it ap- 277.
pears, had his Majeftys Arms been as Strong as his Reasons, he had
been unconquerable, fince none have the difingenuity to deny the great
"advantage his Majefty had in all thoſe writings: And this was when
the help of his Chaplains could not be fufpected, they being far from
him, that is moft unchriftianly kept away, and as little help he
had from Books. And it is indeed ftrange to fee a Prince, not only
able to hold up with, but fo far out run fo great a Theologue in a
Controverfy which had exercis'd his Thoughts and Studys for ſo many
years. Thus far our Author in defence of the Royal Father, when
he made his firſt Court to the Son, or rather his Court.
Soon after Mr. Henderſon returned into his own Country and
as foon dy'd there, fome fay, under a great Conviction, and confe-
quently
Memoirs,
(64)
Se. High.
260.
"
quently Remorse, for thofe many Defolations, his mistaken Zeal had
fo much forwarded both in Church and ate, thought his own
Party were unwilling to own any fuct hing; for to Repent of
he Covenant is with them extremity
:
robation.
And being got into this Country, it will be a propo to ob-
ferve, that the firft fhock againſt the Right of Epifcopacy was
made there; (for that at Geneva was rather a Rebellion of the
Laity againſt the Bifbop, as their Temporal Prince; and tis faid that
Farellus offer'd him terms to retain his Biboprick if he
would Reform.) tis true there was a confultation held in the mi-
nority of King James, for fetling the Polity of the Church with great
regard had to Primitive Epifcopacy, and feveral Articles agreed upon
to Authoriſe the fame, according to a former draught, where the term
Superintendent was usd for Bishop, as in fome Lutheran Churches,
tho their Office was during Life, and their Power altogether Epifcopal,
as the Judicious Spotswood relates but Faction and Sacriledge were
no where fo ſtrongly united to oftruct any thing that was good,
as among them; and our Reverend Author goes on to tell us,
that about two years after, fuch Innovations began to break out in
the Church, as have kept it in continual unquietness ever fince,
Andrew Melvin who was lately come from Geneva, bot and eager
upon any thing he went about laboured with a burning defire
to bring into the Church the Prefbiterian Difcipline there &c. in
order whereunto he ingag'd a Partifan of his, John Dury, to pro-
propound a Question in an Affembly at Edenburg, touching the
Lawfulness of the Epifcopal function; feconded with a long haran-
ue from himſelf of the flourishing Eftate of the Church of Geneva,
and the opinions of Calvin and Beza concerning the Church, by
whoſe Authority and his own, Epifcopacy was fure to be run down,
as it hath been up, and down, ever fince, nor ever lower than
now, and how foon they may come to help it down here, God on-
ly knows, to be fure they are humored as much as that Excellent
Prince K. Ch 1. did 41, who among other ſtrange Condefcenti-
ons, gratify'd them the abolition of Epifcopacy, (which the Good
Man repented of to his Dying Day) and the fole return they made,
was to come with an Army two Years after,and force him to do the
fame among us; may it not therefore be now time to confider
what that Adage means, nocuit et nocebit?
ب
Thus did Melvin's attempt for a Parity in the Church take place,
to the great Scandal of all good men, and total Subversion of
whatever tended to a Regular Establishment, both in Church and
State, with unexpreffible mischiefs which follow'd thereupon.
Where-
(85)
Ratio
Wherein 'tis probable his Hot Head was the more violent, be.
cauſe His Mafter Beza had about that time Written His Trea-
tife, De Triplici Epifcopata, fpitefully enough and with more re-
gard to his own Prefidentfhip, than Ancient Practife. Whereas
all the firſt Reformers were Eifcopal, the poor oppreffed Waldenfes
had their Bishops continued, by an uninterupted Succeffon from Bifci, &c.
the Apoſtles times; and thither did the Fratres Bohemi fend three Bobe-
Minifters to be ordain'd, and continue the the Succeffion among marum.
them, as Comenius relates, who was one of that Order. What
Luthur did herein I have already mention'd, only give me leave
to add, that the whole Body of the Auguftan Confeffion declar'd,
they never fought that the Government fhould be taken from Bifbops,
but only defir'd, they would fuffer the Gospel to be purely taught, and
releaſe fome few Obfervances, which cannot be kept without fin. Cap.
7. de poteft. Ecclef. And in their Apology for the fame Confeffion,
This our defire fhall Excufe us both before God, and all the World,that it
may not be imputed to us, that the Authority of Bishops was taken a-
way by our means. So likewife for the Swifs, there is a famous
Letter extant in his Works, Written by Zwinglius himſelf, and ten
others of their Principal Reformers, to the Bishop of Conſtance, un-
der whoſe Jurisdiction they were, in all Humility, and Obfervance
beſeeching him, to favour, and help forward, their beginnings,
as an excellent Work,and Worthy of a Bishop; they call him Father,
Renowned Prelate, Bishop, they implore his Clemency, Wisdom, Lear-
ning, that he would be the first fruits of the German Bishops, to fa-
vour true Chriftianity, Springing up again. Here we find none of
thofe rude Reproaches and Covenant Celumnys, of Antichriftian
Prelate, Babylonish Idolater, &'c. but a Civil Addrefs, anfwerable
to that ftation the Perfon was in, from fuch as fincerely defir'd,
a general concurrence, for a thorough Establishment of Peace, U
nity and Truth. What Farellus proffer'd the Bishop of Geneva hath of Epifco.
been already mention'd; as likewife that had Calvin gone no fur- pt.2. ch.4.
ther, with his new Device, than neceffity forc'd him, all our great
High Church Divines difpenc'd therewith, even toDr. Heylin himſelf,
who declares that Bishops refusing to admit them into Holy Orders,
which was the publick Ordinary Door of Entrance into the Miniftry of
the Church, neceffity compell'd them at laft, to enter in by private ways,
and impoſe bands on one another. But as St. Auflin Complains that
he and his Fellows, for their many good Offices to the Donatifts, in-
ſtead of thanks, were return'd upon with moft violent beats of
Hatred, and Calumny, pro Gratiarum actione flammas meruimus odio-
The like returns have the Seperatifts made to every Conceffion
1:
rum.
K
from
(66)
from our Church, and Church-men, which muft pafs for matters of
Right, not Favour, and as fhall be hereafter fhown, will never be
quier till they have all; fubverted not only our Church, but Chrif-
tian Religion, its felf; to which their vio.ent oppofing, and tram-
pling upon this Sacred Order is a direct tendency; for Christ ha-
ving conftituted the fame in his Church, committing the care
thereof primarily and cheifly to their Superintendency and Govern-
ment, with as exprefs an injunction of our ready and devout Obedi-
ence, what a defperate hazard and Prefumption muft fuch men run
Fair War into, who can imagine, he ſhould humor them fo far, as to admit
ning,&c. of Extraordinary Courſes, comply with their private Conceipts and
12.
Newfangled devices, in oppofition to fo folemn an facred and Eſtabliſh-
ment. And 'tis not without fomewhat of juft indignation, the great
Brambal reflects upon the Kyrk Rigors to all Orthodox Clergymen,
they shall loofe faith be the Comfortable Affurance of an undoubted
Succeffion by Epifcopal Ordination; and put it to a dangerous queftion
whether they be within the pale of the Church. I fhall add further
what that Excellent Perfon Dr. Barrow hath declar'd herein, who for
cleerness of Judgement, and Candour of Mind, with a perfect com-
mand of all folid ufeful Learning, may pafs for one of the great
eft Men brought up in our Church, either during or fince the
time of that never enough to be abominated Rebellion, this Under-
fanding, Modeft, Charitable Perfon, had fo much Zeal for the Truth
of that Establishment, which our Church retain'd from Chrifts own
Inftitution, as in a publick Act at the University of Cambridge, to main-
this Pofition, Rejectio regiminis Epifcopalis, ubi habentur Orthodoxi, et
Legitimi Epifcopi, facit proprieSchifma Mortale. All which he fo cleer-
val.4 19. ly makes out, from Authority of Scripture, Ecclefiaftical Hiſtory, and
Ancient Fathers, as the firſt muſt be rejected, as well as the other
two, or the Doctrine acknowledged moſt certain. Whether the
Friend entrusted with fupervifing his Paper, before fent to the
Prefs, impartially confidered this, I fhall not Quere, but that his
Friends the Diffenters fhould make fo little of a mortal Scifme is a
inoft fad Confideration, as well in regard to the Church, as them-
felves, for that in the end it will be certainly found, an utter Ex-
cifion from the Mistical body of Chriſt,nothing less than Spiritual death,
without Means of Grace here, or any well grounded hopes of glory
hereafter.
5. My laft Exception relates to the Civil Power, to which it is no
lefs deftructive, than the former to the very being of Chriftian Re-
ligion, viz. That all Power is Originally founded in the People, and con-
fequently when the Magiftrate is defective in Reforming Church and
State
(67)
4. cap.20.
State, the others ought to affume the care thereof; the Prince
is no more than their Delegate; and if they approve not his Con-
duct, and Management, may take all under Correction for to
this height in a fhort time they brought it both in Principle and
Practice. Calvin doubtlefs, knew it was a very harsh Doctrine, and
Inftit. Lib.
would Alarm all Goverments with the Danger of being call'd in
queſtion by their Sovereign Lords the Mob. and therefore brought it
in at firft very flily, by a fide wind, for having difcours'd very well
in his Inftitutes of the Power of Princes and Duty of Subje&s, and
folidly urg'd the fundry arguments inducing thereto, as well
as advantages accrewing thereby; he comes at laſt with an
odd Reſtriction, De privatis hominibus femper loquor; and then
goes back to the Ephori, among the Lacedemonians, the Demarchi
at Athens, and Tribuni Plebis at Rome, about all which he is grofly
miſtaken, both in their Inftitution, and his own Application, which
he would have the fame with the Tres Ordines as were then in
France, and fomewhat like them in feveral parts of Europe, all
which were defigned ad Confulendum, not Coercendum,much lefs Re-
bellandum; and as thofe of old were very extravagant inftretching
their Powers, (eſpecially the Tribuni Plebis at Rome) to a frequent
hazarding the whole State, fo the many defperate Comments, and
Enlargements, Calvin's Followers made upon that little hint of his,
hath already produc'd many unexpreffible diforders in moft places
of Christendom, and no man knows what mifchief Pofterity may have
occafion to lament in fucceeding ages, for Beza fucceeding Calvin
in his Chair at Geneva, found or made fuch Partifans as they con-
cern'd themſelves in all the State Broils, throughout France, Flan-
ders, Scotland, indeed every corner of Europe, where they could
fcrew themſelves in, and find fit tempers to work upon.
In France, they met an unhappy opportunity of interefting them-
felves, where upon fome miſunderſtandings between the Crown and
Princes of the Flood, the Reform'd, who had made a Confiderable
progrefs in moft parts of that Kingdom, took in with the latter う
​whilſt a Holy League as they term'd it, (for fo is Religion generally a-
bus'd when engag'd in State quarrels) was carryed on by the Roma-
nifts, in oppofition to their Innovations, as they would have them.
What confufions, and Sacrilegious Defolations follow'd thereupon
what advantages they made, what Conceffions they obtain'd, would
make a large but fad Hiftory; tho' when Hen. 4. came to be right-
ful King,they could not be brought to affift, without impofing
terms_upon him.
In Flanders, the Nobles and Gentry which began, and carryed on
K 2
the
1
( 68 )
the Defection, were (except the Prince of Orange, who had neither
yet declar'd,) of the Remifh Perfwafion. But the Burgers, and Me-
chanicks, the Tooles they wrought with, were moft inclin'd to the
feveral new Lights then fet up, tho' the Calvinifts made up the
greater part, and were as forward as any in thoſe many villanous
Propbanations, and contemptuous Rudenelles (at Antwerpt more e-
ſpecially) towards all Sacred perfons and places, and when they
could not keep their ground there, the Prince of Orange fecured
them a retreat into the Neighbouring Provinces under his Govern-
ment; yet tho' he had declared himſelf non magis capite, quam corde
calvum, was never the lefs unwilling the affumings of their Difci-
pline, fhould exerciſe its Rigors as in other places, and therefore
with a Toleration of all other Perfwafions, he conftituted thoſe of
theirs to be foly in the Government, but managing it fo, as the
Civil Power, had fuch an Hook in the Nofe of their Ecclefiafticks,
as to force them their own way and pace. How little regard there
was of Religion herein, I fhall not fay, but fetting that afide, as it
hath been moft an end, &c. the Policy was admirable, and the
only expedient to reftrain that haughty Spirit of Prefbitery from the
many miſcheifs they have in all other places been the Authors of
And that upon this Reſtraint they were very angry with their Pa-
tron the Prince of Orange, I have from a very good hand, if De Wit,
be the Author of that late Book the Intereft of Holland, who tells us,
that when he was arrived at the higheſt pitch ofGrandure,they hated
and fpake injuriously of him, becauſe he was not kind enough to
them, and gave more Liberty to thofe of different Perfwafions,than
was pleafing to them, and things went fo far, that the principal
' and moſt refined of the Reformed Preachers, did in their Pulpits,
'openly exclaim against him, as an Atheift, and ungodly Perfon:
'And therefore in the year 1580, He found himſelf conſtrain'd
to move the States to make good and found Laws about Church-
• Goverment &'c. in the mean time he could very hardly maintain
'his power againſt thofe Ecclefiafticks, and kept it up only by his Nu
merous adherents&c. Thus we fee, that four felfwill'd ſet of men carri.
ed on the fame humor wherever they got footing,as pofitive in every
of their Determinations, as the Pope, or moft Rigid of his ſupporting
Orders; did any of our Church, (tho' not of Modern Eftablishment
as that was) make fuch a Clamor when the Civil Power thought
fit to indulge them a Tolleration? not in the leaft, only defired fur-
ther, that fince their turbulent Spirit cannot thereby be quieted;
ſome other courfe might be taken to fecure the Publick Peace and
if any of our Church, oppoſe fo reaſonable a Reftraint, of fuch
’
،
Una.-
(69)
unreasonable men, I cannot tell what to think in the Cafe, yet as
Solomons Infant Wisdom, foon diſcovered the pretended Mother,
from the Real, by her readineſs to have the Child divided; fo can
they be otherwife than pretended, Suppofititious Children, who can
yeild to have the Mother us'd in the fame kind?
Bafilion
Doron
This being their Temper, and Carriage on the main Continent, no
wonder if fuch of our Íſland as had been educated among them,
came home ting'd with the fame uneafy Difpofitions: What diftur-
bances Andrew Melvin made in Scotland hath been already rela-
ted. And King James found them more uneafy to him there,
than the Prince of Orange in the Low-Couutrys, and lefs able to
repel them; complaining, that the fmalleft questions about their Ec-
clefiaftical Difcipline, rais'd as great difputes as if the Holy Trinity'
was called in Question, England by the extraordinary vigilance,
and Refolution, of an Excellent Queen, efcap'd their Talons, at that
time, but her Succeffors Remiffness, let them get fo much Ground,
as they came by degrees to gripe her moſt confoundedly, and tho'
having fubverted our Establish'd Church, they found the Nations too
much Libertines, to be brought under their Confiftory Toak; yet
their Doctrine as to Subjection, hath met with Legions of Abettors,
the State Calvenift, thofe of the Commonwealth parity and party, are
more numerous than ever, and without doubt, pretend only to
ſerve the Crown, till a fit opportunity, of ferving it as before.
Thus we ſee how vexatious thefe people are principled to be, if the
Civil Power will not countenance their Ecclefiaftical Impofitions, for
as 1 mentioned juft now, Calvins little hint, de privatis hominibus-
&c. Was enlarged by Beza, and ſeveral of his Difciples, and fent
abroad to poyſon the World, in many dangerous and peftilent
Tracts fuch as Vindicia contra Tyrannos; De Jure,Magiftratus in fub-
ditos, & de Officio Subditorum in Magiftratus; Buchanan de Jure Reg
ni apud Scotos &c, with feveral English peices, by Knox, Goodman
Whittingham &c. directly tending to impower the People, to bind
their Kings with Chains and therr Nobles with Links of Iron; ro fub-
vert all due and neceffary Subordination, which they do not ap-
prove, and to compleat the character of Antichrift, oppofe and exalt
themfelves above whatever is called God. Dr. Brady by way of In-
troduction, to his Hiftory of the Succeffion: &c. giving an Account of
fuch Anthors as had directly afferted the Subjects Right and Power
to depofe, and punish Princes, returns very nigh, an equal number of 2Thef.24.
Papifts and Prefbiterians. The Notion was firft ftarted by a Mon-
kifh Schoolman, about the year 1400, who would have the people
fole Umpires, in theſe continued Quarrels,between the Emperor, and
1
K3
the
(870)
the Pope; feconded by three or four of his own Fraternity, and fo it
fell aſleep, as the Quarrel abated. But fince the Western Church be-
came divided into Popish, and Proteftant; the Jefuit, and Prefbiterian
ſetting up together;) for the Pope confirm'd Ignatius Loyola, and his
Followers into an Order; about the fame time John Calvin eſta-
bliſh'd himſelf at Geneva,) however feemingly oppofite, accord in
too many things, but more efpecially in making the People, their
propertys, to Subject the Prince the one to the Pope the other to
their Presbitery. Wherein likewife the formention'd Dr. obferves,
that the Romanifts, as Bellarmin, Svarez, Eftius, Mariana, &c. wrote
after the other Tracts, juft now mention'd,were printed: and Parfons
an Englifb Fefuit, fetting forth a Libel to invalidate K. James Suc-
ceffion to our Crown, borrowed all his materials from the foremen-
tion'd Geneva Brotherhood, more efpecially Buchanan de Jure Regni
&c. but then in return, moft of the fuggeftions, for the pretended
Tryal, and refolv'd upon Murther of K. Ch. I. were taken, both as
to words and matter, from the faid Parfons Allegations, even to Cooks
charge, and Bradshaws infolent Speeches; as indeed were thofe num-
berlefs Sheets of feditious, and Treafonable Pamplets, from 41 forward
taken out of the foremention'd Authors on each fide, even to Mil-
tons impudent Defence; with a Second to him, of later date, whofe
Spiteful look, fpake him as much an Apoftate to our Church, as his
Julian was to the Chriftian faith,
I had thought of continuing this parallel between theſe two Or.
ders, in many other particulars, but having been curforily done by
diverſe already, and as carelefly pafs'd by, unleſs an invective may
pafs, for a vindication, for fo I find that Worthy Author of Lyfima-
chus Nicanor was treated, by his Countrymen the Covenanters, and
all others of that gang, without daring to anfwer one fingle Para-
graph, or acquit themſelves from fo true, and therefore unjuftifi-
able a Charge, the like treatment Primate Bramhal met with for his
fair warning, &c. With every body elſe who dar'd to open againſt
their Dagon the Covenant, which yet I am not afraid to tell them,
was an exact parellel of the Jefuits Holy League in France, as the I-
rish Rebellion, fuch another Holy League was tranfcribed from their
Covenant Nemo tam prope procul; their Principles continually meet
and shake hands, at whatever diſtance their perfons remains; and
whoever is not thus perfwaded, muſt think the 30. Fa. 's moſt Ex-
ecrable Paricide, a lefs Reproach to the Geneva Proteftant, than the
5. Novemb. defign to the Roman Loyalifts.
But as no violent courſes last long, fo if we view this Febu Refor-
mation, it will be found at as low an Ebb now, as it had fwell'd it
felf
$
(71)
felf up to a Flood at firft. Yet in order hereunto, I muſt firſt take
notice, that moſt, if not all thoſe Churches which were Eſtabliſh-
ed according to Luthers Reform, continu'd ftill the fame, without
any confiderable encroachments from the Papifts, till very lately
the French, fool'd thofe of Stratfburg out of their Liberty, and
their Religion is gradually following. And that the Head of the
House of Saxony, (the firft fruits of Luthers labours, and his chief A-
bettors) fhould be guilty of fo grofs an Apoftacy, fuppofes an in-
differency to all Religion, and then any muft take place which will
ferve a turn, as this was for a Crown, which nevertheleſs hath fat
Itrangely tottering, ever fince it came upon his head, and may it fo
continue, and to all others fo acquired. Indeed I have heard feve-
ral complain that moſt of thofe Northern Princes have exchang'd
the ardent Zeal of their forefathers, for a kind of Laodicean Lukwarm
ness, what Spewings may follow thereupon, God of his mercy di-
vert. On the other fide I muſt further take notice that where the
Lutheran,and Calvenift had made their feparate Reformation in the
fame Kingdom, or Principality,) whether it was the mutual oppofi-
tion between them, or the no contemptible Policy their common E-
nemy, more eſpecially the Jefuit) they are both almoft, if not al-
together extirpated, as in Poland, Hungaria, Tranfilvania, Moravia,
Silecia, Bohemia, &c. in which laft it was none of the leaft misfor-
tunes attending that unthinking Prince the Elector Palatine, when
he affum'd the Crown, that the Calvenifts having got a King of their
own perfwafion, did fo difoblige the Lutherans, and Moderate Papifts,
who join'd with them in defence of their Civil Rights, that they
were deferted by both, and in fine totally fuppref.
Neither have they profper'd much better in feveral places where
they food, foly upon their own bottom. To begin with the Palati-
nates; the upper upon the Bohemia mifcarriage, fell into the hands
of the Duke of Bavaria, tob much begotted to Rome, not to extir-
pate, whatever was there Reform'd. And the lower hath been fome-
time in the hands two Popill Princes, which have hitherto carried
themſelves with a deal of temper and due regard to what the pre-
cedent Family had Eſtabliſh d; but when the French made their in-
curfions upon the Rhine, their Dragoons fell to a thorough Extir-
pation of all Harefy whatsoever; which that the Reſwick Treaty fhould
rather Confirm than, Redress, was an Omifion fomewhere, fuch a
thing in another Reign, how would our Diffenters have exclaim'd at ?
But the greateſt Shock this Reformation received was in France its
felf, where I heartily condole their Barbarous treatment, the many
harth and cruel Indignitys have been put upon them, and cannot
ima-
(72)
:
imagine how Reafon of State, much lefs pretence of Religion, fhould
fo tranſport Men as to become more unnatural than the moſt fa-
vage Beafts, yet looking up to heaven, may we not fear an Inqueft
from thence, upon the third and fourth Generation, for that Difo-
bedience, Rapin, and Sacriledge, whereby they were firſt Eſtabliſh'd,
with a Retaliation of Force upon thofe Laws which had been by
force obtain'd: And I am glad to find the moſt confiderable of
the Refugees, refign themſelves with an unfeigned Submiſſion to theſe
unfearchable Fudgments of the Almighty.
And now upon a Summary View, thefe many branches being
lop'd off, there remains fcarce any thing but the two Old Trunks,
of Geneva and Swifferland; for the Netherlands is a Hodg podg of
altogether, and tho' they are in the Eſtabliſhment, yet with fuch
an alloy of Eraftianifme, as the power of their Prebiterys, the Life
and Soul of Calvinifme, muft not here be thought of. And for the
Scotch Kyrk, there is nothing of the Old Covenant rigors but among
the Cameronians, all the reft are Right down Libertines and Eutbu-
fiafts, without any thing but a Negative Religion, no Epifcopacy by
any means, that they are refolv'd to perfecute with the utmoſt in-
humanity, and even out do the French Dragooners. And here in
England,after all the Buffles they have made, and Confufions they have
been the occafion of, are forc'd to Herd with the reft of the Diffen-
ters, and become one Stick with them; which is a very rotten one
too, without either Beauty, or Bands, Order, or Government: they led
the People wrong at firft, who have fince found out fo many new
Leaders and other by ways, as inftead, of following their fancys, as
formerly, the People are become refty, will have their own Fancys
humor'd, or betake themſelves to another Guide, the juft fate and curfe
of all Religious Lunacys, and Newfangled Devices, which will proceed
their own heads without due regard and veneration to Pri-
upon
mitive Catholick Truths,they feldom fail of making a blaze for a while
but go out in Snuff, and are Recorded to Pofterity, for fuch troublers
of the Chriftian World, as turn Religion into Rebellion, and Faith in
to Faction.
}
}
THE END.
{
A N
Hiltozical Account
O F
Comprehenfion,
AND
TOLERATION.
A N
Histozical Account
O F
Comprehenfion,
AND
TOLERATION.
From the Old PŲ RITAN to the New
LATITUDINARIAN; with their continued
Projects and Defigns, in Oppofition to our more
Orthodox Establishment.
PART. II.
Cafaub. Exercit. in Baron. Præf.
Cupiditas Novandi; has fecum mala femper trahit, Chrifti incon-
futilem tunicam Lacerat, Sectas Novas parit; & ftatim Multi-
plicat, Ecclefiam & Populum concutit, &c.
Liv.
Nec morbum ferre poffumus, nec Remedium.
LONDON: Printed for J. Chantry, at Lincoln:-Inn-Back-Gate, and
Church Simmons, Bookfeller in Nubury. 1706.
PRICE One Shilling and Six-Pence.
( 1 )
An Hiftorical Account of Comprehenfion,
and Toleration, from the Old Puritan,
to the New Latitudinarian, &c.
W
Hether the precedent account of thoſe Foreign
Novelties, Erroneous Doctrines, and pernicious
Principles, be fo Trivial, and Inconfiderate as the
Diffenters would in this Juncture perfwade the
World, I leave to every Impartial Readers Judgment, for
doubtless it muſt ſeem very strange, that fo folemn a Conftitu-
tion as our Church, fix'd upon fuch mature Deliberations, fhould
be prostituted to the Cavels, and Clamours of every felfwill'd
Opiniator; without either Scripture, Reafon, or Antiquity,
for any thing demanded; yet this hath been their continued
Out-cry from the very firft; all Conceffions must be on our fide,
till the Church is made no lefs deformed, than the Painter did
that Picture, which he altered upon the Caprice of every By-
ftander; whereas confidering the uneasiness of their Tempers,
and Perverfenefs of their Spirits, made up altogether of Con-
tradiction, we ought to have remonftrated the grand defects on
their fide, and been, with much more reafon, as pofitive
in our Truths, as they in their Miſtakes. I am fure Solomon Pro.6.14.
tells us, that such as walk with a froward mouth, and froward
heart, (which feldom walk afunder) devife mifchief, and for
difcord continually, as we have found fadly verified thefe hun-
dred and fifty years, The unhappy fubject of this Third Section;
to how that they have been as unwearied in their attempts, and
more fuccefsful in their accomplishments, than thofe Pepifts they
inveigh fo much against, and upon that account,both are equal-
ly to be eſchemed.
B
III. The
!
(2)
SECT. III.
