OF late having found a dismal and sore Specimen of Contention in a Literal War, between Dr. Edward Stillingfleet Dean of Pauls and several of the Nonconformists; I fear Sir these Civil Warrs between our selves may produce evil Consequences: for the fire of Protestant dissen­sions, especially at this time kindled and blown up, may dismally give the Popish party advantage to their designed ends of consuming us, by adding fewel to the fire of their malice: but doubtless our Concord would be cool Water, tending to quench or put out that fire of Hell, much conducing to the flourishing of our Nation and Religion; for could I be willing to pawn my blood, that this much pleaseth our Enemies, viz. to see us toge­ther by the Ears, that they may come in for a share, yea, and a bloody one too.

Therefore in my Judgment, better is it for us (especially at this juncture of time) though in some things dissenting, yet to unite, rather than break open a Gap, for our Enemies to enter at, and destroy us.

I am perswaded that Certamen Religiosum is of all Wars the most dangerous; for as it disturbs the [Page 2] mind, scandals Religion, hardens Infidels, disho­nours God, it also frequently is the Incentive to the Field, &c. But I could wish it were better con­sidered, as also that the Doctor had forborn the first unhappy stroke: But Sir, alas! great evils usually attend high Promotions, common experi­ence teacheth us how hard a matter it is for a man to swallow the great Goblet of Promotion, and not to be choaked therewith: Indeed it will be matter of Solace to our minds, if we can say like Job, That Gold we have not made our hope, nor fine Gold our Confidence; but how difficult is it to have a copious affluence, and the Heart not had therewith? Then no wonder, that it is a very hard matter for a Rich man to be saved. For if affiance in Riches possesseth the Room of any mans Heart, it is a great evil, in that it strongly inclines to conceit of our selves; an Impiety to which mans corrupt Nature is strongly propense; especi­ally amidst plentifull fruition; which conceitedness tends to a contempt of our Brethren, which is odi­ous in the eyes of a Pure God: For he is Love, (as saith the Apostle) and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him; as also that of St. Paul, Love endureth all things. It is certainly a Grace of the first magnitude, very magnificent and splen­did, beautifull both in the eyes of God and man: But we had need be cautious, according as Paul most excellently and sweetly adviseth in Galat. chap. 5. ver. 15. If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not devoured one of another.

And leave it to any rational man, if Protestant Dissentions be not the very road to Popish destructi­ons; [Page 3] their projects doubtless being embarked on these two bottoms, to debauch and divide us; at least-wise, with diabolical Cunning to endeavour the Debauchery of the Wilder sort, and the Division of the Sober; that those who only affect the The­ory of Divinity, may not want matter of dispute, remaining still restless, never attaining the practick part; and doubtlesly men only acquiring specula­tive Notions, without any application, is the princi­pal reason why so many unorthodox Opinions are broached and imbibed, and the Judgments of others hereby corrupted, the Popish Party by divers cun­ning insinuations assuming several shapes of Pro­fessions, in matters relating to Religion, gradual­ly infuse their own impious and ungodly princi­ples. What shall we suppose of the Quakers, omit­ting nominating any more, save the Arminians, which professedly deny Popery, but upon my serious de­liberate Thoughts find them leaning towards it, as it were hanckering after the Onions and Garlick of Egypt; their Opinions seeming to me as a Gate or inlet for Popery?

And know we not by experience, that this both hath been and is the practice of the Jesuites, &c. to insinuate themselves especially among the Qua­kers, &c. or the weaker illiterate sort of People? As they enter not themselves (I fear) into the King­dom of Heaven, so are they likewise an impediment or hinderance to those that would, if not sometimes a Total obstruction.

And, Oh how fearfull a thing is it, Sir, for us to encourage these wicked Enemies of God, these ill-wishers to his Church, and dividers thereof! [Page 4] this fire from Hell to consume us (if God pre­vent not); therefore it is time these Coals of Con­tention be extinguished, lest they catch hold and consume us.

