AN APPEAL OF All the Non-Conformists in ENGLAND to GOD, and all the Protestants of Europe, in order to manifest their Sincerity to GOD and the KING.

HAving in some late Treatises given a short Account of the Advances of the Church of England towards Popery, from the beginning of the Reforma­tion, I am obliged to mention some Particulars over again, which leads me to some other Consi­derations very material for the Design in hand.

1. That the First Reformers in the dayes of E. 6. though of several Judgments about the Ex­ternal part of the Government, were all of honest Principles and Sentiments in their Doctrine; and had the same mind and design to purge the then present Church of its Idolatry, Superstitions, and gross Errours, and to bring in the same pure Do­ctrine that was professed by Calvin, and the Re­formed Churches in France, and which hath been and is still retained by the Non-Conformists that were and are now.

[Page 2] 2. That the said first Reformers being divided in their Opinions about retaining that which was good, and taking away whatsoever was amiss in the Romish Church, as to the outward Governmnt, the Opinion that the Reformation could not be thoroughly done for matter of Government and Externals, as it was possible for matter of Doctrine, prevailed so far with Bishop Hooper, Rogers, and others that wisht it had been other­wise, as to make them forbear any further urg­ing of a compleat Reformation, in hopes that when the people that were instructed in the true, saving Doctrine, should be more numerous, the opposition to a through Reformation in all points would be less.

3. That this rude draught of Reformation, suit­able to that time, had very bad Success; because the Conformable Party prevailed still with the Sove­raign, and the Grandees of the Realm, to have it a standing Law, that was not to be repealed nor altered, and which drawing along with it Non-Residency, plurality of Livings, a meer form and garb of Religion and Piety, outward pomp and grandeur, best suited with a Worldly interest; whilest the other Party, who were then Puritans, and whom we now call Non-Conformists, retained, and do still to our days, a desire, and longing after a thorow Reformation, and they have endeav­oured [Page 3] by Conferences, Remonstrances, and Writings, to have it introduced.

4. That yet the Conformists were not all of one mind, there being still a Party among them very peaceable and Orthodox, and at less distance from the Non-Conformists, especially among the Gentry, that were no Courtiers, and in great Towns, Ci­ties, and Corporations; whilest the other Party, made up of Conformists, grew corrupt, and so far from hearkening to a further Reformation, that they made nearer advances towards Rome.

5. That Jealousies and apprehensions daily encreasing, and fears of inclining to Popery, and the Troubles in Scotland intervening in the Years 38, and 39; and the Discontents rising up in Eng­land, the King was forced to call a Parliament, which began in 1640.

6. That that Parliament, both Lords and Com­mons, was most, if not all, composed of such Peace­able, Orthodox Church of England men I have but now mentioned, and all conforming to the Rites, Ceremonies of Episcopacy and Hierarchy, but yet greatly averse to Popery, Tyranny, and the Corrupt Party of the Church of England that inclined towards Rome; Witness the many Speeches in Parliament they made, as of the Lord Faulckland, Sir Benjamin Rudyer, Digby, and others, with whom Good and Honest Bishops joyned.

[Page 4] 7. That the Ground and Rise of the Civil War in 1640, and 43, was in opposition to such as Bishop Laud, and other bad instruments.

8. That the Lords and Commons in 1642, and 43, were all in perfect Conformity to the Church of England; so was the Army too that they raised; for the General, the main Body of the Army, the Officers and Captains both by Land and Sea, were all conformable to the Church of England, and none of them Puritans, Presbyterians, Independents, Ana­baptists, Sectaries, or Conventiclers.

9. That likewise, the Assembly of Divines in West­minster, chosen by the Parliament, were all Confor­mists, and none of them Silenced Ministers, except 8. or 9, and 4 Scots.

10. That the first Intentions of the Parliament was so far from subverting the Government of Church and State, established by Law, and from taking away the House of Lords and Bishops root and branch; that it was only to reform the abuses of both, and to settle such a Model of Church Go­vernment as was recommended by the Pious and Learned Bishops, Ʋsher, and Hall, and which did not much differ from that which our Gracious So­veraign that now is, recommended to his Parlia­ment in his Declaration 1660. about Ecclesiastical Affairs.

11. That the Parliament had no thoughts of [Page 5] bringing in the Covenant into England, had not the necessity of their Affairs forced them to joyn with the Scots.

