IT is the wonder and grief of all good English Protestants, that such an unaccountable frenzy should possess and hurry some hot Clergy men amongst us, with a blind zeal against the good Proposals of Peace prepared by the Kings Com­missioners in the Jerusalem Chamber. They make a tragical outcry as if the Church were to be undone, when there is no danger of parting with any thing but what may well be spared; nothing is intended but the removal of the brambles that have rent and torn her. Some do think that amongst the invisible inhabitants of the world there are ludicrous Spirits of an inferiour rank, and that these play the little tricks in disturbed houses. Some such ludicrous Spirits act these men, who have a long time haunted and vexed the Church (the house of God) with the Pother they have made for Annis and Cummin, and have made little reckoning of weightier matters. For trifles they labour all they can to heighten amongst people an unseasonable and dangerous sourness and peevishness. When a Popish Prince ascended the Throne, they endeavoured to make us believe that we were happy, that James the Just never broke his word, and now they set all their crea­tures on work, to inflame people with animosities and jealousies of the Churches danger; when our gracious Josiah labours to inlarge the interest, and to increase the beauty and glory of our Church. And this he doth in such a method, as may expiate for­mer miscarriages, and deliver us from the reproach of the late wasting persecutions.

First, He gives a Commission to some of our Reverend Fa­thers and Divines to prepare things for peace; then he calls a Convocation to consider those things, and recommend them to the Parliament. He puts it in our own power, in a great measure, [Page 2]to heal the great breaches, and repair the lamentable ruins and desolations, that have been made by some amongst us.

To be a little more particular, because this matter lays the greatest difficulties in our way of Peace, and renders our present case most perplexed; Let all our Reverend, Pious and Learned Churchmen weigh well the manifold considerations that oblige them, by all means to endeavour, that the evil temper of some amongst us may not prevail. I. The Honour of the Clergy is concerned. II. It is a vain thing to attempt the continuance of Ceremonies. III. It is unreasonable. IV. The manifold mis­chiefs of impositions. V. Our danger present and future.

I I. The honour of the Clergy is concerned. Farewel to the re­putation and honour of the Clergy of the Church of England, if Ceremonies are now continued in the Worship of God. In the time of our affliction we did talk of Prayers and Tears, as the only weapons of Christians; this will be lookt upon as hypocri­tical canting, if we labour to continue the instruments of perse­cution. We have promised to come to a temper towards Dis­senters; how infamous shall we be if we violate a promise so publickly given when under the rod? We have lost many opportunities of Peace, we have now a Glorious opportuni­ty, and many engagements upon us to improve it. Shall an evil Spirit still prevail among us to the defeating all the de­signs of Providence,Bishop Bur­nets Exhor­tation to Peace and Ʋnion, pag. 12. and the crossing of all attempts for Peace and Union? So that neither the errour that all men seemed to confess, nor the promises, which were then generally made, nei­ther our late distress, nor our present dangers, can bring us to a sound mind, or to a calm temper, that in this our day we may know the things that belong to our Peace.

There have been condescensions towards Papists, as in the Li­tany and the 28th Article; and shall we be stiff only towards those of our own Communion, who have subscribed the Doctrine of our Church? It will be thought that we bear a secret dislike to pious Protestants, if we can yield to the enemies of our Religi­on, and not to them. We shall load our selves with the crime of ingratitude towards Christ our Soveraign, and Dissenters. We thank God for our Redemption by Jesus Christ, believing that he hath bought us with his blood; and shall we continue stum­bling blocks to keep many pious Pastors from feeding his Lambs [Page 3]for whom he laid down his life? Our gracious Soveraign hath been indefatigable in his labours for our deliverance from Pope­ry and Arbitrary power; he hath saved our Church and State, our Religion, Laws, Liberties, Estates and our lives; and how great will be our ingratitude and folly, if we continue obstinate for the retaining those things, that let in upon us the dangers from which we are so lately delivered, and do now hinder his Majesties peaceable Government, and obstruct his acting accord­ing to his glorious ambition, that designs chiefly the relief of the oppressed, and the advancement of the Protestant Interest at home and abroad? Let it not give offence, if I say that we shall be in­grateful towards Dissenters. They were steady for the preserva­tion of the Church of England in the day of our distress, against the taking away of the Test and the Penal Laws by which they had smarted so much. There were more of our own Commu­nion, than of theirs, that revolted from us and turned against the Laws. And now they have an Indulgence by Law, they are con­tented with the liberty of serving God according to their consci­ence; and trouble not the Government with Petitions for more, neither have they given any indication of envying us the honours and Profits we enjoy. How shall we give an account to God and Man for all the evils that may be occasioned by our obstinacy? Mankind may justly abhor us, if we perversly shake the foundati­ons of the Peace and Happiness of our Countrey for things of no value. The word Schism hath been a long time by some of us flung about at random; but now people will know on whom to charge it. The meetings of the Dissenters are as legal as ours. None are by the Law of God or man obliged to hold Com­munion with us upon the present terms. If we by continuing them drive people from us, the Schism will lodge at our doors, and we shall be the Schismaticks. They that for Rites labour to keep up our animosities, justify the late violences,Bishop Bur­nets Exhor­tation to Peace and Ʋnion, Pag. 27. and make them­selves guilty of all the Persecutions of former times. Men may be still Persecutors, tho' they are not able to persecute any lon­ger, according to our Saviours charging the guilt of intended sins on those who never acted them. And God may charge upon them all the blood that hath been shed from the foun­dation of the World, from the blood of Abel unto the blood of those glorious champions for our Religion and Laws, Essex, Russel, [Page 4]Sidney, Cornish, &c. Verily I say unto you it shall be required of this Generation, Luk. 11.51. They who approved of and rejoiced in the murder of these men of honour, may have their hands full of blood in the sight of God,

II II. It is a vain thing to attempt the continuance of Ceremo­nies. Wise men when they are earnest in the prosecution of any affair, aim at some end that may recompence their diligence. Now it is exceeding difficult to find out what end people propose to themselves in being zealous for the keeping up of these things. When a comprehension was endeavoured by that incomparable Triumvirate of our Church, the Lord Keeper Bridgman, the Lord Chief Justice Hales, and Bishop Wilkins, it was objected the concessions would tempt those of our own Communion to forsake us and go over to the Church of Rome. Whatever strength there was in that Objection then, it signifies little now, Popery having appear'd since in its true colours. We need not fear the losing of any, except them, who corrupted the Victuals, and put Garbage into the Vessels of Beer for the Navy, who hindred the relief of Derry till many 1000s died for want, and are the cause that no more of Ireland is recovered, who by ma­nifold treachenies have obstructed affairs of greatest moment in England and Scotland. We may also lose some of the Devil Ta­vern club; it were better for us to be rid of them than to be be­trayed by them in Protestant vizors. As for the debauches, if many or all of them depart from us, the loss will not be so great as the mischief they do us by pretending to be of our Communion. Let them declare themselves Fanaticks, Papists, any thing, ra­ther than members of the Church of England. Dr. Sharps Sermon be­fore the Com­mons, April 11. 1679. It would per­haps be more desireable to live in a mean, low, afflicted condi­tion without such Company, than to govern the World with it. There is great danger now of losing multitudes to the Dis­senters by the continuance of Ceremonies. Your coercive pow­er is gone. I can heartily say with his Lordship Bishop Burnet; God be thanked for it, that there is an end put to all Persecuti­on in matters of Conscience;Exhort to Peace and Ʋnion. p. 27. and that the first and chief Right of Humane Nature of following the dictates of Conscience in the service of God, is secured to all men amongst us; and that we are freed, I hope, for ever, of all the remnants of the worst part of Popery that we had too long retained; I mean, the Spi­rit of Persecution.

The Act of Indulgence sets all men at liberty, and it comes not long after a very fierce Persecution, which will increase the number of Distenters more than ever. The barbarity of that Persecution; the wickedness of the instruments, it being carried on by perjur'd Informers, and debauched Juries; the dangerous design of it, to fright the Dissenters, or by Excommunication to dis­able them from assisting the sober party of our Church in choosing good Members of Parliament, and honest Officers in London and other Corporations, for the Preservation of our Religion and Laws: these and other aggravations of that cruel storm with the continuance of Ceremonies that then armed furies against us and our brethren, will breed a mighty prejudice in people against us, as a most odious and contemptible generation of men, if af­ter so many miseries and confusions, we do for trifles, expose all the Interests of our Countrey into the greatest dangers imagina­ble.

We can impose these things upon none but the Ministers and their Clarks. An unseasonable peevishness for them, will make many detest our foolish superstition, and forsake our Assemblies. There is no keeping up their honour, except we blind the people, which is now impossible. For if we neglect Preaching seriously, the Dissenters will do it for us, and in 7 years their Preachers may be increased ten to one for what they are now. Our own Clergy who have a Zeal for the glory of God and the good of Souls, cannot avoid promoting the work. Many of them submit not to Ceremonies out of choice, but as a burden from which they would gladly be delivered. If they did speak out, it would be as Erasmus did of wealth: non magis ambio opes quàm elumbis equus graves sarcinas: They are to them but as the heavy load on the Carriers staggering Horse. As Knowledge increaseth, Zeal for Ceremonies will grow more and more ridiculous.

It is the hope of many good and learned men, that the time is at hand, when God will deliver his Church for ever from the darkness of the Kingdom of Antichrist, and that the Nations will cast away all things that have been instruments of advancing his tyranny and superstition. Surely that glorious day will open mens eyes. I have faith to believe that England will not be blind, when other nations see.Dr. Stilling. Iren. p. 121. God will one day convince men that the Union of the Church lies more in the Unity of Faith and [Page 6]Affection than in the Uniformity of doubtful Rites and Cere­monies.

It is the condescension of the Government, that the desired Union is proposed to the Clergy, the Legislative Power may do it without us. The Lords, the Knights of the Shires and the Burgesses, know who are fit in their several Counties to be Coun­sellors of Peace, and Healers of our Breaches, and if we are un­willing to be Peace-makers, they may (if they please) make a Law that the Members of both Houses shall in their several Coun­ties choose three or four Divines to sit in Convocation to offer unto them what may settle the peace of our Church. In the act of Indulgence, the King, Lords and Commons have acted like good Pastors that are careful of the Flock▪ I wish our Convoca­tion follow their good example. If we will not do our parts, we have no reason to think that the Nobles and Gentlemen will sacrifice all their Interests to our fondness of continuing snares among the people. If a combustion should happen we shall in the issue lose more than is now desired. A Ceremonial War hath been once fatal to Clergy-men; another will strike home.