The first and most confiderable oppofition, I meet with of
this nature, in Ed. VI. Reign, is of Bishop Hooper, who was no-
minated to the See of Gloucester, and willing enough to receive
the Charge, but having lived a long while at Zurick in the
time of Hen. VIII. where there was little or no diftinction of
Apparrel, either Sacred or Civil, refus'd to wear fuch Robes at
his Confecration, as were required of him by the Rules of our
Church; upon this Archbishop Cranmer, makes a ftop of his
Confecration, and as all great men ought, would not yeild to
diſpute upon the reafons of his Difobedience; and tho' he had.
made an intereft in Duály, then got to be Duke of Northum-
berland, and controull'd all; nay obtain'd the King's Letter for a
Difpenfation, Cranmer weighing the importance of that ill Ex-
ample, and Remonftrating the fame, to the others great friends,
he was left to himſelf, and continuing in his Obstinacy, com-
mitted a Priſoner; from whence his Friends abroad, John Cal-
vin,&c.being as little able to reſcue him, as thoſe at home; in
the end he comply'd not without an acknowledgment. Among
his other friends Peter Martyr, tho' no ſtiff afferter of our Rites
in other cafes, tells him plainly as to this, That fuch needlefs
fcrupulofity would be a great hindrance to the Reformation, for
faith he, fince the People are with difficulty enough brought to things
neceffary, if we once declare things indifferent unlawful, they will
have no Patience to hear us any longer, and moreover hereby we
condemn other Reformed Churches, and thoſe Ancient Churches,
Vareas. of which have hitherto been in great esteem. And therefore Biſhop
Sep. 17.&c. Stilling fleet tells us, from whom I had this paffage, That next
to the taking up Arms for Religion, which made Men look on it
as a Faction and Defign, There was fcarce any thing gave so great
a Check to the Progrefs of Religion in France, especially among
Learned and Moderate Men, as the putting no difference between
the Corruptions of Popery, and Innocent Customs of the Ancient
Church, for the time was, continues he, when many great Men
there, were very inclincable to a Reformation, but when they faw
the Reformers oppose the undoubted Practifes of Antiquity, equally
with the Modern Corruptions, they caft them off, as Men Guilty
of an unreasonable humor of Innovation. Thus far that Learned
Prelate, with much more in defence of thofe few. Determina-
tions our Church have made as to indifferent things, for his uni-
verfal·
•
(3)
verfal reading condefcended fo far as to confult and refell the
meaneft cavils of the moft contemptible Setary, did they
not lye under the fame Curfe with the Pharifees, that hearing Mat. 13.
they fhould hear, but not understand.
1.4.1
Our Bishops, particularly Cranmer and Ridly, for they more
efpecially appear'd in the bufinefs, carrying their point fo re-
folutely againſt Biſhop Hooper, and his Abetters, is the firftin-
ftance of a true High Church Spirit, in our Reformation; and if
any will alledge it had been better to have carried it with
more moderation, the Common Cant now in vogue, I muſt return
upon them, whether it was not much more jnftifiable, than
Mr. Calvin's vigorous profecution of his Decree againſt Danc-
ing, altho' in the one as well as the other, being once conftitu-
ted, and that too in matters indifferent, the Moderation is to be
exercis'd by the Parties Governed, not Governors, fo far to fup-
prefs their fropish conceits, as to walk by the fame Rule, and
mind the fame thing. To be fure among us, there was more
than ordinary occafion, in that Jun&ture, for a ftrict hand in
fuch cafes, fince most of our Divines, who fled abroad in the
precedent Reign, return'd home with thoſe Foreign Prejudices.
I cannot but mention how extravagantly ridiculous one was
in his contradicting humor, preaching at St. Paul's Crofs, That
the names of Churches should be altered, and thofe of the days of Hyl. Hift.
the week changed, That Fish-days ſhould be kept on any others, of Refl.
than Frydays and Saturdays, and Lent at any other time than 93.1
between Shrovetide and Eafter; nay John Stow tells us further of
the fame Perfon, Sir Stephen, he calls him, Curate of St. Cathe-
rines Chrift Church, that he had feen him leave the Pulpit, and
Preach to the People out of an high Elm, and returning into
the Church again, he left the Altar and Jung the Communion
Service on a Tomb of the Dead, with his face towards the North,
to fuch wild fancies do men grow, faith my Author, when once
they break thofe Bounds, and neglect those rules, which wife Anti-
quity ordain'd for prefervation of Peace and Order.
ร
But thefe impertinent fquabbles were fadly filenc'd by the
death of that excellent Prince King Edward; whofe Succeffor
Queen Mary, reſtoring the Romish Superftitions, made Fire
and Fagot their Arguments, an infallible way of Converting Men,
either to be what they would have them, or to what they ori-
gnally came from, Duft and Ashes. Several of the most emi-
nent of the Reformers, under went that Fiery Tryal; others ef-
caped into Foreign Parts, and took up their Abodes at Frankfort,
B 2
Stras
( 4 )
Strasburg, Geneva, &c. where it might be expected they fhould
have regularly kept up our establish'd Liturgy abroad, for which
fo many were Frying at home, but the fore-mentioned Leven
which fome brought home from thence before, we may pre-
fume would Ferment afrefh, when got into the fame Climate a-
gain, which it foon began to do, and that first at Franckfort.
Where William Wittingham a learned Man, who after an inge-
nious Education at Oxon, had ſpent feveral years among Fo-
reign Proteftants, was but a little while fix'd at home, but the
turn of Affairs, forc'd him back again, and taking up there at
Franckfort, with feveral Affociats, became, at their requeſt I
prefume, a kind of Paftor among them, but inſtead of our Li-
turgy devis'd a mix'd form of his own, parte par pale, taking
what he thought fit, out of the one, adding moreover the
great improvements of his better Conceptions; thus it continu-
ed for fometime, till John Knox a turbulent Scot, continually in-
termedling with all Affairs of Church and State whereever he
came, and by that means having made Geneva too hot for him,
took refuge at Frankfort, and was eaſily complemented into the
Officiating Duty there, and whether by confent or not, imme-
diately laid afide, whatever was retain'd of the English, with
a preference to the Geneva Order, tho' fo much differing, as
in the whole it might paſs for his own device.
The news of this Innovation coming to their more ſteady
Countrymen at Strasburg, they firft fent Grindal and Chambers,
to upbraid them with fo fcandalous an Apoftacy, but being
cafie Men, (as the former appear'd, when after his return, he
arrived at the heigheſt Poſt in our Church) they wheedled
them of with an Appeal to John Calvin, whereupon Dr. Cox,
One of the Compilers, Dr. Horne, and others of Note, and
Quality, were fent thither, by whofe prefence and authority,
the English Liturgy was brought again into ufe, and practiſe;
which when Knox began to rail at in a Publick Sernion Cox ac-
cufed him to the Senate there, for his defamatory Libels againſt
the Emperor, and other Crown'd Heads, which forc'd him to
fcamper back to Geneva, as the fecurer Afylum, whether feve-
ral of his Peevish Fraternity follow'd, I have mention'd this fo
generally known pafläge, not to inform the Reader, but to
carry on the thread of my relation, and withall to fhew how
gradually they carried on the thread of their factious oppofitions,
for as they began at home with throwing off the Habits us'd
in the Office, fo here they were for fetting afide the Office its
ſelf,
}
(5)
•
felf, and in the fame manner went on by degrees to fub-
vert the whole Establishment, as, will appear in the next
Reign.
For upon Queen Marys death, her Sister Elizabeth fucceeded
to the Crown without the leaſt oppofition, and this we may
be fure brought all the Exiles home with the utmoſt expedi-
tion, where the Zealous Brotherhood found thoſe of their own
warm difpofition, who had fculk'd all the while in England to
have anticipated Authority, in beginning the Reform of them-
felves, defaceing Images, throwing down Alters, &c. Preaching
firſt in houſes privately, afterwards publickly in Churches, great
multitudes of People reforting to them without Rule or Order,
A la mode Geneva, which the Queen not liking, prohibited by
Proclamation all Innovations of the State of Religion till otherwife
appointed, and that none should prefume to Preach, but what were
Licens'd by Authority. And had thofe forward Undertakers
been in any degree Masters of true Thoughts, they muſt have
confidered, that the Roman Rites were at preſent the Legal E-
ftablishment, and that the Queen was not yet Crown'd,which too,
could not be legally done but by one of lofe Bishops, who had
caball'd fo clofely to the contrary, that but one, with much
difficulty, was prevail'd upon to perform the Office, with fe-
veral other weighty affairs which required cooler Councils, than
their hot-heads were willing to wait for.
In the mean while a fet of more fteady Churchmen were
Commiffion'd to review the Liturgy, and a Parliament call'd
which confirm'd that, with feveral other Ats, which put the
Queen into a Legal Capacity of fetting afide the Romish Superfti-
tions, and all fuch of that Clergy, as would not own her Su-
premacy, for by that Teft it was to be known, who were Hers,
who the Popes Subjects. And being thus fix'd, fhe then took
care to re-establish the English Reformation, to the great regret
of the Romanifts, and reproach of all Foreign Undertakings in
that kind. Yet the pre-poffeffions many of ours brought from
thence and propogated here, hath been a continual Goad in
our poor Churches fide more or less ever fince: For tho' upon
this great turn, none of them were confulted in fuperviz fing
the Liturgy, or if any that way inclin'd, as by fome palages
in a forementioned Letter we are held in hand, they had
more difcretion than to difcover their Prejudices, in a matter
which had nothing elfe but Modern Precedents, in oppofition
to the Preferiptions of all precedent Ages, fince Chriftianity
A
began
(6)
began. This notwithſtanding that they had little or no hand
in the Settlement, yet as to the Minifterial part there was too
great occafion for them, by reafon of the many vacancies which
the Popish Party left, both in Cathedral, and Parochial Churches,
with feveral others deftitute before, there was a kind of ne-
ceflity to imploy them, as being fufficiently oppofite to Popery,
and their Abilities in Divine and Humane Studys, as able as moft
to make good that oppofition; upon this account I fay many
not difcovered in their Difaffection, and others known to be
fo, were advanc'd to confiderable Dignities, with greater
numbers to Country Cures.
Wherein no fooner fix'd, but they began to revive their
Cavils as in King Edwards Reign, firft at the Habits of the Cler-
gy, then at the Ceremonies, and fo on Negatively to the Li-
turgy; before they came poffitively to affert the neceffity of
their Difcipline, which yet foon follow'd and would be con-
tinually appealing or making their complaints to Peter Mar-
tyr, Calvin, Beza, with their other Foreign aquaintance, and
they as forward to interpofe on their behalf, without obtain-
ing more than a Civil anfwer, and a truer information of the
matters they complain'd about, with the unreaſonableneſs of
their obftinacy, and oppofition: And fince it appeared, after
all, 'twas impoffible to reclaim them by any amicable means;
the Bishops and others of her Majefties Ecclefiaftical Commiffi-
oners, refolved upon fuch other courfes,as the Law impower'd
them unto, to which purpoſe there were ſeveral Books of Orders,
Advertisments, Injunctions and Articles published, and a regular
procedure thereupon,in making fome of the moft refractory,fig-
nal Examples; Sampfon being turn'd out of the Deanary of Ch ft
Church for an incorrigible Non-Conformist, and Hardiman from his
Prebend of Westminster,for throwing down the Altar,and defac-
ing the Veftments of that Church, with feveral others thorough-
out the whole Kingdom: For as the Faction, fome of them
at leaſt, feem'd Irreclaimable; fo the Government was refolv'd
to let them find it would not be dallyed withall. And thus
it continued during Archbishop Parkers prefiding in the See of
Canterbury, about 15 years, who all that time kept up the Dif
cipline of the Church to its just height, without stretch or re-
miffion; and that height I take to be the juft denomination of
a True-Churchman, having known none in thoſe. Pofts go higher,
I wish I could fay go lower too, yet are we not going now
every day lower than other.
Which
(7)
Which fatal compliance of thofe in power, firft began with
his Succeffor Grindal, who either through Remiffness, Affection
or both, fuffered the Rains of Difcipline and Government, to
lie moſt Scandaloufly loofe, without the leaſt Check or Reftraint,
the truth of it is, having liv'd feveral years beyond Seas in
friendſhip with thoſe there; and by a continued Correſpondence,
much carreſs'd, upon his Gradual Advances to London, York
and Canterbury, his eafie difpofition was eaſily prevail'd upon,
to gratifie them in every requeft, without due care of fo
ftrict a Guard, in reference to himſelf, and others, as his
Province requir'd in a General, as well as particular fence: But
not to inſtance in the feveral Encroachments he fuffered them
to make, which at this diſtance is next to impoffible, there
was one he ſeem'd more eſpecially to countenance,and promote,
an exerciſe they term'd Prophefying, pretended (as all Innova-
tions must be guilded over with fomething of great advance to
Religion) for increafe of Piety in the Profeffors of the Gospel,
the improvement of their Gifts, &c. but intended, at leaftwife
perverted to the furtherance of their Holy Difcipline, which
they carried on fo far, as hereupon first to fet up their Claf-
fical and Sinodical Meetings. 'Twas fome years before the
Queen canie to the knowledge of this, but when ſhe did, was
much ſtartled at it, and having ſeriouſly weighed all the in-
conveniencies which might thence enfue,fent for Grindal,reprov-
ed him for fuffering fo greatan Innovation to be obtruded on the
Church, and charg'd him to ſee it forthwith fuppreft.
He on the otherude,was fo prejudic'd in the matter,a❤ to write
to the Queen, a long tedious Letter in juftification thereof, with
fome ſerious Reflections upon her intermedling with what belong-
ed to Churchmen, proffering rather to refign his Charge than
comply: The Queen perceiving the Man both weak and willful;
and being farther inform'd, what a neglect there was of the
Publick Liturgy throughout the Kingdom, with many other
Innovations already made, and more projected, tending fome
of them to eaſe her of all Ecclefiaftical Furifdiction, by tranflating
it into their Confiftories; took him at his word, and fequeftering
his Archiepifcopal Power, appointed Four Suffragans of that Pro-
vince, to take care thereof. Although it was thought his
fall would not have been fo fuddain, nor fo great, had not
the Earl of Leicester, otherwife a great Patron of the Puritans
been difoblig'd by him, for refufing to Alineate his goodly
Houſe and Manner of Lambeth, to that Sacrilegious Favourite;
withi
(8)
with another as unjuſtifiable a Request; a fufficient caution for
any Churchmen to become Properties to, or according to our
new term, Trim with Great Men, or ingage with any of their
Party making Factions, for if they will not go on, as their
humor or intereft requires to the utmoft Extremity, though
it be to the Churches Ruin, none fhall be fo forward to further
theirs.
i
'Tis impoffible to imagin how much ground the Faction got,
during the five years of this Prelates weak, or to uſe another
new Term, Low Adminiftration, as the Queen with great con-
cern exprefs'd her felf to Archbishop Whitgift, when the nomina-
ted him to fucceed upon his death, (which that Great Good Man,
could not be prevail'd upon to take before, tho earneſtly im-
portun'd, fome fince have not been fo tender in their Refpects,
I will not fay Confciences) declaring how fenfible fhe was into
what diforders Church Affairs were fallen, by the conivance
of fome Bishops, Obstinacy of fome Minifters, and power of fome
great Lords both in Court and Country, notwithstanding all
which, he ſhould want neither countenance or encouragment for
the carrying on fo great a work, and indeed none but a perfon
of his Deep Judgment, managed with a Patience and Refolution
equally invincible, could have ftem'd fo ftrong a Tyde, as for
more then twenty year's continually Beat upon him, or rather
the whole Church, eſpecially the Ten formoft, for the Facti-
on having given out their Admonitions and fram'd their Difcipline,
Hook. Pref. grew to impudent as to threaten, that if the Government would
fo
not affifthem in the Establishment thereof, it should be done whe-
ther the Queen and Stare would or not; infinuating how many
Thousands their party confifted of,(now they are come to Legions)
and if not comply'd with, fuch courfes fhould be taken, as
fhould make all their hearts ake. All which infolent demands,
as they were continued feveral years together, fo never more
impudently, than in that formidable year 88. when the Nation
was terribly threatned with a Foreign Invafwn,as if they,no lefs
than the Papists were of confederacy with the Spaniards, and
the Queen proceeded accordingly, confining the bufieft of
them in Wisbitch Goal,where feveral of thofe of the other par-
ty were likewife fecured. But fo foon as that Storm was over,
refolv'd upon more Effectal Courſes, to fupprefs them both,
having Experimentally found, what the Lord Keeper Puckering
was ordered to declare in open Parliament,that no Ear be given,
nor time afforeded to the wearifom follicitations of those that commonly
be
(9)
be called Puritans, wherewithall the laft Parliaments have been ex-
ceedingly importun'd, which fort of Men, whilft in the guiddinefs
of their Spirit, they labour, and ſtrive to advance a new Elder-
fhip, they do nothing else but disturb the good repofe of the Church,
and Commonwealth: And as the cafe stands, it may be doubted,
whether, they, or the Fefuit do offer more danger, or be more
Speedily to be redress'd; with much more to the fame purpoſe.
Whereupon fuch Laws were Enacted, and fo regularly executed,
as the Pragmatical humour of that Haughty Faction could never
take head, or get up again; The watchful eye, and steady hand
of this great Prelate, with the continued countenance of his
Royal Mistress, (who was Mistress of a Refolution too, not
common to her Sex) took fuch care, as never to be troubled
more, in their time, with that Vexatious Generation of Men,
which had been fo uneafie to the Government before, and Fa-
tal fince..
>
And here it would be a great piece of Injustice to the memory
of that Excellent Queen, fhould we omit to take notice, that the
moſt confiderable Law at this time made to fupprefs the Pa
ritan Diffenters, (the Papists were the other, and there were
other Laws for them) was that fo much inveigh'd againſt 35.
Eliz. Which the Bishop of Sarum, in his Speech upon the Bill
againft Occafional Conformity, is pleas'd to term a Severe Act.
and with its Concomitant Punishments a great blemish on her long
and glorious Reign. Her kind treatment of the Papists, is ano-
ther blemish he is pleafed to charge her withall; whereof
fome few perfonal kindneffes can be no Argument, if we confi-
der the many Mulets upon, and Forfeitures of their Eftates
was a very confiderable Branch of that fmall Revenue, fo
prudently manag'd by her felf and Minifters: And there is
fcarce an Ancient Family of that perfwafion, which is not fen-
fible thereof to this very day. Now that two fuch charges
as thefe; fhould drop from the Lipps, and be publifh'd from
the Pen of his Lordship, must be very furpriſing to any perfon,
who reflects upon what his Lordship in his Hiftory had publiſh'd
before, with how great Temper and Moderation that wife Prix-
cefs proceeded in reference to both thoſe Parties, fo long as
either of them kept within any fuch Bonds: And that In-
comparable Letter of Secretary Walfingam, which his Lordship
fo highly vallu'd, as to make it the clofe of his whole Work,
exactly ftates the whole progrefs of her Proceedings, and that
nothing of feverity was us'd, till they began to Vaunt of their
C
Strength
(ro)
Strength and Number of their Partifans, and to use Cominations
that their Cauſe would prevail through Uproar and Violence. And
let any Judicious perfon read that Letter Impartially, and
then declare whether the Puritan is not as feverly charg'd as
the Papift, even thofe Seditious Priests of a new Extraction, as
his term is, the Jefuit; and thus, we found the Lord Keeper
Puckering, put them in the fame Clafs, and if they perfevere
ought to meet with the fame Noofe. The account this Secre-
tary gives of the Latter, the Puritan, is the more remarkable,
becauſe he was a long time, look'd upon as a Patron and Abettor
of theirs, till their Demure Looks and Precife Words, were rea-
dy to break out into Overt Acts and Publik Diftractions. To
which I fhall add another paffage which could not but much
difguft him, for when upon their inceffant Clamours and Impor-
tunities, not without Threats too, fome of the Lords of the
Council (whether with the Queens privity or not is not, faid, )
thought of giving up thofe three Ceremonies they moſt bog-
gled at, and made greateft exception against. Kneeling at the
Sacrament, the Surplice, and Crofs in Baptifme; Secretary Wal-
fingam was appointed to make the Propofal to fuch of their
Chiefs as he knew to be fo, that if they would allow and
make uſe of the English Liturgy, thofe Three offenfive obstacles
fhould be removed; whereto they fcornfully reply'd in the
words of Mofes, Ne ungulam effe relinguendam, they would not
leave ſo much as a hoof behind. Which might denote, not
only their rejection of the whole Liturgy, but they would have
moreover an Eſtabliſhment of their Difcipline too; to be fure.
this their Peremtory answer did much alienate the affection of
this their old Friend, as he afterwards affirm'd to Mr. Knew-
Hift. of Stubs who told it to Dr. John Burges, from whofe Pen my
Presb.
pag. 265.
Author had it..
The Lord Treafarer Burleigh likewife, who was too open
ear'd to their many teadious importunities, became at laſt
wholly coold, by finding how little accord there would be
among themſelves, upon any Conceffions yended to by our
Church, whereof he had this full confirmation, from the four
Claffes, which in thofe early days they had fet up here in
this Kingdom. Thefe had made Complaint to the Lord
Burleigh against our Liturgy and entertain'd hopes of ob-
taining his favour in that bufinefs, about the year 1585.
he demanded of them, whether they desired the taking
away of all Liturgy, they anfwered, No, he then required
"them
..
C
1.
*;
(
( II )
them to make a better, fuch as they fhould defire to be
• fetked instead of this. The firft Claffis did accordingly
• frame a new one, fomewhat according to the Geneva
• form. But this the fécond Claffis difliked, and altered in
600 particulars that again had the fate to be quarrel'd by
the third Claffis : And what the third reſolv'd on by the
fourth. And the diffenting of thofe Brethren, as the Di-
viſion of Tongues at Babel, was a fair means to keep
that Tower then from advancing any higher. This I have
• from that Great Goodman Dr. Hammond in his view pag. 132.
of the new Directory: which the Hiftorian now mention'd
takes notice of, and compares the Stratagem of the Lord
Treaſurer, to that of Pacavius, with the people of Capua
when they had fecur'd, and refolv'd to Murder all their
Senators, he agreed feemingly with their Refolution, but de-
fir'd them to refolve firſt, whom they would have in their
places, wherein coming to no accord, the old ones not only
Jav'd their Lives, but continued in their places.
L
2
That this great Man, upon further Infults and feditions
threatnings became more and more alienated from them,
appears by his advice to her Majesty, mentioned in my
Preface to the firft part, which I prefume was followed in
promoting that formidable Act 35. and other strict procee-
dures, to fuch real earneft, that Udall and Penry two of
their boldeſt Libellers were fentenc'd to Death, which the
latter actually fuffered, the other what with Shame and
Sorrow died heart broken in Prifon: The terror whereof
put the rest of their party into fuch a Panick fear, as they
all put on Sheeps-cloathing; and continued the remainder
of that Reign, as innocent as Lambs.
To this happy calm were thoſe Turbulent Spirits reduc'd,
at King James's coming to the Crown;
to the Crown; but immediately
upon that change, the Faction fell to their old Licentious
Extravagancy, whether prefuming on his Education in the
Kirk of Scotland; or the eafinefs of his Difpofition, the fatall
misfortune of that good natured family; from whence foever
it was, to befure they began in feveral places, to omit
the Common-Prayer, lay afide the Surplice, neglect the Ce-
rembries, and more than fo, held fome Claffical and Synodi-
cal meetings as if the Laws themfelves, according to my
Authors Obfervation, had died when the Queen Expired, how-
ever thoſe diſorders were reprefs'd by Proclamation, prohi-
C 2
biting
1
( 12 )
:
biting any to. Innovate either in. Doctrine, or Diſcipline, tid
the King upon mature deliberation, should take order in it, others
more cautiously addrefs'd themselves by Petition, upon fome
the most plaufible of their Exceptions; against what our
Ecclefiaftical Conftitutions required their Conformity, hereupon
followed the Hampton Court Conference, a Condefcenfion Queen
Elizabeth would never yield to, though often importun'd;
knowing full well, how much it tended to the Ruin of all
Government, that matters once established in due form of Law
Should be made fubject to disputes, as King James likewife declar'd
in a Proclamation, fet forth when this debate was at an end,
but either for his own fatisfaction; or to show his great Abi-
lities, and right apprehenfion, of thofe controverted matters he
condefcended thereunto. Some particulars of this Learned
Debate I have already mention'd, and were it not for fwelling
thefe papers into too great a Bulk, fhould take notice of fe-
veral more, as much to my fübject; but as it was there ob-
ferv'd, their Objections were fo ftale and fo often answered, as
the time imploy'd in a further reply would be all mifpent.
However the Faction according to their wonted tho no lauda-
ble practife, fent abroad fo many falfe Reports, and right
down Lies, as to what there pafs'd, that a Reverend Dean
of that Aſſembly was oblig'd to print a Summary Account or
Abridgment of the feveral matters then tranfacted, which
fhall not be further taken notice of here, for the reafon al-
ready given; only let me remarke what King James decla-
red in a Proclamation fet forth at the clofe thereof.
ļ
€
fue
Where we are told, That the fuccefs of that Conference was
Juch as happeneth to many other things, which moving great
Expectation before they are entred into, in their Hine pre-
duce small effects; That he found mighty and vehement infor-
mations, fupported with fuch weak and flender proofs, as it ap
pear'd unto him and his Council, There was no cause why any
change fhould be in that which was most oppugned, namely the
Book of Common-Prayer, containing the Publick Service of God
here Eftablish'd, nor in the Doctrine, which appear'd to be fincere,
nor in the Forms and Rites which was juſtifi'd out of the Pra-
&tife of the Primitive Church, &c. And then concludes as I
mentioned juft now, with the many inconveniencies which
arife in Government, by admitting Innovations in things once
feiled by mature deliberation; and how necessary it was to uſe
conftancy in the Publick Determinations of all States For that
faith
(13)
faith he, fuch is the unquietness and unfteadfastnefs of Tome
difpofitions, affecting every year new Forms of things, as if
they should be followed in their inconftancy, would make all A-
Etions of State Ridiculous and Contemptible; whereas the ftedfaft
maintaining of things by good advice eſtabliſl'd, is the preſerva-
tive and Weal of all Publick Government. Soon after this
Conference Archbishop Whitgift died, fucceeded by Bancroft of
London, who carried on Church Affairs, in the fame uniform
courfe as the other. But the Popish Gunpowder Treafon
breaking out, fo terrifi'd the King, that turning all his
thoughts upon them, the Puritans were fuffered to take breath,
and gain ftrength withall, to counterpoife the others; againft
whom they appeared moſt violently Zealous; tho' foon after
that Zeal was no lefs violently turn'd upon himself, and
Succeffor; for fomewhat of more countenance fhewn to the
other fide, as hath been already touch'd on; thus unhappily
were affairs manag'd then, and more than once fince; that
theſe two parties like a pair of Bucketts, when the one went
down the other was taken up again, whereas the true policy
had been, to have kept them both underwater.
་
Another thing which gave an incurable Wound to our
Church in that Reign, was Abbott's fucceeding Bancroft in thei
Archiepifcopal See, who fcandaloufly flighting that ſteady courfe:
his two Predeceffors had fo wifely fteer'd, fuffered the whole
Crew to do what they lifted, and no wonder than if the
Veffel was tofs'd by every Wave, and driven by every Wind,
which there wanted not Evil Spirits to raiſe continually,
for thus I find him charg'd by all Judicious Perfons of ther
State as well as Church, complaining that his not exacting
ftrict conformity to the prefcribed. Orders of the Church,,
feem'd to refolve thofe Legal Determinations to their first
principle of Indifferency, and brought in fuch a habit of
conformity, as the future reduction of thofe pretenders to
Tender Confciences, from their diſcontinued Obedience, was
by them given out for Innovation. This unhappy Prelate
was top'd upon King James by a Scotch Peer, when fuch as,
truly ftudied the Churches interest, thought they had fix'd.
him for Andrews; methinks it goes ill at all times, when:
any of that Nation, concern themelves with our Courth
they will recommend none but Abs, or if of the Clergy's
are Abbotts, or worſe themſelves; to be fure had: Andrewst
fucceeded Bancroft, and Land follow'd him, the Church
would
(14)
•
Thus
would have been fetled on fo fure a Foundation, as in great
probability there would have been no inlet for thofe deplo-
rable Miferies, which the Remifs Government, of that Popular
Prelate did fo unfortunately bring on Church and State.
another Grindal got into that high Poft, fo low in Spirit,
as never able to weather the Pedantry and Prejudices of his
University Education, improve in any meafure, as to the know-
·ledge of Men and Things, Bufiness and Government, his Do-
ctrine was Predeftinarian, and thofe of that way were his
chiefeſt Favourites, fo that, what with recommending, and
then commending him for his Prudence and Moderation, he
was perfwaded to take fo little care of Difcipline, that they
might be at liberty to Obferve none. Not but that we had
feveral Eminent Perfons of that high Order at that time, who
forefaw and lamented, the fad confequences would follow
fuch a Laodicean indifferency. And King James by their Mo-
deft Intimations as well as his own Obfervation, found his mi-
take in advancing fo little a Man to fo great a place: He
likewife was gradually brought off, from the prejudices they
had poffeft him with, againſt the Armenian Party, and the
Duke of Buckingham, when he came to make that great figure,
in the managment of Affairs, having try'd Prefton, Williams,
and feveral others, found them all fo Falfe and Factious, as
he betook himſelf wholly to the other party, and did many
good Offices for the Church, at their fuggeftions. And in this
divided pofture Ecclefiaftical concerns ftood at King James's
death, who tho he had a clear underſtanding of, and an in-
tire affection for our Church, (as any perfon muſt have, who
had been fo roughly dealt with by his Kirk Countrymen before,
and experienc'd their many Infolencies) yet wanting the
Courage, and steady Refolution of Queen Elizabeth, he left it
in a much worfe condition than when he came to the Crown,
and confequently the care thereof more troubleſome and
vexatious.