12. That no man was obliged by it to take away Bishops, but only as they are in Conjuncti­on with the English Hierarchy.

13. Neither was it the Intention of the Lords and Commons, at first, to take away Deans and Chapters, but to make them more serviceable and useful, to take away Pluralities, Non-residencies, and to settle a more proportionable Maintenance for Ministers.

14. That the Change, or Subversion of Go­vernment, the taking away the Lords House, and with them the Bishops, and excluding the greatest part of the House of Commons, and last of all, the taking away the King, and all the Confusions, and Disorders, that happened thereupon, did arise from a third Party, viz. The Army, that was nei­ther for the King, nor Parliament; Neither for Conformists, nor for Non-Conformists, but was an E­nemy to them all, and sought their absolute ruine and destruction.

15. That the Non-Conformists, who usually now go by the name of Presbyterians, Fanaticks, Independents, Rebels, Sons of Belial, &c. by the cor­rupt Church-Party, that have been always ma­king advances towards Popery, were so far from being the first in Arms in opposition to the King, our late bles­sed [Page 6] Martyr; and being contrivers of his Death, and of taking away Monarchy; that on the contrary, it was the only Party (while the others of the King's Friends sate still) that appear­ed before, and since 48, in his behalf, to the hazard of their Lives (witness Mr. Love,) and that in 1660, had a chief hand in restoring our gracious Soveraign Charles the II. to his Throne; for which never enough to be valued Benefit and kindness, although it was but duty, no Party has been more se­verely persecuted by the Corrupt-Party of the Church of Eng­land; But of this, more anon.

16. That the Declaration of the King, mentioned in the Tenth Consideration, was a confirmation of another former Declaration.

17. That whereas, when the King came over from the Hague, there was a great expectation that his Printed Declar­ation for Ecclesiastical Affairs, would be sufficient to compose all differences and heats, and unite all Parties, by taking away the stumbling block of subscribing to those Ceremonies that were not warranted by the Word of God; but just on the contrary, the Clamours of the Corrupt Party of the Church of England at length prevail'd for restoring of those Ceremonies. All which good Bishop Brownrig foretold, a little before his Death, in saying, That there would continue the same Con­fusions and Animosities, that were before; and, with them, the same spirit of Persecution which the Corrupt Church-Par­ty before 1640, was the cause of.

18. That the Zeal and Fervour of the prevailing Corrupt Church-Party in England at this present juncture of time, in writing so many Books against the Papists, and standing up, so stoutly against the Horid Attempt upon the King's most Sa­cred Life, and introducing of Popery, and hearkening to some terms of Reconciliation with the Non-Conformists, to make the opposition the stronger against Papists, does no way seem to be the effect of a Christian Moderation, but a meer worldly Interest, like the zeal of Jehu, the union of Aristides, and Themistocles, two Mortal Foes against the Common Enemy: Or like that of Augustus, Brutus, and [Page 11] Cassius, against Antony: 'Tis the goodness of a stubborn Boy, just so long as the Rod is over his Back; for had another spirit moved the cor­rupt Party of the Church of England, than a Worldly one, it would have appeared above these 100 Years; when (alas!) no such at­tempts were made by the Papists against their Lives, and Livings, when a Hundred Remon­strances were made to them, with Prayers and Tears, for the removing of the offending Rites and Ceremonies; and of the great inclination they had for Popery, in depopulating England, by driving men away to Colonies abroad: but could never be heard.

21. Things being thus stated, one may ra­tionally and strongly conclude, That it is a most horrid untruth, and calumnie to make the Presbyterians and Conventiclers, or Non-Conformists, not only the first authors, and abettors of the Civil Wars, and of the first taking up of Arms in opposition to the Evil Counsellors about the King in 42 and 43, but also the Mur­therers of King Charles the First; when as they have been, and still are the great preservers of the King's Person, Life, Honours, Digni­ties, and Prerogatives; the best Christians, the [Page 12] best Reformed, and the best Subjects of the King.

22. And the false and unworthy stiling of these Restorers of the King, Rebels, Fanaticks, Sms of Belial, &c. doth carry along with it the same devillish Malice; which makes it now become a common Proverb in the Mouths of this corrupt Church of England-Party, That they had rather be Papists, than Presbyterians; and that were there a Turn of State, (as God forbid) they would sooner turn Papists, than Presbyte­rians.

