As to her Clergy, their Behaviour and Conduct in theſe Times of Difficulty and Tryal, have ſufficiently clear'd them from the imputation of Popiſhneſs, or being popiſhly affected. For rather than they would betray the leaſt inclination to that which is properly to be called Popery, or give the leaſt advantage to the ſame, They have choſen to venture the loſs of their Liberty and Livelihood; and what they account more dear, even the loſs of their Princes Favour. And of any have Warp'd, or Shrunk in this Tryal, they are ſuch as went out from us, and were never rightly of them. And as it would be highly unjuſt, ſo it would be altogether unkind, any more to lay Popery to their Charge, who have by ſo many Chriſtian Methods, appeared againſt it. So that this old stumbling-block of Popiſhneſs in the Clergy of the Church of England, being taken out of the way, there is in my judgment, removed one of the greateſt hinderances of our Coalition.

And e're, I leave this Intimation: permit me to put you in mind, to whom we are indebted for thoſe Excellent Confutations of Popery, the four laſt years have produced. I am ſure your Pen and mine have lain Fallow, and of thoſe many of our Party, who heretofore have ſpoke and writ ſo much againſt the Whore of Babylon, not one has at this needful Seaſon, dropt a Line, or utter'd a Word in publick againſt her. But the Diſcoveries and Confutations of the Errours, Superſtitions, Idolatries, and Tyrannies of the Church of Rome, are all to be aſcribed to the Genuine Sons of the Church of England. And let me add, That they have ſo well managed the Cauſe, that I wonder any thinking Perſons of the Church of Rome, can any longer tarry in her Communion, if they have impartially read and conſider'd what has of late been writ againſt it:

The next thing which we have long Objected againſt our Conforming to the Church of England, is the Popiſhneſs of her Offices: from which heavy Charge, nothing can either more compendiouſly, or more plainly acquitt her, than our comparing the Offices uſed in our Churches with thoſe that are uſed in Maſs-Houſes. For ſince the Popiſh Prieſt have been ſo unwarry as to ſhew their Religion, thoſe of our party, who have yielded ſo far to Curioſity, as to go to ſee it, cannot but abundantly ſatisfy themſelves, that the Offices uſed in our Churches are as different from thoſe uſed in the Maſs-Houſes, as a decent and Edifying Solemnity is from an inſipid and Gaudy Pageantry.

But if all this move you not to a Coalition, but that you are ſtill reſtif upon the Account of ſome Things required from you, as Terms of Communion, and which you cannot ſo well digeſt: Then let me put you in mind of the Advances the Biſhops of the Church of England have made towards an happy adjuſtment of this Objection.

The Biſhops you know, have been the only Order of Men in the Land, of whoſe Lordly ſtifneſs we have been moſt afraid. And yet I appeal to your own Judicious Obſervation, if ever Men appear'd better Champions for the Proteſtant Religion, or expreſſed a more Chriſtian Temper toward Proteſtant Diſſenters.

I will remember you but of three Inſtances, and to leave you to your own Lengths.

The firſt inſtance is that of the Biſhops Petition to the King, in which they promiſe a tenderneſs to Diſſenters, and a readineſs to exerciſe the ſame, when theſe are requiſite circumſtances to make it of moment and ſignificancy to them.

Another Inſtance, of the Biſhops tender regard to Proteſtant Diſſenters, is to be ſeen in the two Articles Recommended by the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury to the Biſhops within his Metrapolitan Juriſdiction, and by them recommended to their Dioceſan Clergy. I will ſet them down in their own Apoſtolical ſtile.

That they viz. The Clergy walk in wiſdom towards thoſe that are not of our Communion: And if there be in any of their Pariſhes any ſuch, that they neglect not frequently to Confer with them in the Spirit of Meekneſs. Seeking by all good ways and Means, to Gain and win them over to our Communion; more eſpecially that they have a very tender regard to our Brethren the Proteſtant Diſſenters; that upon Occaſion offer'd they viſit them at their Houſes, and receive them kindly at their own, and Treat them fairly wherever they meet them, diſcourſing Calmly and Civilly with them, perſwading them (if it may be) to a full Complyance with Our Church; or at leaſt, that, whereto we have already attain'd, we may all walk by the ſame Rule, and mind the ſame Thing. And in order hereunto that they take all Opportunities of aſſuring and convincing them, That the Biſhops of this Church are Really and Sincerely irreconcileable Enemies to the Errors and Superſtitions, Idolatries and Tyrannies of the ••••• arch of Rome, and that the very Unkind Jealouſies which ſome have had of Us to the contrary were altogether groundleſs.

And in the laſt place that they warmly and moſt Affectionately Exhort them, to joyn with us in daily ferv • nt Prayer to the God of Peace, for an Univerſal Bleſſed Vnion of all Reformed Churches; both at home and abroad, againſt our Common Enemies, and that all they that do confeſs the Holy Name of our dear Lord, and do agree in the Truth of His Holy Word may alſo meet in one Holy Communion, and live in perfect Vnity and Godly Love.

The laſt Inſtance I ſhall mention of the Fatherly Regard the Biſhops bear towards Proteſtant Diſſenters, is to be met with in their tenth Propoſal to the King, where They Chriſtianly inſinuate their Deſire, that 〈◊〉 due Liberty of Conſcience may be Eſtabliſhed by a fair and Free-Parliament, and State fettl'd upon juſt and ſolid Foundations. Which is the ſum of all You and I can hope or wiſh for.

Theſe things I hope, Sir, you will maturely conſider and not grumble to make ſome Advances toward them, who have made ſo many towards you. I am heartily perſwaded the Biſhops are Real, and will not faulter in one title they have ſaid. And if we are not wanting to our ſelves, I doubt not, but that both you and I, and all Proteſtant Diſſenters, ſhall reap the Benefit of their Pious Endeavours. And that they will be better than their word when they have the happy ſeaſon for ſo doing.

And as Things now ſtand, nothing can hinder our Coalition with the Church of England, but either our own ill Temper, or the Craftineſs of out Enemies: What I now write is deſigned to Correct the former; and if I obtain, the latter is at an End. For if all the Proteſtants in this Nation Embrace the Advantages (the Juncture ſeems to promiſe) of uniting in one Communion, we may bid defiance to Devil and Jeſuit, to Hell and Rome.