But if so be our Disunion is so pernicious, so greatly complying with, and gratifying the evil in­tents of our enemies, then certainly the most ef­fectual way to be our own Friends, likewise to frustrate, and disappoint the Projects and Expecta­tions of our deadly Enemies, is to unite in Love; and notwithstanding there may be some dissension in Judgment, not to let it grow so wide as to cause an absolute difference in affection. Indeed I would desire, and much would it conduce to our good, if these Jarrings were forborn, considering we are Brethren, and why should we fall out by the way? and seeing on both sides amongst the Orthodox, there is no difference in fundamental Points.

But he that gives the first stroke does worst; No­cens tacet, Truth must be defended, therefore a so­ber impartial Vindication can't be blamed; but there is a time for this: nevertheless in my thoughts the present time calls for our Divines to be en­deavouring to cut the Sinews of Popery, to bat­ter down the Walls of Babylon; Let us beware of temporizing, let not Promotion blind, or Unchari­tablenesss byass; let no man confide in his Parts, Learning, Wealth or Dignities, but consider Pro­motion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, but from the Lord only; and if so, let us en­deavour to find it be in mercy; for Wealth, and Promotion; may as well be a Curse as a Blessing a Knife that is sharp may be serviceable, but to [Page 5] cut our Throats withall, is greatly hurtful; a Sword by how much the keener, by so much the more excellent, but in the hand of a Mad-man by so much the more deadly.

And therefore let Brotherly Love remain, follow­ing the Advice of the Blessed Apostle, If a Brother offend, not to despise him, but in the Spirit of Meek­ness to restore such an one, considering with thy self that thou mayest also be tempted. But alas poor frail Creatures that we are! how apt to despise an Erring Brother, and how little sensible of our own weakness, and how apt our frail Natures are to decline or turn aside to our Enmity and Contentions which are very dangerous, and Di­visions which are Church-ruining! How lovely and pleasant a thing is it then for Brethren to live to­gether in unity! It is the new Commandment, yea, and a Command in special, and verily a ne­cessary essential part of true Christianity; and doth not disobedience to one Divine Command render us conscious of breaking the whole? And if Ha­tred to our Brethren be an Evidence of one cor­dially embracing Christianity, what then will be­come of our Bibles? but if they which are Ver­bum Dei be true, it is an Evidence of an unholy unchristian temper.

But alas how miserable are we become through our various divisions! how desolate do we sit! a thing greatly to be lamented; I find mostly that our Differences are in Affection. In Judgment [Page 6] we have many, and really exceeding Erroneous, viz. the Romists, to whom we neither seek, or or hope for Reconciliation, believing them to be in their vile Principles, irreconcileable to the very Law of God; endeavouring as it were practically to rend the Decalogue out of the Bible, by their wicked Principles of Impiety with respect to the first Table, and of Immorality in reference to the second.

The Antisabbatarians pluck out to their power the fourth, notwithstanding a Memento prefixed be­fore it, as also fixed in the heart of the Deca­logue.

The Antinomians they are for taking away the whole Law at once, denying it, and rendring it wholly useless to Christians, whether as a Rule, or in it's coactive or punitive power.

The Socinians also, a most dangerous and wic­ked Enemy, a dreadful disturber of the Church, and Violator of the Gospel, endeavouring with Ar­rian to quench the Deity of the Son of God, deny­ing also our Redemption by the Blood and Satis­faction of Christ, to the high dishonour of the riches of Gods Grace, and hurt of Souls, endea­vouring to deprive us of the benefit of the New Testament.

The Antiscripturists, who are the Enemies to the Scriptures, cashiering both Old and New Te­stament.

And the Antitrinitarians, who are blasphemers of the whole Trinity.

And the Familists, who leaving the sure Rule of the Word, trust to Satanical Delusions.

Not to leave the Separatists who absent all publick Communion, pretending that for which they have no ground, viz. to live above Ordinances; Poor Creatures! because they know not the marrow of them, they live above that which they know not.