23. Besides, the idle, foolish, senceless, but also malicious mistake, to make the holiest of the Non-Conformists to pass for Presbyterians, who, though they love their persons, and the holiness of their Doctrine, and Lives, yet either they are wholly averse to the Presbyterian Govern­ment, or else they do not very well know what it means; Since the Well-affected fol­low their Preaching, and imitate their Lives, but yet by no means upon any account of their Government.

24. That the worst thing in the carriage of [Page 13] the Conformists towards the Non-Conformists, is their rash, uncharitable, and unchristian judg­ing of the Hearts and Insides of men, (which are only known to God Almighty, who is the Searcher of Hearts,) as if they were made up of Deceit and Hipocrisie; and alike construing their unblameable behaviour and carriage, as if it were but formal, and extrinsecal, and of the pure, Orthodox Doctrine of their Sermons and Writings, though never so much summed up in Scripture phrases, as if all was but Cant and Tone, and taking of God's Name in vain; when they make a quite different Judgment of the Conformists, both of their Lives and Do­ctrines, and when they make use of the same Scripture terms as the others do; for in their esteem they are looked upon as true; sincere, and holy Christians, though their outward de­portment do somewhat differ from that of the other.

This I intend, by God's assistance, to make clear to you in a larger Discourse, from the Testimony of Dr. Patrick, who doubtless can­not, in handling of the Nature of Justification by Faith, but agree with the Non-Conformists, in making use of the same Scripture-Expressions, [Page 14] and commend such as Bishop Davenant, Dow­nam, usher, Hall, and Hooker, all Conformists, for doing the like, and who will tell us, that this Justification by Faith is a Recumbency of a poor Sinner upon the Lord Jesus Christ; a casting of our selves upon him, relying on his Merits, laying hold on him, closing with him, going to him, and shrowding our selves under the Robes of his Righteousness: Most of which are Scripture phrases: But yet for all this, the very same Expressions, being uttered by such Non-Conformists, as Mr. Baxter, Dr. Owen, Manton, Annesly, Jacomb, Bates, Mr. Jenkins, Alsop, Cradock, Silvester, Watson, and Others, for the better setting out the nature of Justification by Faith, are looked upon by Dr. Patrick, as meer Imposters, Charms, Incanta­tions, artificial Jugglings, Terms of Modish and Courtly Faith, by which this Doctor makes good the saying of Pliny the Younger, Epist. 21. ‘Multum interest quid à quo (que); fiat, Eadem enim facta claritate aut obscuritate facientium, aut tolluntur altissimè, aut humillimè deprimuntur.’

That such a prejudice against the Generation of God's Children, that make it their grand de­sign to get an assurance of Heaven and of Eter­nity, as are, not only many of the Peaceable [Page 15] and Moderate Conformists, but such as they mis­call and nick-name Puritans, Presbyterians, Inde­pendents, Rebels, Sons of Belial, and worse than Papists. That such a prejudice, I say, is the great distemper of that corrupt-party of the Church of England, who have for these 100 years been making their advances towards Popery.

I shall insist very particularly upon some very considerable Inferences and Conclusions which I shall draw from some Hypotheses that I have already taken notice of, but which can­not be too often inculcated; the truth of which is known sufficiently by those that are most Eminent in Piety and Holiness of Living, and in Learning, of the Church of England, by the Bishops Hooper, Smith, Rudd, Carleton, Grindall, the two Abbots, usher, Hall, and by other Do­ctors that were as Conformable as those Bishops.

1. That though the first Reformation in the time of Edward the 6th, was extremely pure as to its Doctrine, it was notwithstanding very defective and imperfect as to the exterior Go­vernment, because it was adjusted to that pre­sent time where the Papists were Twenty, for One, that was reformed in England.

[Page 16] 2. That the first Reformers imagined, that when the People, converted to the true Faith, should be more Numerous, and more disposed to receive a more perfect Reformation, The Successors of the first Reformers would apply themselves to it with more Earnestness and Zeal.

3. But it never came into their thoughts, that their Successors would be guilty of so great a fault, as to act the quite contrary to such a good Project and Design, in persuading both Princes and Parliaments to bring the first Rude Draught of Reformation into a standing Law: but only to have it established for a certain time, untill they themselves should see they were able to effect a more perfect Reformation.