As his Good Son moft unfortunately found, who refol.
ving to bring things into their proper channel, by a due
Execution of whatever Laws might tend thereunto, both
Spiritual and Temporal, found the Trayterous Heady High-
minded Faction, had fo poyfon'd the generality of the Cor-
poration Commonalty, with too many in the Country, and
fome of better Quality, as no Parliaments could be chofen
without a Plurality of Members, made up of nothing but
Fears
( 15 )
!
Fears and Jealoufies, Complaints and Grievances, that the true
Churchmen were all Papifts, or which was as bad Armenians,
(a fign they wanted fomewhat to object) and the whole
Nation upon the brink of Ruin, when it wallowed in the
greateft affluence of Peace and Plenty, it ever did before, and
is not likely to do again, it were endleſs to run over the
many abominable Lyes, Slanders and Calumnies, their Virulent
Tongues every day fent abroad, with a never failing inven-
tion for freſh ſupplies. Hereupon after three feveral Parli-
aments, every one lefs complafant than other, the King re-
folv'd to let them cool a little, and try what fhift he could
make for fome time, without any, which he did for ſeveral
years, and kept the Nation in a flourishing, peaceable condi-
tion, when all Europe belides were together by the Ears, we
were Umpires then, not Parties, much lefs Principals.
ว
This rais'd the extremity of Indignation in thofe reſtleſs
Spirits, especially finding the Rod of Difcipline would take
place, in fo regular a courſe, as neither to be avoided, nor
justly complain'd of, a right down Rebellion was therefore
refolv'd upon, and becaufe unable to begin it at home
their Brethren on the other fide Twede were oblig'd to lead
the Van, which they very naturally fell to, and thereupon
what Tumalts they began with, what Covenants they entred
into, what Forces they rais'd, what Invafions they made, once
and again, till having put their English Brethren, by the affi-
ftance of a Parliament into a capacity of acting the rest of
themſelves, they were plentifully paid off, and fent home till
a. further occafion.
Here then the Fatal Scene began, the Puritan, having got a
prevailing party in the Parliament, threw off his Vizard,
and appear'd right down Presbiterian, that is according to
Father Calvins Principle, would juftifie their Popularis Magi-
ftratus, not only ad moderandum Regum Libidinem, but to make...
whatever alterations they thought fit in the moſt Fundamen-
tal Conftitutions of Church and State: In order whereunto
they fell into the most abominable Rebellion, Saariledge and
Schifme, ever any Chriftian State was guilty of, fcarce indeed :
to be parallel'd among the noft Barbrous Heathens: And
therefore, before I go any further 'twill be proper to ob-
ferve what our Comprehenfin will come to, if any of them
be
(16)
3.
be let in that way again, for all thefe were comprehended
in our Church then, till by a half or quarter conformity
they had engaged the people to be forward in pulling down,
whatever their neglect or cold performances, had inur'd them
to diflike, upon which Mr. Baxter fays very truly, the with
his ufual way of Fallacy, that the War, the Rebellion he
Gal. 2.4. might have faid, was begun by Charchmen, that is fuch Church-
men, as himſelf, falfe Brethren unawares crept in to ſpy out our
Liberty, and bring us into Bondage; the truth of it is, there
was never fince the Pharafees time, any fet of Men appear-
ed with more of the Sheep, and acted more of the Wolf,
by which Diffimulation many a good Man was impos'd upon:
I muſt crave leave to give one particular inftance, which
to me ſeem'd remarkable, when more than 40 years fince
it was told by the perfon to whom it was ſpoken, Dr. Holds-
worth a moſt Learned and Pions Man, and tho by the prejudices
of his Education in Emanuel Colledge, he agreed with the
"Puritans in their five points, and like another Barnabas was
carried away with their Diffimulation, yet he adhere'd moſt
cordially, as moſt of the reft pretended, to the Liturgy
and Difcipline of our Church, and ftood up with undaunted
refolution for that and the Royal Caufe, when the Cocatrice
Egg was grown up to a Serpent; And thereupon committed
Prifoner to Ely House, where meeting a perſon whom he knew
to be of that, which would be now called the High-Church
Archbishop Laud's party, and related to that particular Bi-
fhop, whofe houfe was fo vilely abus'd, took him into his
Chamber, and with Tears in his Eyes, thus expreſs'd himſelf.
Ah Mr. B. little did I think there had been ſuch a ſpirit in
the Puritan Party as they have now difcovered, other men
were wifer, and understood them better, I begg their pardons
with all my Soul; thus we fee they fpar'd none that would
not run with the fame precipitate rage as they did, into Re-
bellion and Confufion, even thofe very friends they had before
in Highest Esteem, for Parts and Piety, as this worthy Dr. was
acknowledg'd on all hands Superlatively Eminent for both.
Nay the Material Church met likewife the utmoſt of their
rage, not a Cathedral where they could come, as they did at
length come at all, but was treated with all the Infolence of
Sacriledge and Prophanefs, which the moſt Barbarous Nations
are recorded to have exercis'd, when they invaded the Ro-
man Empire of old; and much worfe than the modern Turks,
who
( 17 )
who generally convert to their own way, fuch places as they
find devoted to the Worſhip of that Great God, whom they
acknowledge to be the Object which all Men ought to
Adore.
How far further their perſonal Inhumanities went againſt all
Orthodox and Canonical Divines throughout the whole King-
dom, whether in Cathedral or Parochial Churches, would be a
diſmal and Voluminous Relation, one of Fox's Volums is
but a Manual to it, perhaps all three fall fhort of the
others Bulk, and therefore I fhall take Dr. Heylen's courſe,
and compute the greatneſs of thofe Defolations in all parts
of the Kingdom, by the havock they made in London, and
Parishes thereunto adjoyning; in order whereunto he pro-
ceeds according to the Bill of Mortality, and prefents us
with a Breif Martyrology, or Catalogue, of the Learned, Grave, Hift. Prof.
Religious, and Painful Minifters of the City of London, who 346.
from the year 1641 to 1647, had been Imprifoned, Plundred,
Barbarously used, and depriv'd of all Livelyhood for themselves
and Families, for their Conftancy to the Proteftant Religion E-
stablish'd in this Kingdom, and Loyalty to their Sovereign.
This in the Front, and then goes on to every particular
Parish, gives the names of the perfons Incumbent, and a fhort
account of their Treatment, whereof he makes this Summary
at the end.
The Total of the Minifters of London, within?
this Bill of Mortality, befides Pauls and Weſt- 1151
minſter turn'd out of their Livings.
Whereof Drs. in Divinity obove
Most of them plundred of their Goods, their
Wives and Children turn'd out of Doors.
40
Impriſon'd in London, and in the Ships, and in fe- 20
veral Goals and Caftles in the Country
Fled to prevent Impriſonment
Dead in remote parts and Prisons with Grief
25
22
By this fad Bill, faith our Hiftorian, confin'd within the
D
Lines
1
!
( 18 )
486.
ries as
Lines of Communication, we may conjecture at the greatnefs
of that Mortality which fell among the Regular Clergy in all
parts of the Kingdom, by Plundering, "Sequestring and Ejecting
or finatly by sexing them into their Graves, by fo many Mife-
were inflisted on them in the Ships or their feveral
Perfons. Fall which ways more Men were outed their Livings by the
Perbyterians in the space of three years, then were depriv'd
by the Papifts in the time of Queen Mary; or what had been
Silene'd, Sufpended, or depriv'd, by all the Bishops, from the
first year of Queen Elizabeth, to thofe very times: At the
like inhuman rate they proceeded in both the Universities,
turning out, as they got Poffeffion, every Member that
would not bow to their Baal the Covenant, whereof I fhall
take notice in the Sequel.
2.
And being thus upon Catalogues we muft not pafs by that
black Lift, wherewith the Abridger of Mr. Baxter's Life, fills
nigh one half of his Book, fwelld up to the number of Tw
Thouſand, with more Art than Truth, as I could Evidence in.
feveral perfons, and places, but fhall only inftance in the
Abridger Three Schools at Newbery, Reading, and Wallingford, at the fame
time left vacant, which could not be at the fame time (for
they can not charge Schoolmasters of being Pluralifts) fince
it was the fame Man left them, and that not upon any
Fanatick account, though upon a Fanatick Diftemper, which
follow'd him from one place to the other, viz. right down.
Madness; contracted as they fay, by reading Facob Beuments
Books, which one of that Gange, a Captain of Cromwell's,
recommended to him, and though he made feveral other
removes, and was very knowing and diligent in his Profef
fion, during the intermiffion of his Lunacies, yet they follow-
ed and return'd upon him to his dying day. This I men-
tion the rather, becaufe if he followed, Mr. Taylors Catalogue
collected as he faith, with great Induftery and Application
he might have been better inform'd, living fome years in
the Town,where the diftemper firft feized him but any thing
to fwell the number, which yet they have little reafon to
be proud of, upon our taking leave to turn the Tables,.,
and defire them to confider, not only how they went out,
but how they came in, whether all of them at firft, (which
were the founders of the Factions) did not Interlope, upon.
fuch unjust and forc'd Vacancies, as the foremention'd Se-
queftrations made, on purpoſe for them. To begin as he doth
2.
his
*
( 19 )
>
his Catalogue, Good old Mr. Simeon Afh of St. Auſtins, did
not he fucceed Good old Mr. Ephraim Udal, who was not in
leſs Eſteem, even amongſt the Puritans, than the foremen-
tion'd Dr. Holdsworth, for Exemplary Life, profound Learning,
and Indefatigable Preaching. But when he faw the pretended
Zeal of his Brethren, degenerate into Frenzy and Madneſs, and
that under pretence of Reformation, they intended to bring in
Anarchy and Sacriledge, he writ Learnedly and Preach'd ear-
nestly againſt it, for which reafon, they Sequeftred his Living,
plundred his Houſe, and turning his Bed rid Wife out of doors,
left her in the Streets. 'Twill not be amifs to take notice
of the Charge laid againſt him in the firſt Century of Scandalous
Malignant Priests, that he affirm'd the great Reformers of the
Church now are Hypocrites, and had writ a Book Intituled Noli
me tangere, charging the Parliament with Sacriledge, &c. and there-
by they have brought a National fin upon the Land, &c. What
fad Crimes were thefe, did the Papift when afcendant ever
proceed more feverely againſt any one for fpeaking feafon-
able Gofpel Truths? Fire and Faggot had been a quick
diſpatch, this was a lingering Death, under which the poor
Man labour'd till 47, and then went off with Grief. Yet
this was their conftant ufage of the Church party both in
City and Kingdom, that Room might be made for fuch tea-
der confcienc'd Brethren, as could Boggle at a Ceremony, but
make no fcruple of Invading another Man's right, and think
the Bread of Oppreffion Sweet, for of fuch vile intruders as
thefe, one half of his Catalogue confifts, who were forc'd to
give up their unjust poffeffions, on that fignal Return of Church
and Monarchy 1660. And fuch as went out afterwards up-
on the Act of Uniformity, 'twas upon abjuring the Covenant,
more than conforming to the Ceremonies, but including both,
can it be imagin'd, that when a fet of Religions Pretenders,
have rofe in Arms against their Lamfull Superiors, and imbroil-
ed the whole Kingdom in War and Confufion, the Government
when once more got afcendant, fhould not take care to make
them renounce thofe Deftractive Principles upon which they
acted, and if not take it as a favour that they are permit-
ted to live in it, without enjoying any place of Trust or Pro-
fit from it. And had not their friends the Papifts been be-
hind the Curtain with the Executive Power, when the Legifa-
tive had fo Prudently provided against their future encrosch-
ents, there would have been none at this day fo bold as to
1
D 2
juſtific
( 20 )
juftifie the leaft ftep of that most unjustifiable Rebellion;
but the Papifts as I faid, ſtood their freinds, and they two
have been always the Ephraim and Manaffeth againſt our
Judah.
Come we now from the number the quantity, to take a
little notice of the Quality, the high Bombaft Characters he
gives thefe his Diffenting Saints, which I cannot but apply
to that Esigram an Italian Wit made upon Poggins the Floren-
tine Hiftorian.
Dum Patriam Laudat, damnat dum Poggius Hoftem ;
Nec malus eft Civis, nec bonus Hiftoricus.
:
for this our Abridger is fo true to his Party the Faction, as
not to regard a word of Truth in the Relation, not one of
them mention'd to have the leaft mote in his Eye, or fai-
lure in the whole courfe of his Life, that he ſhould take
notice of their acting againſt the Government, the many Trea-
fons they not only ran into, but by their Drum Ecclefiaftick,
beat the Allarm throughout the whole Kingdom, could not
be expected from fo partial. a Pen; but that he should have
the confidence to inveigh fo vehemently againſt others who
have given a true account of their many Villanies tending
that way, is a liberty never would be permitted under Pres-
byterian Difpenfations. They tell me there was a Law made
lately in Scotland with a fevere Penalty upon the Epiſcopal par
ty, if they dare to open their mouths againſt thoſe who caus'd
the many Exorbitancies and Oppreffions, that Worthy Set of
Men fo inhumanly groan under.
Anthony Wood is the more immediate object of his Spight,
and confidering, as I obferv'd, he regards his Party more
than Truth, must be allow'd to have reafon, for that Foul-
fide he reprefents of any mention'd by him, hath ten times
better Authority, than thofe many Encomiums of his, for
gifts which God never beftow'd, for parts which none but themfelves
can admire, and Learning, which no Man of found Reading could
ever ſee or value. Yet at this fulfum rate are they all mag-
nifi'd, as if there were never any thing of Religion or Know-
ledge in the World before, neither indeed hath there like
theirs.
But
)-
( 21 )
But what if it be made appear, that Mr. Wood is much
more exact to the Rules of Character-writing than this his
Accufer, who when he has the worst of Men under his Pen,
fails not to take notice of whatever good qualities he was
known to be Maſter of, and therefore 'twas odd in this his
Cenfurer, to charge him with fome Reflections as black as the Pag. 2194
Vapours of the Infernal Cell, where they were forg'd, upon their
Doughty Dr. John Owen, yet immediately adds, that he ac-
knowledg'd him a Perfon well skill'd in the Tongues; Rabinical
Learning, &c. and was one of the moft Genteel and fairest writers
that appear'd against the Church of England, which laſt Dr.
Stilling fleet acknowledged, and thank'd him for, when he writ
against the Sermon, which occafioned the Drs.. Reply in his
Ureaſonableness of Seperation. M. Baxter likewife writ upon
the fame account, but in fo different a manner, as fince we
are upon the Metaphor, nothing from the Infernal Cell could
be of a blacker hue, as the Doctor frequently obferves, and
with an ingenious carelefnefs Gibes him for. Alſop too that
Bird of Athens made up of Face and Feather, us'd him at the:
fame rate, and was taken up in the fame manner.
[
155.-
But what reflections are theſe our Abridger is ſo angry at?
I can find nothing but a brief account of the Tergiverfations
of his whole Life, how he fell from the Church to Presbitery Athenss
in the first turn, from that to Independency in. the next,
Preaching up Sectarisme wherever he came, and there-
by indeer'd himſelf fo much to Cromwell, as to become
fometimes of his Cabinet
of his Cabinet, eſpecially in order to the
King's Murder, for which he applauded the Regicides, in his
Sermons, and Fuftified the Fact as a Glorious Profecution, and
was thereupon advanc'd by Cromwell's means to the Deanary
of Christ Church, as Thomas Goodwyn another of the fame
Leven to the Presidentship of Magdal. the two beft places, as
things then ſtood, their Profeffions were capable of. Now
this doubtless must be the Black Reflection which caus'd fo
much difguft, yet can there be any too black for abetting ſo
Infernal an Act, nay, is it not the Act alone which renders
it fo, without any fault in the Relator, nothing but a Pres--
byterian of the third defent could write at fo unthinking a
rate, take cognifance of an Independant, engaged up to the
ears in that Royal Blood which his Progeniters were fo ear
neft to throw wholly on that party; what Mr. Wood relates.
further of this Dr. is right down matter of fact, which there
are
{
(( 22 )
NA
-
*
tre feveral alive can teftifie, and for the feveral years of his
Vice-chancellorship if he were the brightest Ornament of the Uni
verfity, the many Presbyterians there, were much mistaken,
who us'd the atmoſt of their intereft, and at laſt got him
out, by Dr. Wilkins means, and relation to Cromwell's Fami-
but not till the old ones death, he had too great a value
for fuch an Inftrument of the Infernal Cell. Anong his many
“other Innovations and Rudeneffes, whilft Vice-chancellor, every
one will not think it a fault in Mr. Wood to mention this,
That if any one, which was but feldom, concluded at
St. Mary's with the Lords Prayer, he would with great
fnearing, and fcorn, turn aſide, cr fit down and put on his Hat,
was this either like a Chriftian, or a Gentleman.
a Gentleman. But to
end our difcourfe of this Man, with his end, if Mr. Wood
Abridg. did fay he very unwillingly laid down his head and died, with-
out being prefent there, (which certainly he was not) or
having any account from fuch as were, which 'tis probable
he had yet confidering how far his hands and head were
engag'd in the Murder of his Sacred Sovereign, with thofe
many other mifchiefs his Implacable Spirit was continually
projecting, might be more probably affirm'd, than that he
parted with his life and chearful hope of a Better, or that
his memory shall not rot with the wicked.
222.1.
225.
.219.
At the fame rate he Extalls Tho. Goodwyn, that other Fa
vorite of Cromwell's and fellow labourer with Owen in reform-
ing the University, of the Presbyterian Interlopers, for not ta-
king the Engagement, as they had done the True Church-
men, for refufing the Covenant. John Goodwyn likewife he
refolves to bring off as well as he can, tho with how little
confiftancy let the Reader judge, when having declar'd: how
much he was a Man by himself, being against every Man, and
had every Man almost against him, yet in the next line com-
mends him for a clear head and penetrating Spirit, which is
again immediately contradicted by telling us how warm and
sager be
he was in whatever he engaged, however he is refolvid
to bring him in the clofe handomly off, for with all his faults
be must be omnd a confiderable Man, and now he hath done,
there is one thing than take leave to mention, wherein
I
he was altogether a Man by himself, for when 'twas objected
their Thanksgivings, as well as their Prayers ought to be Ex-
tempore, he was convinc'd of fo much reafon in the Allega-
tion, as immediately to put it in practife, dictating: Ex-
',
1
tempore
·
( 23 )
'
tempore Pfalms alla mode Sternhold and Hopkins in like Ryhme,
and like Sence, and fo his Prayers and Singing kept the fame
Tenor, but whether with the Spirit or Understanding, as St.
Paul directs, 'tis pitty fuch deluded wretches as followed.
him, did not better underſtand. Thefe three perfons I have
more eſpecially mentioned, becauſe fo eminently Infamous
for extolling the Royal Parricide, which our Author not on--
ly forbears to mention as a Blot in the many high commenda-
tions he gives them, but charges another who makes bold.
to hit this Blot, with Reflections as black as the Vapours of the
infernal Cell.
But no wonder our Diffenters make fo flight of Recognizing
that Horrid Fact, fince among the many ways their Church
freinds have of late found to fweeten them, the Curate of
Algate on the 30. of Fa. Last year, went fo far, as to joyn
with, and gratifie them, in Prophaning thofe Sacred Alhes, at
fo ſhameful a rate, as he was afham'd, which was much, to
print all he had preach'd of thofe Villanious Reproaches,.
and immediately thereupon had a thankful acknowledgment
from the Diffenters, Dedicated to his Doctorship, with a De-
fence and large improvements upon his Libels and Lies, in a
Pamphlet call'd Moderation Maintain'd: from whence by.
the by, we may obferve, what fort of Moderation must qualifie
a Coalition with thofe Parties, whoever will not approve that
Execrable Deed, and all that was done in order thereunto.
or follow'd thereupon, fhall be High-Church, void of all
Moderation, and according to the Drs. True Character, have
nothing but a falfe pretence to the name of a Churchman, in
return to which I fhall make bold to obferve, that when:
Men come once to prostitute their Principles to Preferment and:
Intereft; (as 'twas faid of fome Fanaticks by a Country-fellow,
upon Charles the II. Reftauration, when he faw them every
Glafs drinking the King's health, Thefe new Cavaliers cannot
do, but they must over do. To become a Convocation Property:
was to purpoſe, but to become a Commonwealth Property, to
none in the world, for they will take away. not confer Dig
nities: But perhaps fome may think it proper to Court them,
upon the fame account the Indians do the Devil, ne ladant,
whatever it is, and however the Differences and Diftinctions,
Heats and Prejudices, now ftand between High and Low, up
on fuch a proceedure in the Old Church of Whitgift, Bancroft
and. Land, ay and notwithſtanding the "Latitude" fome began
}
to -
(24)
to take, of Juxton, Sheldon and Sancroft; Clamarent periiffe
pudorem, cuncti pane Patres.
And fuch another Effay of Politick Divinity we had in the
late Anniverſary Sermon upon her Majefties Acceffion to
the Crown at St. Dunstans in the Weft, recommended to the
Trefs by the deep Judgments of the Veftry Gentlemen, fome
of which 'tis probable were Bookfellers, and might have
look'd into, and approv'd as well as fold, Mr. Locks Trea-
tifes upon that Subject, and thought it no little credit to his
Notions, that fo Eminent a Divine fhould abett them,
whereas her Majefty doubtless is little beholding to fuch
Authors either Clergy or Lay, who lay a greater ftrefs on
their own novel Syſtems, than the 13th to the Romans.
But to return from this Digreffion, which I cannot forbear
to make, whenever the crying Blood of our Royal Martyr is
mention'd, with Contempt or Extenuation; fo frequently done,
and fo little regarded, as to make me fear the whole Na-
tion will prove at laft the accursed thing, and its Ruin the
Expiation; which had our Abridger confidered, as a Divine
or Chriftian ought, he would never have been fo free in his
Elogiums upon Three fuch hardned wretches, as dar'd to
make mighty God the Abettor of the greateſt Crime,
Fudgment, and Reproach, ever any Nation feil under.
'
1
Now if the Independent Chiefs, not only find fuch fair
quarter, but pafs for Sts. in his Rebells Callender what a Glori-
ous Lufter muſt the Presbyterian's make, and Grandfir one of
the firſt Magnitude to be fure, as indeed he was one of the
feirceft Beautifems among them, and very far from any thing
of Moderation towards thofe of other Sentiments, as appears
by his feveral Sermons before the Parliament, but more ef
pecially from that Celebrated Book as his Grandfon terms it
Smectymnous, not only written juft before, but on purpoſe,
among many other fuch like pieces, to promote the Civil
War; fo Virulent, and Scurilous as to matter, of Stile, and
To jejune withall, fo groundleſs as to Argument, that nothing
but Invectives and Exclamations, could florifh off that de-
fect, and this as it was againſt the Church in General, fo more
immediately againſt Bishop Hall the Author they reply'd to,
Collegue to moſt of that Magical Club which was to conjure
down Epifcopacy, and highly vallu'd by all the Puritan Party
for a Prelate of great Moderation, which made a Brother of
his own Order fay, he was Tantum non in Epifcopatu Puritannus;
yet
( 25 )
yet this good this Moderate Man met with the fame treat-
ment as the rest of his Brethren, both in the foulmouth
Language, thofe his quondam friends befpatter'd him with
all, and the foul dealing of Sequeftrators, indeed the whole
Party, as to his Temporal Subfiftance, in withholding that al-
lowance the Houfe had feemingly Voted, and more than that,
had fo little ſhame, as after they had Sequeftred the profits of
his Bishoprick, fold all his Goods and Perfonal Eftate, (not leav-
ing fo much as his Childrens Pictures out of their curious In-
ventory) to come to him for Affeffments and Monthly Payments,
for that Eſtate they had taken away, and took diftrefs from
him upon his juft denial; theſe and many fuch like inhuma-
nities the poor Man complains of in the ſpeciallities of his life,
and that was all the redreſs he had.
I ſhall make but two remarques more, tho I could run out
into Twenty, as to Grandfirs Character. 1. He refus'd a
1. He refus'd a Bi- p. 186.
Shoprick becauſe he could not have it, upon the terms of the
Kings Declaration. But 2. kept his Temper and Moderation
after he was Ejected. For his refufal of the Bishoprick, as
the general difcourfe then went, his own, that is the Pres-
byterian party in the City, were fo violently againſt it, as
they threatned to pull him in pieces, if he made fo grofs an
Apoftacy: Which particular I fhould not dar'd to have here.
mention'd, but that I find it in a great meaſure confirm'd
by an unexceptionable Author in the cafe, their great Baxter,
who tells us, That Bishopricks being profer'd to Mr. Reynolds,
Mr. Calamy and himself, they had fome Speeches altogether
about it: And 'tis my fancy were jealous one of another, for
Mr. Calamy, he faith, defir'd they might all go together, or all
refuſe, or all accept it; Whereas Dr. Reynolds by his Spouses
better advice, left them both in the Lurch, not without know-
ing in what circumſtances the others ftood, for continues
Mr. Baxter, by this time the rumor of it fled abroad, and the Life 281.
voice of the City made a difference, for though they wish'd that
none of us ſhould be Bishops, yet they faid that Dr, Reynolds
and Mr. Baxter, being known to be for moderate Epifcopacy
their acceptance would be lefs Scandalous: But if Mr. Calamy
Should accept it, who had preach'd, and written, and done fo
much against it, (which were then at large recited) never Pres-
byterian mould be trusted for his fake, fo that the Clamour was
very loud against his acceptance of it; And Mr. Newcomen his
Brother-in-law wrote to me earnaftly to difwade him, and many
E
more:
( 26 )
more: And yet 'twas thought his City Dames influenc'd him more
than all his other friends, to be fure it was an unwilling refu-
fal, more out of Fear, and Shame, than Choice, however
young Edmund thinks to flouriſh of the matter. 2. My other Re-
marke is upon The Temper and Moderation he kept when ejected;
for his Temper indeed he ever continued in the lame Presby-
terian rigors and morofenefs; But for his Moderation there
was little fhown, in his prefuming to Preach foon after his
Ejectment, more than once, and perhaps had not been taken
notice of the fecond time, but that among many other dan-
gerous paffages, he dar'd to apply that Text to the Times, the
Ark of God was taken, and Glory is departed from Ifrael; which
his Grandfon faith was preach'd occafionally, as they now Con-
form, on purpoſe to do mischief, for would any Prince or Go-
vernment in the world, but ours, endure to be Reproach'd as
Philistines, becauſe they filenc'd a fet of Men, for not re-
nouncing thofe Principles of Rebellion and Schifme, wherewith they
had fubverted the whole Frame, and Conftitution both of
Church and State; yet this is call'd feverity and faid generally
to be refented, whereas it was all a State Sham; for befides
his Presbyterian friends at the Kings Court; he had hisPopif
friends at the Queen Mothers, the first Declaration for Tolera-
tion being then on the- Forg at Somerset-House; and it was
from theſe two Courts and Parties, Foyning fue to fupport.
the Fanatick Ballance, that they did not abfolutely fink in
that fracture; the Parliament were finccre, and refolute in
the matter, and oblig'd the King to recall his Declaration
for that time, but the fame Engines continually play'd, till they
had brought him very nigh to the fame condition with his
Father, and how far further they have gone fince, is not here
to be related.
