A Man of ordinary Parts, and but meanly versed in the Transactions of these forty last years, cannot certainly but admire at the Request of some Persons, who keep such a noise at pre­sent for Liberty of Conscience; especially if he consi­ders, that they know his Majesty to be a Person of Ex­perience, as well as Reason and Judgment.

What manner of men these are who desire such a Toleration, is not hard to judge; but what is their rea­son for this their desire? Why, their tender Conscien­ces, forsooth, cannot dispence with a few innocent and harmless Ceremonies of the Church of England, from which they differ in things not necessary to Salva­tion, as they cannot deny; but with which, rather than comply, (tho in things which they confess to be in­different) they'l depart from her Communion, and continue in an endless Schism.

It is strange to reflect upon the many methods which have been used to reduce these People to Unity with us; and 'tis deplorable to consider the small effect, which the hard labours and solid Reasons of so many [Page 2]Charitable and Learned Persons have had upon these intractable Spirits.Dr. Still. Misch. of Sep. p. 1. At the first time of our Reformati­on from the Church of Rome, such as thought not so well of many of our Ceremonies, were not yet drawn to such a dislike of our Church, as to separate from it, upon consideration of the evil Effects of Division. Our Church has added nothing since, to render it self more intolerable, and therefore this pretence to Separation can be no greater now than it was at that time, and yet the Clamour is daily louder against our Constitu­tions, and every Generation puts it self into a farther degree of Separation than the former, and all their De­fence is Scrupulosity to Conscience. But we desire them seriously to consider, whether this can be a sufficient Plea for their Separation, (which now it seems they de­sire to continue for ever) will this clear them from the guilt of wilful Schism? will their Ignorance be a De­fence for them, when they have had all considerable means for their better Information? have not all their Objections been answered, and the Constitutions of our Church, with solid (I'm sure unanswered) Rea­sons vindicated? If they are not satisfied with the Rea­sons which are produced, why do they not answer them? why do they not desire a more full satisfaction for their Doubts, in charitable Language, and with a desire to be resolved? They have the liberty of the Press to set down their Scruples, and to let us know wherein they desire to be satisfy'd, as well as to vent Libels which tend to the disturbance of the Nation, and Mischief of the Church? Methinks it should be­come Folks under such Scrupulosities as they pretend to, to be meek, and willing to be resolved in such Points as they differ from us (especially when the Peace of the Church lyes at stake) and to consider, that 'tis possible for them to be in the wrong as well as others. But the Disposition of our Modern Separa­tist [Page 3]is quite contrary to this; let the Publick Peace be ever so much concern'd, his Pride and Self-conceit (for which he has been ever famous) will not suf­fer him to suspect himself under a mistake, or to weigh rightly those reasons which are against his Humour. He thinks it a shame to be convinced of his Errour, and rather than shew himself confuted, chooses to per­sist in his Obstinacy, and desires a Toleration herein.

How pernicious both to Church and State such a Toleration would prove, is easily ghess'd. We have not been ignorant what some Consciences at their proper opportunities can dispence with, tho in such cases as tend to Peace and the Publick good, they are extraor­dinary tender. Those that strain'd at the Cap and Sur­plice, could well enough digest Rapine, Sacriledge, and Regicide. Conscience and Christian Liberty were the spe­cious pretences for their most Unchristian and Uncha­ratable Proceedings. I need say no more, than that the like Effects must proceed from the same Causes. Irre­verence towards Gods Ministers, and Contempt of the King's Magistrates, are some of the least Evils that may justly be expected from the wonted Meekness of our weak Brethren; and this would soon be every man's Answer, in case of being enjoyned any thing concern­ing God or Men, how holy or just soever it were, that did dislike him, that his Conscience is against it. If you please, you shall hear the words of a Presbyte­rian Minister, in the late rebellious Times,Mr. Ed­wards. concerning the Dissenters at that time; ‘That he was consident, that for this many hundred years, there had not been a Party that pretended to so much Holiness, and tenderness of Conscience above all other men, as this Party hath done, that hath been guilty of so great sins, horrible Wickedness, provoking abomina­tions, as they are.’ You may remember likewise, that his late Majesty, of ever blessed memory, at his [Page 4]happy Restauration, spontaneously condescended to grant Liberty of Conscience to such as dissented from the establish'd Religion, provided they would not di­sturb the Peace of the Nation; you may think the King was in a fair way of gratifying them, and that the Conditions were but reasonable; but how little operation it had upon the Dissenters, the Commotion of the Fifth-Monarchy-men did afterwards demonstrate; as also, the following Plot of some of those men of Conscience, that were concern'd in the fore-going Re­bellion; which verified the Observation of King James, ‘That the men of these Principles are not ob­liged by kindnesses, nor won by frequently repeated favours.’