The Church would lose nothing tho all its Ceremonies were laid aside. The beauty and excellency of it, is not at all advanc'd by a luggage of Impositions. They are no more an Ornament to the Church, than the Chains of a Galley or Prison, are Orna­ments to the poor man that is laden with them. The Church is the spouse of Christ, her Glory consists in a conformity to him her Head and Bridegroom, in holiness and love; and not in such geere,Rev. 17.1, 2. as is common to the great Whore who hath made the inhabi­tants of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication. I dare affirm (saith Mr. Bolde) that if the Rites and Ceremonies now in use in the Church of England, Plea for Mo­deration, P. 11, 12. should be altered, some changed, and some laid wholly aside, by the same authority which did at first enjoyn them, the Church of England would still be as impregnable a Bulwark against Popery, as now she is. And I am fully satisfied there is no man will deny this, unless he be either a real Papist, or an ignorant superstitious fool.

After all the endeavours of our Bigots, neither these things nor they that labour to support them will ever be valued by them that are seriously pious in our own Communion. All the art and power in the world cannot make trifles in the Worship [Page 7]of God seem matters of importance to them that rellish Heaven­ly things. What Trumpery are Habits, various Gestures and Po­stures to a man that is swallowed up in the contemplation of the infinite Majesty of the Glorious God? or that is lost in the ra­vishing admiration of his goodness and love? or that is sunk into the lowest abasements and self-abhorrence for his sins? Such a soul may be loaded with human Inventions, but he can never look upon them as ornaments or helps unto devotion. On the contrary he may count himself mocked, and reckon those impo­sed fooleries no better than the fools caps and coats which Persecu­tors did put on the Saints of God, when they led them to the stake to be sacrificed in the flames. They may be valued by for­mal, dead Christians; but the spiritually minded will look on them as toys fit only to adom Hypocrites.

III III. It is unreasonable to continue Ceremonies. After all that the Wisdom and Power of Imposers can do, the judgments of men will differ. It is as possible to make their Hair all of one Co­lour, their Bodies of the same Proportion, their Faces all alike, as their Judgments to be the same in Rites and Ceremonies. In­stead of obtaining Uniformity by Impositions, they break the Unity of the Spirit, and crumble the Church into Parties and Sects. Which may seem strange (saith Dr. Stillingfleet) the things that men can least bear with one another in, are matters of Liberty;Iren. Pag. 38. and those things men have divided most upon, have been mat­ters of Uniformity; and wherein they have differed most have been pretended things of Indifferency. Nothing but what is ne­cessary should be imposed as Terms of Communion.

What possible reason can be given why such things should not be sufficient for Communion with a Church which are sufficient for Salvation?Ib. Pref. 8. and certainly those things are sufficient for that which are laid down as the necessary duties of Christianity by our Lord and Saviour in his Word.

The practice of the Reformers of the Church from Popery is a good pattern for us to follow.Ib. Pag. 121. 122. Such was the prudence and tem­per of the French Churches, in the composing their publick Forms of Brayer, that they were so far from inserting any thing controversial into them, that the Papists themselves would use them, and inserted them into their own Prayer book. The same temper was used by our Reformers in the composing our Litur­gy, [Page 8]in reference to the Papists, to whom they had then an espe­cial eye, &c. And certainly those holy men, who did seek by any means to draw in others, at such a distance from their prin­ciples as the Papists were, did never intend by what they did for that end, to exclude any tender consciences from their Communion. That which they laid as a bait for them, was ne­ver intended by them as a hook for those of their own profession. But the same reason which at that time made them yield so far to them, would now have perswaded them to alter and lay a­side those things which yield matter of offence to any of the same profession with themselves. So far Dr. Still.

By the letters,Dr. Eurnets Letters, Pag. 46. &c. (he means of our reformers to Bullinger) of which I read the Originals, it appears that the Bishops preserved the ancient Habits rather in compliance with the Queens inclina­tions than out of any liking they had to them; So far were they from liking them, that they plainly exprest their dislike of them. Jewel in a Let. Feb. 8. 1566. wishes that the Vestments toge­ther with all the other remnants of Popery might be thrown both out of their Churches, and out of the minds of the people, and laments the Queens fixedness to them: So that she would suffer no change to be made. And Jan. 1566. Sands writes to the same purpose. Contenditur de vestibus Papisticis utendis vel non utendis; dabit deus his quoque finem. Horn Jul. 16. 1565. writes of the Act concerning Habits with great regret, and expresses some hopes that it might be repealed, next Session of Parlia­ment, if the Popish party did not hinder it, and he seems to stand in doubt whether he should conform himself to it or not, upon which he desires Bullingers advice. And in many letters wrote on the Subject it is asserted, that both Cranmer and Ridley in­tended to procure an Act for abolishing the Habits, &c. Grindal Aug. 27. 1566. Writes that all the Bishops who had been be­yond Sea, had at their return dealt with the Queen to let the matter of the Habits fall: But she was so prepossessed, that tho they had all endeavoured to divert her from prosecuting the matter, she continued still inflexible. This had made them resolve to submit to the Laws, and to wait for a fit opportunity to re­verse them. Cox in one of his Letters, laments the aversion that they found in the Parliament to all the propositions that were made for the reformation of abuses.

It seems that these things were then established by Parliament against the minds of the Clergy; they may now by the same Au­thority be taken away, though some among us are against it, and care as little for the Peace and Prosperity of the Church, as the Harlot for the Child which she would have divided alive. They are such Pastors, as she was a Mother.

The example of the Primitive Church will condemn our stif­ness for Indifferent things.Dr. Stilling­fleets Iren. Pag. 122. 68. Certainly the Primitive Church that did not charge mens Faith with such a load of Articles, as now in these latter Ages men are charged with, would much less bur­den men with imposing doubtful practices upon them as the Ground of Church Communion.Ib. Pref. Pag. 10, 11. There is nothing the Primitive Church deserves greater imitation by us in, than that admirable temper, moderation and condescension which was used in it, to­wards all the members of it. It was never thought worth the while to make any standing Laws for Rites and Customs that had no other Original but Tradition, much less to suspend men her Communion for not observing them. This admirable tem­per in the Primitive Church might be largely cleared from that liberty they allowed freely to Dissenters from them in mat­ters of Practice and Opinion: As might be cleared from Cyprian, Austin, Jerom, &c.

Were there in the Primitive times many hundreds of men duly qualified for the Ministry,Mr. Gorber of Church.-Ʋ ­nity, Pag. 49. kept out of the Church for their Nonconformity to some Opinions, Forms, and Ceremonies, of the truth or lawfulness whereof, the Dissenters were wholly dis­satisfied, and which the Imposers judged to be but things in them­selves indifferent?

The Apostles did not at all favour the imposing humour. The Holy Ghost and the Apostles were only for requiting necessary things:Acts 15.28. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater him then than those necessary things. How strangely hath the Christian. World been since altered? It hath seemed good to men to impose unnecessary things as terms of Communion: But it doth now Here appear that this practice seemeth good to the Holy Ghost. The whole course of Scripture is contrary hereun­to. Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind. Rom. [...] 4.5. This is not considered; for doubting consciences are not at all relieved, they must conform or else be excluded from Communion with our [Page 10]Church in the Ordinances of Christ. No man put a stumbling-block or an accasion to fall in his brothers way. Rom. 14.13.19.23. Follow after things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another. He that doubteth is damned. How little have Souls been valued by Impo­sers? When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak con­sciences, 1 Cor. 8.12. ye sin against Christ. Imposers do not only wound the Consciences of the weak, but they offend their head Iesus Christ, who is also the Judge of the World and takes notice of the in­juries done to his flock.Ezek. 34.3, 4. Ye feed not the Flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. Paul was a great Governour in the Church, yet he was so Far from using his Authority to the distress of conscience; that rather than offend a weak brother,1 Cor. 8.13. he would abridge himself of his liberty as a private Christian. Wherefore if meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the World standeth, lest I make my Bro­ther to offend. Phil. 2.21. We have little reason to hope for this blessed temper amongst us, while men seek them own, and not the things of Jesus Christ.

IV IV. The manifold mischiefs of these impositions. No man can shew any good they have done, except it be good to maintain a corrupt party in Church and State, to the excluding a Pious, Sober, Peaceable, Diligent and Powerful Interest, that to a man would stand by the King, and venture all them concerns for him and the Protestant Religion, while some that have profaned the Sacra­ment for an Office, have by their manifold treacheries sacrificed many hundred lives, and hugely hindred his Majesties affairs. The Fabulous evils of Pandora's box, come unspeakably short in num­ber of the real mischiefs from Impositions.Dr. Stilling­fleets Iren. Pref. 9. Without all contro­versy the main inlet of all the distractions, Confusions and Di­visions in the Christian World, hath been by adding other con­ditions of Church Communion than Christ hath made.

If any man of common sense will but open his eyes and consi­der, he may see plainly enough, that all the publick miseries of mankind in Christendom, from the exorbitances of Popes and the violences of Tyrants, owe their Original to the Spirit of Imposi­tion in matters of Worship. For if people were well instructed in the true knowledge of God and their Duty to their Neigh­bour, [Page 11]and were not muffled in ignorance to maintain the Pride and Laziness of Churchmen, they would not so readily serve the Ambition of Princes, in invading the Rights of their Subjects at home; and laying waste the Dominions of their Neighbours a­broad. The mischiefs I am speaking of, are innumerable, some of them are reduceable to these six heads. I. Mischiefs to the Church. II. To the State III. To Souls. IV. To Piety V. Mis­chiefs in promoting a mighty increase of Prophaneness and all kind of wickedness. VI. Hindering a World of good.

I I. Mischiefs to the Church. Zeal for mens devices begets in people a strange levity of mind, makes them such triflers in Reli­gion, that they disregard the great interests of God and his Church in the World: They are not sensible, of the desolations of Gods Churches in France, Orange, Piedmont, the Palatinate, Ireland, &c. Of the judgments of God that threaten other Churches, of the plagues that may hang over our heads to chastise us for our crying abominations. What unthinking creatures are these? Yet they are good Sons of the Church, zealous for its▪ Ceremonies, not a pin must be pull'd out, tho innumerable tender Consciences are wounded by them. They cry the Church of Eng­land, the Church of England, and are not mindful of the common danger from the Roman Gulf, that gapes to swallow down all. Such vanity of mind doth zeal for trifles infect men with.

The zealots for these things, did so far labour against the pre­servation of our Religion, when the exclusion of a Popish Suc­cessor was endeavoured, that I have often heard good men say, that if Popery came in, it would enter at the Church door; God be praised, they were deceived, but it is no thanks to these ob­stinate sticklers, who brought the Church to the very brink of run, and now raise a clamour of its danger,Bishop Bur­nets Exhor­tation to Peace and Ʋaion, Pag. 14. when every thing that has been endeavoured must prove its strength as well as its glory; if we are so happy as to weigh all in even Ballances. Churches will thrive better with the naked simplicity of the Gospel, than the mock decency of Theatrical Ornaments, which are good for nothing but to maintain Formality, Dissention, Pride and Tyranny. The glory of the Church consists in a lively Faith, and sincere love of the members of it; these are not ad­vanced, but hindred by imposing as Terms of Communion little [Page 12]things, the lawfulness of which is doubted by many good Christi­ans. But when only necessaries are required, the Peace and Uni­ty of the faithful is not in great danger, tho some dissent. For such things will be more easily known and submitted to by the greatest number of sincere Christians. When necessary things are only injoyned,Mr. Cor­bets King­dom of God. Pag. 74. their weight and truth will soon be known, and owned of all honest minds, or at least are most likely so to be; and much sooner and easier than the weight, and truth of little doubtful things; and by this means they would more easi­ly move with joint consent in one godly order, the matters of their difference being before hand taken out of the way.