And ſince our Abridger will have Smectin nuus fo celebrated
a piece, I fhall mention the other four Affiftants in that
doubty Club; Two whereof were alive when the Bartholo-
mew Purge began to Operate, Dr. Spurflow and Mr. Newcomen,
the Dr. he tells us was one of thofe Authors, and an Affem-
bly Man, new turn'd out of Hackny for refufing the Cove-
nant, as before out of Katherin-Hill for not taking the En-
gagement,without letting us know who was turn'd out before to
make room for his Intrufion, viz. Bishop Brownrick, and why
might not Dr. Lightfoot intrude upon him as well as he upon
the Bifhop; nay it was much worfe in the former, for the
Biſhop
(27)
Bishop (as tradition went nigh 50 years fince) had been
all a long his great Patron, and friend, advanc'd him in the
Colledge, countenanc'd his perfon, and directed his Studies
all the while he was there was this the Humility, Meek-
nefs and Charity he is cominended for? Et tu Brute fix'd
a charge of ingratitude upon that great Hero, Tho' what
he did was to retreive his Countrys Liberty, whereas the
Invafion was on their fide here, upon whatever tended to
the Glory of God, the truth of Religion, the fafety and well-
fare of Church and State, yet when all things Sacred and
Civil are thus trampled underfoot, 'tis againſt there Father
Machiavils Maxim to regard any thing of friendship or pre-
cedent Obligations. Uncle Newcomen was the other furviving
Author; and tho his Nephew forgot to commend him upon
that account, was thought to have the greateſt ſhare in that
magical compofition, to befure for parts and learning he was
fuperior to the whole fraternity, but however extoll'd for
Temper did not that give Evidence againft him, his many
Sermons at Westminster, and elsewhere, fpeak him as rigid a
Covenanter as any in the Pack.
The other two whom death prevented the mortification,
of feeing the Church and Crowns re-eftalifhment, were Dr.
Young and Stephen Marshall, the former tho' Engliſh by birth,
was Educated in a Scotch Univerſity, and return'd through-
ly ting'd with a whole Syftem of their Northern Divinity,
as rigid as their Winter colds, and as falfe as the generality
of their Hearts; which without breach of Charity we may
charge upon him, who had fo little of Chriſtian Confcience
as to interlope upon the worthy Dr. Stern's Maſterſhip of
Jefus Colledge Cambridge, and yet fo much of Covenanting
pertinatioufnefs as to leave it upon the Engagement, where-
in let any candid Reader judge, whether it was not more
from ſtrength of prejudice, than regard to truth, that having
fwallow'd one Camel, he ſhould boggle at the other. Stephen
Marshal comes to be mention'd in the laft place, tho the
two firſt letters of his Name begins the magical Smeic. very.
properly ftyl'd by the ingenious Satyrift of thofe times the
Geneva Bull, his roaring mouth and notorious Impudence,
rendering him without competition Dax Gregis to that whole
herd: altho when the Independants got the afcendant, finding
they would command the better paſture, he went over and
roar'd as much on their fide. For,terming him impudent,before
E 2
any
(28)
any one cenfure me, let them examine his deportment,
during his forc'd attendance upon the Good King
when confin'd at Holmby, and then, unleſs of the fame leaven,
they muſt allow me to continue that Epithet, or help me
to a worſe yet doubtlefs had he come into our Abridgers
Catalogue, we fhould have found him magnified for his Ex-
emplary modeſty and great moderation. For this we find the
Univerfal: Character, which runs through the Encomiums of the
all his First Rate Diffenters, Men of extraordinary Temper and
Moderation, wholly compos'd of an humble meek and Charitable Dif
pofition: As if every individual in the Nation had forgot how
many, not only Widows Houfes but Churches too their long
wiat. 23. Prayers had devoured, what Gnats they strain'd and Camels
Y. 14. Swallow'd, what little things they ftood upon, without the
24 leaft regard to thoſe weighter matters of the Law, Judgment,
Y. 23. Mercy, and Faith, let the world cenfure as they pleafe, I
know not why any Man fhould ftifle his Reafon or ftretch his
Charity, to believe well of any Perfon or Party, when their
Actions speak quite the contrary, and I defie the beſt friends
they have, to produce any Set or Generation of Men, fince
our Saviours, time, which have more exactly parallel'd that
further Charge he brings against The Pharifees of appearing
Righteous unto Men, when within they are full of Hypocrifie and
Iniquity. Are they willing we fhould reprint Evangelium Ar-
matum, the Diffenters Sayings, with feveral fuch like Speci-
mens from their own Words and Pens; what Temper and
Moderation they exprefs'd when occaſion ſerv'd. Ân Emi-
nent perfon in one of the many papers he took occaſion to
throw abroad on the late Revolution, hath fomewhat to this
purpoſe; That Moderation is only clamor'd for by fuch as are
kept out of the Power they would have the management of, and
the obfervation was very obvious from the parties difcours'd
of, for when the Reins of Difcipline were kept ſomewhat
ftreight, (tho feldom fo ftreight as they ought) how did
the Old Puritans clamor at their Superiors for Moderation?
That is to be remifs in their Duty, and violate their Oathes
in the due Execution of fuch Laws as were committed to
their charge; to no other end, than that they might be in-
dulg'd a Liberty to run into all Immoderate and Licentious
Courſes; but when they had committed a. Rape upon the
whole Government, brought both Church and State uuder
their own Arbitrary Impofitions and New fangled Innovations,
3. 28.
That
( 29 )
(29
what moderation did thofe Meek, Humble Charitable difpofitions
then exprefs, when the Covenant was prefer'd to the Creed,
fo rigidly exacted both from Prince and People, that without
worshiping that Dagon, the Royalties of the one, and Rights
of the other were altogether confifcated, and fo little re-
gard had to the Religious Obligations of their precedent Oaths,
with whatever elfe had been the immemorial practiſe, or Le-
gal Conftitution in Church and State, that to plead any thing
of that kind, was inevitable Deprivation, in fhort no Man
was then thought to have any thing of teuder Confcience or
true Religion, who could not digeft Sedition and Scifme, Re-
bellion and Sacralidge. This was the moderation of thofe Men
and times, and tho' the folly of their ways was diſcover'd
at the end, they could not but acknowledge themſelves fowl-
ly deceiv'd, and fruſtrated, yet their Pofterity not only commend
their Sayings, but Doings too, and by the fame abufive Cants of
words and fence, of Religion and Loyalty, Truth and Ho-
neſty,are bringing us into the fame Confufions,and then we ſhall
be once more fadly convinc'd, that modration is as inconfiftent
with the Principles, and confequently as forreign to the Pra-
Etiſes of any of thoſe Factions; whether Claffical, Congrega-
tional, &c. as modefty to a Common Proftitute.
Thus have I inftanc'd in fome few the Coryphai of the two
Grand Factions, to evidence whatever account Mr. Wood the
Oxonian gives of any of them is much more confiftent with
the History of their Lives and Actions, than a ſtrain of ful-
fome Panigericks, carried on through the whole account, in
a Cant of the fame words and Phrafes, and with the fame
regard to truths, that is not one fillable of it, and by fo
general a filence of thoſe numberleſs diſtractions they brought
upon the wholle. Kingdom, in every concern thereof Ecclefia-
ftical and Civil, as there is no Man of an Impartial Judg-
ment, but muſt conclude their approbation thereof, with a
defign as occafion ferves to re-act the fame difinal Tragedy
again; which I as really believe as that Young Edmond is Fi-
lius and Nepos to the two old ones, not but that ſo great a
work as the Athena Oxonienfes, which took two Centuries
back muft have fome miſtakes; and he that faw, and. per-
haps felt fomewhat of that Cruelty, and Oppreffion, the Fa-
ctions fo barbaroudly exercis'd upon all Men of Honour, Loy-
alty and Confcience, could not fometimes forbear a fevere re-
fection upon the Inftruments, the promoters thereof; tho it
may
(30)
ว
may as well proceed from others as himfelf when the relation
is from Perfons not Authors, for thofe he is only oblig'd to
quote, Et fic penes, &c. whereas the former receive generally
fo ftrong a bias from a partial refpect to Friends or Relations,
when particularly concern'd that way, or the prejudices of
Parties, with a zealous regard for the Publick Weal, and juſt
indignation at the invaders thereof, in general, as alfo the too
great uncertainties of Common Fame, which in many cafes is
the fole authority; I fay in all thefe inftances no Judgment
of difcretion can be fecure, but is often forc'd, in a paffage
of no great moment, to relate it as Tradition fpeaks, and
every Candid Reader will excufe all failures of that kind,
and feveral others with Horrace's allowance Obi plura nitent
non ego paucis offendar maculis, otherwife the work in general
is an Abridgment to purpofe, not of one fingle Factious
Life, but for two hundred years paft, a Breif but fatisfactory
account of the moſt Eminent Perfons our Nation hath produc'd,
for he makes many very coherent digreffions, to bring in moſt
of Cambridge Education too, especially thofe Loyal Confeffors
which fo firmly adher'd to the Church and Crown, when the
Presbyterians rais'd their Rebellion againſt both, 'tis a work
I fay too Elaborate and Methodically digefted, as could we fup-
pofe the 2000 which make up their Catalogue of Diffenters, to
have liv'd a whole Century and jumbled all their heads toge-
ther, they could never have compil'd any thing comparable
to it, fo much for the Honour of the Nation, and Beneficial
to the whole Commonwealth of Learning.
But the Diffenters quarrel with Mr. Wood is not folely upon
their own Parties account, the character he gives thofe many
Loyal Sufferers just now mention'd, for adhering fo firmly to
the Church and Crown, doth as much diſguſt them, as the pre-
ference of Abel's Sacrifice and his upright Converſation did Cain,
they are highly in wrath, and their Countenance fall, upon
finding them mention'd; for as they murdered fome, con-
demned all the reft to a Civil Death, fo whenever they hear
them nam'd with that honour and refpect, their great worth
deferv'd, it awakens their ftuped Confciences and calls thefe
fins to Remembrance, which the Actors never repented of,
and their Poſterity perfevere to fill up thofe measures of wrath
into which their fore-fathers poured fo much; for after all their
evafions and invectives,the memory of the upright ſhall be everlat-
Wif. 3. 4. ing, and tho punish'd in the fight of Men yet was their hope full
of
( 31 )
verfation or
C
C
5c.
of immortality. So that all things impartially confider'd, I de
fie them to find a fet of Men fince Primitive Christianity,more
exemplary in their lives or ſteadier in their Principles, of
er parts or founder Doctrine, of a more upright Con-
Religious Grimaces, fuch as Tested piety they detefted all
Tip'd Caps, and turn "I
Faces and whyning Cants, which looks more like Hypocrifie than
Serious Godliness; in fhort their whole defign was to be ap-
prov'd of God not feen of Men. However not to be charged
with my own fole Authority, I fhall add a much greater, the
Lord Chancellor Clarendon's, who in his Survey of the Leviathan
tells that Author Mr. Hobbs of his many bitter and unchari- Pag. 304.
table Invectives againſt the Bishops and Clergy of the Church,
(for it feems the Athifts, and Diffenters hunt in Couples)
yet defies him to bring the leaft reproach upon them, of
being fwai'd by any other motive than the moſt abſtracted
• confiderations of Confcience, Duty, Gratitude and Generofity,
conftantly and ftedfaftly to adhere to the King, fince they
had in their view; all the prejudices to their perfons, and all
the deſtruction to their Intereft, that fell out afterwards, were
difpofleft of all they had, caft into Prifon (and new Priſons
made for them, in Old Ships and Barges upon the Water)
and with fuch circumſtances of Inhumanity, that put a ſhort
end to the lives of many Thouſands of them their Wives
‹ and Children, choofing thus to be expos'd to all the Miſery
and Contempt imaginable, rather than to diffemble or con-
ceal their Fidelity and Alleagiance they ow'd to their King
in the higheſt of his Afflictions and Perfecutions, and from the
moment of his Execrable Murther, continued the fame Af-
•fection and Loyalty to his Son, when the Triumphant and
victorious Factions, made it Penal to acknowledge him
or give him his Title.
6.
८
C
Thus far this Honourable Perfon with many particular Cir-
cumſtances of their Indefatigable Zeal and Loyalty, from his
own Obfervation and certain Knowledge; which is likewife
farther confirm'd in his incomparable History, fo that with
much more Reafon and Truth we may return upon our Abrid-
ger the Complaint he makes in behalf of thofe his Intru-
ders,who kill'd and took Poffeffion,and were the Grand Inftrments
of all their Mifchiefs, and Miferies. Mit we not ſay, that ·
mercy forfook the Earth, when fo many of Liberal Education, Abrid.
were put to Dig, or Beg, or Starve? Were caft out of their Free- 491*
holds,
( 32 )
E
F
་
J
L..
Ujj
holds, to fence against future Crimes? were turn'd into the wide
world without any visible way of fubfistance? Any thing that
might have tended to their Relief or Eafe, was rejected as un-
fufferable. They were not only excluded Prefermanstry and Craft
from all hopfeffaries could reach. Not fo much as a poor Vica-
ridge, not a blind Chapel, not a School was left them: Nay,
tho they offer'd (as fome of them did) to preach for nothing, it
must not be allow'd them. And what was all this for but to pro-
mote a Rebellion, and Establish their Covenant thereby¿ Not
only moſt unjuft and illegial, but withal fo Arbitrary and
Infolent, as their own party divided from them, more efpe-
cially on that account, and crumbled all Religion into Faction
and Enthuſiaſme, Atheism and Anarchy: and whether the tot-
tering condition we ſtand in at prefent, is more likely to be
fix'd by that Lukewarm Laodicean latitude, many of our Clergy
Chiefs, and their little mercinary Properties fo much affect, or
that refolute ſteadinefs whereby the foremention'd worthies
weathered the Storm, to a Miraculous Re-eſtabliſhment, time
may ſhortly diſcover. In the mean while 'tis no little fatif-
faction to every one who are really well-wishers to the prof
perity of our Sion, to find in fuch a grand defection, fo General
a Debauch both in Principles and Practife, There hath a con-
fiderable fet of Gentlemen appear'd fo altogether of that Old
Church Stamp, as to defie all the Invectives, Libels, and Lies,
wherewith Faction on the one hand hath continually afpers'd
them, nor on the other are fo mean in Spirit, or Low in Fortune,
as to be brought, or bought over to become State Weathercocks,let
their regard of the Publick be turn'd to a quite contrary point,
as the private Breach of fome felf intereſted perfons, or par-
ties are pleas'd to puff and Blow; yet whether the continued
Supply of Corrupt Humors and Republican Vapours, may not gra-
dually make thefe winds fo turbulent as to become FanatickStorms
or Legion Hurricans, overwhelming all Men of fober fenfe, or
true Principles, Religion and Loyalty, is easily forefeen; but
in a fhort time may be too late to be prevented by any but
God himſelf, fince fuch as might when time ferv'd, will find
themſelves unable to ftem, or otherwife efcape the violent
Current of their implacable Rage and Madness.
•
Scot.
(33)
SECT. IV.
The laft Section prefented us with a much more difmal
Scene than the two former; for the Cockatrice Egg being hatch'd
up into a formidable Serpent, the Old Puritan throwing of his
Vizard and Sheeps-cloathing became right down Presbyterian
and that according to the worst Edition thereof, their Kirk
neighbours in Scotland Covenanting together, and violently o-
verthrowing all Antient Establishments both in Church and
State, and Impofing their Claffical Devices, with other Novel
conceits, both upon Prince and People, with as much Arbitra-
rinefs and Infolence, as ever was exercis'd by Turk or Popc.
But they who taught the Nation to Rebell againſt their
King, could not think to keep them long under their Tyranny,
whofe little Fingers were thicker than the others Loins, to be
fure inftead of Whips they were all Scrpions, fo that crumb-
ling as I faid before, into nuniberlefs fubdivifions of Sects, and
Factions; nothing at length could paſs for true Religion, but
Enthufiafme; whilft all Law and Government came to be con-
troll'd by a Lawless-Sword; which by degrees brought the
people to their Right Witts again, and forc'd them to return
to the Right, and Lawful Government; as was likewiſe obſerv'd
at firſt.
Now as it was Religion, that is the pretence thereof, which
more eſpecially turn'd all things out of Order, fo upon that
grand return, nothing took up the time, and thoughts of
thofe in Power, both at Court, and Parliament more than
how to deal with that Mifcellanious Hotchpotch of a Pretend-
ed Clergy, which had fprung up like Tares, Cocles, and Weeds
in the feild of the Church, when there was none to take care
of its Culture, Fence, or any other managements as to Doctri-
nals, Order, or Difcipline. Yet were every of them at firft fo
creft fallen, fo confcious of their own guilt, and juſt deſerts,
as to look for a return of thofe Laws upon themfelves which
they had fo prefumptuouſly violated, but thofe fears foon va-
nifh'd upon his Majeſtics Declaration from Breda, with the
like affurances from thofe moſt injur'd here at home, that
they had all a long us'd the Lords Prayer, and were as ready
to forgive their Trefpaffes, as they defir'd the forgiveness of
F
their
;
(34)
their own from Almighty God; and it was really fo on their
fide,whether on the other,may be a queſtion,from their Actings
ever fince, and hath often brought to my mind that Expref-
fion of Tully, The Injur'd may, but the Injurer never forgives.
Nay, even in that very juncture they feem'd little inclin'd
thereto, for tho the Presbiterians were very defirous to have
the Independants, and other Sectarys difmounted, who had fo
contemptibly turn'd them out of the Saddle; yet when Gene-
ral Monk had done that, and all things tended towards a Rea
ftoration, they earneſtly prefs'd to have it on thoſe Rigorous
Articles at the Iſle of Wight. Treaty; And then the King ſhould
have come home as he went into Scotland, and been us'd as he
was there; and fince this was all, Mr. Baxter and his Abridger
had better have never mention'd what a hand their Party had
in bringing the King back. And when come they could not for-
bear harping upon that ſtring, but adher'd to the Covenant, as
if to take up Arms against their Sovereign whenever they think
fit, had been a main Article in the Old Magna Charta, whereas
'twas never heard of till thefe new Maxims ſtarted by the
Jefuit and Presbiterian, to fubvert all Principles of Religion
and Government.
2
But before they came to this Difcriminating Teft, there were
feveral propofals paft between the Church and Diffenting Par-
ties in order to an Accommodation, which at firft was term'd
a Coalition, afterwards when the Church was fetled, it went
by the name of Comprehenfion, into which Seven or Eight of
fuch as had been the the chief Leaders of the Rebellion, or
noſt Officious in complying with the feveral ufurp'd powers
were proffer'd to be taken. At first fome to have Bishop-
pricks fome Deanaries, &c. which they moft Ambitioufly
affected, but the Odium they dreaded from their own Party
who were not backward in letting them know their Refent-
ments: And the contempt fo juftly expected from aflòciating
with the other, which they had fo violently declaim'd againft,
and abus'd in fo infamous a manner, made them prefs for fe-
veral Conceſſions and Alterations, which might feem in fome
meaſure to Juftifie the many Confufions they had occafion'd:
Mr. Baxter in the Narrative of his Life gives us a tedious pro-
cefs of the whole Tranfaction, and to be fure omits not to
let us know how great a fhare he had therein, which indeed
was fo great, as by his own will, he himself would have been
abfolute
( 35 )
abfolute Dictator to both Parties; according to the obfervati-fa. Wil
on which that great Perfon Bishop Sanderfon, equally profound ons Life
in Judgment and Meeknefs made of his Deportment, There of bifcop
Sanderjon.
was a certain perſon that appear'd to be fo Bold, Troublefome
and Illogical, as I never met a Man of more pertinations con-
fidence, and lefs Abilities in all his Converſation.
1. That
Yet fince we have fcarce any other account of that Affair
but from him, I fhall fteer according to his Compafs, and
make theſe following Remarkes upon what he relates.
thoſe few which he engag'd with, did with much difficulty
accord in their propofals,and made them very general in order
thereunto; and when they brake off without coming to any
Agreement, went feveral ways, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Worte
were fo far for a Coalition, as to take Bishopricks, and Dr.
Wallis lov'd Money too well, to part with what he had got,
but was rather for getting more; and why Dr. Manton who
had took the Engagement, and been Prelate to the Protectorship,
Inaugurating both Oliver, and Richard Cromwell with his Pray-
ers, and bleffings, fhould ftand out a freſh for the Antiquated
Covenant, and not turn Churchman, as he had before Indepen-
dant, might probably be out of Scorn that they profer'd him
a fmall Deanary, when Calamy and Baxter might have had
Bishopricks as well as the two aforemention'd: And whether
the reft might not go upon the fame miſtake which very hap-
pily infatuated the greateſt part of their Party, that if they
refolutely ſtood out, the Church must come to them, for the
People would never endure fo great a filence of the Word,
as would certainly be, when their Stenterophonicks were ſtopt,
this I fay was a conceit moſt, if not all of them were pofleft
with; whereas there was more Sence and found Doctrine
preach'd throughout the Kingdom in one Twelve-months af-
ter their Fatal Bartholomew, than had been nigh Twenty years
before.
2. I obſerve, that as thofe few could fcarce agree among
themſelves, fo feveral others no lefs Eminent for Learning, and
had not trim❜d between Presbitery and Independancy,at the looſe
rate of thofe Loofe-times,ftood out,and had not the confidence
to expect any favour from the Church, which they had fo
evilly intreated, he mentions Dr. Seaman, Horton, Tuckny,
with feveral others, and owns how fearful they were to com-
municate their project to too many in the City, leaſt it ſhould
be abfolutely rejected; as without doubt it would have been.
F 2
2. Į
( 36 )
26.
·
>
3. I obferve the feveral Parties and Factions could never
come to any thing of a Coalition among themfelves, whereaf
Mr. Baxter gives feveral Inſtances how his Pacifick Endeavours
fail'd, as well with private perfons, as in Publick Affemblies;
for all were of the fame Pacifick Temper with himfelf, each one
would recommend his own conceits, not only as true, but
neceſſary; and if they were not received as the Grand Rule of
Faith, nothing of Salvation could be expected, for what St.
Paul fo feverely cenfur'd among the Corinthians, was their
1 Cor. 14. conſtant Practife, every one had a Pfalm, a Doctrine, a
Tongue, a Revelation, by himself; and fo vented his little im-
pertinent Raptures, without any regard to Truth, or Edification.
Tis a Comical paffage Mr. Baxter relates, that when Crom-
well had ufurp'd the Government, and call'd a Parliament
fomething muſt be done about Religion, tho they could not
tell what, only in general it was voted, that all fhould have
a due meaſure of Liberty who profefs'd the Fundamentals;
but then what were Fundamentals, was too nice a queſtion for a
Committee of Parliament to refolve, and thereupon nominated
certain Divines to draw up in Terminis the Fundamentals of Reli-
gion, the Divines were, Marshal, Reynet,Cheynel,Owen, Nye,Simp-
fon, Vines, Manton, Jacomb, and. Mr. Baxter at laft was fent
for to aflift in fo great a work, who contending for the Di-
Etatorship with John Owen, relates feveral Scenes which paft'd
between them, with much of Parties, but nothing to the
Point at laſt Twenty Propofitions were agreed upon, (would
not the Twelve Articles of our Creed done as well,) and printed
to be preſented to the Parliament.. But being Diffolv'd before
the Addreſs was made, they are ſtill to ſeek for Fundamentals.
And to mention but one attempt more, tho many were effay'd,
what a pudder was there among them in the beginning of the
late Revolution, to make two Sticks one, and how did they part
a funder immediatly.
4. Which oblig'd me to obſerve in the laſt place, how un-
likely it is they ſhould ever come to a Coalition with the Church
of England, who could never agree in any thing among them-
felves, for againſt that lies their utmoſt fpite, their moft ir-
reconcilable Enmity, and whoever will have fo much Patience
as I have forc'd upon my felf, to read over that tedious ac-
count Mr. Baxter gives of his Life, will find him deſign two
things more eſpecially thereby; firſt to extol and applaud his
own dear ſelf at fo fulfome a Rate, as nɔ modeft Heathen
much
( 37 )
much lefs Chriftian would be guilty of affuming; and as the
confequent thereof, Defame and Slander the Church, and all
her True Sons in fo difrefpective, contemptuous a manner, as
no perſon of Common Civility would difcover fo great a de-
fect of Manners. What a Cenfure doth his fwelling Spleen
paſs upon thoſe Right Reverend Prelates at the Savoy Conference,
whofe Age rendered them Venerable, and their great Sufferings
call'd for Commiferation, and yet under both thefe, their Age
and Sufferings, there was more of True Principles, Solid Learn-
ing, with a Mesk and Charitable Difpofition of Soul, retain'd in
each of them, than all the Managers on their fide, with the
whole party they appear'd for, did ever difcover, any o-
ther way than in a Cant of Words. At the like Cenforious rate,
he treats thofe Learned Doctors their Affiftants; only Dr. Pear-
fon who fo egregiouſly baffled him, upon the fubject he choſe to
maintain, againſt Impofing, Kneeling at the Reception of the Holy
Sacrament; he owns to be the Strengh and Honour of the Cauſe,
and yet doubts whether he heartily maintain'd it, whereas hav-
ing fince writ as ftrenuouſly as he then argued, and by his Vin-
dication of Ignatius's Epiftles, afferted Epifcopal Government from
the Apoſtles time, beyond the reach of Cavill or Calumny;
and was moſt defervedly advanc'd to the fame Order him-
felf; none but a profeft Hypocrite in the Higheſt Degree, could
fufpect fuch a Perfon to be unfincere in what he maintain'd and
practis'd; and fo as to all the reft, would any perſon who had
the leaſt ſhare of that Mortification, and Self-Denial, Mr.
Baxter fo vainly commends himſelf for, fhoot his Bolt thus
at random, diſcover ſo much Affinity with that Infernal Feind,
as to be the EaTavas, the Ardßon, the Adverfary, the Calum-
niator of the Brethren, and that Exactly according to his Me-
thod, the worthier the Perfons are, the more induftrious in
his Slanders.
Neither was their Carriage and Management of matters in
order to this Coalition or Accommodation, with any more
reſpect than that of Mr. Baxters, to the Perfons of thoſe they Mr. Bax.
were to confer with; their firft Addrefs and Propoſals against L. p. 133.
the Church and Liturgy, was anſwered by the Bifhops in fo fuc-
cinct, yet full a manner, as nothing but an inveterate Prejudice
and refolv'd Obftinacy could continue to make any further
Debate ;
and therefore they tell you with a great deal of Paf-
fion, that no Anſwer was expected by them, but only their
Conceffions, how far they would abate of their former Impofi- P. 248-
tions
p. 242.
+
(38)
tions for attaining Unity and Peace; and term their Reply
nothing, but this Contradiction which their haughty Spirits can
leaft of all endure, efpecially, when fo clear and convincing,
as not to be reply'd unto with Temper and Argument. Where-
as all the King authoris'd them to do, was to Review and Correct,
whatever appear'd really corrigible in the Old Liturgy, not
make a New one, which yet Mr. Baxter did in eight days time,
as much above all others of that kind, in ffis own vain Ima-
gination, as the Ape thought its ill-fhapen Bratt, deferv'd a
preference before all other Beafts. Neither could the Bishops
A&t any otherwife than as they did, in their private Capacity,
The Liturgy being Eſtabliſh'd by Law, could not be altered but
in a Legal Manner, firſt in Convocation, and then confirm'd
by Act of Parliament, which was accordingly done. Altho'
before that, the King rightly inform'd them, that inſtead of
the Diocefans Conceffions, it was more proper for him to put
all he thought fit to grant into the Form of a Declaration,
which nevertheleſs their Worships would have the Correcting
Life pag. and Altering of, and the Account Mr. Baxter gives of their
Sollicitations and Importunities for it, takes up more than twen-
ty Pages in that tedious Book, which Compliance of his Ma-
jefty meeting nothing but words on their fide, no actual Per-
formance of what they profefs'd to allow, made it very short
liv'd.