4. That the Practice of these Successors of the first Reformers hath been unreasonable, wicked, impious, and cruel; in the Imposition of several things, which they themselves have owned not to be necessary, and at best but in­different, under pain of deprivation ab officio & beneficio; although all the Conformists have not been equally guilty, for some among them have approved of these measures they have taken towards the Non-Conformists, but yet have [Page 17] connived at them either by their submission, or their silence, and have not vigorously enough set themselves against the Corruption that so much prevailed.

From all these Hypotheses, I gather these Con­clusions, which naturally follow the aforesaid Premises.

1. That several Bishops and Doctors of the Church of England, as Dr. Floyd, Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Stillingfleet, Dr. Patrick, that are acknow­ledged by the Non-Conformists to be Persons of great Learning, Worth, and Piety, but who are Extreme Admirers of the Episcopacy of England, and all its Consequences, and who have also preferred its Government to all other Establishments in Europe, have by an unlucky accident, contributed more towards the Repu­tation of the English Hierarchie, and its Practises, and towards the perpetuating the Feuds and Quarrels between the Conformists, and Non-Conformists, than it has been possible for any other Corrupted Party to do by all their Irregularities, and advances towards Rome.

2. That it may be said of these good Bishops and Doctors before mentioned, what the Po­litique Sages have observed of Anselme, Bernard, Thomas Aquinas, John of Salisbury, and Gerson, That by their great repute of Piety, and Learn­ing, [Page 10] they have contributed more to the streng­thening of the Pope's Tyranny, and Religion, in the Minds of the People, than a hundred such as Gregory the VII, and Boniface the VIII. were able to effect by their Tyranny, and the wicked­ness and impurity of their Lives, for the discre­diting of the Pope and his Religion.

3. That it is not to be believed how much the Non-Conformists of England suffer in the Esteem of our Great Men of the Protestant Party in Europe; who, hearing people talk of the Learning and Piety of so many English Bi­shops and Doctors, all Conformists, and who resemble those four Doctors I have just before named, say aloud, that the Non-Conformists must needs be very unreasonable, and of a very nice and fantastical Piety, for refusing to Conform to the Church of England, after the Example of those four Doctors.

4. That how good soever the Intentions of some of the Bishops and Doctors of the Church of England may be, that are of the same temper of spirit with these four Doctors, and what kindness soever they may have for the Non-Con­formists; it is impossible They should ever come over to them, and consent to terms of Recon­ciliation and Moderation, so long as they re­main in this Judgment and Opinion, That of [Page 11] all the Established Ecclesiastical Governments in Europe, that of the Church of England is the most excellent, and the most Apostolical, and that there is nothing of defect in it; and so long as the multitude of their Benefices, and the great honour they are in, in the World, blinds their Judgment, there being no likelihood, nor hopes, that those, who are raised so high, and that live in honour and abundance, richly, and fatly, (unless they will imitate good Dr. Floyd, who bestowes most of his Church-Revenues on the Poor,) will diminish any thing of their great­ness, both as to their Retinue, or their Kitchin, and will descend from high to low; and that a Bishop, who now goes before the Barons, will quit his Place, to be only a poor simple Mode­rator, and Watchman over a small company of Priests, such as were St. Cyprian, and St. Austin: For this Eminence of Fortune and Dignity does absolutely shut up the door to all the Over­tures of Reformation, which we learn from Mounsieur Claude in his Defence of the Reforma­tion of the Churches of France, where he tells us, That the Cardinal du Prat, for this very rea­son, was the most violent of all men, and the most inraged against Luther's Reformation, be­cause he was provided of Five Bishopricks, and I know not how many other good and fat Bene­fices.

[Page 20] That for these Reasons, Methinks, it might be expected from these good Bishops and Do­ctors, that by a Christian condescention, they would endeavour to incline their Brethren the Non-Conformists, to abate something of their heat and vigorousness against the Non-Conformists; but so long as they themselves are neither sen­sible of any error or defect in their Church, it is not to be expected, or hoped for from them, that they should go about the doing of any such good work, how great and eminent soever they be, no more than it ought to be expected from the Romish Doctors, so long as they do look upon, and verily believe, their Church to be infallible.