Impositions do narrow and weaken the foundation of a Church. They are means of excluding multitudes of pious, peaceable and useful members from the Communion of it. The making of un­necessary terms of Communion, which to doubting consciences are unlawful, weakens the interest of true piety in the Church, by keeping out abundance of sincere Christians. A corrupt party may by this means be only taken into her bosom, and advanced to high power, all the rest rejected, if not persecuted. The late times gave us a deplorable instance hereof: for tho there was a sober party in the Church, yet it could do nothing against a ma­lignant Faction that had gotten all under foot; First the Dis­senters, then the sober Conformists, laboured under a load of re­proaches, and misrepresentations, as disaffected to the Govern­ment. All being graspt by such hands, the issue was like to be the ruine of Christianity among us, if God had not been merciful to the Church in so great a danger. The interest of a Church should be as large and wide as is consistent with the terms of the Gospel: None that profess Christianity, and live unblameably should be excluded.

The Scripture is our only guide of Unity: Uniformity is de­formity and confusion, when men appoint other terms of Mini­sterial Service, and Church Communion, than are prescribed in Gods Word. The imposers are guilty of the Rents and Schisms caused by such Impositions. Where inventions false or useless are made the necessary Symbols of Religion,Corbets Kingdom of God. Pag. 88. there a Sectarian In­terest bears Sway, and the gaining of the Secular Power will not wipe off the blot of such a party. The name of Sectary may fit proud Usurpers as well as blind Zealots. The removal of Imposi­tions [Page 13]may be a means to extinguish Schism, and to prevent it for ever, or at least to free the Fathers of the Church from the im­putation of it. To load our publick Forms,Hales of Schism. Pag. 8. with private fan­cies upon which we differ, is the most Soveraign way to perpe­tuate Schism to the worlds end. Prayer, Confession, thanksgiving, reading of the Scriptures in the plainest and simplest manner were matter enough to furnish out a sufficient Liturgy, tho no­thing either of private opinion, or of Church Pomp, of Gar­ments or prescribed Gestures, &c. did interpose it self.Dr. Stilling-fleets Iren. Pag. 122. 'Were there a Spirit of mutual condescention (as in the Primitive Church) our breaches as to these things might be soon closed up, and the voice of Schism be heard amongst us no more.

God, for the carnal state of Christians in the reformed Churches hath, let loose the last and sharpest Persecution from Antichrist upon them, by this severe Providence intending to deliver his Spiritual worshippers from the Tyranny of Superstitious Forma­lists, who by the desolations of other Churches are admonished to be wise, lest they bring some great evil upon their own heads. Gods work shall go on, whatever difficulties lie in the way; it may be delayed, but it shall not be defeated. The Israelites had a forty years prorogation of their happiness, the Rebels were all to die in the wilderness. The good things intended for the Church may be deferred till the removal of the carcases of the Sottish murmurers against our Royal Moses, and the blind Zea­lots who are unworthy to see the glory that is at hand. The Ro­man Pharaoh shall no more plant the Tabernacles of his Pallace between the seas in the glorious holy Mountain. There may be very humbling disappointments of the hopes of the faithful: God doth wisely suffer these variations in the Church, for the tryal of his Servants, and to shew the necessity of the continual influ­ences of his holy Spirit to raise and keep up our Souls above the animal life.

II II. Mischiefs to the State. Zeal for Ceremonies begets in men a contempt of publick Rights and Boundaries. When they dote so much upon vanities in worship as to inslave their Consciences, and to despise their Christian liberty, it is no wonder if they sell at any rate their own and others civil Rights and Priviledges. I had rather forget than rake into the foul work such men have made in Juries, Elections, Corporations, &c. since the dissolution [Page 14]of the Oxford Parliament. Add hereunto the late violences up­on mens Bodies and Estates by unreasonable Prosecutions; Fin­ing, Excommunicating, Imprisoning peaceable, diligent Christi­ans, who desired to live according to Gods Word, and did no­thing to the disturbance of the Government. Yet many are so far bewitched into a fondness for these remainders of our former slavery, that they had rather sacrifice all to Popery and Arbitrary Power, than quit a few trifles which for 130 years have been matters of contention and vexation in the Church, and do at this day shake the foundations of the Protestant Interest.Dr. Stilling. Iren. p. 123. It cannot but be looked on as a token of Gods severe displeasure against us, if any tho unreasonable Proposals between us and the Papists, should meet with such entertainment among many, and yet any fair offers of union and accommodation among our selves be so coldly embraced and entertained.

In the late times, when our Parliaments struggled with Arbi­trary Power for the preservation of our Religion and Laws, tho' the noble Peers spoke never so good reason in matters of the greatest importance, yet two or three Bishops always voted a­gainst them. They were then called the dead weight. If it be said, that they were over-awed by Soveraign Command; it is not so now. The hinderers of our happiness (our present stick­lers for Ceremonies) have all the encouragement in the World from the King, Lords and Commons. The eyes of the people are upon us expecting that we should act like good Pastors, heal­ing the breaches and labouring in our stations to secure the pub­lick Peace. If we now disappoint the just expectations of wise and good men of all ranks, we may necessitate the Government to take other measures for the preservation of the Peace, and the satisfaction of an awakened people.

The good temper, wisdom, diligence, faithfulness and courage of Gods Servants have been useful to mankind. But a carnal Faction of Christians being hurried by a mad zeal for little things, have oppressed these benefactors, stained the glory of the Na­tion, beaten down the rents of lands, discouraged diligence, de­stroyed Trade, and brought the most illustrious Island in the World to a low state. Nothing can recover a languishing peo­ple,Corbet. Kingdom of God p. 123. but the reviving of true Piety. Wherever it roots and spreads, it makes no small part of the prudence, courage, in­dustry [Page 15]and frugality, and by consequence of the wealth and strength of a Nation. There is no aggregation of men in the World wherein appears more of that which is good and profi­table to men, than is found where the influence of this professi­on becomes predominant, whether in a Nation or Kingdom, or City, or Family.

The spirit of this profession being sober, solid and serious, is happy in disposing towards the attainment of much perfection in all profitable science,pag. 145, and especially toward that which is most excellent and useful in humane affairs, to wit, solid and deep judgment. In this respect the children of true Wisdom stand upon the vantage ground, &c.

The continuance of Ceremonies may nurse up a generation of Vipers to act over again the same cruelties, and to drive us back again into the miseries and confusions from which we are so late­ly delivered. If God for our sins should give us up into their hands, they will make sure work, and leave nothing to be done by those that come after them. A relapse in the state, is as dan­gerous as in the body natural.

III III. Mischief to Souls. For trifles there hath been exercis­ed a mad tyranny over mens faculties. The Persecutors would not suffer people to act like rational creatures: Tho in their consciences they doubt of the lawfulness of mens devices in the Worship of God, yet they used all means to force them to a Con­formity. It is the highest usurpation to rob men of the Liberty of their judgments.Dr. Stilling. Iren. page 118, 119. A man hath not power over his own, much less can others have it. If every private person must judge what is lawful, and what not, which is commanded (as when all is said, every man will be his own judge in this case, in things concerning his own welfare) then he is no further bound to obey than he judgeth the thing to be lawful which is com­manded.

What hindereth Governours from removing those things, which they own to be in their own nature Indifferent? Is not the peace of weak Consciences infinitely to be preferred before unnecessary Impositions? Blessed is he that considereth the Poor. Psal. 41.1. Surely much more blessed are they, that compassionately consider the burdens and oppressions of grieved souls. They that regard Conscience in themselves, will value the interests of Conscience [Page 16]in others. It is no commendation in Pastors to imitate the E­gyptian Task-masters, who made the lives of Gods people bitter through hard bondage; all the service wherein they made them serve was with rigour. Exod. 1.14. The Ministers of the Gospel of peace, should not be rigorous towards their people. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour, Lev. 25.43. but shalt fear thy God. By the Antithesis it appears, that where the fear of God is, there will not be in Pastors ri­gour and severity towards their flocks for small matters.

Christ will have us shew our love to him in feeding his Lambs; this must be done with fitting food: impositions are Briers and Thorns; our fierce Bigots would still teach their people, as Gi­deon did the men of Succoth, Judg. 8. with Briers and Thorns. This is much more easy to Loyterers than the drudgery of Preaching, which one called the Mechanical part of the Office of a Minister, say­ing, he would not much trouble himself with it. The neglect of this in many places, sheweth, that there are more of his mind. What a zeal is there in many for shadows? And how are pre­cious Souls carelesly left by them at random, when they thus despise and neglect the Preaching of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto Salvation?

The little things imposed are a means of depriving the Church of the service of many useful Ministers that are apt to teach, and would be glad to give the bread of life to those Souls, that are by drones left in the broad way to destruction. The making un­necessary terms of Ministerial service which Christ never injoin'd, is an Invasion of his Kingly Office. Some have been zealous for Prerogative when it was heavier than the loins of all the Kings since the conquest; but they make light of usurping the Rights of the King of Kings. Christ commands his Ministers to Preach, and qualifies them for that service: No, say some, they shall not Preach, except they will wear the surplice. He bids them bap­tize: No, they shall not, if they will not sign with the Cross. St. Paul saith, Woe is unto me if I Preach not the Gospel, and Christ saith, Feed my Lambs: no, it is no matter, if you will not do it upon terms, devised by us. The want of these excluded Pastors weakens the hands of those pious Ministers that do con­form. The crying necessities of Souls will find work enough for us and them too; if every one of us had the zeal and abilities of the Apostle Paul. The humane measures for Ministers may [Page 17]chance to admit some bad men into the Church; and is very likely to shut out abundance of able Pastors, whose Consciences doubt of the lawfulness of complying with terms not injoined by Christ.

Instead of keeping out burning and shining lights, we had need trim some of our own, that give but a faint light, if any at all. We have some unsavoury Salt,Mat. 5 13. it concerns us to remove it to its due place, and admit that which hath too long been kept out of doors, to the great disservice of God and the Church. If we will not see some disorders that are among us and reform them; the members of both Houses of Parliament see them in their se­veral Counties, and there is hope that they will find a remedy. In the mean time the people see them, and there is in them such a hunger after Gods Word, that in some dark neglected corners of the land, they go in great numbers to hear a Non-conformist, and are glad if he visit them once a month. But above all God sees what is amiss amongst us, and if we do not our duty, he will find a Besom to cleanse his house,Isa. 14.24. Mal. 2.9. and make them contemptible and base before all the People, that have been partial in his Law.