But these I wave, which, or most of which are far distant from the Communion of the Church of England, whether as to the Conforming Orthodox party, who embrace the Pure Doctrine of the Book of Homilies, or as to their dissenting Bre­thren of the Non-Conformists. And therefore these moderate differences ought not to make immode­rate distances: But I must needs grant, that diffe­rence in Judgment frequently causeth alienation in Heart, and swelling of mind; and hereby do we see, that those Friends who have been near allied, and held an intimacy of acquaintance, when they have come to clash one against another in Opinions, have also forsaken their former intimacy, and fre­quently grown Enemies, in opposing and censuring each other: and by reason of this disunion come so many Invectives in Pulpit and Press. For to tell the truth, in some Churches there is so much inveighing against their contrary Party, as that [Page 8] it hath amazed me to consider, whether these men thought they had their Commission from God to preach the Gospel, or to declaim against a parti­cular party of Protestants?

But if so be that we are unanimously Prote­stants in the main, dissenting only in some parti­cular Opinions, in the holding and maintaining of which dependeth not Salvation or Damnation, is it not very unreasonable, that the poor Souls attend­ing their Ministry should be denyed the wholsom Bread of Life, and held to that Hay and Stubble which neither is Food suited to their Nature, or Nourishment? What good doth it any man on a Sabbath day to enter into the Church, and instead of a good practical Sermon, which tendeth through Gods grace to warm the Affections, and influence the Practice, to hear a speech of Reviling or con­temning the Dissenters? if this person be one de­sirous to hear Gods Word, and regards the way ad vitam aeternam, I durst be confident he approveth not hereof, this being the way rather to starve than feed his Soul.

Let there not therefore be such Invectives in Pulpit and Press, which tend not to the profit of the good, but to incensing the Malice of the bad; for hereby many are influenced to Raillery, and con­temning others, but for what they understand not; only receiving and entertaining Prejudices, (which tend much to Gods dishonour;) for it (through Satans subtility, and Natures horrid corruption) [Page 9] conduceth to an imbittered opposition of Religion and holy men, qua tales, as they be holy; and so consequently if God bestoweth not repenting Grace, they persist in this height of Impiety, growing worse and worse, obdurated in evil, and desti­tute of good, till at last they become Vessels of Gods fury and Wrath, as they have before sold themselves to the Vassalage and mischievous drud­gery of the Devil.

And others Heads are puzled about unedifying Controversies and Debates, whilest their Hearts are empty of the power of plain practical Divinity, and likely so to remain, because unconcerned here­at, most miserably prying into Religion more for Curiosity than Salvation.

But it cannot be denyed, but that the good ho­nest practical Divines of both Perswasions have, and do much esteem each other, living and loving as Brethren; and whatever some may either say or act, it is my observation, never finding other­wise, but a Sober Orthodox Conformist regarding, and entertaining good opinions of the Non-Confor­mists, and so, è contrario. For as it is dangerous to impose upon other mens Consciences, so like­wise it's not good or safe to condemn another, because capable of acting some indifferent thing in it self, notwithstanding I dissent herefrom, yet cannot but confess it not to be necessary to Sal­vation, or dangerous of it's loss; why then should I judge and censure him as an Heretick, or a per­son [Page 10] not worthy of having any Communion with­all.

And verily, Sir, this Union in heart, and living in love as Brethren, is the way for Protestant Churches to flourish: let none be silenced, or hin­dred, let all Protestant Ministers unanimously joyn in preaching Christ in his Person, Offices, Merit and Spirit, &c. and not lye idle, in Jarring at one another; this is not the way for their Masters work to be performed: Vae mihi si non Evangeli­zavero, sayes that blessed industrious Apostle, who preached Christ in season, and out of season, rejoycing that Christ was preached, although out of envy, as well as out of good will, and declaring his resoluti­on as to that his Heaven-spirited Joy, that he would rejoyce; so that the Interest of Jesus Christ might be propagated, Paul would be pleased, and his Joy excited: But in order to it's more free course, Unity was found necessary, therefore shall we find him in tracing his Epistles as we read, exceedingly exhorting hereunto, and dehorting from Strifes, Envyings, Debates, &c. Now in Galathi­ans, Chap. 3. Vers. 1. you shall find him calling them Foolish, O foolish Galathians, &c. by reason of their Apostasie from the Doctrine which he had taught and they embraced; but trace him down to the end of the Epistle, and you shall find him often calling them Brethren; which instructs us in a good Lesson, viz. That in difference of Judg­ment and Opinion, let there be no division in Af­fection; for it is a sore temptation, and bait of [Page 11] the Devil, to raise alienation and aversation in the Affections, when he perceives the Opinions not agreeing: But Division it is the deadly plague of the Church, mortally tending to it's overthrow and ruine. But the Church, which should walk in conformity to Christ, who is Love, whose Spi­rit is the Spirit of Meekness, alas! how does it, and hath it for these many years dreadfully dege­nerated, and those therein professing Membership to Christ endeavoured to rend in pieces his Interest? But in all Ages he hath reserved to himself faith­ful Witnesses, standing up for his Glory and his Churches good; endeavouring our Peace and Re­conciliation.