And therefore it cannot be considerately ima­gined, that the perfect day of hope, of the Church of England's Reformation, and of the Reconciliation of the Conformists to the Non-Con­formists, should break forth from these good Bi­shops and Doctors, nor from any of the Clergy, but from KINGS, and the Princes of the People, whose hearts are in God's hands, and who holds them as the Rivers of Waters.

25. As for the Odium that is cast upon the Congregational Way, and those who are called Independents, as being the more immediate au­thors and abettors of the King's Murther, and of taking away Monarchy, it can be easily wiped [Page 21] off, and made out, That Oliver Cromwell's Army, like that of King David's in the Wilderness, was a Medley or a Collection of all Parties that were discontented, as some Courtiers, some Episcoparians, few of any Sect, but most of none, or else of the Religion of Thomas Hobbes, and Dr. Scarborough, not mentioning the Papists, who had the greatest hand in the Death of King Charles the First; the success of which made them so daring and impious, as to con­trive another most Damnable and Hellish Plot to cut off the Life of his Sacred Majesty that now is, his Royal Son, and our most Gracious Soveraign.

26. That since the Non-Conformists were a generation of men, either of the first date (as it is most likely,) or, at least, that rose in En­gland at the same time as the Conformists did; and since they were for number and quality, as great, or rather greater, and more considerate than the other, and who, in their Judgment, came nearer, as to the outward Government, and Purity of Worship, not only to the first Reformers, Zuinglius, Luther, and Calvin, but also to the Apostolical Practice; and who, in­deed were the TRUE PROTESTANTS, most Conformable to that Party in Germany, who so stiled themselves Protestants, in oppo­sition [Page 14] to the Imperial Edicts of Worms and Spire, it must needs be a great wickedness and cruelty too in the Conformists, because they had all the while the Countenance of Princes, and the lon­gest Sword, to persecute the Non-Conformists, and to deprive them of the liberty of setting up Purer Ordinances in Conventicles, and of sharing in the Publick Maintenance for the Ministers.

27. That it is a most barbarous, improper, uncharitable, and unchristian language in the Corrupt-Party of the Church of England, to stile themselves the only true, and properly so called, PROTESTANTS, and to discard all others in Europe, from the right to that name, for want of such Episcopal Ordinations as are in England: as if that 500 men possessing the three parts of the Church-Revenues in England, should better deserve to be called Protestants, than the first so called in Germany; whereas what ever Bishop Bilson, Andrews, Dr. Floyd, Dr. Tillotson, and Dr. Stillingfleet, could say in the behalf of the Government of the Church of England, (as being the most Apostolical and Primitive,) there is none more opposite, not only to that of the first Protestants, but also to Scripture, Reason, and Antiquity.

28. These being the Material Heads, or a [Page 15] Summary Idea of the whole, to be more largely and particularly handled hereafter, (if God gi­veth Life and Time to the Author,) I shall ex­cerpt much from the Scrinia of the Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. Richard Baxter, but yet so, as to take the liberty to follow my own Method and Genius, as to the menage of it.

29. So then the main design of the Subsequent Book, whereof this is a brief, but full Specimen, shall be to shew, prove, and make clear to You, the unreasonableness, unconscionableness, and consequently the ungodliness of retaining, ur­ging, and pressing the things in debate between the Conformists and the Non-Conformists, and of persecuting those, that refuse to submit to them, or at least to approve of them.

30. That Dissenters could not, cannot, ought not, neither in reason, nor in Conscience, to sub­mit to them, at least for the assenting, and con­senting to them, and the approving of them.

31. That those Conformists, whom I call Peace­able, and Orthodox men, such as were the Mem­bers of the Parliament of 1640, and those of West­minster assembled, and their Predecessors, and all others, however otherwise, most upright, sincere, Orthodox, holy, and well-minded persons, since the first Reformation in King Edward the Sixth's dayes, and Lovers of the Non-Conformists, that [Page 24] have hitherto been Conformists, were all guilty of prevarication, and of a-sinful yielding, comply­ing, assenting, and subscribing to a Church-way, which doubtless is sinful.

32. And therefore, that the Non-Conformists, who ever since King Edward's dayes, in Conformity to the true Doctrine of those of the best sort of Conformists, kept gathered Churches, and Meet­ings out of the Parishes, had right Reason, and Scripture on their side, and walked with a pu­rer Conscience, were the best reformed from Popery, and those that preserved the true Apo­stolical Doctrine, Worship and Government, and conveyed it to Posterity.

