AMong all the great nations that have been, no man I beleive can show me the example of England, which being not only still intire under the Rule of its lawful Governour, but also a great deal stronger in it selfe, by the happy conjun­ction of Scotland (its former dangerous enemy) should neverthelesse since the Reformation bee de facto much weaker, & consequently lesse considerable to our Neighbours.

All English men, of what persuasion or intrest soever, unanimously conclude that our differences in Religion are the cause; & therefore as some of every Opinion have proposed their Expedients for the cure of this misfortune, so I hope I may take the same liberty, & throw in my mite also, being induc'd thereunto by the affection I bear my Coun­trey, which I suppose moved the rest, that have already written: and though I am borne a Member of the Church of England, whose Liturgy & Rites are so worthy of admiration, yet I shall do what I can (as far as 'tis lawful) to bridle in my Zeale, least seeming too partial, I should rather harden than mollifie our dissenting Brethren; who happen (which is the misery of it) to be too numerous & considerable in this poor distracted Nation.

We all know that the whole kingdome as to Divine Worship is divi­ded (besides its subdivisions) into these four great Parties, viz: Church of England men, Presbyterians, Independents, & Papists; the three last of which we call Nonconformists, as contrary to the present Religion establish'd.

Our Church of England is farr more numerous than any, and has per­sons in it of all ranks and conditions; but it seem's not so full of Zeale as the others, because it abound's with men that are too much in love with humane Interest, or have no Religion at all; for these ever flock to that Church which is in power, whether true or false.

Presbyterians have generally on their side the Corporations, & all formal men, which they are pleas'd to call the sober part of the Na [...]i [...]n; [Page 2]but as they are rich, so they lye more open to be harass'd, whensoever the black day of tribulation happen's.

The Independents or Phanatiques consist only in Artizans, & the meanest of the Land, & yet are in two things very consid rable; as first, let the Government do what it will with them, they cannot be much poorer, so that in three months they will recover, & be as they were; In the next place, There crafts & tra [...]es are of great concernment to us.

Of Papists there are seven parts of ten, Gentlemen, & people of great quality, & therefore they fancy that their Religion is probaly the truest, because it has been profess'd here all along by so many men of parts & fashion; and boast that it is only through Ignorance, or want of attention that the whole Nation is not as blinde as themselves. As for Persecution they are not much terrified at it, having (as they beleive) manfully endur'd it so many years; besides by long practice they know not only all the wayes imaginable to evade the penalties of the Lawes, but also by their birth have Relations in all offices, & employments, that alwaies did, & still do helpe them when they are in danger to be whipt by us.

This then in three words being the interest and state of each party, wee may the easier finde out a Remedy for our disorders, which have ruin'd, or at best strangely shatter'd one of the most flourishing King­domes in the world.

Ever since the happy Restauration of his Majesty, there hath been still a great cry in all quarters for Liberty of conscience, to which I have been greatly inclin'd, not only out of compassion to well meaning deluded souls, but out of conviction also that it would totally root out all Sects, & erronious Opinions from among us: & seeing we have sound by ex­perience that severity has neither destroy'd Po [...]e [...]y, which is so ridiculous to every body but its Professors: nor yet prevented a troublesome brood of our own, I say considering this, we ought to try what mild­nesse will effect, since all wise men alter those projects which they finde deficient: at least we may make tryal of it for a while, as our matchlesse Parliaments do, that enact often lawes to continue but for so long, to be the better able to see whether they may reape the proposed advantage by them; Nor can this tryal be any wayes prejudicial to us, if it en­danger neither the souls of men, nor cause a disturbance in the Civil Government.

'Tis impossible, (according to the profession of all our most learned Protestants) to hazard our Salvation by Opinions whilst we agree in that main Fundamental, to wit, The satisfaction of our Saviour Iesus Christ; for [Page 3]otherwise we must shipwrack our selves, whether we will or no, on the unavoidable rocks of Popery; because if there should yet be any thing more, which we are necessarily to beleive, an infallible Interpreter, and Magisterial Iudge to guide the ignorant & unlearned would consequent­ly follow; Magisteriall I say, because a poor simple man must implicitely believe, as not being ever able to comprehend or understand some truths; & infallible, least men might be still doubting whether yet they are in the right or no.