And seeing the summe of Evangelical Obedience is Love, let us walk according to that Rule, that Peace may be upon us; how oft have we it repeated and inculcated upon us, Bear one anothers burthens, and be kind, be tender-hearted, forgiving one another, back­ed with this indisputable incitement, because Christ for Gods sake hath loved you?

Nay, can we be ignorant, how grand a design Satan the deadly Enemy of the Church hath, to rend it with multitude of Divisions, well know­ing how effectual a way that is to suppress the encrease of the Gospel, and to advance the interest of his Kingdom; most clearly discerning, that if we closely should follow the most blessed counsel of the Apostle, viz. To be all of the same mind, to speak the same thing, would be dangerous, that [Page 12] he might have none of us: But that in this life, leading a life of simple Christianity, at peace with God, and also among our selves; which is praegustus Coeli, even the foretaste of Heavenly felicity, work­ing in us an aptitude and meetness for the fruiti­on of eternal Glory and Beatitude, as also com­fortably conducting us in the way thereunto, to the sorrow and vexation of our deadly Enemies, whether Satan, or his Children incarnate, the Po­pish party.

But as we have Enemies without doors, working to their utmost the impeding of this happy Unity, so likewise have we within doors, that strongly oppose it; and, as the usual Proverb is, We enter the World with a Pope in our Bellies; we are naturally apt to be puffed up: it is well known that empty Vessels give the greatest sound; like­wise empty men, who are unacquainted with Religion in it's Excellency and Power, having all unfurnished save a Head big with some giddy Notions of what the Heart affects not, together with some Learning, by which this speculative Divine is puffed up, and whilest he thinks himself to know something, in reality knows nothing; and hence no wonder that oft such men prove Church­troublers.

Others also conscious of a Crime near a-kin and sometime consequent of the former, viz. Con­ceitedness, which much affects Singularity, by car­rying a man oft rather to broach Heterodox Opi­nions, [Page 13] than embrace Orthodox; that some may be his followers, and it may be go suo nomine, with the Badge of his own Name, and so he become famous, or rather (to say truth) infa­mous.

Others are turned aside by Interest and the power of Unbelief, Demas-like, loving this pre­sent World, and prizing it as the Place of their Acquiescence and Happiness, Idolatrously loving Gold more than God, and (foolishly) a good Purse better than a good Conscience; not pra­ctically minding, that the man that would ob­tain Salvation, must Ungod the World, not in thinking gain to be godliness: But although he in words and profession may acknowledge a better good than this World, yet in Heart and consent of the Will, embraces no other; no wonder, because the God of this World blinds the mans eyes, insomuch that selfish Interest shall turn him which way it pleases, this is indeed greatly I to be lamented!

Others by the deceitfulness of Riches are choak­ed, and temporize, in conforming to the Hu­mours and Doctrines most in fashion, to main­tain or encrease their Honour, unwilling sted­fastly to adhere to a despised Gospel, and a persecuted defamed Truth, not supposing Nuda Veritas will be a Covert to shelter them from the Censures of the great ones, or gratifie th [...] Itch of Ambition, in tending towards higher Pro­motions: [Page 14] But, Sir, let them contemplate that thundering Menax in the Gospel, He that de­nyeth me before men, him will I deny before my Father, and before the Angels of God. But oh how natural is it for man to set up his Riches for his God, and to fall down and worship them?