33. The Author may Incidently speak of the nature of the Church, Synods, Associations, and Fraternities by a confederate discipline, but can­not by any means hear of a National Church-Tribunal, independant on the Magistrate, to whom only he allows the setting up of a Na­tional Worship, by Persuasion and Commen­dation, but not in the least by forcing men to it, by penal Lawes, except they be Papists, or disturbers of the Publick Peace.

A Sober and Unpassionate REPLY, &c.

I AM very sensible, that My late Book, viz. A short and true Account of the several Advances the Church of England hath made towards Rome, &c. hath raised up very great and fierce tempests against me, as well from some of my Friends, as from those that are most otherwise to me; especially from those who can very calmly, sedately, patiently, and without any distur­bance in the world, see the publication of Mr. Hobbes's Books, and such others that are much what of the same stuff with them, that are good for nothing but to instruct People either in Atheism, or, at best, in an indifferency as to Matters of Religion; but who are highly provoked, if any One comes but near their Noli me tangere, either to make a Seasonable Discovery, or, in Love and Friend­ship, to bring them the wholesome Application of Reme­dies; such as is this Truth, That the Papists would never have been ingaged in such a design as to introduce Popery into England, by Massacres, and other wayes of the highest cruelty; if they had not been very well assured, that, though the Corrupt-Party of the Church of England, who are the most prevailing now, be not in a disposition to [Page 28] give their Consent to such Massacres, (the thoughts of which are alone sufficient to strike a horrour into the worst of them,) yet, they are all of them, (I mean the Corrupt Party) pretty inclinable to, or (which is not a jott less) not very much against, embracing the Religion of Rome.

I WILL begin with the Heat and Passion of my Friends against me, and with the Judgment which they make upon my Short and True Account, &c. they say, That that Book is altogether now unseasonable, When as Per­sons of great Learning, Piety, and Merit, and who, at the bottom, are very Sincere and Upright in the Church of England, such as Dr. Floyd, Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Stilling­fleet, and Dr. Patrick, to whom I might joyn Professor Burnett, are making it their business, as they think it their duty, to re-unite the Two Parties, the Conformists, and the Non-Conformists, and when they are most industri­ously imployed in reducing to Practice the Means of Peace and Concord, according to Mr. Richard Baxter's Model; and that instead of lending them my helping hand, and assisting them in so good a Work, I am doing what I can to divide both Parties, and to exasperate and imbitter them one against the other.

BUT, Methinks, these Gentlemen either have not read my Book at all, or else have no mind to understand the design of it, which is to dis-ingage, and free all honest Persons, such as are the above-mentioned Doctors, from the Corrupt Party of their Church, to joyn and confede­rate themselves with that of the Non-Conformists, that so those two Parties might Consolidate in one, and conse­quently, (for vis Ʋnita fortior,) be more capable to act with greater Zeal and Vigour against the third [Page 29] Party, that are making their Advances towards Rome.

ALSO My design in that Book is, to make those honest Persons and Doctors understand, who, on one hand, do perfectly agree with the Non-Conformists in Mat­ters of Faith and Doctrine; and, on the other, with that Corrupt-Party of the Church of England, in Matters of Government and Ceremonies; My design, I say, is, to make them understand the truth of these following Co­rollaries.

THAT seeing this former Agreement ought to be much otherwise the foundation of the Communion of Saints, and the cause which should ingage and bind their Hearts, Affections, and Interests together, than the latter; those good and honest Doctors are incompa­rably the more obliged in Conscience to adhere to the Non Conformists, who agree with them in Matter of Faith, than to those who do only agree with them in matter of Ceremonies: and they will find that they are obliged to it so much the more, if they will but take upon them the trouble of insisting upon some Obstacles, which have, for above these hundred Years, hindered, and, as I may say, staved off the re-union of the Conformists with the Non-Conformists.

THE first Obstacle, is, the Aversion which the Conformists, as well the good as the bad, have alwayes had, even in, and since the time of Edward VI. down to our dayes, untill the Conformists were awakened by this last most Damnable and Hellish Plott of the Papists, to take away the Life of our Sacred Soveraign, CHARLES the Second, to Subvert the Govern­ment, and utterly to abolish the Protestant Religion [Page 30] and Name among Christians; the aversion, I say, they had to hearken to any terms of Reconciliation.