When I have pleaded with a Reverend Divine in the behalf of excluded Ministers, and endeavoured to represent to him some of the manifold mischiefs to Souls by our rigour in imposing un­necessary terms; I have been put off with an [...], Let all things be done decently. 1 Cor. 14.40. Will the violent wresting that Text in the de­fence of mens Inventions, cover the guilt of destroying innumer­able Souls, one of which is worth more than the whole World, and their ruine may be for want of the labours of those able Mi­nisters whom we exclude for toys? Is the blood of Christ and of Souls so vile, as to be set to Sale for Stubble and Straw? These things would be most contemptible, if we had the same value for Souls that Christ had, when he counted the whole World too light to be put in the ballance against one Soul,Mar. 8.36. and when he laid down his life to redeem us from the wrath to come. We may by our rigidness drive many from our Communion into the dark Sectarian paths, in which they may perish: but how shall we re­pair the mischief that we have done? Tho we pour from our Eyes Rivers of Tears, or from our Veins Seas of Blood, we can never recover one lost soul. The redemption of their Soul is precious, Psal. 49.8. and it ceaseth for ever.

IV. Mischief's to Piety. The most learned Divines and the wisest States-men in the World are but bunglers when they take upon them to add unto Gods Worship what he hath not appointed. Human Institutions are but like clouts with which Chips are drest up into Babies for Children to play with. With these inventions Heathens and Atheists are habited like Christians for the service of the Devil, to corrupt and destroy true Christianity. The World hath a long time groaned under them, it is high time for people to be Wise. Mankind hath for many Ages been possest and tormented with a furious Spirit, the Devil of Imposition, it will never be well till this Spirit is cast out. Piety may now as well live and flourish without our ceremonies, as it did mount without them above Idolatry, and conquered the World. It may be raised unto a new life from its decay, caused by a long and heavy oppression under a load of humane Inventions. True Piety hath been hid in Corners; remove stumbling-blocks, and it will come forth and appear in publick with all its beauty and glory.Dr. Stilling. Iren. Pag. 121. Allowing a liberty for matters of Indifferency, and bearing with the weak who cannot bear things which others account law­ful, we might indeed be restored to a primitive lustre far sooner, than by furbishing up some antiquated Ceremonies, which can derive their Pedegree no higher, than from some ancient Custom and Tradition.

Ceremonies in Worship corrupt peoples minds with vanity, make them light and trifling in the weighty concerns of God and their Souls. Pomp and Train of Ceremonies retained, will be apt to take up the heart of such as are busied in them,Corbets Kingdom of God. Pag. 103. and cor­rupt the worship of God, and make it a dead work and carnal service, and so the Spirit and Power of Godliness will decay and die amongst people by this means. Many think they have done much if they have exactly conformed to Rites and Ceremonies. Such are apt to forget the awe and dread they should have in the Worship of the Divine Majesty. They are so careful of outward Postures and Habits, that they mind not the bringing of their Souls unto God, in whose service all the faculties should be en­gaged. What are all the inventions of men to our converse with an infinite glorious Spirit? We cannot approach unto him but with our Spirits. The use of Ceremonies tends to the oppression of the life and power of Christianity. They are like painted win­dows, [Page 19]which may make a gaudy shew, but they much lessen the light; or like Garments clog'd with Snow or Ice, they may load a man, but not warm him. The use of them wasts sincere Piety. The pressing of them is the cramming of Christians with Stubble and Straw, and will sooner choke than nourish true Piety and Charity. They when multiplyed, strangely eat out the Heart, Heat, Life and Vigour of Christianity. The carnal part of the world is easily engaged for them against holiness,Dr. Scilling, Iren. Pag. 67. and to such a degree, that serious Piety hath been scorned and scoffed at, not only by the Mobile, but by higher ranks, not excepting the Tribe in the long robe, when engaged to be Advocates for Impositions; witness Samuel Oxons Books of Ecclesiast. Pol. and of Loyalty. The use of Ceremonies hath so blinded men that multitudes have been inraged with a mad spirit against the life of Religion. There hath been for a long time amongst us, a bitter hatred of serious Christians that endeavoured to be pure in heart; such have been reproached with the name of Puritans.Mat. 5.8. Piety hath been scorned, vilified and persecuted under the notion of Purita­nism.

There is no doubt but this Church (tho its Government and constitution be so pure,Mr. Bolde's Sermon a­gainst Perse­cution. Pag. 14.15. Justifiable and consonant to Apostoli­cal Practice) would suffer very much, should but the almost Ordinary Miscarriages of a great number who pretend to the Clergy be exposed to Publick View with an account of the en­couragement they meet with, or at least how free they are from Threats and Molestations; while others who live better Lives, and are more constant and diligent Preachers, and do express on all occasions more of that charity and forbearance towards all men which Christianity doth so much commend and enforce, are frowned upon, and left open to the rage and fury of besotted, frantick and debauched Bigots.

With such as these if any man press for Regeneration,Dr. Wallis Sermons to the Ʋniver­sity on John 3.3. pag. 41. Sancti­fication and a Holy Life, he was to pass heretofore for a Puritan; then, for a Round-head; now, for a damn'd Fanatick: Nor shall he escape this censure, tho never so great a Church-man, and do exactly conform to the Church, as now by Law esta­blished; For 'tis Holiness they hate more than Nonconformi­ty.

The rage and cruelty of our furious Bigots, was lately grown bigger and taller than ever; they had quite trampled under foot the Dissenters, and began a wild Cariere against Piety and Sobri­ety in their own Body; they spared neither Nobles, nor Gentle­men, nor Clergy: all good men in their communion had been ground to powder, if the ascent of the late King to the Throne, had not put a stop to their madness. The Church may be impro­ved in Piety by that storm, but it is no thanks to those furious de­bauchees. When God lets loose evil men upon his Flock, it is not to gratifie their ravenous lust, but to make his sheep love his fold, and keep to the pastures which he appoints them. Persecu­tors are Gods scullions to scour his vessels of Honour for the Kingdom of Glory.

The removal of Ceremonies will take away the vizour with which Formalists, Hypocrites, Wicked and Prophane men do cover themselves. When Religion is stript of these things, and nothing injoyned but what is plainly commanded by God, they only will be counted Pious who live according to the Doctrine of the Gospel: Drunkards, Swearers, Whoremongers and such like will be known to be what they are, a meer herd of Bruits. The aim of Pastors (it is hoped) will then be to promote a spiri­tual worship; that in all the duties of piety the hearts of the peo­ple may be engaged. The souls sincere return and resignation to God in every service is the top-stone of holiness. God being a Spirit, we cannot converse with him but by our Spirits. To worship God in the spirit &c. as it is most agreeable to the nature of the Divine Majesty,Corbet's Kingdom of God, Pag. 21. which is worshipped, and best fitted to glorifie him as God indeed; so it is also most efficacious to make the worshippers more knowing in Religion, more holy and hea­venly in Spirit and Conversation, and every way more perfect in things pertaining to life and Godliness.

Ministers will have something else to do than to preach against Non-conformists: we may expect that their great design will then be to endeavour to promote the Glory of God, to convince men of a future state, to advance holiness, sobriety, peace and useful diligence in the world. These things will come home to the faculties of considering men, and they will think that their Teachers are in good earnest, when they are Zealous for things wherein the interest of their own souls is concerned.

Bishop Patrick gives excellent advice to Minssters in two Par­ticulars.Divine A­rithmetick pag. 72. 73. I. Let us be much in private prayer. Our time is short as well as other mens, and many times shorter, though our account be greater; therefore let us spend much time with God, as we endeavour to spend it all for him. Let not a croud of thoughts in our Studies, nor a croud of company, thrust God away from our Souls, but let them frequently retire unto him as the fountain of all light and good. Prayer before our studies is the Key to unlock the secrets of God, and prayer afterward is the turning of the Key to lock them safe into our hearts. Prayer sharpens our appetite after truth; and when we have found it, it sets an edge upon the truth, and makes it more cutting and penetrating into the heart. II Let us look to our ends in our work. Without this our labour would be in vain. Let us believe our selves what we speak, and then we should mind the Glory of God, and not our selves. Alas! what is the ap­plause of men when we are gone, but like a sound in a dead mans ear? And what is it when we are alive, but an empty breath that is lost sooner than got, and is got oftentimes by idleness sooner than taking pains? &c. Let the good of men therefore, and the Glory of God be the mark at which we aim: And the Lord in Heaven hear our Prayers, and bless our Preaching. If all our Clergy by what Titles or Dignities soever distinguished did truly follow this advice, there would be no Zealots among us for Impositions, the destroyers of Piety and Charity.

V V. Mischiefs in promoting a mighty increase of prophaneness and all kind of wickedness. The Zealots for mens devices have little regarded what evils corrupted Church and State, if the honour of these toys was supported. They have been so mindful of main­taining these things, that by their neglect they have suffered (if not worse) a flood of prophaneness and other wickedness to break in upon us.

I I. Prophaneness in the outragious contempt of holy things There is scarce any thing in Religion that hath escaped the scorn and reproach of blind Zealots: The Ordinance of Preaching, the Lords day, the Scripture, our Holy Religion, and Jesus Christ himself; all have been struck at.

The Ordinance of Preaching. The constant, serious, dili­gent performing of this, would spread knowledge amongst the [Page 22]people to the prejudice of human Impositions in Divine Worship. They would see what light things they are in the service of God. Preaching hath therefore been struck at under pretence of pro­moting Prayer as the chief work of a Minister. Dr. Holdsworth takes notice of it, and on the contrary maintains at large this Thesis: Prae dicatio verbi Dei opus est & ordine primum, & maxi­me proprium, Praelect. Theolog. in Mat. 13.52. Lect. 3. pag. 19. & longe praecipuum, inter omnia Curae Pastoralis exercitia; ad quod sua studia & animum, & se totum, & imprimis, & maximè, & saepissimè appellere debeat &c. Yet some have been so fierce a­gainst preaching Gods Word, that Lectures have been diligently suppressed. Prayers have been much advanced above Preaching as that which might be spared if the others were read. Let us hear another Dr. concerning this abuse, and the Practice of the Church in the primitive times:Dr. Stilling. Iren. pag. 333. Men that were imployed in the Church then, did not consult for their Ease or Honour, and thought it not enough for them to sit still and bid others work, but they were of Pauls mind, necessity was laid upon them, yea, wo was unto them if they Preached not the Gospel. 1 Cor. 9.16, Publick Prayers were not then looked on as the more Principal end of Christian As­semblies than Preaching &c. Were the Apostles Commissio­ned by Christ to go Pray, or Preach? and what is it wherein the Ministers of the Gospel succeed the Apostles? Is it in the office of Praying, or Preaching? &c. Are Ministers in their Ordination sent forth to be readers of Publick Prayers, or to be dispen­sers of Gods Holy Word,pag. 334. &c. This is one of the unhappy con­sequences which follows mens judging of the service of God, ra­ther by the Practices of the Church, when it came to enjoy ease and plenty, than by the ways and Practices of the first and purest Apostolical times, &c. People need as much instruction as ever, and so much the more in that they are apt to think now the name of Christians will carry them to Heaven, &c. Men must be beat off from more things which they are apt to trust to for Salvation now, than in those times: men could not think so much then, that diligence in Publick Assemblies, and attendance at Publick Prayers, was the main Religion. Few would pro­fess Christianity in those times, but such as were resolved be­forehand rather to let go their lives than their Profession: but the more Profess it now, without understanding the terms of Salvation by it;pag. 335. the greater necessity of Preaching to instruct men in it.