Others by putting confidence in their Parts, Learning, Wisdom, and Strength of Reason, are hurried and driven to Errors in Religion: for notwithstanding Religion is not contrary to Rea­son, yet it is above it, fo far forth as it is car­nal or humane, immensly overreaching, surpas­sing and surmounting our poor shallow Capaci­ties; hence the holy Apostle in 11^th of the Ro­mans, having seriously considered and contem­plated the Decrees, Wisdom and Counsell of God, how does he seem to abandon all his Reason, though certainly very perspicuous, and fall into a Passionate admiration of the infinite Wis­dom of God? saying, O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments, and his wayes past finding out!

But when by shallow Reason, as all humane is in it self considered, men would dive into Gods depths of Wisdom and Counsel, oh how greatly are they deceived! what false Ideas of Religi­on do they conceive, into what multitudes of Errors do they plunge themselves, to their own [Page 15] harm, to the Churches detriment and molesta­tion, in their not resting on Divine Revelation any further than it would suit with carnal Rea­son? I am perswaded this hath much more damnified the Church than the Persecutions of it's most malignant Opposers; it being a God­dishonouring, crediting him so, as no further to rest in his Word than carnal Reason can fathom, it's Truth to believe no further than we can by our Reason and Wisdom trace: Hence issued the most notorious Heresies that ever infected the Professing World. It is therefore a needful Maxim to make Gods Word our Rule; better is the most illiterate person making this Word his Con­duct, than the Learnedest Hero resting in the validity of his Reason: And hence no wonder the Apostle makes this Challenge; Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this World? God hath chosen the poor things of this World, &c. and the things which are not, to bring to nought the things which are. God will have the Revenues of his Glory, and he will have no flesh to glory in it self; he will bring down the Pride of all flesh one way or other: But let Reason have the place of Ancilla Pietatis, to be Godlinesses Handmaid, and let Religion be the Mistress, and have the preheminence, then Reason in it's due place is a noble and excellent gift and endowment, subservient to Religion, and in that place it is a good Servant, but other­wise a wicked Master.

By these or the like means through the hor­rid depravedness of Nature, and the desperate corruption of Heart, men are seduced, blinded; and byassed; to prevent which, a heart circum­cised to love God is necessary, whence most sweetly flowes mutuall Love to one another; for no man that is [...], but will be [...] also: he that hateth his Brother, and yet saith he loveth God, we have a Divine warrant from the Word to call that man a Liar.

Mystical Union to Christ, and real Implan­tation into him, is inseperably accompanyed with fraternal Union: What, love the Head, and not the Members! it is verily impossible. Can a man be in Christ, and yet out with his dear Members? No certainly; Christs true Friend will never be his Members Enemy.

The Holy Spirit inhabiting a mans Heart, even that Spirit of Love and Meekness which are the Fruits of that Holy Spirit, which certainly it will bring forth in that Garden where this blessed Wind bloweth: Now whe­ther or no Strifes, Dissensions, Heats, &c. be fruits of this Spirit, I leave all to judge who shall peruse this Paper.

And, Sir, it is an essential part of the Church of Christ to be conformable to its Head, and certainly in some measure conformable to his [Page 17] Will are the true Members thereof, however the carriage of some selfish Pretenders to Church­membership may be, whose intent may be ra­ther to devour than feed the Flock, but in this Censure (mentioning it onely by the way) without regard to any particular mans Per­son.