But these Persons may do well to consider, what a number of Sects are likely to spring up upon this de­sired Liberty. There are many Folks who much de­light in Novelty, and many to whom nothing is dear­er than their own singular Opinions; now when every man is thus free to set up for himself, we shall be daily pestered with new Doctrines, and every one will be seeking for Subscribers to his own Model, be it ever so absurd. There can be no better way of judging what will ensue upon such a Toleration, than by looking back, and considering what has followed already, when there has been such a Liberty; and if we will consult the same fore-quoted Presbyterian Mi­nister, he'll acquaint us with several Opinions that were maintain'd in his time; amongst a great number of which, these are some; ‘That the Scriptures cannot be said to be the Word of God, and are no more to be credited than the Writings of Men, being not a Divine but Humane Tradition; that God has a hand in, and is the Author of the sinfulness of his People, not of the Actions alone, but of the very Pravity which is in them; and afterwards, That the Soul of man [Page 5]is mortal, as the Soul of a Beast, and that there's no Resurrection at all of the Bodies of Men, nor Heav'n nor Hell after this Life.’ You may perceive hereby, how such a Liberty as this, of maintaining publickly whatsoever a man's depraved Fancy suggests to him, cannot but tend to the great propagation of Religion, the edification of the People, and glory of the Church.

But what do they desire under this name of Liberty of Conscience, or a Toleration? Is it a free Liberty to stick close to their old Principles, and continue in their profess'd Opinions? if this be it, let them reflect upon those Tenets that have been maintain'd among them, and which I hear not as yet recanted; if these are destructive to Government, and tend to the upholding of Rebellion, it seems a little unreasonable for them to require a persistance in them. What they are, and how likely to produce Loyal and peaceable Effects, would be a long work to shew; I shall only send you to a Collection of many of them, by a Loyal and Laborious Subject of this Nation,L'Estrange. where you may have a full view of the Separatist's Opinions, and where you are directed to their Author's; You may also find some of them in the sheet that came out at the burning of Seditious Libels in Oxford the last year; in both of which you may learn, what it is that keeps them in as good a posture as they are in at present, and that if they had power proportionable to their desires, (to the augmentation of which, such a Toleration must necessarily contribute much) we should have them fight the Lord's Battels, and try again to set King Je­sus upon his Throne. 'Tis easily known who I mean, and 'tis observable, that there was never such oppressi­on exercised over mens Consciences by Christians, as was by those who so much pretended to an abhorrence of Ecclesiastical Tyranny, and who have, not many years since, been sticklers for a Toleration.

I shall not trouble my self with answering any of those late Papers concerning Liberty of Conscience; neither weighing whether they are in the right when they say, the great Oppression they are under is pure­ly for their Religion, nor confuting that irrefragable Argument in case of Hypocrisie, to which men should be forced if they comply with us, nor examining what one of them says concerning Qu. Elizabeth's time, con­ceiving that none of these belong to my purpose, my intent is only to hint at the unreasonableness of their desire, and the dangerous consequences that would en­sue upon it; I'll only desire to know of them, whether it were not better (if it were possible) for us to be u­nited, than to widen our Breaches? I believe none is such an Enemy to Peace, but will at least grant me this; if so, we beseech them to use such means as may conduce to it. They are easie enough to men of unbiass'd Affe­ctions, and unprejudic'd Spirits, that are Friends to Peace, and desirers of Unity. The case is plain and brief, the Constitutions of our Church are known, and wherein Dissenters differ from us; our Request therefore to them is, that they would lay open the Reasons why they de­sire such an unbrotherly Separation from us, but we also desire them to avoid Repetitions, and that they produce not Arguments answered long ago, unless they give their Replies to them; we desire them with unpre­judic'd affections to peruse the late Writings of our Mi­nisters, in defence of our Church, and to acquaint us wherein their Reasons are deficient and unfatisfying; let this be done with a Christian Spirit, and a desire that their Judgments may be rectify'd in all things, and I doubt not but God (who is not the God of Confusi­on, but of Unity; who is the Author of Peace and Lo­ver of Concord) will grant us a Remedy for these sores, that we need not enter upon actions of utter Desperation.