2580
p. 346.
In the like tedious manner, he gives us the Defence of their
Propofals to his Majefty, as likewife their Exceptions againſt the
Common Prayer, with great care not to omit how great a
fhare himſelf had therein, (which fome think was one main
caufe, the whole Undertaking had fo little Effect.)
Yet after all their Noiſe and Clamour, the Bishops were re-
folv'd not to run out with them into Volumes of Objections
and Anſwers, but have them prove by Difputation what Alte-
rations were fit to be made, and hear what they could reply
to the contrary. This great undertaking, after many Propo-
fals one way, and the other, was at laft Devolv'd upon Dr.
Pearfen, and Mr. Baxter, who took upon him to maintain our
Church Impofitions finful, this was manag'd by writing Extem-
pore, each Party being drawn into a feparate Room, fent their
Arguments and Objections pro & con. The firft and fole Impofi-
tion they oppos'd was that of Kneeling at the Bieffed Serrament,
wherein Mr. Baxter relates his performance with a great deal
of Thrafinick Oftentation; as likewife when the others Dr.
:
- Pearjun
( 39 )
(39
be
per
Pearfon in particular became the Opponent, who forc'd his great
Goliah to this unreaſonable Shift, That no Ain it ſelf Lawful
ought to be commanded, becauſe it may
accidens unlawful,
from which poſition I have already mention'd, what perniti-
ous Confequences that great good Man Bishop Morlye obferv'd to
refult, and fhall now only relate Mr. Baxters thoughts there-
upon when in a Cooler Mood; for in the 3d. part of his Chri-
ftian Directory he declares, that no reason can be given, why a
Lawful thing fhould become unlawful, becaufe a Laful Superior
doth command it, elfe faith he, Superiors might take away our
Chriſtian Liberty, and make all things unto us unlawful by com-
manding them. So likewife in the fame piece, he judgeth the
Pofture of Kneeling to be no lefs Lawful, than for a Perfon to
receive a Pardon from his Prince upon his Knees. Yet here at
the Conference, this is the First and confequently the chief of
thoſe Eight or Ten, nay afterwards Thirty or Fourty Tremendous
Points fo unlawful and finful, that Men fearing God could not
Submit to. And thus his Admirers deal with us ftill. Now
the Difference between our Church and Diffenters is fo inconfi-
derate, as 'tis ftrange a Coalition is not jump'd into imme-
diately; but having got a little more ground, which every
day they are ſtepping into; there will be fuch Tremendous
Points ftarted, as none must be endur'd that afferts them.
P. 343.
I fhall take notice but of one thing more, which Mr. Bax-
ter and his Abridger make a mighty Noife about, for few o-
thers have infifted upon it, and that is Archbishop Uſhers Re- p. 238.
duction of Epifcopacy, &c. whereto the Bifmps reply'd, that it
was form'd, and fhew'd to fome Perfons in the year 1640, but
not confiftent, with two other difcourfes of the fame Learned p. 244
Primate, upon the fame Subject; both Printed in the next year
1641, and written with great diligence, and much Variety of
Antient Learning, in neither of which is to be found any mention
of the Reduction aforesaid; wherein are fundry things apparently
private Conceptions of his own, accommodated at that time for the
taking off fome prefent Annimofities, but wholly deftitute of any
Colour, or Teftimony, or President from Antiquity; nor is any fuch
offer'd towards the proof thereof. Thus far thefe Reverend Pre-
lates, in confirmation of what others have conjectur'd, that
it was a hafty draught of fomething he might think neceflary
for the Reduction of the Church, which was then in a miferable
Condition, but as they would not hear of it then, but went
on to an utter Extirpation both Root and Branch, there is lit-
tle
( 40 )
•
2. 303.
tle reafon it fhould be Liften'd to afterwards, when peopte
were return'd to their right Wits, and fenfible of the manifold
Infatuations which arofe from fuch Novel Conceits.
▼
The four Kalendar Months, to which their Commiſſion was
confin'd, (and time long enough-in all reafon) expiring, the
Conference ended in Courfe; and as the King fail'd not of an
account from the Prelates, where Mr. Baxter found they had
reprefented him as the most troublefome of the whole
pack; fo they were refolv'd to give him an account of them-
f. 366. felves in an humble Petition as they term'd it, drawn up by
the fame hand, and with the fame Affurance, fo that any
body but themſelves wou'd have it a Pharifaical Remonftrance
of their own Abilities and Godliness, with the grofs Miftakes
and Want of Sanctity, of fuch as were not of their Perfwafion.
befides their frequent and fearful Out-cries of Perfecutions and
Sufferings, when themſelves had been the Perfecutors for twen-
ty years together, and as yet had fuffer'd nothing but from
their guilty Confciences and just Fears.
Pref. to
Common
Prayer.
•
Thus ended the Coalition Project, which as it was entred
into at firſt by a ſmall number, without any aſſurance that a
tenth part of their Party would affent to what they fhould re-
folve upon; fo was it manag'd by them with fo many croſs
Purposes and numberless Exceptions, one Tremendous Point or o-
ther being every day ſtarted afresh, as had their Oppofites
been as inclinable to wrangle as themfelves, the Conference
might have laſted as long as the Council of Trent, and end-
ed with as little fatisfaction to all Men of Senfe and Principle.
But now the Convention was diffòlv'd, and a Parliament call'd
according to our Ancient Eftabliſhment, and therewith a Con-
vocation, which fell upon making fume Alterations in, and Ad-
ditions to the Common Prayer, wherein their general Aim
was, to uſe their own excellent Words. Not to gratifie this
or that Party in any of their unreasonable demands: but to do
that which to cur beft understandings, we conceiv'd might moſt
tend to the Prefervation of Peace and Unity in the Church; the
procuring of Reverence, and exciting of Piety and Levotion in the
publick Worship of God, and the cutting off Occafion, from them
that feek Occafion of Quarrel and Cavil against the Liturgy of our
Church, &c. So is their Declaration in that excellent Pre-
face, in the whole of which tho' but fhort, the difpute is more
exactly stated to every one that feek peace, than by a thoufand
Exceptions and Replies, Oppofitions and Answers, which contentious
Spirits fo much delight in.
All
( 41 )
All which the Parliament very well understood, and therefore
reſolv'd to Eſtabliſh the new alter'd Common Prayer Book, by a
new A&t of Uniformity, and becauſe the Covenant was the Dia-
na for which thofe turbulent Spirits had made fo many Up-
roars, and ſtill continued to cry up, they oblig'd every one
admitted into any Eccleſiaſtical Benefice to fwear, They be-
leiv'd no Obligation lay upon them, nor any other Perfon by that
Oath to endeavour any Change or Alteration of Government either
in Church or State, and that it was impos'd against the known Laws
and Liberties of this Kingdom: ſo clear and felf evident a truth,
as after Mr. Baxters many hundred Diſtinctions, and more than
Fefuitical Evafions, no Government can be fafe, where any
Members of it entertain and promote fuch a Notion. And
therefore none but ours would ever have permitted the very
perfons, which wrought fo much confufion thereby, firſt to
Scruple the Abjuration,and then going gradually on in their old
Track, ftand up for and juftifie it. The Parliament indeed
having moſt of them feen and fadly felt the Execrable Effects
thereof, engag'd the whole Legislative Power to enact the fore-
mention'd Oath.
But their Friends the Papists, having too great an Influence
upon the Executive, kept things at fuch a looſe Indifferency,
that no Laws could be executed,but what were ſo contriv'd as
to execute themſelves; which yet the Students in that black
Art found Ways and Means to fruftrate, or render very un-
eafie and vexatious in the Profecution.
Thus while the Law ſtood ſtill, Faction ſtood at Bay, turn'd
its head, and bark'd boldly againſt ſuch as had prefs'd a Ne-
ceffity of their being Muzzled, or otherwife Confin'd, and found
a great many Setters on, as well of their own Party which had
come into the Church, as their old Friends, who found they
might take a much greater Freedom than at firſt in giving
them countenance. Befides feveral young Men in the Univer-
fities, Cambridge more eſpecially, who had hitherto ſeemingly
acquiefc'd with abundant Satisfaction in the Re-eſtabliſhment of
our Rites and Diſcipline, guefling at the Executative Powers In-
clination by its Remifnefs, began to talk of Enlarging the
Churches pale, that a further Latitude might be admitted,
greater Freedom allow'd, by comprehending feveral of the
moſt Moderate Diffenters, (were there ever any fuch?) which
they would readily do, upon an Abatement of fome of our
Church Impofitions, but could not tell how many, and as
G
a
they
( 42 )
they hop'd, never demand more. This Difcourfe firſt com-
menc'd upon his Majefty's fetting forth his firft Declaration
for indulging tender Confciences, which as I obferv'd before
was forg'd at Somerfet Houfe, and from this time forward,
both the name and thing began to be the common Subject,
wherewith every dabler in Politicks would be fhewing his Skill,
undertake to correct Magnificat, without reflecting upon what
the Proverb adds. However the Project went no farther than
common difcourfe, fo long as the Earl of Clarendon had the
Seal, but his Succeflor Sir Orlando Bridgman being advanc'd to
that great Poft, thought to render himfelf popular, by redu-
cing thefe fond Speculations to practice.
·
But before I come to proceed herein, it will be requifite to
give an account of the Universities, how they were dealt with
in the Rebellion, and in what ſtate and condition they ſtood at
the Reftauration. When that bloody Scene firft open'd, theſe
two equal Sifters met with a very different treatment, though
equally Tragical in the end; the King after the first pitch'd
Battle at Edg-Hill, retired to Oxon, and whilft out of the Field,
made that his conftant place of Refidence during the whole
War, ſo that inſtead of Arts and Sciences, Arts and Arms
were their fole Study; and the Recefs of the Mufes became
the Grand Aſylum for oppreffed Royalists from all parts of the
Kingdom. Cambridge on the other fide, being within thofe
Affociated Counties, Norfolk, Suffolk, &c. whereon the Parlia-
ment had fixed their Paw's, and with that grand Metropolis
of Rebellion, made the chief Magazine of fupply with Men
and Money, became the head Quarters of that Affociation;
where the Earl of Manchester as General, with a felect Com-
mittee of the fame Leven, fell to that curfed Work of Refor-
mation; which they fail'd not to put in Execution where-
ever they came; but in the Univerfity with a feverer Rigour,
becauſe it was a whole Body of Loyalty, and True Religion,
(fome few rotten Members excepted) for Number, Parts, Prin-
ciples equally formidable to the Mifchiefs they defign'd. So
that not one Colledge efcap'd the Rage of their Military Ex-
ecution, in fome, Mafters and Fellows were all turn'd out, and
most of the Schollars and Students, ay, and Servants too de-
ferted, in deteftation of fuch inhumane Procedures, from fuch
Religious Zealots and pretenders to redrefs Grievances. To
give an Inſtance or two how much they flighted any thing
that was Juft or Right, Dr. London Fellow of Caius Colledge,
being
(43)
being then upon his Travels in Italy, as their Statutes allow ;
eſpecially to fuch as are Phyficians, had a good Library and
two well furniſhed Chambers fequeftred, and actually carried
off, upon this fole Allegation, that had he been at home they
were fure he would have been of the King's Party: And ano-
ther Inftance, they turned the good Bifhop Bomarick out from
his Maſterſhip of Katharine-Hall becauſe preaching as Vice-Chan-
cellor on his Majefties Anniverſary,he gave him a juft, great Cha-
racter. Yet very Loyal Subjects ftill. At this Arbitrary rate they
proceeded a confiderable time, but afterward, having engaged
the Scots to aſſiſt them with another Army, which they would
do upon no other Terms than our engaging to enter into
their Covenant, it was comply'd with, and made the Grand
Teft, the mark of diſtinction between a Royalift and a Rebel,
and caus'd firſt and laſt, more than twice two thoufand Va-
cancies throughout the Kingdom. And though it was not
proffer'd to every Member in the University, yet fuch as they
found to be any way's Active, tho' but in Difcourfe, they
forced away with this Scotch Spell, which ferved as a hank up-
on the rest, to let them fee what they must expect, upon dif-
covering the leaſt dif-fatisfaction, at their moſt deſtructive
Kirk Alliance.
Upon this general exclufion throughout every Society, care
was taken of a fupply by fuch Perfons as would be fure to
carry on the Work according to the Geneva Platform; where-
in their cheif fupply was from pure Emanuell, originally
founded for a Nurſery of Puritanism, and had all along pro-
moted thoſe prejudices too much, firft in the University, and
from thence throughout the Kingdom: for their Fellowships be-
ing temporary, fo as to ftay there fuch a Term of Years, the
greater obligations lay upon them to be qualified for a remove
into the World, and upon this account likewiſe there was
a ftricter Difcipline kept up, and more conftant Exer-
cife than in any other Colledge, by which means they fent a-
broad too many, unleſs their Principles and conformable Difpc-
fitions had been anfwerable to their Parts and Learning. And
methinks this alone fhould caution the Government not to con-
nive at any Societies, when they become Seminaries of Faction
and Schifim, or any Party of Men which allociate together
upon that account. To be fure one half of the moſt violent
Men in the Westminster Affembly, both Presbiterians and Inde-
pendants, were of this Colledge, and upon this Univerſity re.
G 2
form,
( 44 )
Hift.
Presb. p.
473.
form, of Twelve Head's turn'd out, fix of them were fupply'd
from them, or fuch as had been Educated there, as Hill,
Tuckney, &c. who were. call'd out of the Country; with whole
Colonies of Fellows almoft in every Colledge: by which means
they went on vigorously in fetting up their Holy Difcipline,
and had fome that way Educated from Oxon, and all the Chil-
dren of that Party, were from henceforward fent thither to
be brought up in this New Geneva, which no Zeal was want-
ing to Eſtabliſh, and indeed for the time they had carried it.
to a confiderable heighth; but to fhow, 'twas more like to Ba-
bel, than the true Sion, the Builders became foon divided both
in Tongues and Hearts, and the whole Work confounded. For
the Parliament Grandees of the Presbiterian Funto, having moſt
infamouſly ruined both King and Kingdom, and made their own
Ordinances as uncontroulable as Mahomet's Bowstring; in the
height of their Carreer, were ftopt by that Mungrel Sect.
themſelves had ſpawn'd, the Independants; whofe Notions be-
ing more agreeable to the Army Liberties, prevail'd gene-
rally there, for Cromwell finding his projects going on beyond
expectation, countenanc'd every upstart Enthufiaft, both in.
Army and elſewhere, that there was not fewer Religious Fren-
zy's among them than Troops and Companies, at which the
Presbiterians for a while ftormed moft furiously, that their
Idoliz'd Covenant fhould fo foon become a Nehuſhtan, be bro-
ken down and trodden under foot, but when they faw the Ar-
my fo bold as to take the King from the Commiffioners, their
Patrons in Parliament had committed him to, and then march
up to London, feize the City, and turn all the Leading Mem-
bers of their Party out of the Houſe, this threw them into a
thorough Deſpair, feveral of their loudeft Bell-weathers turn-
ing Independants, as Marshal, Caryl, &c. and moſt of the reft
continued Auter Deux, fubmitted to every change which came
uppermoft, the better to fecure thofe unjuft Poffeffions they
had intruded into. For in the year 47, the Hiftorian put a pe-
riod to the Presbiterian Ufurpation, both Clergy and Laiety,
telling us how after thoſe numberless mifchiefs they had brought
upon King and Kingdom, Church and State, they were upon a fud-
den ſcattered like Duft before the Wind, turn'd out of all, and
publickly expos'd to contempt and fcorn; and that fo easily with fa
little Noife, that the lofs of their exorbitant Power did not coft fo
much as a broken Head, or a bloody Nofe, in purchafing whereof,
they had wafted fo many Millions of Treafure, and more than one
hundred thousand Lives.
But
( 45 )
(45
But before I proceed thereto, it will be requifite to ſtep c-
ver to Oxon, and fee how it far'd with them under the Tri-
monphs of a Rebel Sword. I obferv'd before how the King had
fix'd his Court there, and tho' twice or thrice attempted; yet
ſo long as his Army could keep the Field, thoſe attempts came
to nothing but when the one was loft, the other could not
long hold out. Fairfax therefore coming before it, and the
Garrison having no profpect of Relief, furrendred towards
the end of 46, where the Nobility, Gentry and Military Men
had fuch tollerable Articles as the Grandees at Westminster
were unwilling to ratifie; but the Commanders having fome
fence of Honour, which their Maſters never had, obliged them
to reafon; the University in the mean while was left wholly
to the Parliaments Mercy, who never fhewed any to a True
Son of the Church; yet feveral of their Party, who were not fo
hot as the reft, began now more feriously to reflect upon the
fad Condition they had brought the Nation unto;
and among
other things laboured earnestly to prevent the Sectaries mak-
ing like havock with the University Revenue, as the Presbiterians
had done with that of the Church, at which their Fingers conti-
nually itch'd; and every freſh ferment of Democratick Fury
muſt have a motion leading that way. The Learned Selden at
firſt took much pains upon this account, and afterwards Crom-
well, to give the Devil his due, did continually ſtave off all
their barbarous Attempts. However the Loyal Church Party
muſt be routed from this, as well as the others, but by what
courfe or method was fo difficult as they were the whole Year
of 47 hammering about it, made fome little Efforts by Com-
mittees and Ordinances, and that was all. But in April 48.
Philip E. of Pembrook the re-affumed Chancellor,went down with
a Troop of Vifitors, having the Governour and Garrison to their
Aſſiſtance, and marching from Colledge to Colledge, difpoffeft.
every Master and Fellow, who was not Covenant proof, break-
ing open their Lodgings and Chambers, put others preſently.
in poffeffion; thus Dr. Reynold's was made Dean of Chrift
Church, Wilkinfon Prefident of Magdalen's, Palmer a Member of
Parliament, Warden of All-Souls, Cheynell of St. Johns, Dr.
Wilkins of Wadham, &c. in the Places of Dr. Morley, Dr. O-
liver, Dr. Shelden, Dr. Bayly, and Dr.
with the like
treatment, in a mot infolent and ungentile manner; of
every Member who had any principle of Honour or Honefty
throughout that worthy Body. And doubtleſs it was as glo-
2
1IOUS
( 46 )
rious a Scene of Paffive Loyalty, acted upon the moſt abftract-
ed confiderations of Duty and Caufcience, as the Hiſtory of any
Age or Church can produce. Yet though there were fome
Men of Parts and Learning to fupply the Headship's, they could
find few for Fellows; in defect whereof they were forc'd to
be content with the feum of Cambridge, who fled thither Tag
and Rag, as likewife every little Country Pedagogur, fnivel-
ing Curate or Army holderforth, if they could make a mry
Face, and look like Fools, were fure to be fped, as hoping
they might prove Men of Gifts, tho' without parts. But the
Triumphs of Presbitery, here too, were fhort liv'd, for towards
the end of this year the King was Murther'd; which produced
the Engagement in the next, moſt uneafie to their Covenanting
Spirits. Dr. Reynolds demur'd thereon fo long, til by the
fleight and artifice of Cromwell, John Owen was got into his
place; and though the Dr. upon fecond Thoughts, and good
Female Advice, complied at length and took the Engagement,
yet was it too late to fave his Bacon, the Parliament would
neither reſtore his Deanary nor give him back his Oath, as
that witty Buffoon Harry Matin expoftulated with his Bre-
thren of the Rump. By the like artifice of Cromwell, Thomas
Goodmyn, though a Cambridge Man, becauſe a great confident
of his, was thrust into Magdalen's, which two, Owen and
Goodwyn were the chief Pillars, the very Patriarchs of Indepen-
dency, not but that they had ſeveral others who went along
with them in carrying on their Work; Cheynell's turbulent
Spirit made way for thankful Owen at St. John's; a very tracta-
ble tool to his Namefake, and Marshall of New-Colledge, a-
nother Cambridge Man, was no lefs induftrious for their Caufe.
In short, moſt of them, more or lefs, ran the fame courfe
with John Owen, who having got to be Cromwell's Vice-Chan-
cellor, threatned as many Innovations to the University, as
they had already brought into the Church.
The only Perfon that with any vigour appeared againſt
thefe Maggotty, New-fangel'd Humours was Dr. Wilkins, who
being of a free obliging difpofition, and ready to Patronize
all true Learning and Ingenuity, headed a Party, which tho'
much out-numbred, as much out-weigh'd the impertinent
Cants of Enthufiafme and Folly; and 'tis prefum'd in that Age
of Liberty, they paid him the greater refpect, becaufe though
brought up a Presbiterian, yet the franknefs of his temper
and diſpoſition, would not permit him to affect any thing of
their
(47)
their Morofe Humours or Rigid Impofitions, but left every Man
to his own Latitude, who feeing fo many miſchiefs by con-
tending about the feveral points in Debate among them, dif-
couraged all difputes upon thofe Subjects, and thought it
much more preferrable to acquiefe in a Natural Religion.
Thus the Rebel Sword having got all things under its Tyran-
ny, and to their numberless other Villanies, added that exe-
crable Fact of taking the King out of our Ifrael, every one was
left at liberty to do what feemed right in his own Eyes, which
brought a deluge of Licentionſneſs over the whole Nation, yet
thought much better than their Covenant Impofitions; to be
fure among the reft to return to our young Men at Cambridge,
they were very glad of fo happy an opportunity to throw off
the Presbiterian Rigours, and exert a freer courfe of Studies,
than what their Schiftematical Kirk Tutors had hitherto forc'd
them upon; fo that however fome heavy Blockheads having
nothing elſe to recommend them, followed the Common Cant
of the times, with Noife aud Nonfence, Blafphem'd God, and
Abuſed the People; thefe, others fcorn'd to condefcend to fuch
empty fhifts, and ridiculous impertinencies, but in oppofition
thereunto, generally uſed fett Forms of Prayer, though oft-
times too fanciful and light, in their Chappel Courfes and Pul-
pit Performances; and for Preaching, the Authors they moſt
quoted in their Sermons,were the Antient Greek Moralifts, Pytha-
goras, Plato, &c. or rather their Commentators and Followers,
as Proclus and Plotinus, Porphory, Famblicus, with Epictetus,
Arrian, and others of the Stoicks; one Mr. Smith, who went
from Emanuel to Queens at the firft replanting of that Col-
ledge, (for 'twas there more eſpecially that not only the Ma-
fter and Fellows, but every Schollar and Student, nay the very
Servants too had left it, and would have nothing to do with
theſe new Intruders, as already related) was a great Master
in this fort of Learning, as appears by his felect Difcourfes,
which were Printed by a Friend of his (now in our Prelacy)
foon after his Death; one of the most diverting pieces of Phi-
lofophical Enthufiafme a Man fhall any where meet with; fuch
Allegorical Raptures, and pretty high flown Conceits, as he
feem'd to be going the fame way, which Origen, and ſeveral
other Platonizing Chriftians were blam'd for in the Primitive
Times but young Men led more by Fancy than Judgment,
muft naturally be much taken therewith, and accordingly his
Pupils, and other Admirers in the Colledge, fell altogether into
that:
( 48 )
that way, and were foon followed by feveral throughout the
whole Univerfity; and their performances by way of diftin-
tion or pre-eminence, were term'd Rational Difcom fes;
wherein fome fhew'd much -Reading, and a true Underſtand-
ing of the foremention'd Authors, but as no Excellency is with-
out its fordid Imitators, fo others affecting that Alliede way,
would entertain you with a Rapfody of Bombaft Word, and
long mifterious Periods, which being read with a diftinct Em-
phaſis and grave Deportment, could not but befpeak your Ex-
pectation of fomething extraordinary, fome profound Notion
or other, whereas when exactly ſcan'd, 'twas A; ena fire calce,
as frothy as whipt Cream, without any thing which tended either
to inform or edifie.
Whether that new Term of Rational Difcourfes, and the
great Veneration paid to thofe ald Greck Authors, had not a
tendency to give a more than ordinary preference to Natural
Religion, fome did much fufpect; to be fure the Ancient courfe
of Studies was wholly laid afide, whilft thefe our young Athe-
nians, were intent upon nothing more than what was new and
Strange. Ariftotle's Philofophy was altogether exploded, the
more for that it was introductory to the crabbed Notions of
the Schoolmen. Neither could they much rellifh Calvin's Infti-
tutions, (which had been formerly an Oracle among the Party)
or any other fuch like Modern Syftem's, especially when they
infifted upon the Ropes of Fatality, and Reprobation Decrees,
which their Patrons of the Claffis moft rigorously impofed. For
tho' the Reformation Purge was as ftrong as Gunpowder, yet
had it left fome of the Epifcopal Party ſtill in that Body, and
feveral of the well Educated Youths of the Loyal Party were
fent under their charge, and firmly adher'd to thofe Principles
their Parents either fought or fuffered for; and what by con-
verfing with them, and reading thofe excellent Difcourfes
the Church of England every Day fent abroad, Dr. Hammond,
Dr. Taylor, &c. every one faw under the Precifian Vail, and
that fuch as wore it, according to what hath been already
obſerv'd, were Stoicks in Doctrine, and Cynicks in Behaviour,
and doubtlefs there was nothing fermented more the Presbi-
terian Gall, and made their Spleen fwell, than to fee Arminia-
nifme, which they had fo violently decry'd in Archbishop Laud
and the Church Party, moſt vigorouſly maintain'd by their own
Creatures, nay fome of their Children; in fo much as in all
Publick Exercifes no queftions were fo frequently ſtarted, or
more
( 49 )
more poffitively maintained than what related thereto; and at
St. Mary's you fhould frequently have a young fellow extolling
the Learned Hammond and Grotinus, as the best Expofitors of
Scripture, and fuch as had irrefragably ſtated the true Extent of
Chriftian Liberty, without which Mankind would be alltoge-
ther Uncapable of Rewards or Punishments,
And had they ſtop'd here,fo Orthodox a Profeffion would have
built them up in a most holy Faith; but as all brisk high flown
imaginations, naturally affect Paradoxes; and tis the difficulteſt
part of Difcipline, when moſt exactly Kept up,to reſtrain them;
fo in an Age wholly addicted to Novelty and Innovation, the
further they go, the greater they think their Accomplishments.