The Lords day hath met with many and great Enemies among the Ritualists. This is a gracious injunction and gift of infinite Wisdom and Goodness, necessary for us to rescue our Souls from Levity of mind, carnal affections and worldly cares, and to feed, nourish and strengthen them with Spiritual Meditations and Hea­venly Joys. They that seriously endeavour to converse with God and their own Souls, know the truth hereof: But Formalists are ignorant of the Divine life, to them the Sabbath is a burden,Amo. 8.5. they say, When will it be gone? Pleading some years since with a grave Ceremonious Don of our Church for the sanctifying of the Lords day, by spending it in Religious exercises, he was so far from un­derstanding me, that his return was, Shall a man be a whole day on the rack? Such a mystery is the Spiritual life to a man that spends his Zeal on Rites and Ceremonies. To ease such animal men from the rack, a book for sports on the Lords day was in­joined Ministers to read in the time of Divine Service. Here we may wonder at the Fantastical humour of a sort of men, they persecuted the people for working in their lawful callings on the Festival days; and silenced conscientious Ministers for not read­ing a book for sports on Gods Day. It was pretended in that sportful book, that the superstitious observation of the Lords day, did render his Majesties Subjects unfit for his Service in the Wars. But what kind of Fighters those sportmongers on Gods day were, the event shewed not long after.Jer. 44.21. Did not the Lord re­member them, and came it not into his mind? The Lords day duly observed is a mighty instrument for the promoting the Life of Godliness in the Souls of Christians. The serious observation of this begets in people another Spirit than is in Christians of other Reformed Churches. They are much more above the carnal World, than most of them, and than any that slight that day in our own.

The Scripture hath its share of contempt from Ceremonialists; of the truth hereof the Impositions of Rome are a full proof. We need not go so far: For other Imposers are guilty of the same in a lower degree, while they injoyn on: Ministers and People terms of Communion not warranted by the Word of God. And this is the worse, because when Scripture is urged, foolish preciseness and impertinency hath been charged on them, that have pleaded against such unscriptural Impositions.

Our holy Religion hath been mightily exposed to the scorn of evil men, when they see pretenders to it spend all their zeal on little things. Force and Rigorous Impositions, make men suspect the weight of the thing it self,Dr. Stilling. Iren. Pref. pag. 11. when such force is used to make it enter. When people are very earnest for trifles, as if the whole weight of Religion depended on them, some may be tempted to suspect that all is but a cheat, a trick of cunning Churchmen to form people to serve their purposes; especially, when one that hath written books for Conformity shall say, that is the best Body of Divinity, that enables a man to keep a Coach and six Horses.

Our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who hath suffered so much for sinners, suffers again by the mockery of Ceremonies without the heart. All the pomp of them is to him a Crown of Thorns, if persecutors for them wound the weak consciences of his members. One may conform to the use of the transient sign of the Cross, and Scoff at the knowledge of Christ; a book so called,Parker of Religion and Loyalty Par. I. Pag. 28, 29. Lon. 1684. ridicules the Title it bears. Another is much more bold, takes upon him to dethrone the King of Kings, and set him at the footstool of Crowned dust. It is but a crude expression (not to call it prophane, because it is so common by customary mistake) to affirm that Kings are Supream Governours under Christ. They are and ever were so under God, but so as to be Superi­our to Christ, as Christ is head of his Church within their Do­minions.

II II. Mischiefs in promoting an increase of all kind of wicked­ness. The most immoral men, if they did pretend zeal for Cere­monies and were furious against Dissenters, did pass for good Christians, and true sons of the Church. This false measure hath hardened abundance in their evil ways, mightily cherished and increased vice in the Land. Conformity to Ceremonies hath been a Cloak that hath covered the most filthy abominations. The con­tinuance of them in the Worship of God will be a gratification of the worst Christians, and a grief to the best. A Ceremonious service is apt to corrupt people with sensuality: It is easy to the flesh, not crossing any of its interests. Holiness requires the sub­jection of the thoughts and imaginations of the heart unto Christ, that we should be pure in thought, word and deed. But a cere­monial worship is only a bodily exercise, which tho it profiteth [Page 25]little (as the Apostle saith) yet it serves to silence natural consci­ence, and to represent men to imposing Governours as good mem­bers of the Church. This is all that sensual men look for, and if they obtain this, they let loose the reins to all excess of riot. How much did sensuality increase, when it was connived at (if not incouraged) and tender conscience, as the only bug-bear, was e­very where hunted with a full cry? People are regardless of the power of Christianity, when they find that their Superiors are contented with a conformity to the externals of it. The most vicious people cry, The Temple of the Lord, the Church of England, to cover their Immoralities. Away then with these mighty Engines of mischief: Let us all chiefly mind and pursue those things which tend most to the promoting the work of Regeneration in the world. If this course be taken, Hypo­crites will lose their advantages of seeming religious by zeal for those things wherein Religion doth not consist,Corbets Kingdom of God, Pa. 74. and carnal designs and interests that now rend the Churches, and trouble all things, would be defeated and abandoned. Of all things that should most be regarded which qualifieth for heaven;Mat. 5.8. that is holiness.

Without it there is no entring into that glorious Kingdom.Eph. 5.5. Heb. 12.14. Ho­liness not only prepares for eternal life, but is greatly advantagi­ous to the Church in this World. Wheresoever it is, it invigo­rates others of this fellowship that are near it,Ibid. Page 130. and it commands awe and reverence from all-men.

VI VI. Hindring a world of good. It cannot be proved that Cere­monies in Worship ever did any good. The instances abovemen­tioned fully prove that they have been very Mischievous; and there is this to provoke all good Christians to desire the casting them away, they hinder a world of good. They hinder Reforma­tion, Love and Communion of Churches.

I I. They hinder reformation. The Quarrels occasioned by them hinder the Progress of the Reformed Religion. Bishop Burnet in relation to England chargeth this upon the long and fierce con­tests among us about things which we all confess are indifferent in their own nature.Exhortati [...]n to Peace and Ʋnion, Pag. 13. There may yet be expected a further re­formation of Churches to a higher degree of purity to the ad­vancement of the power of Godliness. In the Reformation in the last Century the Pope was driven hence in such haste that he left [Page 26]some of his toys behind him. These have continued too long a­mongst us, to the great disturbance of the Church, and oppression of serious Piety. God by the late advances of Popery among us, hath shewed us what it is, that both it, and all things that belong to it may be abhorred by us, and rejected with indignation. He herein deals with us as he did with the Israelites;Mic. 4.10. Thou shalt go even to Babylon, there shalt thou be delivered. They were delivered from Babylon the most potent Tyranny on Earth in those times, and they were purged from Idolatry in Babylon, the Fountain and Nursery of Idolatry then in the World. For they never revolted again to Images after their return from Captivity. But they were afterward guilty of our error, doting on humane Impositions, they set up Traditions by which they made void the Commandments of God. In the first Reformation we were cleansed from Idola­try, in the next I hope we shall go a step further. The case of the Jews and Babylon may have a resemblance to the Church and Spiritual Babylon now. The Church is prevailing, tho she lately seemed to languish. Her struglings under the renewed assaults of Antichrist tend to her higher advancement. We have been in such danger of destruction by Popery and Arbitrary Power, that our ruine seemed unavoidable. God hath wonderfully rescued us from all the Plagues that seemed to hang over our heads: We should therefore cast off all those things, that by wounding weak consciences may have provoked him to set darkness in our paths, and by dividing us did help to bind us as slaves under the most cruel Tyranny. God may intend this reformation among us, by the glorious revolution he hath wrought, by our Gracious So­veraign, by which the tide of the last persecution from Antichrist seems to be turned, and the Church to be upon the rising ground. Let us then retain nothing that may hinder the good work of God among us. That persecution (saith the Learned Mr. Charnock) which,Vol. 2. on Psal. 87.5. Pag. 27. I suppose, remains yet to be acted, and which will be the smartest, shall be succeeded by the clearest eruption of Gospel­light, wherein the Gospel shall recover its Ancient and Primi­tive Glory. If he doth suffer enemies to prevail, they shall be but as whisks to brush off the dust,Ibid. on Exo. 15.9, 10. P. 52. Ibid. on Psa. 87.5. P. 39. wisps of Straw to cleanse the filthy pot. Before the Philadelphian State (which it is likely we are not far from) there will be a combat wherein the Church is to bear a signal Testimony to the truths of Christ in the way of a [Page 27]conflict, Rev. 3.5. The glorious State of the Church at the re­surrection of the witnesses, shall be preceded by such a calami­ty as shall be the terrour of the Godly, and the triumph of an enemy devoted to a sudden and unexpected destruction, Rev. 11.9, 10, 11, 12.

His going forth is prepared as the morning, Hos. 6.3.Vol. 2. [...] Psal. 87.5. Pag. 31. His appea­rance for and in his Church, is as certain as the dawning of the morning light at the appointed hour: All the Clouds which threaten a perpetual night, cannot hinder it, all the workers of darkness cannot prevent it; this morning will dawn whether they will or no. There shall be a perpetuity in this Spiritual State;Ib. Pag. 40. only between the beginning and compleating it, Satan shall be let loose: but for a little season, Rev. 20.3. And after this the Church shall not have one blow more from Hell; but the Devil must for ever give over nibbling at her heel.

Let us not fight against God. Act. 23.9. All dividing terms of Communion or of the exercise of the Ministry, are the things to be removed in order to a more perfect reformation of the Church, and to make way for a more holy and blessed State of Piety and Love, which may be at hand, if by our perverseness we do not put away this happiness from us. God is doing this work in the world; it shall go on, tho we perish by our foolish obstinacy.5.39. If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. All wise and good men amongst the Clergy and People, desire the taking away the instruments of our confusions. None at this time can have a zeal for these things, except such, who either know not how to appear religious without a dress of trifles, or they have such a secret reserve for the late Kings Interest, that they had rather have an Army of French Dragoons, Irish Cut-throats and barbarous Highlanders, in the bowels of this Kingdom, than see us strengthened by an Universal affection to our gracious Soveraign, and United in Love and Charity one towards ano­ther.