THAT this Aversion has especially appeared in the Corrupt-Party of the Church of England, who have evermore turned a deaf ear to the Cryes, Clamours, and Remonstrances, which the Non-Conformists (whereof the Chief was Bishop Hooper,) have made, to be freed and discharged from the heavy Yoke of Ceremonies, and to persuade and bring over these obstinate and re­stive men, to pass on, from that first but rude draught of Reformation made in the time of King Edward VI. which (that so much Contemptible and despised Man now a days by them, but, I say, honest) Mr. Calvin calls tolerabiles ineptias, to a more perfect Establish­ment, according to what the last mentioned great Man, Calvin, (for I cannot speak his Name but with a be­coming reverence) expresses of it, ‘Sic ergò à talibus rudimentis incipere licuit, ut doctos, probos (que); et graves Christi Ministros ultrà eniti, et aliquid limatius et purius quoerere consentaneum foret. Epistola ad Anglos Franco­furtenses,’

THAT these Obstinate Men of the Corrupt-Party of the Church of England, have been always so remote from hearkning to, and answering the requests of the Non-Conformists, that they have been just the contrary; and they are so much the more violent and inflexible, as they have been making their continual advances towards the Doctrines and Ceremonies of the Church of Rome.

BUxT I find, that the greatest Obstacle to the re­union comes from these honest, upright, and sincere per­sons whom I mentioned before, and from whom we [Page 31] ought to expect, that they should come over three parts of four of the way to this Reconciliation; but from which they are, and will be, very remote, so long as they do openly and loudly maintain, That that first Establishment of Government in the time of Edward VI. is not a rude draught, and, much less, as Calvin would needs have it, tolerabiles ineptioe; but that it is a Model of Government in the last perfection, a Master-Piece that cannot be made better, and which, of all the Govern­ments that are in the World, comes nearest to that of the Apostles.

THAT so long as the Government which the Non-Conformists would have, hath no agreement or affinity with that of the Church of England, it is not to be hoped, that Two Parties, who both do verily believe themselves to be in the right, can ever be persuaded to come to any agreement of a middle way, which cannot be, at least in their accounts, but wrong and vitious; though, accord­ing to the belief which I have of, and the esteem I bear to them both, they do each lye under Errour, and a gross and vitious extremity, I do not at all question, if they would each of them be willing to abate something of their pretended right, but that both Parties might meet in a just Middle, and an equal temperament which some­what resembles that Vertue, that keeps the ballance even between two Vices, and the good and handsome husbandry, which is the Medium between Avarice and Prodigality.

THAT all these Obstacles hindering and keeping off the re-union of the Conformists with the Non-Confor­mists, it would be therefore a most Excellent and Christian Design, and a blessed Work, to labour to undeceive all [Page 32] honest persons, as well Episcopal, as Presbyterian, of those mighty great, and unaccomptable prejudices, which each of them are prepossessed with, and which makes them so hugely stand up for the pretended Excellency of their Government; without▪ which good Work, this desired Reconciliation is not feasible, it being, as Jesus Christ sayes, impossible, that those who think themselves whole, should ever be cured of their disease.

BUT of all my Friends who treat me ruggedly, there is One especially, that violently carries himself out against me, for having condemned the manner of Dr. Patrick's usage of the Non-Conformists, upon the Justifica­tion by Faith; which, he sayes, I have done meerly from a spirit of malice and revenge, for his having denyed to give me the Sacrament in his Church in Covent-Garden, because I relused to take it kneeling: But I protest before Almighty God, (who is the Searcher of hearts, and knows that I speak the truth,) that I have not the least ill re­sentment of it, nor indeed can I make any tolerable hand­some pretence to have one, because, after he had so de­nyed me, that Doctor came to my Lodging, and desired my excuse, and made me a very obliging and extream satisfaction: but it is the Cause of God, which carries me forth to repel the wrong and injury he does to the honestest persons in the World; Which yet, methinks, might be pardonable, if he was not so—hardy, as to put himself in the place and stead of GOD, in judging of their inward intentions, as when he assures us, that all those Expressions (of Downham, Davenant, and R. Hooker, which are those of the Holy Scripture, upon the subject of Justification by Faith, and which without doubt he highly approves of in the Mouths of the holy Apostles, and of those three Doctors,) are the words of a false and [Page 33] hypocritical heart, when they are spoken by the Non-Conformists.