Now to pleaſe fuch an humour as this, the Socinian Authors
were exactly calculated; from whence they were equally fur-
niſhed with ſeveral well manag'd Cavils againſt the Authority
of the Ancients; and had the Unreaſonable Froppiſhneſs of the
Geneva Reformers fo ingeniouſly expos'd, as there was both Ar-
gument and Delight in confulting them. Neither is there any
doubt, but that clear Elegancy of Stile, and pretty Rhetorical
way of Arguing, fo peculiar to thofe writers, Anticipated
their Fancy to that degree, as no room was left to difcover the
Snake in the Grafs, the Heterodoxes and Herefies moft cunningly
Couch'd, and craftily infinuated; for notwithſtanding their
many plaufible pretences to clear Solid Reafon, a ſtrict inquiry
and impartial Judgment of things; I ever obferved them to
be no lefs prejudic'd in their New Courfes both of Philofophy
and Divinity, than thofe Old Scholaftick Ariftotelians whom
they fo induſtriouſly indeavoured to Expofe; for whereas the
Free Philofopher confults all their ſeveral Hypotheſes, and with
an equal regard obferve wherein they fall fhort, or on the
other fide, advance any thing as to the improvement either
of Natural or Moral Knowldge; Nothing could be of Value
with them but the great Des Cartes, whom to confult without
a good Foundation in the Mathematicks; is as fruitless as to
read Geography or Aftronomy without having the leaſt acquain-
tance with the Globes; Yet I blufh to think how poffitive a
Company of young fools of us were as to every Notion of his,
our brains turn'd round with his Vortices, and our unthinking
Souls could no where be Lodg'd but in that Sink of a Glandule
where he had fo naftily plac'd it; but how to move his Ma-
chine of a Body we were at a great Lofs, till Dr. More help'd
us with an Anima Mundi to manage that unweildy Mafs; in
fhort
H
(50)
fhort every New conceit was as acceptable as New Lights a
mong the Enthuſiaſts; even to Mr. Hobbs Status Belli, which
ſhews how ſtanch our Morals were like to be, when all Innate
Notions of Good and Evil were exploded. Hence it appears
how defective we all were in his firft and main Principle of Lay-
ing afide Prejudice; otherwife we could never have fo fhame-
fully ridicul'd the Old Ariftotelian way, without confidering
the Learnedest Men, our, or any Church ever had were brought
up
in that Courſe, and therefore not ſafe to try an experi-
ment, but oblige the Youth to begin there, continue their
Publick Exercife as formerly, it being foon enough when of
riper Judgment, if that did not bring it on, to adviſe them a-
gainſt all Magisterial Dictates; and with a free range ex-
amine the feveral pretenders to that truth; which upon
there utmoſt diligence it would be hard to find; Efpecially
fince all controverfies for feveral Centuries paft, had been
Manag'd that way, and for clofe Arguing there is none like it,
as experience doth every day more and more difcover, to
the no little Advantage of our Adverfaries both at Home and
Abroad.
But Reflections upon confequences, in thofe Divided times.
were altogether laid afide; and I could never obſerve to have
been much regarded fince. Among other peices Dr. Taylors
Liberty of Prophelying, came out about that time, which he
told the King was defigned for his Majefties Service, but that
Excellent Prince and all his Worthy Clergy, were very averfe
to purchaſe the leaft good by bad means; to be fure among
others, thefe our high flyers, being then just got upon the
wing, cfteem'd it as an Oracle finding his Arguments would
give them leave to ufe the fame Freedom in Divinity, as they
had already in Philofophy; fo that taking Amfterdam in their
Pallage, they Confulted Epifcopius Cyrcelleius, and fome other
of the Dutch Remonftrants there, (who paid too little regard
to Antiquity, and the Primitive Church) they went forward
to Crellius, Volkellius, Eujedimus, &c. with the whole fet of
thoſe Racovien Authors, Admiring them for great Maſters of
Reaſon, and fuch as had very happily explain'd all holy Scrip-
ture according to that Tenor. And this I perfonaly know
farther, that Crellius de Uno Deo, was the Author recom-.
mended to every Young Student they had hopes of, when
he firſt Apply'd himſelf to Divinity, with feveral other private
Advices tending that way. But when the Church was E-
ftablfh'd.
(51)
ftablish'd, and our Publick Difputations ran in their Old Chan-
nel, they were Oblig'd to Swim with the Stream, and bend
their Studies that way; Altho with many of them, twa's like
a forc'd Match, the firſt courted continued Miftrifs of their
Affections.
At this Extravagant rate, was every man Free to follow
his own Freakish Enthufiafms, or fancyful Heterodoxy's, not
only thorough both the Universities, but the whole Kingdom,
when King Charles return'd from his Exile; which muft like-
wife fuppofe that all fuch as had been Exil'd at home for
their Religion and Loyalty, fhould likewife return to their juſt
rights and confidering what diſtractions follow'd the Churches
Ruin, the Monarchy could not be thought to fubfift without
its Eſtabliſhment, in Order whereunto 'twas Neceſſary to
reflect, that the Old Sequeftred Worthies, being many of them
gone off, and fuch as weather'd the Storm, very much de-
cay'd by Age and ill Ufage, fo that however with Ezra and
his Antients, who return'd from the Babilonish Captivity, they
affifted in refounding our Sion, yet the work would fhortly
fall into other hands, who being Educated in thofe times of
Anarchy and Licentioufnefs, might not rightly underſtand,
or be prejudic'd againft, what conduc'd moft to finiſhing thh
work, and continuing the fame according to Original, Primative
Perfecttion. In order whereunto they had epecially an Eye upon
the Universities, as the grand Seminaries of Learning, and
from whence alone a fupply of Clergy men could be Ex-
pected.
Oxford herein had much the Advantage, for the Arch-Bifhops
fucceffively, and moſt of the other Bishops concern'd in Church
affairs, were of that Univerfity, and the Lord Chancellour of
the Kingdom, being chofen theirs, had no leſs regard, and af-
fifted as much to fix them upon their Old Bafis, as any of
thoſe others; So, that as I remember, Commiffioners were
deputed to re-eſtabliſh all the Sequeftred Members, and
Make what other Reforms fhould be thought Requifite, to
repair its Breaches, and retreive its Priftine Luftre. They
were very happy Likewife in feveral worthy perfons among
them, who took great pains in Order to that good work,
particularly Doctor afterwards Bishop Fells indefatigabie in-
duftry, and vigorous circumfpection, hath every day.
fince he went off, appear'd more valuable than other.
Cambridge in this Lucky juncture fell into much worfe
H 2
hands
(52)
hands, for the Presbiterian Heads finding fo great likelyhood,
of that great change, had a Congregation call'd, as if in courfe
upon Ordinary Affairs, and there, by a Plurality of fuch Con-
fidents as they had engag'd, chofe the Earl of Manchester
their Chancellour, who being likewife The Kings Chamber-
lain and in much favonr at Court, as all thofe efpecially of
the Presbiterian Rebellion were, there was no retrieving
it, which the University, as it then flood, had they known
the defign, they could and would have eafily prevented;
but their refentment was no ways comparable to that of the
Sequeftred Masters and Fellows, who must go to him as
Chancellor, and the Kings Chamberlain, for a Re-admif-
fion, who had turn'd them out, as the Parliaments General,
but that was the leaft of thofe hardfhips, the Poor Cavaliers
at that juncture were forc'd to put up, and thereupon the
Neceffity fubmitted to. Beſides the furviving Heads, Doct-
er Fern had King Charles I. grant for Trinity, and thereby re-
mov'd Doctor Wilkins, plac'd there by his Nephew Richard
Protector, and Doctor Whitchcoate was not thought fit to
be continued in that other Royal Foundation of Kings-Col-
tedge, but forc'd to give place to a Mandate for Doctor
Fleetwood. And there being a strong Epiſcopal party among
the Fellows of St. Johns they heav'd at Doctor Tuckney, and
fix'd upon Doctor Gunning for his Succeffor, who, as I remem-
ber was in the Regius Profefforfhip, which the other had be-
fore the turn, and finding this as little tenable, compound-
ed for 100 Pound per Annum during his life, and fate down
very quietly, expreffing himself many times concern'd at
the Heats, and Factions his Brethren fo violently conti-
nued. Thefe were all the confiderable Alterations made
there in that great change of Affairs, very few being turn'd
out, but fuch as were poffeft of honefter Mens Places, and
even they, if of any Worth, had other Placrs found for them,
and all the reft both Mafters and Fellows, befides the Act of In-
demnity, had a corroboration from their Chancellor,commiſſion'd
I prefume by the King, which ſtrengthned every thing Amiſs
in their Flam'd Titles, and undue Elections.
Being thus fecur'd as to their Legal Rights, there was a
grateful return made in a more general conformity to our
Church Litergy than could be expected after fo great a Defecti
on; and our Univerfity Pulpit, had frequent Sermons in defence
both of its Doctrine and Difcipline, Whilft our Two Profeffors
in
( 53 )
in the Divinity Chair, Doctor Gunning, and Docter Pearfon
deterr'd any one from Starting their former Paradoxes in
thoſe Diſputations. But the Mind is not fo eafily bent as the
Body, it requires a great command of a Mans felf, to lay
afide fuch Prejudices, as Education, Custom and Prepoffeffion
had lodg'd there; which was foon difcovered in thoſe Gen-
tlemen, who had given themſelves the fwing of their New
Philofophy, and New Divinity, aforemention'd; which they
were not backward to difcover in their Common Difcourſe,
how requifite it was to have a greater Latitude allow'd, a more
generous Freedom as to Matters of Opinion, and Religious
Practiſe, than our Church Articles, Rubrick and Cannons con-
fin'd men unto. Archbishop Land and his Clergy, were indeed
a good fort of Men, but of too narrow a Principle, ſo much Ad-
dicted to the Ancient Fathers, Councils, and Schoolmen, as not
to Exert that Strength of Reason, and Freedom of thought, where-
with human Nature indulgeth every irgenious Mind. And from
their frequent ufe of that Term Latitude, and earneſt plead-
ing for it, fome Perfons as were fatisfied with the no neceffity
thereof, nor advantage accruing to the Church thereby, fix'd
upon them the Name of Latitudinarians, and I knew the Per-
fons who firſt ſtarted it, and in what Company. They firft
began with Philofophy, and becauſe the old return'd Fellows
were zealous for that of Ariftotle, fet themſelves more vigo-
rouſly to expofe it, than before. There was a Fellow of Chrifts
Colledge, whofe Name I fhall mention by and by, Printed A
brief Acconnt of the new Scct of Latitude Men, together with
fome Reflections on the new Philofophy, by way of Letter to a
Friend at Oxford. Very ingeniouſly Penn'd, and to be fure
with a plauſible account of the Party, but could not forbear
to recommend Moderation in their Latitude Sence, as it is now
cry'd up afreſh, and how they accomodated themſelves to the
People who were moſtly pofleft by the Presbiterians, as he P. 12.
faith, and reprefents them very formidable, which fhews him
more their Friend than the Churches, and is a grofs untruth,
the Prebiterians being the leaſt of all the Factions, and fuch
as the People would the leaft adhere unto; towards the end
he makes a very pretty Story to expofe the Ariftotelians, and
with like ride he night have done the fame with the
whole Body of Chriftian Religion, nay God himfelf. Yet after
all, 'tis only his dull plodding Commentators, they make them-
felves fo merry with, not one in forty of them having ever
read
(54)
P. 50.
P. 53°
;
read Ariftotle's Text, or were capable to underſtand the Lan-
guage or Sence be abounds in; whereas fuch as were, have in all
Ages given him the preference to thofe many great Men,
Greece abounded withall about his time. But not to infift
upon the Ancients Authority, with Men altogether given up
to Novel Conceits, I fhall produce a Perfons, they muft own
unexceptionable in this Cafe, their great Mafter, Friend and
Patron Dr. Cudworth, who in that his Elaborate and Learned
Book, The System of the Intellectual VVorld, declares that as
the Atomical or Mechanical Philofophy was Ancient eſt, ſo at firſt
they were neither Atheists nor Corporealifts, but held an Immor-
tality of Souls, with a Deity diftinct from the Corporeal VVorld
till Democritus, Lucippus, and others, fetting up for Atheists,
would build up a VVorld out of meer paffive Bulk, and fluggish
matter, without any dexai Seashell, any active Principles, or in-
corporeal Powers: this was oppos'd by Plato, but being not fo in-
clinable in Philofophy as Theology, made no confiderable progrefs
therein, whereas his Scholar Ariſtotle not only trod in his Steps
in afferting an incorporeal Deity, an Immortal first Mover, but
alfo by Phifiliogifing by Forms and Qualities, and rejecting the
Mechanical way by Atoms. And then the Doctor comes to
this Determination. Now I fay the whole Ariftotelian Syſtem,
is infinitely to be preferr'd before the Democratical; the the
former have been fo much difparag'd, and the other cry'd up of
late among us becauſe tho' it cannot be deny'd, but that the De-
mocratick Hypothefis do much more handsomely falve the Corpo-
real Phænomena, yet in all thofe other things which are of far the
greatest Moment, 'tis rather a Madness than Philofophy. But
the Ariftotelick System is right and found here, as to thoſe great
things, its afferting an Incorporeal Subftance, a Deity diſtinct
from the VVorld, the naturality of Morality; and liberty of VVill.
Thus far this Learned Doctor, like a true Philofopher gives
an impartial Account of their feveral Principles, and as the
Mechanical way was feon abus'd then, fo the reviving thofe
Notions in this loofe Age of ours, hath contributed as much
as any thing, to that Deluge of Atheism, which is every Day
flowing in upon us.
The Author having made this little Effay, in defence of their
Party, and Philofophick Freedom, could not hold his hand, but
mult on to Divinity too, beginning with an Account of Origin's
Opinions, vindicating all thofe Heterodoxies and Platonick Fan-
cies, although it hath been all along questioned, whether he
ever
(55)
น
ever maintained the grofleft of them, and not rather falfly
charg'd by his Enemics; but here they muft pafs for his,
and be defended from all thofe fevere Cenfures and Prejudices,
fome too narrow Spirited Chriftians fix'd upon them. This a-
larm'd our Profeffors and most of the new return'd Heads very
much; Dr. Gunning more efpecially; and whether by his means
is not certain, tho' alledg'd fo by the Party, was reprefented
in the Convocation, which foon after began to fit, as of dan-
gerous confequence, and confequently an Enquiry who was the
Author, which I prefume they might underſtand to be one
Mr. Leigh of Chrifts-Colledge, a Perfon of very good parts,
and ftudious enough to improve them, but withal very pofi-
tive in whatever he had efpous'd, as all Men of warm Con-
ſtitutions are, which was in him to an high degree, and that
being precipitated by a violent Fever, fet his Earthy Vehicle
on Fire, and refolv'd it into Duft and Ajhes; whereupon the
Inqueft died with him, without any further notice of the
Book or Author. Dr. Henry Moor was fome time after quefti-
on'd in Confiſtory, I prefume, by the Heads of the Univerſity,
for fomewhat he had Publish'd not agreeable to found Do-
arine, and feveral Articles or Arguments exhibited, whereto
he Printed an Anfwer; which the Heads took ill, that he
fhould trouble the Publick with what ought to have gone no
further than their own Private Body; whereto Dr. Beaumont
made a folid and brisk reply; among other things letting
the Doctor know, that in a Poem he Writ during the late
Rebellion, how rudely he had Ridicul'd the Bishops by the.
Name of Pico, (a Quibble upon the Colour of their Habits)
for thrice Bowing when they preach'd before the King, and
fo on reflecting upon their Preaching too, neither confiftant
with Truth nor good Manners.
;
But not only the University Government, was thus oblig'd
to take notice of their too forward temper, in leaning to their
own Underſtandings, or rather prejudic'd Minds; but they foon
gave that above a Specimen of the fame difpofition, firſt
from Chrifts, and then from Queens Colledge; which two a-
bounded more with thofe brisk fort of Spirits than any other
Societies. That of Chrifts stood thus, one Dr. VViddrington
was Fellow of that Colledge, a Learned Man, and known to
have been all along well affected to the Church aud Crown;
but his Brother Sir Thomas, a common Lawyer, having married
Fairfax's Sifter, went into the Ufurpation, under all. Difpen-
fations,
( 56 )
Fations, and was moft an end one of the Commiffioners to
whom they intrufted their Seal; by him the Doctor was per-
fuaded to take the Engagement, aud continue in the Celledge,
which he much benefited by the many Pupils he had, feveral
of Genteel and Honourable Families; but continued himiclf,
and kept all them, as much as he could, from running thoſe
Novel Courſes moſt of the other Fellows took; and Maſter
to be fure countenanc'd. Upon this account, the Doctor, as
was faid of the Great Mr. Jofeph Mead a little before, feem'd
to be the Odd Fellow, and was much malign'd by them, and
that they might be all one piece, perfwaded the Mafter to
joyn with them, and expell him, which was accordingly done,
in a very abrupt manner, and upon very flight, trivial Alle-
gations, yet most of them falfe too; hereupon the Doctor
Petition'd the King, who deputed the Lord Chancellor and fe-
veral other Privy Councellors, to hear the Matter, which was
accordingly done, and the Doctor reftor'd, not without fome
fevere Reflections upon his Adverfaries, for ſo raſh, unjuſti-
fiable an Act; which made them very Creft-fall'n for the pre-
fent, and more cautious for the future.
Yet this could not caution their Brethren of Queens, from
runming into a greater Pramunire, which happen'd upon this
occafion; Dr. Martin the old Mafter being Dead, that fet of
Fellows fix'd upon one of their own Body, an eminent Perfon
now Living, whom they had been brought up with or un-
der, to fucceed him; the Government in the mean while re-
folv'd upon Dr. Sparrow, (who had been Fellow there of old)
as a more proper Perfon for fuch a Truft; and accordingly
a Mandamus was fent down; which the others underſtanding,
at the time of Election, one of their Party (a Man of Parts,
and ever good at Intrigue, making afterwards feveral con-
fiderable advances in the Church) came to the Senior Fellow,
with whom, the Mandamus was Lodg'd, and told him how
odious it would be for Doctor Sparrow to come in that way,
but if he would fuperfeed it, they would all joyn in Vot-
ing for him; the good Old Gentleman being never us'd to fuch
tricks, comply'd with the propoſal, till comming to the Scra-
tiny, it appear'd they all went the other way; he thereupon
produc'd his Mandamus and declar'd Doctor Sparrow Muster,
who was admitted accordingly, for fome time the Oppofites
made a Buſtle, and were poffitive for their Election, but
when the confequence of the matter was duely weigh'd at
Court,
( 57 )
Court, and their Carriage truly reprefented; they were all
Suspended or depriv'd, I cannot remember which, to be fure
they left the Colledge, fcarce any returning thither again.
This was fo fevere a Shock as it oblig'd all the rest of them to
Act with more caution, tho in diſcourſe no lefs warm then be-
fore, pretending indeed a great Zeal for the Church,yet in their
Judgments it would be much more firmly Eſtabliſh'd, if ſome
little things were abated; and the moft Moderate of the Several
Factions brought in. And this about two years after the Reftau-
ration became the common difcourfe at London among feveral
Divines there; and much propogated among their Lay Ad-
mirers; for the Somerfet-houfe-Cabal, as mention'd before, hav-
ing prevail'd upon the King to Attempt a Toleration, affoon
as that Seffion was ended, which paffed the Act of Uniformity;
feveral who had comply'd with,but been no way's Active under
any of the Ufurp'd Powers, and thereupon came as Paffively
into the Church; and others of the fame from the Univer-
fity (for they had communicated Notions by this time, and
doubtless fram'd their defign) finding how the Court's pulse
beat, thought it might be no lefs acceptable there, than for
themſelves to plead for a greater Latitude; that Free Excer-
cife of their Gifts and Parts (for fome call'd them one way,
fome another) with fome other unreftrain'd Performances, as
the Licentiousness of the times had habituated them unto; and
the prejudices of their Education enamour'd them with. The
exact method in which the Old Puritans proceeded, who pre-
tended at firſt to no more than fmall inconfiderate Abate-
ments, the three Innocent Ceremony's was the utmoſt of their
demands; yet how high they rais'd them by degrees, and
fitivly perfifted in them hath been already ſhown.
po-
70-
The Citizens in the mean while, who could no longer abett
any of the old Factions by reafon of the Intollerable mifcheifs
they had occafion'd, thought they might take in at this
middle way with a great deal of Reputation; and accordingly
cry'd them up for Masters of great reafon,that they difcours'd
thing else in the Pulpit, being altogether indefferent as to the
External's of Religion, or any Publick Church concern's. This
pretty Salvo made the moft confiderable of the Common-
wealth party, defert the Fanaticks, and take up here; and
gave the firſt rife to them, which fome years after were term-
ed Whigg's, for a Whigg is no other than a Ley Latitudi-
narian.
I
Having
(58)
1
Having thus fecur'd themſelves of the City, they could not
fail of a reception at Court, where they had too many of the
like Difpofition to recommend them, and accordingly when
ever any of them Preach'd one Lord or other was prepared to
move the King, it might come forth in Print By his Majefties
Special command: from whence it grew fo much in Faſhion
with all other conceited Pulpit cers, which has made the Poor
Prefs Labour under fuch a Superfeftation of Preachments and
Pamphlets as too many read little elſe; and are never the bet-
ter principled for it. Sir Edwin Sands judiciouſly obſerv'd how
carefully the Romanists reform'd all Exorbitances of that kind.
E. of Cla- And a late great Perfon amongſt us fadly reflects, how the num-
rendon a·ber of idle, impertinent, and Seditious Pamphlets took up ſo much
gainst
time, that Books of Learning, Weight, and Importance found little
Countenance, and few Men at leifure to perufe them, which he
ftiles the Epidemical difeafe of the Nation, a reproach to the
Government, and likely by degrees to fupplant all true Know-
ledge, and found Principles. How difmally this is improv'd by
the Freedom of the Prefs fince that great Perfon writ, is
ftill most deplorable. But this is a Digreffion, I fhall
return with relating this Paffage, Once, when the firſt Metro-
politan of the late Reign preach'd before the King, he had a
certain Peer fo much his friend, as from recommending his
Sermon, to infinuate how deferving he was of a Bishoprick, King
Charles, according to his pleaſant way reply'd, my Lord 'tis
a queſtion whether he may be fo well trufted in Parliament, as
Pulpit.
Creis.
£. 59.
·
Yet did not his Sermons pafs without fome juft Reflections:
I knew a Gentleman, a Judicious Attender upon Court Ser-
nons, eſpecially in Lent, told me at the end of one, that
he never heard this Perfon preach there without fome little by
Reflection upon one or other of our Church conftitutions. And his
Yorkshire Feaft Sermon is fo exprefs, as I fancy fhould any man
at Geneva or any other of thoſe Foreign Churches declare himſelf
fo freely againft what is there Eſtabliſh'd, he would be never
fuffered to Preach more. And 'tis fomewhat ftrange that
his Sermon wherein he declares, the No Eternity of Hell
Torments, fhould be printed among the rest of his Works,
fince to my knowledge it was much difcours'd of when
preach'd; and the Gentleman who hath made Reflections upon
his Funeral Sermon, hath obferv'd he covertly undermines the
Doctrine of Chrifts fatisfaction there, as well as exprefsly de-
clares
( 59 )
clare that the Torments of Hell are fo Terribly fevere, that wee
can hardly tell how to Reconcile them with the Justice and good-
nefs of God, with too much more to the fame purpofe. The
fame Gentleman charges him with a grofs peice of Hobbifme
in another before the King at Whitehall, which not only Dr.
Gunning the good and Learned Bishop of Ely complain'd of to
the House of Lord's, but his good friend Dr. P-ck writ
feverely to another about it, and was earnest to have him
Reprov'd upon that account. The manner too of his Admin-
ſtring the Sacrament at Lincolns-Inn Chappel is justly reflected
upon as very odd, that he ſhould firft go to thofe in the Pew's,
fome of which 'tis prefum'd might receive it fitting, and at
laft to fuch as Kneel'd at the Rails delivering the confecrated
Elements in fuch a Carelefs Sidling manner, as if he defign'd to
diſcourage their coming there. Now this was a Latitude fo
grofsly ſtretch, as to rend all the Effentials of Chriftian
Doctrine and Religious Worship; not difpenfing with a Ceremo-
ny, but prophaning a Sacrament, which when we had a
Church countenanc'd as it ought, would have met with no
other advance than in the Sinagogue of Satan, and therefore
muſt be a direct tendency down the Broadway; whereas now
Ille crucem Hic Diadema, we Mitre thoſe we fhould Suf-
pend. But the thred of his life being cut off foon after his
Afcent to the See of Canterbury, little guefs can be made how
he would have behav'd himſelf in that High poſt; tho' as
little doubt but he would have carryed on all things in a Com-
prehenfion Latitude, having from the first been cheif Abettor
thereof, and after Biſhop Wilkins's death, Head of the whole
party: whereof he gave too large a Specimen, in adviſing the
Epifcopal Clergy of Scotland to go home and fubmit to their
Presbitery; which my Author too truly terms a peice of
Treaſon to the Order he was advanc'd into; and perhaps that
was one main part of the defign, to have the Orders Co-ordi-
nate; Presbitery abfolutely Eſtabliſh'd in Scotland, and fome-
thing very Like it in England, with the Epifcopal Revenue.
Others think that finding not only fo ftrong à Body of the
Clergy oppofing their defign, every day more than other,
abetted by the Commons, and Lords too, (till the feveral ad-
vances in that Reign; Spiritual, and Temporal, English,
and Dutch turn'd the Scales,) he car'd not to jogg that
even fedate Temper, whereof he was a very happy Mafter,
by driving a Nail he found would not go; But like a Brother
Patriarch
1
(60)
Patriarch many years fince at Rome, having caught the Fish,
the Nett was not now fo much to be regarded.
Thus have I run from one digreffion to another,incidentally
mentioning this Lucky mans Recommendation to King
Charles, thought it proper to perfue his good fortune to its
utmoſt height by the favour of King William: for that be-
ing ftrucken down from thence by a fudden death, he
did not live to Act his part with the rest of his party:
which to return to King Charle's Court from whence I
degrefs'd) carryed all before them, the moſt confidera-
ble preferments running into their Channel, and who-
ever did not Swim, as that Stream drove, was look'd up-
on to be hot and indifcreet, very defective in their two
grand Qualifications, Prudence and Moderation, which were
then as much in Vogue as now; Tho the one was all
Serpent; and the other made an Inlet to Factious Licenti-
oufnefs. 'Twas thought likewife thefe Gentlemen had no
little kindneſs done them underhand by the Romish Party,
who for the fame reaſon they allow'd very liberal Penfions
to the moſt confiderable of the Seperation Cheifs, John
Owen, &c. might according to their uſual Politicks,take care to
have fuch preferr'd in the Church as would leaſt regard it;
upon which account I knew a perfon about Court would
frequently fay, the purchase of a Dignity was to do no-
thing.
Being thus advanc'd in Number and Intereft,and Sir Orlando
Bridgman advanc'd to the Seal, a great Common-Lawyer, and
as fuch generaly are one of, great Moderation, that is no ways.