Ceremonies have been the Clokes of Impiety and Milicious­ness: If these are continued it will be exceeding difficult to purge out vice, which will shelter it self under them. People are prone to be fond of their own Idols, there will be more regard had for conformity to them, than care of reformation. Tho our Pious Fathers are never so zealous against sin, the Under-Officers will [Page 28]indulge the Sons of Eli. Bold. Plea for moderati­on, Pag. 41. A Register, when told that a person presented was one of us, he will swear and be drunk as well as the best of us; called the Church-Warden, and chid him very sharply, telling him he was a most impudent and villa­nous rake-hell, in that he durst adventure to present so worthy a Gentleman as that was. We are all apt to look on the faults of our own party with a favourable eye. Debauchery came in with Ceremonies, we shall be happy if they fall together. Righteous­ness exalteth á Nation, but sin is a reproach to any people, Prov. 14.34.

II II. They hinder love among the people, and between the peo­ple and their Ministers.

I I. Love amongst the people is mightily hindred by the divisi­ons and animosities caused by human Impositions. If we look back on our miserable confusions, and well consider how far our divisions contributed toward the bringing us into them, we shall find that these Roman Nettles have not been less mischievous to us, than the fiery Serpents were to the Israelites in the wil­derness. They were the Rod of God, and directed them to the Brazen Serpent, a Type of him who was to be the healer of the Nations. Our Bigots are for continuing these tormentors amongst us, but provide nothing to heal the wounds they make; they will not (as one said) part with a rag to bind up the bleeding wounds of the Church. The Sons of Zerviah cry, The Church of England, the Church of England, and do most endanger it by la­bouring the preservation of these tools of dissention, hindring our joining together in the Service of God with one heart and one Soul, and uniting to defend the King and Kingdom against the common Enemy. Love is the bond of perfection, and would make us mighty against all that hate us, if these Incendiaries did not raise jealousies of the Churches danger, it may be with a design to maintain a faction among us to make an after-game for the late King.

If we review the method taken, the design of and the use that hath been made of the re-establishment of Ceremonies, we shall plainly see the wild fire that is in the present zeal of our hot-spurs. Soon after the Restauration, the enemies of Piety, and Vertue resolved to continue the division between the two most potent Interests of the Protestants in England; to further this a sham-plot was cast upon the Presbyterians in several Counties; this was [Page 29]so improved in Parliament that Penal Laws were easily obtained to inslave and destroy the Dissenters. And when those Laws did not sufficiently purge Pious Ministers out of the Church, Clifford (a Papist) moved that they might be stab'd with an Oath, which ran like Wild fire amongst the Pensioners, and so the renunciati­on of the Covenant was enacted into a Law, which turned out some that in their Judgments were for a Liturgy and Episcopal Government. The gaining of this point was of so great impor­tance to the designs of the Popish Cabal, that the Parliaments could never obtain the removing of our differences by a Legal Indulgence. When the Parliament voted that the prosecution of Dissenters was a grievance, and dangerous to the Kingdom, they were sent home to hear a Libel read against them in the Churches and the fire of persecution raged more than ever. The Court would never part with these bombs that were made to Sacrifice both parties to the rage of the Popish Conspirators. First, The Dissenters were worried and wasted by the most violent Persecu­tions, inflamed by the secret enemies of Religion, and promoted by debauched and perjured Informers. Then in the Church, the most Pious and Sober members of it were prosecuted as disaf­fected to the Government. The conspirators who were against a Legal indulgence, could afford an Indulgence against Law, and that was never thought of, but when the Protestant Interest was to pay very dear for it. There were but two Declarations of In­dulgence: One, when the Dutch were to be rob'd of a vast trea­sure in their Smyrna Fleet, and a War to be made for the de­struction of the Protestant States of Holland; the other was de­signed to choak the whole body of the Church of England Cler­gy, who for not reading it in their Churches were to be Sacrificed to Moloch by Jefferies and his brethren of the Inquisition. Our Bigots must have gone to pot with the rest if God had not inspired our Gracious Soveraign to expose himself between us and danger, and yet some of these men do murmur at the happiness they en­joy by his goodness and courage.

Now, if after we have been all thus well bang'd by these tools some will have them, and they must not be abolish't; pray let them be left indifferent; Let him that would have a May­pole, have one; and he that would have none, let him not be obliged to play with a post, a post that hath almost beaten out his brains.

Love can never flourish in the Church, if Impositions the mat­ter of contention and divisions in it are continued. The heart­burnings and Schisms caused by them, are chargeable upon the imposers, who will not suffer Christians to enjoy the Ordinances upon the terms appointed by our Lord. Ecclesiastical Superiors are as much concerned to take heed of Schismatical Impositions,Corbet, Kingdom of God. Pag. 73. as the people are to shun Schismatical recusancy and disobedience.

II II. They hinder love between Ministers and the People. They beget a dislike in the Ministers of their Parishioners when they leave the publick Worship, and this dislike grows to such a strange­ness towards their Neighbours, that they lose many opportuni­ties of doing them good, which they might do by a free and gen­tle correspondence with them. They make the People to despise us when they see us to be fond of things which they know to be trifles. And how can they love us when they have no value for us? We live in a knowing age, people see the vanity of those things on which some among us place all their zeal, they know that by the divisions caused by them all our miseries and dangers were let in upon us; and if we still stickle for them they will ab­hor us, believing that we do not care if we bring them back a­gain into all those calamitous confusions, from which we are so lately delivered. Let us not deceive our selves; the interest of the Clergy of England doth not depend on the continuance of Ce­remonies, we shall gain much more upon the People by casting them away. They value us only for Piety, Sobriety and Diligence; and where there are such as the Prophet describes, they flock to the Assemblies of Dissenters:Isa. 56, 10, 11, 12. they value not their Conformity if they are Drones, or do not Preach seriously and profitably.

Is it worth the while to continue the things that have driven multitudes from our Communion, and deprived us of many advantages of being useful for the good of their Souls? Let us lay aside all stumbling blocks, and labour to the utmost of our power to promote sound knowledge in all our several Stations; this will engage and fix the love of the People on us. When the publick order throughly promotes the means of sound know­ledge,Corbet, Kingdom of God. Pag. 164. and encourageth real Godliness, it satisfies the minds of them who justly expect in a Gospel Church and Ministry more than an outward Form, even the manifestation of Truth and Spiritual Light, Life and Power; and it prevents their wandring [Page 31] to seek after it in the devious paths of Sectaries.

III III. They hinder Communion of Churches. We have stood at too great a distance from other Reformed Churches. Zeal for little things wherein we differ from them, hath made us too lit­tle to consider and value their Interests, and hath been a hin­drance of the most desireable and advantageous correspondence with them, for the advancement of the Gospel in the World. When by the great deliverance from all the badges of our former slavery under Antichrist, we are freed from all unnecessary terms of Communion, all the Churches of Christ will be at liberty to consult the common Interest of Reformed Christianity for the welfare of the Mystical Body of our Lord. The several distem­pers of particular Churches may have applications, fit for them according to the advice of other Churches, which will be more impartial in their counsel, than persons at home; and such advice is sometimes better received.

Thus I have mustered six Regiments of mischiefs from our Ce­remonies; many more might be drawn forth; but I think here is enough to give us a warm alarm, if we are not so far blinded as not to see the true Interest of Christianity, and of Souls; and laid in such a deep sleep of carnal security, that nothing, will awaken us.

Let me turn from the warm men to the Pious and Learned Pastors of the Church.

O my Reverend Fathers, and Brethren, The Chariots of Israel, and the Horsemen thereof; 2 Kings 2.12. it depends much on your pious Coun­sels to calm the storms that rage in some mens minds, to heal our breaches, and by a Union of all good Protestants to make us a terror to our Enemies. Let me speak unto you in the words that Nehemiah put up unto God: Let not all the trouble seem little that hath come upon us, on our Kings, on our Princes, and on our Priests, Neh. 9.32. and on our Prophets, and on our Fathers, and on all the People of this Monarchy, since a furious Persecution begun for Ceremonies, set all the three Kingdoms in a flame, watered the Fields with Blood, laid many Families and Houses in ruine, and ended in the Tragi­cal death of Charles the first.

The return of these instruments of mischief with Charles the second, set on foot another Persecution which provoked God to fling us into the hands of a Popish Prince, who brought us so near [Page 32]to destruction, that we were as a Sacrifice bound on the Altar, ready for the fatal stroke; and as the Apostle said of his danger in a tempest, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But God,Acts 27.20. (whose Infinite Wisdom is never at a loss to find a way of redemption in the greatest extremity, and whose arm is never shortned that it ca [...]not save) appeared for us when all help failed, he raised up the righteous man from the East, drove away our Enemies before him,Isa. 41.2. as Dust and Stubble is driven away by a Whirl-wind. We for what we brought upon our selves, by our Zeal for little things, may be said to have sold our selves for nought, 52.3. yet God Redeemed us without Money: Our rescue from a Wilderness of Confusion, and from the House of Bondage, did not put us to the hundredth part of the charge that our controver­ted Ceremonies have cost us.Ezra. 9.13, 14. And now, after all that is come up­on us for our rigour towards tender Consciences, seeing God hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hath given us such de­liverance as this: should we again break his Commandments, and put any stumbling-block or occasion to fall in our brothers way? Rom. 14.13. Would not he be angry with us till he hath consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? God who for us Commanded deliverance from the East; can give long wings to destruction from the West, that it shall overtake us suddenly when we think least of it. May not judgments hang over our heads, for the murmurings of some amongst us, and the coldness of others towards the healing propo­sals of Peace among Protestants? Is not Ireland all on fire? Are there not Enemies armed in Scotland? And tho they are now in­considerable, may not God for our Sins increase their Power, and let them into England, to turn the point of his avenging Sword against our doors? He needs not winds to transport Executioners of his wrath, nor long Marches of Forces to bring Destruction upon us, he can raise up Enemies from among our selves, that shall do his strange work effectually. If we consider our want of bowels of compassion towards Souls driven from our Communion by Impositions, we have reason to wonder at the mercy of God in restraining the secret rage of all men round about us, that they do not in a furious fit cut us in pieces. What a tempestuous, unruly Sea is the wickedness of all mankind, and what a mighty power is it which binds up the rage of so many Devils in flesh?Eph. 2.2. The Devil worketh in the Children of Disobedience. [Page 33]All men would be such Children if Divine Grace did not make the difference: if it were not for some Principles in the Conscience, and external impediments, all Nations would be mad. The whole Body of mankind is a great Regiment of French Dragoons. France in its present desolations is a Paradise to what it would be, if God did not restrain the remainder of wrath. Psa. 70.10. Instead of devouring Gods Lambs only, they would be Lions and Tygers to one another, filling that Country with Blood and Carcases. And that Kingdom in such confusions would be a Picture of what the whole World would be, if wickedness were every where let loose. The Massacres and Cruelties of any age or place are not to be thought strange: but it is a wonder that all times are not sanguinary, and that all Countreys are not fill'd with Garments rouled in Blood. Dare we be hard towards our Brethren in a World full of furies, that can only be restrained by the Power of God, whom we provoke by offending the weak? The nearer we are to him in profession, the more dreadful will his wrath be upon us for our Sins. How did his anger burn against Israel? He did let loose Wild Beasts of Prey to Worry his peculiar People, and to devour the Chil­dren of his Friend, suffered the Wild Boar to wasie the Vineyard which his right hand had planted. Psalm 80.13, 14, 15. Amos 3.2. Judgment is swift and heavy up­on the Sinners in Sion. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. He is more severe towards his own People for sin, than others that know him not. When he visits the World with his Judgments the first strokes fall upon his Church. The Cup of his fury that was to go round all Nations, began at Jerusalem. Jer. 25.15, &c. We who serve in the Sanctuary are more in danger of Plagues for our Male-admi­nistration, than other men that are more remote. The men with slaughter-weapons in their hands were Commanded to be­gin at the Sanctuary. God can provide slaughter-men and slaughter-weapons for us, if we will not be merciful to Consci­ence. He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy. Jam. 2.13. 1 Per. 4 17. Ps. 79.2, 3 The time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God. How terrible hath this been in former times? The dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat to the Fouls of the Heaven, the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem.