But, Sir, I fear our late Literal Skirmish be­tween the Doctor, his Vindicators and Respon­dents, has done us no great good; it hath not tended to beat down prevailing Popery; it hath not been of use to furnish the minds of the People with Arguments against Popish Errours, in well grounding them in the Fundamentals of true Christianity; a work exceedingly re­quiring and calling for all the Diligence, Parts, Learning and Industry of our Divines to be busied about, seeming now to be as it were the Ʋnum necessarium, of indispensible necessity; the Practical preaching up of Christ in his Offi­ces, Priestly, Prophetical and Kingly, the under­mining of all which are to the utmost endea­voured by the Papists, yea and ruine too if pos­sible: But it is certain the Lord will maintain his Honour in spight of all opposition. And, Sir, how needful is it for our Divines to preach Jesus Christ and him Crucified? A suitable Do­ctrine for this Juncture of time, wherein the dismal Cloud of Popish Errors and Superstiti­ons threatens to fall on us.

But supposing the Doctor is in very truth speaking what the Non-conformists justly de­serve, (as one of his Admirers said in my hear­ing) yet it was unseasonable, and this pernici­ous gloomy season required silence here, and an open Mouth against Popery. But I will wave that; Magna est Veritas & praevalebit: I design­ed not when I began to write, to meddle with the present Controversie, otherwise than to hint, of what I could not escape.

But this I am in fine perswaded of, let us warre, and fight, and jarre, and bite one a­nother, we are hereby our own destroyers, and at last may be our own Butchers; and this time calls for a work of far greater necessity, and weighty importance, yea and the Concern thereof so exceeding ponderous, that if we thus continue, it may have a sad end, and that so grievous, that our selves and Posterities may have imposed on us the Yoke of Popery, which neither our selves or Fathers have been able to bear. Which Yoke to prevent, let us unani­mously adhere to the Truth of the Gospel, and with one shoulder bear the burthen of Refor­mation; in order to which end let us be ex­horted to Unity, and dehorted from Division; for us to expect a flourishing Nation and Re­ligion, and to trample on our Enemies, whilest we continue in Strifes and Contests among our selves, is a thing impossible; but Union [Page 19] makes this feasable, yea and a thing with facility to be performed: And there­fore let us, seeing Christs Body is a Bo­dy of Unity, that Spirit of Jesus a Spi­rit of Love, according to the earnest Ex­hortation of the Apostle, Endeavour to keep the Ʋnity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace: See his Argument; For there is one Bo­dy, and one Spirit. It was Christs Inter­cession to his Father, Oh how Pathetick is that his Prayer in John 17^th,! That they may be one as we are one, that they all may be one, that they also may be one in us, that they may be made perfect in one. And this tendeth much to Gods glory, the Supream ultimate end of his true Worshippers, according to that in Rom. 15^th. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God. And I cannot but mention another Scripture, very pertinent to the purpose; 1 Cor. 1. 10. wherein the blessed St. Paul does most earnestly beseech them, by the Name of our Lord Je­sus Christ, that they all speak the same thing, and that there be no Divisions among them, but that they be perfectly joyned to­gether in the same mind, and the same Judg­ment. And to the Philippians we shall find him pressing it as the only thing to be desired, coming in with an Only let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ, that whether I come to see you, or [Page 20] else be absent, I may hear of your Affairs, that ye stand fast in one Spirit, with one Mind, striving together for the Faith of the Gospel. And truly Sir, why should the Apostle so adjure us to Unity, were it not of high Concernment to the Promo­tion of Christianity? for if we inspect but his concluding Farewell to the Corin­thians, in the Second Epistle, Chap. 13. Vers. 11. Finally Brethren, farewell; be per­fect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.

We know not how great a Mischief a little fire of Contention may do; it may verily encrease to more ungodliness: Divi­sion is the Devils Musick, but it will cen­ter in our sorrow. But Unity it is Christs delight, let us follow it, because Gods In­junction, Follow Peace with all men; and because a branch of the Covenant of Pro­mise, I will give them one heart; and be­cause an Evidence of a Discipleship to Christ; By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye love one another: For which also we have the Practice of the Primitive Christians for our Presi­dents; The Multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and one soul.