Zealous in Church Affairs, thought to render himſelf popular
as I have already hinted, by reducing their Latitude Speculati-
ons into practice, find an expedient to Comprehend fome of the
moſt conſiderable Diffenters in the Church, and had as an Af-
fiftant therein Dr. Wilkins,who being Granchild to, and having
the greateſt part of his Education under old Mr. Dod; thought
to find fomthing of that good Mans Temper in the reft of the
Diffenters; but the event prov'd otherwife, for few of the
party appeard, and they who did, engaging only for them-
felves, and every meeting making fresh demands, the Lord
Keeper and others ingag'd in it, grow weary, and difpair'd
of fixing them even to their own Conceffions, for what-
ever flourishes Mr. Baxter and his Abridger may make, this
is the true ftate of the Cafe, as Sir John Baber (whom they.
call
"
(61)
call Sir John Barber, ) inform'd me, who was cheifly con--
cern'd in bringing on the debate, and took much pains.
therein, but finding nothing but Turgiverfations and Cavils,
without any profpect of a reaſonable compliance in any one
thing, he gave them over for a Company of Whiffling Fellows,
as his term was, and could never believe fince there was any
thing ofConfcience in all theirpretences which he really thought
before. Dr. Burton the Keepers Chaplain, who had Latitude e-
nough, and was very fond of, and forward at firft in the affair,
but at laſt gave a like account of their endeavours with Sir
John Baber, and difpair'd as much, of ever bringing them
to reafon. What Dr. Wilkins faid or thought, I have not
heard, however it turn'd well to his account, being foon af-
ter rais'd to the Epifcopal Dignity; A now Learned Prelate,
who preach'd his Funeral Sermon, feems to Apologife for his
appearing in the Comprehenfion project, as refulting partly
from his Education under his Grandfather; but more efpecially
from his goodness of Nature, by reafon whereof he might poffibly
overdo, &c. yet being fince rais'd to the fame order, hath ap-
pear'd as forward as any, for throwing down the walls of our
Church, to let in this Trojan Horfe ('tis the Right Reverend,
and VVorthy Bishop Lany's Compariſon) full fraught with thofe
Enemys, which could do us no hurt whilft kept out; and
however in that juncture declared againft, the project was
firſt contrived in a knot of acquaintance which he was very
intimate with, and from them deliver'd down Tradition wife
to their freinds and admirers. About this time I prefume it
must be, for the 2d. Edition was in 1671. that a certain Bed-
fordshire Divine, who had quited his Living upon the Act of
Uniformity; thought fit to come into the Church, upon thofe
Comprehenfive promifes which were then the cheif fubject of
difcourfe, and accordingly addreft himself to the party that
way difpofed, who carefled him very much, and not only did
what lay in their power towards his advancement, but recom-
mended him.to fuch as could do more, fo that when others
went down, he got up into the Heirarchy; ow that he might
not be thought ingrateful to their firft kindneffes, he writ in
three Dialogues, A Defence of certain Moderate Divines, a-
bufively call'd Latitudinarians, giving an account 1. of their
Preaching; 2. of their Opinions, and Principles; 3. of their
Fudgment in Matters of Diſciplins. The two former I fhal
take
(62)
take no Notice of, as relating, more especially, their oppo-
fition to the Diffent ers,that they might not be thought of them,
tho' originally from them. Nor much to the Third, but
that having ftated the Cafe of Epifcopacy and Church Govern-
ment, tenderly enough, and tho' indulgent to Tender Confci-
ences, will not allow thofe to be fuch as confront Authority,
andrefufe to yeild Obedience in those things against the Law-
fullness of which there can be no pretence, which carryeth any
Thew of Reason: he concludes, how extreamly defireable it is
P. 333. (if our Governours fhall fee it good) that the Terms of Commis-
nion with the Church of England, and likewife of Exercising
the Miniftrial Function therein, may be ſo enlarg'd, as to take in
all that are of any Reaſon, Sobriety,and Moderation; which Terms
carry in them fo great a Latitude, as there is not a Fana-
tick in the Kingdom but will pretend to them all, yet ad-
mit none to judge but themſelves; nor an Heretick in the
Kingdom, but think his reafon will bear him out againſt
whatever Articles of Faith he oppofes; and for Sobriety of Life,
they were generally eminent therein, the better to prevail
upon their Profelites; yet would not that do their buſineſs
without Moderation in their abufive Sence, that is fuch remif-
nefs in the Church Governours, as to let them go on with-
out Reproof or Cenfure; and all Schifmaticks will come under
the fame Latitude, ay, and Papifts too, till they can get the
Church down, and fet up themſelves, and then for an Inqui-
fition, as the others for a Covenant, which the Nation hath
once fadly groan'd under, yet is ftill fo ftrangely infatuated,
as to take no true Meaſures, for preventing either in the fu-
ture. Now were I to give a general Character of fuch as
ought to be comprehended in our Church; true Religion fhould
be placed inſtead of Reaſon, (which 'tis very probable the
Gentleman intended, tho' it had been better exprefs'd) not
only agreeable to the Articles of our Creed, but to thofe of
our Church too, which relate to Doctrinals, without the leaft
Alloy either from Geneva or Racovia. 2dly. Holinefs of Life,
whereof Sobriety is no more than one fingle branch, but as
falfely as maliciouſly infifted upon by a Company of Pharifai-
cal Chriſtians in a defign'd Reflection upon all fuch as will
abhor their Hypocrifie, winking in the mean while at their
Pride of Heart and perverfeness of Spirit, which abſolutely
rules in thofe Children of Difobedience; for did they truly un-
derſtand to moderate their own unruly Affections, and vain
Prejudices,
(63)
Prejudices, inſtead of Cavalling they would Acquiefce in,
and admire the great Moderation our Church hath obferv'd
in all her Conſtitutions.
But whilſt the Diffenters could do nothing for themſelves,
and by diſagreeing in their Demands, nay, the fame Perſon
demanding fometimes one thing, and fometimes another, dif-
courag'd fuch in the Church as really defign'd them a kind-
nefs, would they have attended to any thing of Reaſon, So-
briety and Moderation; their true Friends the Papifts, did
their buſineſs at one ſtroke, becauſe they could not untie, cut
the Knot affander, prevail'd upon King Charles's unſteady
Temper, without confulting the beft Parliament, any King,
till that time, ever had, (we have had feveral as good fince,
and as little hearkned to) to break the Tripple Aliyance, enter
into a League with France, fhut up the Exchequer, and pro-
claim'd a Free Toleration to all Diffenters whatſoever, and Pa-
pifts more eſpecially, for tho' laft named were firſt intended,
and all the reft for their fakes; which none of them could
be ignorant of; yet all agreed in an Addrefs of Thanks to
his Majefty; tho' the more cautious were not for fuch high
applauding Terms as others defign'd, leaſt the Parliament
fhould fall upon them; in ſhort they were fuch Enemies to
Forms as not to accord in one upon this Civil Concern, and
therefore introduc'd by my Lord Arlington, put his Majefty-
of with an extempore Thankſgiving. Neither was that the on-
ly Difpute among them, but another arofe much more con-
troverted, viz. Whether they ſhould acquiefce in a Toleration
alone, or have a Comprehenfion too; the Presbiterians were
for the one, Independants for the other, and very jealous leaft
thofe Old Dictators having once got a Legal Establishment, fhould
retaliate upon them the Infolencies of their Exclufion in 47.
Mr. Baxter gives us their Arguments pro and con, like himfelf
very trifling, yet ſtrong enough to continue their diſtances,
who are refolv'd never to come together unlefs to do mif-
chief; which by joyning with the Papifts as they did in the
next Kings Reign, they had a foul profpect of, but were now
happily prevented,
For the King having expended all his Exchequer-Finds, and
faw the French got into the heart of the Seven Provinces;
whilft their Fleet acted fo at Sea, as if they defigned to give
the Dutch the fame advantage over us there, as they had got
over them at Land, began to think, as all unthinking Perfons
dɔɔ
་
(64)
•
do, when too late, how he ſhould extricate himfelf, which
was no other way to be done, but by a Parliament; who
would be fure to reflect on thofe many unjuſtifiable courſes
had been taken. However they acted like Gentlemen and Loy-
al Subjects, with a great deal of tenderness to his Majesty,
defiring only the remove of fuch Minifters as had given him
that ill Advice, and a further fecurity from Popery by the Teft
Act: Which gave them all a remove from thofe many Places
and Commands they had thrust themfelves into, even to the
Duke of York himfelf, who had been the chief promoter of all
thefe New Councils, and was obferv'd ſcarce ever after to
enjoy a quiet Hour, either Duke or King. The King was like-
wife engag'd to re-call the Diffenters Toleration, which they
were much vext at, but could not complain of, fince it fo pal-
pably tended to the promoting of Popery, as they all knew,
and that it was indulg'd them foly upon their Account: how
little in the mean while muft they have of that Religion and
Confcience, clamour'd fo much about, and acted fo much a-
gainst.
But the Papifts, tho' they loft their Places, loft nothing of
their Interest; and finding the Parliament to act fo fteadily,
(as tho' they would be fometimes angry, having indeed too
juft occafion, when things were fo frequently carried againſt
all Principles of Law and Policy) that neither Church nor
Crown could be damnified, even when perfwaded to make it
their own Act. Yet, I fay, the Papifts manag'd matters fo,
as to procure a Diffolution, much to the Kings trouble, but
more to their own deftruction. For new Parliaments very
much alter'd the Face of things, where the Old Commonwealth
and Fanatick Party, getting the Afcendant, fell to their wont-
ed work of Root and Branch Reformation, and to inflame their
Zeal, a Popish Plot was difcover'd, which certainly they ever
had, and were then more vigorously carrying on than ever
before; but as to particulars, whether many Allegations were
not too ill grounded, and the Evidences as little Creditable, to
take away fo many Lives as fuffer'd upon that Account, muſt
be referr'd in Diem longiffimum. To be fure the whole Nation
was thereupon rais'd into fo high a ferment, as to question e-
ven Contradictions and Impoffibilities, was to be not only of the
Party, but Plot. But this is Forreign to my Subject, other-
wife than to take notice, that Coleman, the bufieft Stickler a-
mongſt them, confefs'd at his Tryal, and after Sentence, That
poffibly
(65)
poffibly he might be of Opinion, Popery might come in if Liberty
of Confcience had been granted; which yet at this time the Dif
fenters were more earneft for than ever, without any defe-
rence to the Government or legal courfe therein, by way of
Coalition, Comprehenfion, or any fuch like Propofals as they had
formally made. The truth of it is, their Party in the Houſe
was fo potent and clamorous, as they always are, that 'twas
not doubted among them,the Church fhould receive their Terms
without giving any; infomuch as when Dr. Stillingfleet Preach
ing before the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and all the
Judges prefent, took an occafion to expoftulate with the Dif
feuters, for the little regard they had to Unity and Concord, in
fo Critical a time as that was; and to fhew the unreaſonable-
nefs and danger thereof; the chief of their feveral Sects fell
violently about his Ears, Er. Owen, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Alſops
with two or three more, moſt of them not only in an On-
gentile, but Unchriftian Manner: to all of whom the Doctor
replied, in his Unreasonableness of Separation, giving a full ac-
count how uneafie they had all along been, not only to the
Government, but themſelves; fo naturally were they in-
elin'd to continual Brangles and Factions Oppofitions. But after
the Doctor had taken all this great pains, there was a mode-
rate Party then in our Church who prevail'd upon him at the
end of his excellent Preface, to make a fhort Eflay as to a To-
leration, which yet the Diffenters at prefent will little thank
him for, being clog'd with feveral Restrictions and Limitations,
altogether requiûte to prevent the mischiefs of an unlimited
Licention/nefs, which otherwife, he faith, would certainly bring Fref, p.8 ax
confufion among us, and in the end Popery. I fhall here name
the firft of his Reftrictions, tho' done elſewhere, That none
be permitted this Indulgence, who do not declare, that they hold
all Communion with our Church unlawful; for it seems unreafon-
able to allow it to others, and will give countenance to endleſs and
caufeless Separations. And this is what all true Churchmen are
earnest for, and the defect thereof will certainly produce
that confufion the Doctor mentions, which all that are not
willfully blind, muft fee every Day breaking in upon us.
But the Church is never ftruck at without a like defign up--
on the Crown; which the King was made fo throughly fen--
fible of, in three fucceflive Parliaments, one of which, finding
their Diſſolution drew nigh, pafs'd a Vote, it fhould be highly
Criminal, as far as a Vote could make it, to advance bim Moncy
K
( 66 )
on any branch of his Revenue, tho' to buy Bread; this forc'd
him to have recourfe to his old Friends, countenance the Loy-
al Church Party, both Clergy and Lay, to preferve himfelf;
by whofe means he weather'd that Storm, refolving never af-
ter (tho' none of the firmeft therein) to truft Whig or Diffen-
ter, whatever promifes or proteftations they thould make.
This made them Plot too, and that in a very defperate man-
ner, which by a fignal Providence being difcover d, and much
better Evidenc'd than that of the Papif, about a like number
of them fuffer'd. And here I cannot but take notice of Mr.
Baxters Legerdemain Evafions, who complains mightily of his
own and Brethrens being profecuted, but for fear we fhould
expect the reafon of the Kings unufual Severity, he concludes
the Narrative of his Life, which relates thereunto, with theſe
Equivocal Words; As to the prefent State of England; the Plots,
the Execution of Men high and low, the Publick Councils and
Defigns, &c. the Reader must expect none of this fort of History
from me. And his Abridger tells us, this year 83. A new Plot
was trump'd up, which coft the Brave Lord Ruffel, Col. Sidney,
&c. their Lives: he might have told us likewife their Fellow
Confpirators were Evidence againſt them, and faid fomething
of the Rye-Plot if he had pleas'd, but that was too hot to be
touch'd, and too clear to be evaded. Thus the King having
efcap'd, more by Divine Favour, and his Loyal Subjects care,
than his own due regard, the many new Attempts of his old
Enemies, even to that of a Violent Death, was as fuddenly taken
away by a Natural.
Tho'
How unhappily his Succeffor manag'd Affairs, what advan-
tages he gave to all the Enemies of Church and Crown totally
to fubvert them, every ones Eyes beheld but his own.
upon his firft afcent to the Throne, he propounded fuch a
Regular Scheme of Government, fo agreeable to Law, and the
true Intereſt of the Kingdom, as had he not proſtituted his
promife, all Men of Sence and peaceable Difpofitions, would
have indulg'd the prejudices of his perfuafion. And this I
have obferv'd to be generally practis'd at the beginning of
moft Reigns, Men of Sence and ſteady Principles, immoveably
fix'd to the Ancient Establishments of their Fore-fathers; are
firſt addrefs'd to, and have greateſt aſſurances given them,
but what through the Infinuations of factions Difpofitions, the
bafe fuggeftions of Sycophants and Parafites; with the felf in-
terefted defigns of fuch as get into Publick Places without Pub-
Lick
(67)
lick Spirits, thofe firſt and beſt refolves are feldom perfever'd
in. The like gracious aflurances he gave to his Parliament,
when aflembled, which had a large plurality of fenfible well
principled Gentlemen, who prudently confider'd the greateſt.
mifchiefs and confufions ever befell this Kingdom, or indeed
any other, was by altering the Succeffion, which therefore, if
poffible, they intended to avoid; efpecially, for that during
their Seffion, the Duke of Monmouth Dub'd himſelf King, a
Perſon they knew to have no Title, (being not fo much as the
late Kings Natural Son, if ftrictly enquir'd into) no Parts, and
a Party which defign'd nothing but the extremity of our old
Diſtractions, and 'twas a ſtrange fatality to King James, to fee
what a Buſtle that Man made with a Rabble rather than Ar-
my of Rebells, confifting altogether of Commonwealthsmen and
Fanatick-Diffenters, and upon the leaft gleam of fuccefs, would
have had the whole Body run into him; fhould, when his
turn was ferv'd againſt them, depend upon their affiftance,
to put a force upon fuch as had fo faithfully ferv'd him..
For the Parliament having been fo complaifant as to Enact
the Duke of Monmouth a Rebell, fo that when taken, all that
remain'd was to cut off his Head; and voted Money to pay off
the Army rais'd againſt him, infifting only that fuch Papifts
which had ferv'd therein contrary to the Test Act, when
paid, fhould be no longer continued in Service, his Majesty
was pleas'd to take this fo reaſonable, fo legal a Demand,
very ill, and in a Royal Pet Diffolve them.
Hence forward the Vizard began to be taken off, the Kings
Difpenfing Power was the fubject of every ones Difcourfe, fuch
Fudges as would not admit thereof, turn'd out; and others
with very little Lam, but great Compliance taken in, and every
Body in Place Clofetted upon that Account. A Commiſſion for
Ecclefiaftical Affairs was alſo eſtabliſh'd, and A Declaration for
Liberty of Confcience iffued forth, and with order fome time
after to be read in all Churches and Chappels, which the
Biops Petitioning againſt, were fent to the Tower. All which
'tis requifite to make a general mention of, in order to my
particular Enquiry how the Diffenters behav'd themſelves in
this Critical juncture: For tho' they will ftretch every little
Advantage indulg'd them, to the extremity of Licentiouſneſs,
no leſs deſtructive to themſelves than the Church, yet when
upbraided with the fame upon their deſign miſ-carrying, they
will either boldly deny or evade it, with as much Art and
K. 2
Fallacy
(68)
Fallacy as any Jefuit whatſoever. I could give feveral inftances
how equivocally they argued againſt fuch as upbraided their
being Properties to introduce Popery, by complying with King
Charles's Declaration, 72, one cry'd, They were not concern'd
what the fecret defign might be, fo long as the thing was good,
Libertatis and why, faith he, do you infinuate Fealoufies ? have not we Pub-
Evangelii. lick, and the Papifts only Private Allowances? In fine, we
Findicia
thankful for the Honour done us to be Publick in our Meetings;
they might have had them inPrivate by the Law,with Five of ary
other Families, but that would have been too thin an Auditory
for their Noify Gifts. And another had fo peaceable a Defign,
for that was the Title of his Book, as to declare, the Papifts
in our account is but one fort of Recufants, and the confcientious
and peaceable amongst them, must be held in the fame predicament
with those amongst our felves, that likewife refuse to come to Com-
mon-Prayer with feveral others as pofitive in the point. So
that however the old Stagers, which from the beginning had
been engag'd in the Rebellion as well as the Schifme, left their
young forward Fops to fcribble in defence of fo foul a Fact,
yet they took the liberty, and were equally forward in promot-
ing the miſchiefs.
And in the fame manner they proceeded upon the like De-
claration from King James, whatever Apologies the Abridger
has thought fit to make on their behalf. For tho' Mr. Bax-
ter, and fome of his Brethren, being the old Stagers juft now
mention'd, were fo wary as not to Addrefs, yet he owns the
reft Over-did it therein, and 'tis a mean excufe to fay the High
Church Party had little reafon to reflect on them, who return'd
thanks for Diffolving one of the best Parliaments; whereof a Dif
Jenter can be no competent Judge, for that which is beft in
their Sence, must have a plurality of VVhies and Fanaticks;
and confequently can be good for nothing but ill defigns.
And I cannot but take notice of his great caution in this mat-
ter, finding a double Evaſion in one Senteuce, when he tells
us, Neither can any Number of any Confideration be charg'd with
hazarding the Publick Safety by falling in with the measures of the
Court, where first there is not any Number, or if a Number of
no Confideration, whereas they were fo pofitive, or rather head-
ftrong, that none of their own Party, or any elfe in England,
were able to reftrain them, infomuch as he himself, the A-
bridger, tells us from their good Friend the Bishop of Sarum,
1.696. That among other Mffages fent over to the Prince of Orange,
7.624.
one
( 69 )
one was, that he would use all his Interest among the Diffenters
to hinder them from running in to the Declaration, and from the
Defign which was then promoted, of animating them against the
Church, of this, faith the Bishop, I must be allowed to speak con-
fidently, because it paſſed thorough my own hands, and I drew the
Directions that were given to an eminent Perfon, who was employ'd
in it; and this Perfon I prefume was Monfieur Dickvelt, who
as the Abridger tells us, gave great affurance to the Nonconfor-
mifts, that they should find great refpects from the Prince of O-
range when occafion offer'd, and that they might be fatisfied he P. 625.
was no Friend to rigour and ſeverity in Religious Matters, but a
great Friend to Liberty of Confcience. Yet for all this affurance
they continued between Hawk and Buzzard till the Prince was
Landed, and King James's Army began to defert him, few of
the Somerſetſhire Fanaticks where they much abounded, going
in to the former, as remembring how lately they fmarted
moſt ſeverely upon that Account. What he fays likewife of
the Regulators is another right down Evafion, for, however
they were Perfons of mean Fortunes and Abilities, yet thoſe of
beſt reputation among the Diffenters carefled them in moſt
Corporations where they came, and had there been an Election,
the whole Body of them would have ſtickled as earneſtly for
fuch as would have voted down the Teft and Penal Laws, as at
the Election the other Day, for fuch as fhould oppoſe the Bill
against Occafional Conformity.
'Tis therefore the heighth of Fanatick Confidence in the
Abridger to alledge, that though they had a fair opportunity
for Revenge in King James's time, yet could they not think
the thing desirable; they went as far as opportunity ſerv'd,
and had the defign gone forward, would have furnish'd the
Papifts with Faggots, and kindled the Fire too if that courſe
had been refolv'd upon the ſecond time, which I believe they
were, I will not fay Wifer, but Cunninger than to have taken;
the Presbiterians had shown them a no less effectual way, to
Sequester, and thereby Starve them, which to prefent view is
not fo Cruel indeed, yet fuch a lingring Death has more in
it of Torment. Of all things therefore God deliver me from
depending upon their Charity, how much did they fhow to
the good King Charles I, when in their power, and as he ſaid,
What can the Subject expect, when their Prince met with ſuch
Treatment. He mentions likewife the Commiffioners appoint-
ed by King James, to enquire what Money or Goods had been le-
vied
(70)
"
P. 627.
P.
vied upon the Diffenters, and not paid into the Exchequer, which
gave the Diffenters a fair opportunity of being reveng'd on many
of their bittereft Enemies, which could be only Informers and
Under-Sheriffs, and though he faith they generouſly paffed all
by, I knew fome Under-Sheriffs they retaliated upon in their
own kind; yet if not, why fhould any Leading Perfon of
the Church of England, Clergy and Lay, make promiſes and affu-
rances that no fuch Methods fhould be us'd, but great Temper and
Moderation for the future; the Fellows had Law for what they
did, and could only be queftion'd for putting into their Pri
vate Pockets, what ſhould have been paid into the Publick
Exchequer, the King might difpofe of it afterwards to whom
he pleas'd. What likewife the Marquess of Hallifax writ,
was only to keep them from running into the Court meaſures,
but that they ſhould wait to ſee the effects of his Declaration,
was to no purpoſe, fince neither he nor the Church Party had
any thing to do in the management of Affairs, all was carried
on by the Papifts and Diffenters; ſo that their former Haugh-
624 tinefs, which he terms the Marqueffes Word, was extinguifh'd
already; and feveral Bishops being in the Tower, fo long as
the Diffenters continued in Power, would have continued them
there, and fent their Brethren to bear them Company. But
then too, the Marquefs concern'd himſelf, doubtlefs, in this
Affair no otherwife than as it related to the State, for tho'
he was a Perfon of excellent Parts, of a brisk Fancy and fearch-
ing Fudgment, yet in Religious concerns, his Principles and
Practifes were of too great a Latitude, to regard pretences
of Confcience, any farther than the disturbances they gave to
a fettled Government, which to prevent further mifchiefs, when
numerous, he muft think fit to have Tolerated; and tho'
not Papists, becauſe they will not retaliate, yet Atheists and
Deifts muſt by no means be excluded; to be fure at prefent
they ſeem to be the chief Conductors march at the Front of the
whole Herd. That Obfervation which the wife Son of Sirac
makes, carries not more of Judgment than Religion in it, He
Excl f. 19′ that hath ſmall Understanding, and feareth God, is better than he
that hath much Wisdom,and tranfgreffeth the Law of the most High.
A wicked Inftrument prophanes a good Caufe, brings a Curfe
inſtead of a Bloffing. But what then will become of fuch as
have Small Understandings, and no fear of God to help them,
that doubtless renders the Cafe most defperate, nothing but
the continued Miferere's of good Men, can divert the Evils
attending there upon.
247
Bu
( 71 )
But without taking notice of what fentiments fuch Perfons
had, as acted foly upon Reafon of State, without regard to
Religion, our Abridger infifts much upon what the Bishops pro-
poſed in their Petition and Advice, which the King after their
Diſcharge oblig'd them, and the rest of their Brethren, to
give in behalf of the Diſlenters, and from thence indeed are
his beſt Meaſures to be taken. Now the Petition ftands thus,
telling the King for what reaſons they were unwilling to re-
commend reading his Declaration, firft, Negatively, it did
not proceed from mant of any Duty and Obedience to his Ma-
jesty, nor from any want of due Tenderness to the Diffenters, in-
relation to whom they were willing to come to fuch a Temper as
fhould be thought fit, when that Matter fhould be confidered, and
fettled in Parliament and Convocation. And the Advice, Defir-
ing that a Parliament might be call'd, the Church of England fe-
cur'd according to the Act of Uniformity, and in the next place
Provifion made for a due Liberty of Confcience. This is all they
promis'd, or rather propos'd, a Toleration, which is granted,
and perahps in a larger extent than they intended; the old
ones eſpecially, who doubtless would have had it attended
with moſt, if not all, or more of fuch Restrictions, as are men-
tioned in Dr. Stilling fleet's Effay. Neither yet could this be
done as they are a Body of themfelves, but Members of the
other two, which they referr'd to, the Parliament and Convo-
cation. The former granting a Toleration, which they have
been fenfible fince, fhould have had fome Restrictions, neither
will the Nation ever be quiet till 'tis fo.
1
The Comprehenfion Bill did not find fo eafy a paſſage, for
tho' the Lords paffed it, the Commons thought it more a Church
concern, and thereupon defir'd his Majefty to fummon a Con-
vocation and lay the Matter before them, which was accordingly
done, and to facilitate their proceedings, a Commiffion was
illued out to feveral Bishops and other Divines, to prepare
fuch matters as were most proper for their Debates. The
Ecclefiaftical Commiſſion in King James's time began fo rough-
ly, and threatned fo terribly, as the very Name became for-
midable; whereupon a new made Prelate, who came over
with King William, and was indeed his Adjutant General in
Ecclefiafticks, writ a Difcourfe in defence of it, which others
replied unto, however they fate, tho' feveral nominated did
not appear, and they who did, could not agree how far the
ftretch should reach, fome being earnest for ftretching it fo
far
(72)
}
Abliger
660.
}
far as to give up Epifcopal Ordination, which had been in plain
Terms to give up Christianity its felf; to be fure there was
tome fuch odious thing among them, that they broke up in fi-
leuce, and would never let us know any thing of their Re-
folves, how far they went, and what they ſtop'd at. The A-
bridger tells us he hath a Copy of the fundry Alterations they drew
up, but I prefume 'tis rather what their Friends propos'd, than
what was ever fully Agreed upon, becauſe he mentions the al-
lowance in the point of Ordination by Presbiters.
Neither had the Convocation any better fuccefs, which ftum-
bled at the very Threshold, in the choice of their Prolocutor,
Dr. Jane being preferr'd before Dr. Tillotson, which was an
Evidence, not that the Christ Church Interest only, but that of
the True Church throughout the whole Kingdom, was too strong for
the Moderate Party; and God be praiſed they were fo, or elfe
by this time we might have had no Church. The truth of it
is, what was difcours'd of the Commiffion, had allarm'd them
very much, and the other Perfon nominated for Prolocutor
they knew would have left never a Stone unturn'd to carry
on the Project; however, one further attempt was made, for
all concluded it was by their inducement King William fent
the Earl of Nottingham with a Meffage to the Convocation, ex-
pecting the things which he propos'd Jhould be calmly and impar-
tially confider'd; where tho' the Proteftant Religion was menti-
oned only in general, yet 'twas fear'd, that Co-allition fome
leading Diffenters much talk'd of with the Foreign Churches
might be defign'd; and this made the Lower Houfe very cau-
tious, how their Addrefs of Thanks to his Majefty fhould be
worded, the Church of England being principally concern'd,
they thought it ought to come in the first place, and the o-
thers follow in a general acknowledgement of his great regard
towards them; this caufed a long Debate between the Bishop
of Sarum and Dr. Jane, but I think was com-promis'd in the
end; tho' the Lower Houfe had rather prefented an Addrefs
by themſelves. But having thus difcovered themfelves not
to be wrought upon to betray the Church, the Convocation be-
came a Cypher, met only to Adjourn, and was in a fair ten-
dency to be altogether difcontinued, had not fome complaints
thereof been made in Print; to avoid which Odium and Shame,
fuch as obſtructed, thought fit to promote their Re-aſſembling,
which accordingly hath regularly met every new Parliament,
but fo many preliminary Obftruétions thrown in their way, as
no
( 73 )
-
no buſineſs hath been hitherto fall'n upon, nor ever will, till
the great promoters of Moderation, who recommend generally
the Deans, and make all the Arch-Deacons, wherein much
care is taken, with fuch as they can gain of the Country Clerks,
arc aflured of a Plurality in the Lower-Houfe, and Hey then up
go We. Tho' I cannot defpair, but it looking fo like the Wif
dom of this World, that great good God who hath all along,
even to a Miracle, preferv'd our Church, fhould expofe their
vain thoughts, and have them taken in their own craftinels.