If we would avoid all the Plagues that attend Oppressors and [Page 34]Persecutors of Conscience, we must cast away all Impositions, and give the best incouragement to them who labour most to maintain the power of Godliness in themselves and others. Those who agree with us in all the Substantials of Religion, and add no dangerous or destructive Tenet to these,Bolde of Persecutior, Pag. 20. who are holy, sober chaste temperate, righteous, compassionate and merciful, and who no way endeavour to disturb the publick Peace, but are vigorous Protestants, and resolute opposers of the common ene­mies of our Religion, and Civil Rights, they ought (especial­ly considering our present circumstances) to be so far from be­ing Persecuted and Oppressed, as to have all the incouragement and countenance that pious Christians, and Loyal Subjects can claim and deserve. If you thus support Piety, and relieve ten­der Consciences, you shall be blessed and honoured, and your flocks shall flourish under your conduct: Clergy and People shall be an ornament and strength one to another. If you undo the hea­vy burdens, Isa. 58.6. and let the oppressed (grieved Consciences) go free, and break every yoke of needless Impositions: Then shall your light break forth as the morning, 8 11.12. and the glory of the Lord shall be your rere-ward. He shall guide you continually, and satisfie your Souls. And you shall be called the repairers of the breach, and restorers of paths to dwell in.

When you chiefly mind the Glory of God and the good of souls, all your enemies shall fall into contempt, and God shall bring forth your Righteousness as the light, Psa. 37.6. notwithstanding all the obloquy cast upon you by evil men. Your Enemies shall be like chaff driven away. They are but like the small Particles of dust which continually beat upon us, and are not felt nor discerned but in the Sun beams. Millions of these are continually agitated about us by the Air in motion; The most enraged Enemies of our Church are but breathing dust moved by the breath of Life, which is but a vapour. Jan. 4.14. The whole rabble of Antichristian furies now in combination against us in England, Scotland and Ireland, are but Gods Prisoners in Chains; if he suffer them to rattle their fetters about the ears of the faithful, yet they shall never be able wholly to destroy them: The gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church. Ma. 16.18. The head of the Church, is the Judge of the World, he will not suffer his Jail-birds to triumph over his Body.

I have done with the fourth consideration, the manifold mis­chiefs [Page 35]of these Impositions. I have been long wading through them; but the grief of innumerable tender consciences under the weight of them, hath been longer and very deplorable. Length here cannot be avoided: these little things have caused so many mischiefs, that it is very difficult to speak little of them. I shall now proceed to the last consideration and conclude.

V V. The danger that threatens us in the continuance of Ceremo­nies in the Worship of God. It is hoped that they who do not seriously consider the distress of others, may be awakened with the black prospect of their own danger. We are threatned with a double danger, present and future.

I. Our present danger. This may be set forth in three Parti­culars.

I. The continuance of these things will bring upon us the con­tempt and hatred of the People. Multitudes in City and Coun­trey have a Prejudice against us for the late miscarriages of some, and the unseasonable stiffness of others for the things that divide and weaken us, when it concerns us all to be united as one man against the common Enemy. If this temper should prevail, we shall be abhorred by all men, for exposing the publick happiness to the danger of Ruin, only for things of no value, and which we acknowledge to be in their own nature Indifferent.Bolde. Plea for Modera­tion, Pag. 5. It is high high time to leave off insisting on little Punctilio's of Honour; we ought duly to weigh our circumstances, and the nature of the things we contend about, and if our dangers be unmeasurably great, and the things we differ about such as will not bear so great a weight, as the loss of our Religion and all our Rights, we must yield something on either side, and that side must be willing to part with most, that can do it with greatest ease, and most innocence. The Dissenters doubt of the Lawfulness of some of our terms of Communion, and therefore cannot yield to us; but we may with ease and innocence condescend to them in qui­ting Impositions not appointed by God.

Small differences must give place to the greater Points,Bishop Bur­nets Exhor­tation to Peace and Ʋnion, Pag. 11. in which we are at one; for all that act otherwise shew clear­ly, that tho they do not think it decent to speak out what they think, yet in their hearts they undervalue the Common Interest of the Protestant Religion in which we agree; but set a real va­lue upon indifferent matters, and are acted by the heats and a­nimosities [Page 36] of a Party, to which all other things give place.

Our Brethren have according to the Act of Indulgence subscri­bed our Doctrine, and thereby are incorporated into the Church of England. The People see by this, that they agree with us in the Substantials of our Religion, and they may account us guilty of Peev ishness and Malice if we continue those little things as terms of Communion which we know they cannot comply with. And to do this after our acknowledgements in distress, and a promise of coming to a due temper may make them abhor us as Enemies to our Countrey. Tho some of our make-bats, who do whol­ly imploy their Talents to widen our differences,Bolde Plea for Modera­tion. pag. 6. do pretend to the Church of England, I am verily perswaded they are either Real Papists, or very mischievous Instruments in Popish hands, to effect and bring about the common Ruin of Protestants. It cannot be with a good design, that at this time of day, they are Zealous for things that they know will continue a great division amongst us. It is not to be doubted, but that the crossness and se­cret Practices of some Clergy-men and Priest-ridden Gentlemen: have obstructed affairs in Parliament, hindred the relief of Derry to the loss of many Thousand Gallant men: Ireland had been in a fair way of recovery, and the Rebellion in Scotland had not come to such a head but for such tools. Some of our Guides are more unkind to England than Forreigners. The Dutch to pur­chase our liberty, besides the charge of 600000 l. ventured a great fleet and a considerable Army, when they might have wan­ted it themselves: but some among us will not part with a few trifles to save Church and State. Will not such folly and mad­ness bring upon us the contempt and hatred of all men, and make the wise and the good ashamed to own us? The Clergy counting them to be 20000 (which is much too large a reckoning, there not being 10000 Parishes in England) are but the 250th part of the Nation, supposing the People to be but 5 Millions: and shall 249 souls be exposed to all kind of dangers and miseries for the mad humour of one man? All the pious, sober and moderate Clergy-men are for a Union: the rest are some of them Dignified Drones, these fear contempt if more diligent labourers are admit­ted into the Church; some are learned, but are inflamed with a Pharisaical Zeal for the form of Godliness, denying the Power thereof; some are debauched, and fear the severe correction [Page 37]that is due unto them; Some are departed from our Doctrine, and fear (here the shoe pincheth) that their errors will be expo­sed by the accession of such an Orthodox Interest as the Body of the Presbyterians who are firm to the Doctrine of the Church of England. Some are so sottish, that they act their part very ill, and would be undone if their tools were taken away: all our sticklers, are Tantivees for their own humours, and care not what becomes of our Religion, Laws and Liberties. Many of these are the Disciples of Old Roger, helped to cry him up, and main­tain him as a great Pillar of the Church: with him they Rejoy­ced in the Invasions that were made upon our Rights, and the Bar­barous executions of Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen in the late times of P [...]ery and Arbitrary Popery.

If the Sword should be drawn again in England, how severely will this unmercifulness of Clergy-men be revenged upon them, as the cause of all our miseries, by their perverseness for toys? Such troublers of our Israel, may expect nothing less than a total extirpation, and that the people will make sure work with a sort of men, that are not content to have once imbroiled the three Kingdoms in a bloody War for indifferent things, but do now take the same methods for the same vanities to make us pass through all those calamities again.

II II. Our danger of losing all our lately recovered Rights, if by our divisions we should again let in the common enemy. Po­pery is a Plot and Conspiracy against all the Interests of mankind, strikes at the foundations of humane Society, and will not suffer men to use their reason and senses, deposeth & assassinates Kings, ab­solves, Subjects from their Allegiance & Dispenseth with the most horrid wickednesses. It is a Religion that loves to lap in humane blood, and hath filled the World with Slaughters.Dr. Moor Divine Dia­lognes. pag. 161. Pope Julius in seven years was the occasion of the Slaughter of 200000 Christi­ans. The Massacre in France in three months cut off a 100000. P. Perionius avers that in the Persecution of the Albingenses and Wal­denses 1000000 lost their lives. From the beginning of the Je­suits till 1580 that is, thirty or forty years, 900000 perished, saith Balduinus, The Duke of Alva by the hangman put to death 36000. Vergerius affirms that the Inquisition in 30 years destroy­ed 150000. To all this I may add the Irish Rebellion in which [Page 38]were destroyed 300000, as the Lord Orery reports in a Paper print­ed in the Reign of Charles II.

Tho some new-fashioned Divines have represented Popery in favourable Colours, and endeavoured to clear the Pope from the old charge of being Antichrist; for the baffling of such flattering Doctors, comes the late (and I hope the last persecution from Antichrist) Dragon Persecution in France, Orange and Savoy. This hath out-done all Persecutions both Pagan and Papal that ever were in the World. No Persecution, no nor all the persecutions together contained in them all the barbarities of this. Never any raged to such a high degree of subtilty, malice and cruelty; in this have suffered above 150000, who would heartily have chosen to change a miserable life for death: but life was c [...]inued; to load it with longer miseries, and death was denied, as a favour too great for them. Innumerable were the violences that were committed on the Souls, Bodies, and Estates of Protestants.

They grieved the modest Souls of vertuous Women and Maids by hanging them up naked by their feet, or by their arm-pits, thus exposing them to publick view. In Parents they tormented their bowels of natural affection: They bound mothers (that gave suck) unto posts, and let their infants lye in their sight several days, languishing, Crying, Moaning, Gasping for Life; and even dying for Hunger and Thirst, Swearing to them they should not give Suck till they abjured. The new art of waging War against the reason of Christians is a Devilism never practised before: they poured Wine down their throats till the fumes overcame their reason; to destroy their reason for want of sleep, they Tickled, Lashed, Flung them about, threw buckets of water on their faces, made a continual noise upon kettles over their heads and torment­ed them a 1000 ways. By this many were distracted, and others became mopish and stupid.