AS for the down-right Thames-Street way of Railing against me, which, I am sure, none of my Friends would use, and all others, of any improved Civility, or good Manners, do nauscate and abhor; (but pure Streams can­not flow from an impure Fountain; and so I am satisfied.) I do not value them, nor can they prejudice any, but the persons from whom they issue: they that will be flinging up dirt, do manifestly show themselves of a dirty humour, and much good may do them, whosoever they are, with such their beloved Nastiness: but, methinks, they are greatly like those of the Lawyer, whom Suetonius speaks of, that thought he had very solidly basfled, and over­thrown the cause of his Adversary, because his Lawyer had committed a gross Soloecisme in his Plea. All the Arguments of that Insignificant Rayler, that has drawn the Lively Picture of Lewis du Moulin, as he thinks, to the worst and beastliest advantage, and it may be there­fore conceals his Name, because he is ashamed to own the ugliness of his daubing; I say, all the Arguments of that Insignificant Railer resemble those of that Oratour, who would needs have the cause of Vatinius to be the worst, because he had crooked Leggs; or are like to Origen's Enemies, who finding themselves unable to refute those pretended errors, thought, to be sure, they should acquit themselves bravely, by running him down with the Judg­ments that other people made of his Person and Writings; for, without ever entring into the merits of the cause, he alledges Mounsieur Daille, and Mr. Baxter, speaking to my disadvantage. He might also, if it had but once come into his unthinking, but rash head, have added the Testimony of Dr. Stillingfleet, who calls me Wretch, and Wicked, and blackens me after a strange and unworthy manner, only [Page 34] because I have said of him, (and I believe, did I but sin­cerely appeal to his Conscience, it could not upbraid me with a lye) that the Judgment which he makes at this day of the Church of England, when it lavishly pours up­on him I know not how many great Ecclesiastical Pre­ferments, is quite contrary to that Opinion he was of concerning it about Twenty Years ago, when he was not so well provided and lined with them: Except he be somewhat nettled, because I have so plainly laid open the weakness of his Argument, to make out the unreasonable­ness of the Non-Conformists for denying, viz, That all things that are not expresly forbidden in the Word of God, are sufficient to justifie those who submit to them, when th [...] Command of the Magistrate intervenes. Such great men as He, and as Mounsieur Daille was, are often­times like to Rivers, that raise themselves to so vast a height, that they overflow their Banks, and the Bounds of decent moderation: such was once Mounsieur Daille, when he flew out against me in such violent heats for having taken it ill, because he unhandsomely and unge­nerously treated my Father.

AS to what this Author of the Lively Picture, &c. sayes of Mr. Baxter, and of the sinister Judgment he makes of me; he is much gone astray (like a lost Sheep) from the truth; for not many years ago, did this same Mr. Baxter dedicate a Book to me in these words, Mr. Baxter's Difference be­tween the Powers of Magistrates and Church Pastors, &c. TO MY LEARNED, SINCERE, AND WORTHY FRIEND, Lewis du Moulin.

To be short, The way which the Author of the Lively Picture takes, to expose a Person to the Laughter, and Scorn of all the World, and to make him pass for an Ig­norant Noddy-peeks, a Lyer, and a most impertinent Scribler, who knows neither what he sayes, nor what he [Page 27] writes, very well, ought not to be that of alledging the Judgment which such Persons as Mounsieur Daille, and the Dean of Windsor make of him; but he should, if he had been able, have quoted those Writings, and Sentences, wherein he might convince the World, that they were the product of a man, that had neither Brains to make a Judgment; nor Learning, nor Stile, nor that had any thing of truth in him.

AS to the CELEƲSMA, of which he makes me the Author, I absolutely deny it: but If I were so, I might, (what he will never have any occasion to do) without vanity, boast, That I had made one of the best Pieces that ever had yet been extant in the World; I mean, in the behalf of the Non-Conformists, and where there is neither Truth, nor Judgment, nor Learning, nor good Language, nor any thing else wanting that is re­quisite to give a Book applause. If I was of his humour, I might wire-draw upon him substantially far beyond his length; but I had rather speak a great deal of truth in a few pithy words, than to be, like him, scandalously false, tedious, and railing, and never know in reason when to come to a