And in short, There is but one God, one Christ, one Faith, &c. Therefore, as the Wise man sayes, let us hear to­tum hominis, Fear God and keep his Commandments, and let us not waste our inch of Time, troubling our heads about all the Controversies in the world. We must know this for certain, that there's but one way left us for Salvati­on: Let us hearken to the summe, He that believeth on the Son, hath Life, but he that believeth not on the Son, shall not enter into Life, but hath the wrath of God abiding on him. Again, He that would be my Disciple, let him deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow me: Here is no Glos­sography, plain Terms, the Simple may understand it with facility, though the Wise cannot practise it without the Ope­rations of Omnipotent Grace, therefore our Duty is in leaving Disputing to fall upon Practice.

But how greatly is it to be bewail­ed, and how dolorous a Complaint may we take up, in that we are circumvent­ed with multitude of erroneous Principles, and hereby the breach of Division grow­eth [Page 22] wider and wider; and I profess, let what will be said, That to teach us Wisdom and Unity, God will send some severe Dispensation, and it is well if Gods Judgments are not impending over our heads for this our sin; shall we then go on to provoke the Lord? Certainly he will vindicate his own Glory, when we have tasted by fearful Experience the smart of Gods Judgments for our Divisions, and he hath let in our Enemies on us, and suffered our Fears to overtake us, and let us suffer together, then shall we certain­ly cry, è bello Pax; No more Warre, we have experimented its evil, but can­did Peace shall return; but till God by an eminent Act of his Righteousness put­teth forth his hand, and executeth Judg­ment, there is little hope hereof, we being so greatly degenerated, and the malig­nant Diseases of our Minds grown in­veterate.

But then, Sir, to conclude, how daring are we, when the Symptoms of our uineby the malicious intentions of our Enemies is presaged, which through a­bundant mercy hath been detected, and thereby hindred; to which Plotts, and Conspiracies against our King, Govern­ment, [Page 23] Persons, and Religion, have we given much advantage, and encourage­ment by our Divisions, yet hath God freely been Gracious still in detecting and defeating them hitherto, and shall we be so foolish and unkind to God, as to still persist in our Iniquity, and as it were wilfully to draw down Judgements on our own heads, and provoke God to withdraw his protecting Providence from us?

I would perswade all men to Obedi­ence to the Higher Powers, for they be of God, and it is Gods will that we should obey Magistrates, and not speak evil of Dig­nityes; they are an Ordinance of God, and we highly advance Gods honour in esteem­ing and submitting to his Ordinances; but Conscience prohibiting what the Magistrate enjoyns, whom should I obey, God or Man, judge ye? Conscience in mans Soul is Gods Vicegerent, and Con­science wronged will reproach, whose reproaches are intollerable; for my part I rather choose that the whole world should defame me, than my own Con­science accuse me; for Conscience is a bosom Friend, and consequently if a [Page 24] Friend a most sweet and intimate, if enraged, it is an enemy, from which there is no flying, it will pursue a man in every place, company, action, &c. if there­fore one Christian that expecteth salva­tion by Faith in Jesus, can act that which another professing the same Faith cannot, let them not censure, bite, and devour each other; this is the temper rather of ravenous Woolfs than of Christs Lambs.

And Sir, my Respects and Service to you, craving your Acceptance of this poor, but I can say well-meaning Epistle, wherein as I have said, so do I reiterate, that Unity is the way for our Church and State to flourish; it promotes the twisted Interest of Gods glory and our good; it plucks down Satans Interest, and Popish Plotts and Projects it discou­rageth greatly: And if still we will have no regard to the Commands of the Gospel, to the Love of Christ, to the Fellowship of the Spirit, which is Love, which work­eth Love wherever it dwelleth. If we will have no respect to the Glory of God in the Propagation of the Gospel, if we refuse to love our Nation▪ our Families, [Page 25] our selves, our own Souls) and Bodies, let us go on in Divisions, Strifes and Contentions, but be content to suffer what miseries follow, which most cer­tainly will come upon us, and if God in infinite free Grace and, Mercy prevent not, be our total Destruction and Over­throw.

Eor preventing whereof, let us unani­mously with one Consent, with one Shoul­der, bear one anothers Infirmities, and endeavour to serve one another in Love; That this Heavenly Benediction may fall upon us, our Church and Nation, viz.

Amen.