All the tragical methods of that persecution, had before this been acted again in England; if God had not in mercy sent our Gra­cious Soveraign to save us from the Lyons mouth. Let us remember and consider what hath been done upon others, and let their suf­ferings be a warning to us, that we give no advantage to our ene­mies, by continuing any of the instruments that divided and weakened us, brought upon us our late confusions and still [Page 39]threaten us with danger. A relapse would be a greater evil, than any we have yet had a prospect of: The cruelty of Popery against Hereticks would be raised to a higher degree than ever, by an infatiable thirst of revenge upon us for our insolency in throw­ing off our Fetters and Chains. All that hath been acted under Paganism and Popery, will be unspeakably short of what we must feel, if we return again to the house of Bondage. Our task will be doubled and trebled, the Fiery Furnace shall be heat­ed seven times hotter than ever, and seventy times too if they can do it.

If after all that we have seen and feared, and others have sadly felt, any amongst us resolve still to stickle for their Toys, it may be said of them as of the Caldeans: Jer. 50.38. They are mad upon their Idols.

III III. Our danger in respect of Gods Judgments which we may bring upon our heads. Tho Popery should never be able to lift up its head again in this Land; yet if we continue in the same course that provoked God to cast us into the late confusions, he can find other plagues to inflict upon us. We know not a hea­vier plague than Popery, but he can send one that shall be more terrible and destructive. In his Word he speaks mildly to rigorous Governours: What mean ye that beat my people to pieces? Isa. 3.15, But he will thunder in his Judgments against them that break his flock to pie­ces, scattering them from the Communion of his Church by un­necessary impositions.

Tho by the Act of Indulgence the instruments of Persecution are struck out of the hands of Persecutors, yet we may be still guilty of Persecution, if we continue those things that armed evil men against his people, and do still drive his Lambs from their Pastures, and the punishment of persecution may overtake us. The black-horses, the instruments of the execution of Gods an­ger,Charnock Vol. 2. on Exod. 15.9, 10. pag. 50. were sent towards Babylon, where his people were in Cap­tivity, Zech. 6.6. Their's was only a bodily Captivity, their consciences were free. Are not Gods people now in Spiritual Captivity, when they must not enjoy his Ordinances with us, but upon terms they cannot conform to and he never appointed? Have not we reason to expect that the black horses should be let loose to run swiftly and furiously upon us? By endeavouring to [Page 40]continue our stubble we may be opposers of God in the great work that he seems to be doing for his Church: the advance­ment of it to a purer and more glorious State. It may be observed that generally a glorious state in the Church hath followed her greatest straits. In Egypt when the task was doubled and straw denyed,Deut. 4.34. Moses was sent, and God delivered his people by signs, and wonders, and great terrours. The Jews were without Urim and Thummin, without the Spirit of Prophesy, when Christ came in the flesh to work Redemption. How low was the infant Church when Christ was in the Grave, his disciples all scattered? How black the hour, and great the Power of Darkness, when the Sun was darkened and the earth trembled? This was followed with the accomplishment of the great Prophecy that Japhet should dwell in the Tents of Sem; Gen 9.27. delivered by Noah about two thou­sand years before, fulfilled in the raising of a Gentile Church. The Church was more glorious after the Parisian Massacre, the persecution in the Netherlands and the Marian Flames in England. Hamans Plot to destroy all the Jews, caused great mourning, and Fasting,Esth. 4.3.8.16. and Weeping amongst them: But the plotter is hanged on his own Gallows; and the Jews had Light, and Joy and honour. We have reason to hope, that after the late Plot for the Extirpation of the Northern Heresie, and the great Extremity this Church was reduced to, she shall now be more beautiful and glorious than ever, if the peevishness of some doth not cause a delay of this happiness. The sharpest pangs precede delive­rance; it was so when Christ came in the flesh,Charnock, Vol. 2. on Exod. 15.9, 10. pag. 46. it will be so at every new rising of Christ in the Spirit. If people did look before them, and consider the Providence of God, and ten­dency of things, they would be more indifferent towards Indiffe­rent things; the Divine Power and Jealousie would cool their blind Zeal for such matters, they would be afraid to oppose his work, lest he send upon them that Woe that is denounced against them that presume to strive with their Maker. It is a dangerous thing to be found fighters against God.Isa. 45.9. Gods Counsel must stand,Fulfilling of Scripture Part. 3. con­siderations a­nent Popery, p. ult. Oh! At what a rate do these now run in the way of his wrath and vengeance, and to be partakers of the same plagues with Antichrist, who yet will not cease, for giving [Page 41] their power to support that accursed and falling interest! This is not at all to be accounted strange, that men should walk con­trary to God, and oppose him; there were always such as did set themselves against his work in the World, and there are now Children of Belial (all zealous for Ceremonies to a man) that murmur against their own happiness bestowed upon them by God in bringing about the most wonderful revolution that ever was. We have the less reason to admire this stubbornness in man, because the Devil, a subtle Spirit, and knows that his opposing God will increase his future misery, [...]et he is so blinded with malice that he always wageth War against his Creator and Judge.Charnock, Vol. 2. on Ps. 87.5. p. 26. It is an astonishment, that the Devil after so long an experience should be such a fool as to engage in new attempts when he hath found so little Success in the former, and hath had so many ages to witness the baffles he hath received; what a fool is he to think that the defender of the Church should be conquered by a revolted angel, that lies under an everlasting curse? This should make us all to suspect our selves, when we are warm for things that are not appointed by God, and are stum­bling-blocks to many pious Christians: It is much better to fear to offend the weak, than to run rashly on, lest we be found to walk contrary unto God, and provoke him to walk contrary un­to us. He hath many plagues for them that do so: After many Judgments,Lev. 26.18 he tells the Israelites that he will punish them seven times more for their sins. And if they still walk contrary unto him, he saith again: I will bring seven times more Plagues upon you, 21. according to your sins. The like also, v. 24.27. And if yet they walk contrary unto him: he saith: I will walk contrary unto you in fury; and I, even I, 28. will chastise you seven times for your sins. Here are 28 degrees of punishment which number he can mount much higher for the Chastisement of them, who after manifold experience of our Confusions and miseries occasioned by quarrels about trifles, will yet for them walk contrary unto him. There have been innume­rable Judgments executed in the world, and Judgments recorded in the Word of God, and there are also unwritten plagues re­served for his obstinate enemies: Every Sickness, Deut. 28.61. and every Plague which is not written in the Book of this Law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. But if after many methods of seve­rity [Page 42]people will continue perverse,Ezek. 38.18. Isa. 4 [...].3. Am. 4.11, 12. his fury shall come up in his face; he will take vengeance, and will not meet them as a man, but as a God. Yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus will I do unto Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

II II. Our future danger from the continuance of Ceremonies, and that in respect of the account we must give to our Judge. Ho­nour, Plenty and Ease may harden the hearts of some of us against tenderly considering the danger of Souls excluded from our Communion, and thereby exposed as a prey to Sectaries: but all the glory and pleasure of this world will be contemptible when the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven. Mat▪ 24 30. Ac [...]. 26.13. His glory at mid­day was unto Paul a light from heaven above the brightness of the Sun. That sign may be such a glory filling the whole World with the brightness thereof, every where seen by amazed mankind. He who hath created the glorious body of the Sun, which is 139 (some say 166) times bigger than this Globe in which we live, can spread a more Glorious Light over this point of earth or par­ticle of dust, for so it is if compared with the vast extent of the Heavens. Whatever that sign shall be, it is like it shall be visible to all, not only to the righteous for their comfort, but also to the wicked for their terrour.Mat. 24.30. Gen. 49.5. It is said that all the tribes of the Earth shall then mourn. They of the Tribe of Levi who are for instru­ments of Cruelty shall have their share in the mourning. What trembling will seize upon them,1 Thes. 1.16, 17. when the mighty blast of Gods Trumpet shall awake all the Sleepers in the dust, them that have not lodged six days in the Grave,1 Cor 15.52. and the Sleepers of 6000 years. His power shall raise all the dead, and change the living in a mo­ment, in the twinkling of an Eye. An universal flame shall embrace the heavens and the earth (the God of our proud and covetous Formalists,) melt the frozen World in the Laodicean State.2 Pet. 3.10. The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Rev. 20.12. The dead small and great shall stand before God to be judged according to their works. Then mocking Ishmaels that have scoffed at the pure in heart as Puritans, Precise Fools, and Melancholy dull Souls; shall take the Fools cap unto themselves, and they repenting,Wisd. 5▪ and groaning for anguish of Spirit, shall say [Page 43]within themselves, This was he whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted his life madness; and his end to be without honour. How is he numbred among the Children of God, and his Lot is among the Saints!

Some among us are angry with Calvin for calling humane rites tolerables ineptias. Epist. An­glis Fran [...] ­ford. p. 98. They will not at the great day be such unto rigorous Imposers, who made them terms of Communion. How will you at that day lift up your faces before your Master and your Judge, when he shall demand of you, What is become of those his Lambs which you drove into the Wilderness by needless Impositions? He requires you to pray unto the Lord of the harvest, that he would fend forth more labourers into his har­vest, and you keep away many worthy labourers from his work, because they cannot comply with terms that he never appointed. We may think it a light matter to offend weak Christians, but it will not be always so: Wo unto the World because of offences: Mat. 18.7. For it must needs be that offences come: but wo unto that man by whom the offence cometh. Offences will hereafter be as heavy to the Imposers of humane inventions, as they are now to the weak. The punishment of them that offend one of Christs little ones will be more dreadful than being cast into the Sea with a mil­stone about the neck.Luk. 17.2. If, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlast­ing fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, shall be the lightest punishment inflicted on them that feed not the hungry, and do not cloath the naked; how deep will their lodging be in the lake of Fire and Brimstone, who lay Stumbling-blocks before multitudes of Souls to their so great Scandal, that they forsake the Ordinances of Jesus Christ? how terrible will it be to be punished with everlasting destruction, 2 Thes. 1.9. from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power? This will be heavier than many Milstones: For all the works and Mountains in the world will be light in comparison of the weight of the wrath of the Lamb. The ravening Wolves that have worried Christs Flock, the great Clerks that have troubled Church and State with their stiffness for very little things, the mighty Nimrods that have desolated the earth, shall in vain cry for a covering to the frighted and flying Mountains, and the molten Rocks, that could not [Page 44]save themselves from the power of the Judge, who made the Heaven to depart as a scroll when it is rolled together. Rev. 6.14, 15, 16, 17. And the Kings of the Earth; and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, &c. hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains; and said to the Mountains and Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?