But leaving the iſſue thereof to the fame unfearchable Wiſ-
dom, I muſt here further take notice how unreaſonable the
Diffent ers are in their Demands, and how ingrateful, if not gra-
tified in every thing demanded: The Liberty of their Confci-
ences was fo precious a Soul faving favour, as one would think
being once granted nothing more could have been of any va-
lue; whereas becauſe a Comprehenfion did not pafs too, they
have been ever fince complaining, and railing as if the other
were nothing worth, and fo they will be for ever, till they
can get the whole power into their Hands, Temporal and Spi-
ritual. Whereupon I defign to turn the Tables and propound
thefe following Quaries.
Quære 1. VVhether ever they deferv'd any fuch kindness from
the Church, or could in reafon expect it? Where I ſhall not take
notice of what was long fince cancell'd by an Act of Indemnity,
after the twenty Years Confufion wherein they had over-
whelin'd the Nation, but come directly to their Deportment
during the late Reign of King James, whether they did ap-
pear with that Vigour and Zeal against Popery, and the ſeveral
other Invafions upon the Peoples juft Rights, as might be ex-
pected from Perfons which had made fuch a Noife and Figure
in the VVorld? for tho' they always valued themſelves upon
their Numbers, and the Preacher generally carried the Flag,
as Admiral of the whole Fleet; yet how did they in that jun-
&ture behave themſelves like Cowards, or fomething elfe I
ſhall not name? Who was there amongſt 'em that gave one
Broad-fide? Or difcharg'd a fingle Gun? Is it not ftrange fo
confiderable a Squadron,which had all along beaffed it felf the fole
fecurity of the Proteftant Channel, and every Day threatned to
block up Tiber, fhould withdraw, (ay, and fome of them frike
Sail) fo foon as the Enemy came in fight? That neither Fi-
chard nor Baxter fhould appear above Deck, or put in one
ingle Fireflip amongst them. Which had been his chief T2-
L
lent
( 74 )
}
dent all along againſt the Church of England. And did not all
the rest of his Partifans act in the fame manner? Who to
Thow themſelves wholly guided by that Spirit of Contradiction
we always charge them with, were not more Refractory in
complying with our Legal Conftitutions, in State as well as
Church; then forward to run into that moſt Arbitrary and
destructive Impofition of a Difpenfing power. 'Tis therefore a
mean Allegation in our Abridger, after his acknowledgement
of the Church of Englands ftrong, brave, and profperous oppofition
2. 644. to Popery ; to add, But they have oppos'd it by things wherein they
agree with us, (which yet is abfolutely falfe) their difference
from us is no more fence against Popery, than an Inclosure of Straw
against a Flame of Fire. Whereas if fo, why did they not joyn
with the Church in this Critical Juncture, at leaſt wife remain
wholly Paffive, and not joyn with them, which they actually
did, in fo reproachful a manner, as the like advantage againſt
us would never be forgotten, having all along charg'd and
once ruin'd the Church of England as Popifh, and now joyu with
the Papists to deſtroy it a fecond time, and this not only in
their Perfons but whole Party. For was it not by their con-
trivance at leaſt, not to fay Inſtigation (doubtlefs their fin-
cere endeavour might have obftructed it very much) that
their feveral Lay charges fo readily likewife clos'd with the
Difpenfing power, fo frankly parted with their Guineas to Brent,
Penn, and others, that they might get into the Magistracy,
and revenge the Popes Quarrel, as well as their own Piques,
Dr. Br. upon every honest Church of England Man? fe that altho' it
were great injuftice to charge them all with the Impertinences
which appear'd in many Addreffes, (as their great Friend and Ad-
vocate Apologizes for them) yet they were fo many, and
from fo many feveral parts of the Kingdom, that I know not
why the Diffenters fhould deferve fo just a Title to our Friendſhip,
as we muſt reſolve to fet the whole World against us, if we ever
forget it.. Surely it muſt be ſpoke by contraries, when he tells
of the Diffenters Friendſhip to the Church of England, eſpeci-
ally after fo great a Defection from all Principles of Humanity
as well as Religion. However, to me it ſeems a great piece of
Friendſhip and Forgiveneſs too, that upon the Revolution they
fo readily yielded to a Toleration, which as I obferv'd before,
was the grand thing infifted upon, that of Comprehenfion being
Started by fome few within and without the Church, to falve
their Reputation, in the many other Cavils they had objected,
Pap.
Idem.
when
(75)
when their Mouths were ftop'd as to the grand clamour for
Confcience. But fuppofing a Comprehenfion condefcended
Quære 2. How many will come in, and what Terms do they pro-
pound or defire? how thofe few which concern'd themielves
with the Lord Keeper Bridgman, when this deſign was firſt fet
on Foot, behav'd themfelves, hath been already fhewn; and
at the like shuffling rate they continued all that Reign. During
King James's, 'twas nothing but Toleration and Confufion. And
in the Revolution which follow'd thereupon, they found fo
much Favour, and fo many Abettors, as doubtless they expect-
ed it ſhould be forc'd upon them, to be fure they fet not one
true ſtep towards it; whereas the aggrieved Party is wont to
Petition for Redrefs, fhew upon what juft Reaſons it is re-
quefted, and promife a thankful Acknowledgment, as well as
Acquiefcence upon obtaining it. Otherwiſe it cannot but be
thought hard, that fo great a Body as the Church of England
are, both Clergy and Lay, fhould be deveſted of thofe Ancient
Primitive Rites which they highly eſteem, becauſe the Chrifti-
an Church hath in all Ages uſed them, (nay one, as the Learn-
ed Grotius obferves, s'd by all Religions of the World in their
moſt Sacred Solemnities.) But then fuppofe we fhould grant
theſe indifferent things, as they term them, and ſpeak fo flight-
ingly of, which fuch as have any reverence for Antiquity, would
have more Modeſty than to be guilty of; what Liturgy will
they have, any of ours, any of their own, or be left to their
pretended Gifts, which none but Fools can be affected with?
and is to bring a Toleration into their Comprehenfion. And then
for conferring Orders, by whom, and in what manner? Whe-
ther fhall the Apoftles Inftitution, or John Calvin's Innovation
have the preference? Ought not they to propound how far
they will go, and what will fatisfie them in all theſe concerns,
which we could never get them to yet, nor ever ſhall or if
they did, would never ſtand to, a heap of Sand may be as foon
twiſted into a Rope, as they held to any thing inſtituted in our
Church. Which is my
Quære 3. How will they behave themſelves when come into the
Church, or continue there any longer than they can find an oppor-
tunity of breaking loofe? The Puritan Party, which fo fhame-
fully trampled upon Crown and Mitre in 41. were, very few
excepted, in the Body of the Church, and competently prefer'd;
where having prepared the People for the miſchiefs they de-
fign'd, fet them on to ruin all. And I have obferv'd that fuch
L. 2
of
(76)
of that Afoderate Party as were taken into the Church from
that healing time in the Year 60. to this very prefent, have
carefs'd and complemented their Diffenting Friends, and been
ready to fhew them any kindneſs in that ftate of Oppofition
wherein they perfifted, but never could find they brought or
endeavoured to bring any one fingle Perfon into the Church;
and fuch as had come in with themfelves, and conform'd at
the fame Laodicean Rate, were their chiefeft Favourites, and
moſt countenanc'd. Neither were the circumſtances they liv'd
in, the regard of their Cathedrals or Palaces, or Acts of Publick
or Private Beneficence, any ways anfwerable to the care they
took of their Revenue; or Example fet them by their Bre-
thren, who had always been true to the Church, and many of
them fuffered fo feverely for it. But what is more confidera-
ble, thefe Moderate Fathers could not but indulge the like free-
dom to thofe their inferiour Friends and Brethren, in their
par-
ial and flovenly running over the Publick Liturgy, whilft the
pretended Gifts of their own Prayers with the Whine and Cant
of them and their Sermons, ferve only to continue the People
in their old Rebel Infatuations, not more to their own advan-
tage, than the prejudice of all true Religion, and obstruction of
whatever tends to Decency and Order in Gods Publick Worship.
So that it may be thought rather a Bleffing from Heaven than
otherwiſe, that fo few did come in, fince thofe few did ſo lit-
tle good, not to fay worſe. Their Brethren in Scotland, the
canning Covenanters, were fo practic'd in miſchief as to foreſee
the advantage hereof, and provide accordingly; as the for-
mer Bishop of Winton, who fail'd not in every circumftance of
a truly Epifcopal Spirit; the Reverend and Pious Morly, inform'd
his Clergy at a Triennial Vifitation. The Covenanters, faith he,
in Scotland, when they found fomething of Epifcopal Govern-
ment was like to be establish'd among them, had frequent confult s
among themſelves, as to their deportment therein, whether all com-
ply or ftand out, at length they refolv'd upon a middle way, fome
to do the onc, fome the other, fuch as complied. being called Holps,
as obtig'd to help, that is relieve the ſtanders out; nom, faith the
Bishop, thefe Holps which fraid in their charges, (as I am inform-
ed from my Brethren there) did ten times more mischief than the
others, for they continued their Covenant Clamours, and brought
all the freakish Rabble. to neglect their own Paftors, and Dance.
after their Pipes. Thus far the Bishop, by way of reflection,
prefume, upon thofe many partial Conformists, or People Plea-
fers,
(77)
-
>
fers, fome of which his Diocefs could not be without, every
one having too many of fuch Popular Spirits, who vainly af
fect to have others admire them as much as they do them-
felves. And being got into Scotland, I will prefume to take
notice of another paffage much to our purpofe, The Lord Mid-
dleton was the firſt Commissioner fent into that Kingdom after
the Reftauration, (who with the Marquess of Montrofs, to their
own and Nations Honour be it ſpoken, were the two only fin-
cere Converts to the Royal Cauſe, I could ever find throughout.
the three Kingdoms, whoever can find me two fuch, in the o-
ther two, fhall have my moft thankful acknowledgements)
this Lord had brought all Affairs there to a moſt Regular Set-
tlement, both Ecclefiaftical and Civil, only the Covenanter Bel-
lowed and made a Noife, (as they would do could they get
into Heaven) but he had been of them, rightly underſtood
them, and dealt with them accordingly. The Earl of Lander-
dale, who had too bufie a Head to ftand idle, headed that
Party againit him here at Court, where he advanc'd his Inte-
reft every Day, no Man underſtanding fuch Intreigues better,
and in the end got Middleton recall'd, and himſelf fubftitut-
ed in that great Poft. Where he began in that Popular way
of Moderatior and Indulgence to his old Creatures the Covenan
ters, depriv'd the Archbishop of Glaſcow, (the worthieſt Burnet
without exception that Nation ever bred) becauſe he would
not run into his Meaſures: In fhort, not to give the particular
Hiftory of that Tranfection, for every Inch he gave them, they
took Ells,and grew fo extravagantly Licentious,as tho' he had the
management of thofe Affairs, more or lefs nigh twenty Years,
he could never throughly conjure down the Evil Spirit his Mo-
deration fuffer'd to rife up. For when House Conventicles were
fupprefs'd, they held them in the Field, went Arm'd to main-
tain them, and fought a Battle to defend them; wherein tho'
defeated, and fome ſtanding Forces rais'd to keep them.under,
they were notwithſtanding on every occafion fo Infolent and
Seditions, as had the Government had nothing else to do, it
was trouble enough to watch their Waters, and prevent their
Mifchiefs. At this rate they continued till the Prince of O-
range's Revolution, which gave them their fall fcope, and
Convention of their own Party, tho' fo much against the Sence
of all the fober part of the Nation, who were likewife fo ma
ny, as the faid Prince when King, thought not fit to venture
the new Election of a Free Parliament; and that their turba-
lent
(78)
lent Difpofitions have met with fo much countenance fince?
may be repented when too late.
pro-
4. I fhall only Quare further, Whether the grand pretence of
a Comprehenfion, as to the Diffenters, is not wholly ceas'd? Since
the old pretenders are all gone off, and the Education, Learn-
ing and Temper of the young Fry, renders them altogether un-
qualified to come into our Church, if their Friends which
mote it intend we ſhall have one. Thoſe old ones were all
of University Education, and generally Men of very good
Learning, as already obferv'd, and well read in Divinity, tho'
fo much prejudic'd with the Geneva Systems and Difcipline, as
it corrupted that whole Mafs, which with ſo much pains they
had heap'd together, which made them fo violent for Presbi
tery, when occafion ferv'd, as to turn all Topfy Turvy. Now
at the Reftauration, feveral of our Churchmen were fo good
natur'd as to think, that feeing they had done fo much mif-
chief, and miſcarried in their whole defign, they might with
fome little remiſſion of the Ceremonies, fet a good Example
by coming in, and reproach fuch as ftood out: Others alledg'd
they had diſcover'd fo much of a violent perverfe Spirit, as
in common Prudence not to be trufted; for if in Civil con-
cerns that old Grammar Example paffes for an experienc'd Rule,
Non eft tibi fidendum ut qui toties fefelleris, Whoever hath often
deceiv'd me, 'tis madneſs to truft him further, why ſhould
the Church and Religion be expos'd to greater hazard. So that
this debate was not unlike to that between Barnabas and Paul,
(tho' no fharp contention, much lefs parting affunder) con-
cerning Mark, Acts 15. 37. St. Paul would not comply with
Barnabas to take him along with them, because he had departed
from them before, and went not with them to the Work; and it hath
been generally concluded that St. Paul had greater reaſon in
what he did, befides that he was the Superiour Apoſtle, and act-
ed by a more plentiful effufion of the Divine Spirit.
2
Now thefe Old Builders which began their Babel being gone
off, and when that was confounded not thought fit to
be imploy'd in the Rebuilding our Sion, tho otherwife workmen
able enough, if their fincerity had been anfwerable. Their
Succeffors are fuch miferable Dambers; as they difcredit the
Tremel by handling it, having never ferv'd any where but in
private Nurſeries, and to come from thence into the Church,
balfe Ripe, half Rotten, no otherwife grounded than in the
Affemblies Catechism and Confeſſion; and their Doctrine of Obedi-
ence
( 79 )
ence from their Annotations: with their Modren Fathers, Bur-
ges, Baxter, Carrill, Manton, and many hundreds more, who
have perplext all points of Chriftian Truth, with words void of
Sence, and Arguments that carry nothing of Reafon in them:
All which is as much beneath our old Emanuel Puritans, and
other University Separatifts, as a Copper Farthing to a Guinea;
'tis all Alloy, without any thing of true Mettal, and would
paſs as ill in our Churches, as a Surplice in a Conventicle. So like-
wiſe thoſe others were brought up to the English Litugy in.
their Colledges, tho fo vain as to give a prefference to their
own conceits, which yet were compos'd Forms with Sence and Or-
der, till the prevalency of Enthufiafm made many of them
take that Harebrained-way: whereas thefe have fo habituated
themſelves to Pray Nonfence by Rote, as 'twill be very hard
to bring them to read our Sence with fuch Decency of beha-
viour and Reverence of Expreffion, as becomes all fuch who
deſign not to offer the Sacrifice of Fools, never confidering the
Evil they do.
1
And this I am afraid is not fufficiently regarded by fuch as
promote the defign, what an influence a Different Education
hath upon men's Tempers, nay very Principles, tho Common
obfervation cannot but take notice, that they of the Church of
England perfwafion are of a Free, Gennerous, Open-harted difpo-
fition, with fuch a Reverence to Majefty as fome think it comes
too nigh an Implicit Obedience. Whilft they in feparate Com-
munions, eſpecially the Presbyterian, diſcover to every Eye, a
Stiff, fupercilious deportment, pragmatical and Cenforious to extre-
mity, and above all of Superior.; for tho the laft mentioned
part of them the Presbiterians have always pretended a great
love for Kings, yet, as one faith, their Actions fpeak it to no
other end, than as Boys do their Topp's, to fet them up and
have the pleafure, or excercife of Lashing of them; wherein
they have been found in all places moft fcandalously trouble-
fome.
And as their different Education and Tempers, make it moſt
proper to have them kept at distance; fo the project of bring-
ing them together ſpeaks much of levity and Secular regard in the
undertakers:for two Churches to bargainabout Faith and Worship,
to take or leave, add or dimiaifh, be stiff or careleſs for the
fame things, as humor or Interejt leads them, cannot but fcan-
dalife all fuch as are fincere in the truely Catholick Faith:
And incourage the prophane ftander-by to continue his in-
+
different
(180)
26.
•
differency as to every thing of Religious concerns: And there-
Compre fore the forementioned Bifhop Lany purfuing his Metaphor
ben. Ser from the Trajon Horfe, Judiciously takes notice how much fuch
mon. Fay choppings and changings are against all the Rules of Wisdom and
Government, by which it was ever thought neceffary, that the peo-
ple should conform to the Laws of the Church, never that the
Church should conform to the humors of the People; and therefore
as he very well diftinguishes, to fuch as be concent to leave their
· Faults and Errors behind them; we ought to set our Gates wide
open, and need not pull down our walls, but if they bring their
Errons, Animofitis, and divided Judgments along with them, to
admit fuck, only fecures them from punishment, but leaves them
Free to all their other causes of Diffention, or rather Fortifies and
Animates themto pursue their Differences with the greater Violence.
God to be fure, receives none but upon Repentance and A-
mendment, and why his Church fhould do otherwiſe, I am yet
to learn; if they will not be, the fame with us, let them heard
by themſelves, and not come among us, their Room is bet-
ter than their Company. We may affoon expect that Iron and
Clay fhould Cement together; as Epifcopacy and Presbitery
conſtitute one National Church; let them take their liberty,
whilſt we chooſe a confinement to our Old Establishments, not
doubting but by a regular and devout perfeverance in that
way of Divine Worship, his Service (as in one of our Collects
'tis Excellently well exprefs'd) will be found Perfect Freedom.
From theſe premis'd Queries it appears, that the Diffenters
ip their Toleration, as they had more kindneſs ſhown them
from the Church Party than they deferved, fo was it as much
as they defir'd, and when firft granted gave them fuch abun-
dant fatisfaction, as they would not hear of coming into the
Church, upon any terms whatfoever, nay it was reported fome
of them obliged their feveral Congregations by the folemnity of
an Oath, never to admit thereof, or comply therewith;
and whatever Cavils the weak remains of Presbitery may conti-
nue upon that account,there is not one of a Thoufand of their
whole Separation Body care to hear of it, or will agree to it,
at leaſtwife ftand to their agreement. For the project of
Comprehenfion was an after Game, plaid by our moderate
Church Party, which about that time thought fit to diſtinguiſh
themſelves by fuch a Character, carried on indeed in the Lif
fenters name, Tho only Dr. Bates, Mr. Baxter and fome few
of thofe leading. Beautifers were privy to it, and compli'd with
it,
1
(81)
it, rather to prejudice the Church than any other real fatis-
faction to themſelves; However this defign was fo covertly
manag'd: That had the Comprehenfion Bill pafs'd into an Act
as the other did, 'twould have altogether gone on the Dif-
fenters account. But when the House of Commons demurr'd
thereto, and defir'd King William to Summon a Convocation more
particularly for adjufting that Affair, the Commiflion which
proceeded it, and the great indignation at the Lower Houfe
for the choice of their Prolocutor, and refolv'd opposition up-
on that account eſpecially of every thing which proceeded
from them, fully difcovered what a Latitude they reach'd at,
and that whatever elfe concerns the Church's wellfare, fhould
ſtand ſtill, till they met with a more ready compliance in
that new Device. So that now it was publickly own'd by the
whole Party, and his Lordship of Sarum, who was the Fac to-
tum then in all Ecclefiaftical Matters, declared in that Popular
Harrangue for Peace and Union. That the things propos'd were
of themselves difirable, tho there should not be one Diffenter gain'd
by them, and are fuch as will make all the parts of our Offices both Pag. 14.
more unexceptionable and more Edifying; and therefore upon all
fuch occafions we ought not so much to confider, what we owe to
thofe with whom we have to do; as what we owe to our felves,
to the Church, and to the fucceeding Generation; all which
wanted not an Emphasis in fetting off, and founds very well,
but yet we are not told of any of the particulars propos'd;
nor find other Argument than his Lordship's ipfe Dixit, to
leave our Old Wine, our well digefted Rights, for fuch New L. 5- 39.
Frothy Fretting Stuff, as will not fail to Pall Mens Stomach's,
and Intoxicate their Heads; the caution doubtlefs our Saviour
defign'd from that Simile. However the advice which follows
is very good, viz. To Truft to Providence, which indeed is all
we have had to truft to from that hour to this, and for ought
I fee must still depend upon the fame extroardinary difpen-
fations of Divine Goodnefs, to prevent our being Defeated
by the fowerneſs of ſuch unreaſonable Men, in this Generation Pag. 17.
and the next too.
What I mentioned of the reſtiveneſs of the Lower Houſe, tho
taken ill, yet was not fo regarded at Court, as to hinder their
refolutions of fupplying all the dead and living vacancies,by ſuch
tractable difpofitions as fhould not too pofitively adhere to
our Old Eſtabliſhments, when matters were ripe for any new mea-
fures and accordingly the whole fet was of the aforefaid Cam-
M
bridge
82
bridge Party (except one, who yet flitted between that and Oxon,
as afterwards between Non-Con and Conformity) most of whom
muſt be acknowledged perfons of many commendable Accom-
pliſhments; Natural,Moral and Divine,which being accompani-
ed with that Latitude they always appeared for in Church con-
cerns, had fo lucky a Co-incidence with the Revolution then on foot,
as they feem'd exactly calculated for the feveral new afpects
our Government was coming under; and if they prov'd ra-
ther more than lefs Paffive, to whatever King, William propof-
ed, than fome feverely cenfur'd upon that account in former
Reigns; it may be look'd upon as a grateful return for an ad-
vance, which could have been expected only in his.
/
So long therefore as he continued on the Throne, fome-
thing of an implicit compliance, not to term it Faith, might be
expected, and was readily yeilded to: But as my Lord Bacon
obferves Great places are, many times, to be otherwife manag'd,
than acquired; And fince their Grand Patron King William,
could not procure that nigher approach to fome Foreign Proteftant
Churches,which tho not in his Declaration; the Diffenters tell
us, was ever in defign, to profecute the like Dutch Projects
under her preſent Majefty, who declared at firſt, her heart
entirely English; fpeaks a prejudice with too little of an Eng-
lifh Heart, not to fay Religion: and moreover looks like fome-
thing of Difatisfaction in that folemn Engagement of her
Royal Word, to preferve the Church in all its Antient Rights:
without the least infraction upon the Diffenters Liberty; than which
no reaſonable Man can demand more, of what party foever;
and if any do, they can defign no good either to the Church or
her Majesty: At leaftwife let us fufpend till we fee the Event
of our State Coalition, our Perfons and Fortunes, Men and Mony,
are already deeply engaged; and ought we not to expect how
Religiouſly thofe Alliances will be obſerv'd, and how end at laſt,
if ever; before we venture our Souls upon fo loofe a Bottom.
But to harp no longer upon fo melancholly a ftring; I fhall
conclude all with this one Remark: That our English Nation
hath been all along ridiculed by moſt of its Neighbours, for
an Inconftancy of Humour, and vain affectation of every foreign
novelty, and that not only in trivial matters, as Habit, Ge-
fture, Eating, Drinking and the like, (tho whether it be War,
Want or both, our Gallants are nothing nigh fo fond off French
Fashions as formerly) but in concerns of much greater moment.
Tis thought that Grand Rebellion which brought the whole
Nation
(83)
}
1
Nation upon the very brink of Diftruction, was more cfpeci-
ally enterpris'd by a Company of conceited Demagoges, in ad-
miration of what they call a Free State in the Low Countries,
without knowing or enquiring, upon what neceffities it was
firſt founded,and that they have ever-fince continued under the
like neceffities; and fo muft do as long as they have a Being:
Tho at length we are come to an experimental knowledge of
them in one main Point, their Taxes.
So likewife our Religions Novelifts, how zealous were they for
the Geneva Cut, and to be habited in their moſt folemn˚At-
tendance-upon Divine Worship: like Swifs or Dutch Boores, with-
out any regard to that Oder, Decency, and Beauty of Holi-
nefs, the Scripture exprefly recommends. And 'tis ftrang there
fhould be any need at this time of day to inform us, what a
condition our Church was brought to, when thefe admirers of
Foreign Modes, got fo much power as to enforce upon us, not
only thoſe ways of Worship: but Difcipline and Doctrine too;
How little of moderation was in their Tempers, how
void of Reaſon, Juſtice, and Chriſtian Gharity, were all their
proceedings? What affinity was there between their Covenant
and the Inquifition, Confiftory and Conclave? might not their
Plunderings,and Sequeftrations be a precedent for the French Drag-
gooning? and in a word that execrable deed on the 30th of Ja-
nuary in many Circumftances out-do; what the 5th of Novem-
ber defign'd. Numberless fuch like parallels as thefe might be
made between our Popish and Proteftant Recufants, ſo that to
me it ſeems moft furprising, perfons always pretending to
much larger thoughts than others, a Free and Impartial Judg-
ment of things, fhould after all continue under fuch prejudices
of Extraction and Education, Faction and Party, as to imagin,
that tho got off the Roman Scylla, we can ever expect any
thing of Peace or Settlement if continually vering to the Fa-
natick Charybdis; Good God ſhall we never have Pilots know-
ing enough to Stere an even Courſe between both? for 'tis
doubtless in the Politick and Ecclefiaftical as natural; where if
the fame Body be incident to two Chronical Distempers equally
dangerous, the Gout, and the Stone for Inftance, every wife
and good Phiftian, will be careful to fupprefs the Malignant
Humors which feed the one, without fuffering the other to
take the leaſt advantage of a freth Ferment; and the judicious
Tully recommends the fame courfe to theirown Commonwealth,
from his Admired Plato, and may from both their Authorities,
M 2
be
( 84 )
Lib. 1.
be transferr,d to any other Government whatfoever, either
Spiritual, or Temporal, to be fure nothing can be more appli-
cable to ours, as it now ftands. Omnino, qui Reipublica pre-
futari funt, duo Platonis præcepta tencant. Unum, ut utilitatem
Civium fic tueantur, ut quacunque agant, ad eam referant, Obliti
commodorum fuorum: Alterum, ut totum Corpus Reipublice cu-
rent ne, dum partem aliquam tuentur, reliquas deferant. There
are (faith he) two precepts of Plato to be obſerved by all
Men of Authority in any Government. The one is, in fuch
fort to affert and defend the Publick Intereft, that all their
Actions fhould refer to that, without any regard to their own
advantage. The other is, to attend the Service of the whole,
with an Univerfal regard, that while they are ferving one
part, they do not abandon another.
I fhall add but one Authority more, much nigher in Time
and Place, for 'tis, from our great Sir Philip Sidney, who in
that vigorous oppofition he made to Queen Elizabeth's Match
State For with the French Monfieur, the Duke of Alanfon, which faith
skies. Pag, my Author, he manag'd' with that Sincerity, Ingenuity, Free-
303.
dom, Duty, and profound refpect, as at the fame time both
angred and pleas'd her Majefty, among other Topicks, he
infifted upon none more than the concerns of Religion, mak-
ing it appear that their different perfwafions therein would
oblige the Queen to quit the reputation of a good Proteftant,
or the Honour of an obedient Wife, and thereupon lays down
Ten ways, whereby any Foreign Prince in fuch circumftances,
(and 'tis as true of any Domeſtick differing Party or Power)may
endanger the Eſtabliſh'd Religion. My purpofe requires only
the mentioning his 3d. way of effecting this miſchief: viz.
By Latitude and,Connivance, from whence 'tis most obvious
to obferve how in that Wife and Happy Reign, Latitude
was not thought a Prudent Act of Church Adminiſtration,
and the other, Connivance falls under as ill a cenfure, yet
to me it ſeems altogether the fame in Sence with our Modern
Moderation.
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