No marvel then that Mr. Chillingworth (the miracle of his age) sticks close to this, thinking it very strange a man should be damn'd for no­tions which he cannot comprehend; & therefore layes down Repentance from dead works, and a beliefe in the comming & merits of Christ, as the only Fundamentall amongst Christians, & as a thing adequate to every ordinary capacity. The Papists who would fain come near our truths, are also nibbling here though they handle it another way; for they will have it too, That all men are a [...]m [...]' [...] through their own wilful [...]esse in resisting evident things, & say Though Christ as a Prophet sent from God may be easily conceived by hum [...]e Reason, yet an infallible Church to govern his flock is easier comprehended and easier demonstrated to a Christi [...], than his being sent can be proved to an Infidel & so forsooth this infallible Church by its definitions, & explications makes the hardest mysteres as easie as the plainest

I here set down this pretty Doctrine dress'd after the Roman fashion, to show, that if a Protestant should not ground damnation on our wilfulnesse in rejecting things within the reach of our capacity, that very Papis [...]s themselves will rise up in judgment against him at the last day, to his utter confusion & shame.

This [...]er [...]tion the eminent D [...]ctor Taylor himselfe highly esteem'd, & this he so stoutly maintain'd in his book of Liberty of Prophecying, that to this day it remaines unanswer'd. Many enemies I know he created to himselfe by his reconciling zeale, & though by their cry he passes at present for a better practicall than controversial Divine, yet he has (as all men acknowledge) made it evidently appear inconsistent with Protestant charity to damne any of our poor Dissenters for their [...]e [...]e [...]s.

For first, can any godly Protestant thinke a Presbyterian a limme of Satan for refusing to conforme to habits and ceremonies, which every body confesses were neither commanded by Christ, nor his Apostles: or shall he be reprobated for railing against stage playes though the drift of the best of them is to abuse the Brethren? Nor can the disowning of Episcopacy be damnable, unlesse we submit our selves to Tradition & Ecclesiasticall authority for the Scripture has many seeming arguments for [Page 4]that opinion. Predestination, & the manner of Christs descent into Hell are points disputable among all Christians, and God forbid we should thinke that every error in judgment will deprive us of all happinesse hereafter.

The Iudependents or Phanatiques, owe their being to the foregoing Sect, & if they wildly fancy a barne as good as a Church, or a Graduate, not so learned as a Cobler, with other odde extravagancies (the halfe of which no one man can recount) let us not be more rigorous than the Pope, who only lookt upon them that came to Rome to convert him as mad; & I think neither S. Peter, nor his pretended Successors have lockt Bedlams out of heaven.

Nor shall I damne P [...]p [...]sts for matters of Faith, whilst they believe the Trinity, & can patch up their other Doctrines, so as not really to intend thereby the dishonour of our great Lord & Master. For (as I said before) God forbid every errour in judgment should be a sin to death.

They fancy many promises in Scripture, That the Church shall never erre, That it is to be visible in prosperity & adversity as a Iudge in all disputes that occurr, & laugh at Protestants for affirming that the Scriptures are ea­sie, seeing all Sects among us quote Scripture for what they hold, & yet the one is quite opposite to the tenets of the other in things of the highest nature.

They pre ach up merits (they say) to encourage men to worke; but tell us expressly (when we urge them with the foulnesse of the tenet) That neither their own actions, nor the actions of any Saint can be in them­selves sufficient to bring them to heaven, did not God premise to accept them as meritorious, and sufficient by the superaboundant merits of Christ.

They honour Saints (they say) only because they were faithfull ser­vants of Christ; & believe, That these holy Spirits, must needs know our wants by their rejoycing in heaven at our conversion, & That their pray­ers for us are much more powerful with God, than tho [...]e of our friends here below, which we all often implore: yet they oblige none to pray to Saints except they will.

They think by our Saviours saying that some sins (viz. those against the Holy Ghost) shall not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come, that it infers, that other sins may be forgiven in this world, and in the world to come. And therefore pray for the dead (that have built upon hay & stubble & other imperfect things) whom S. Pa [...]l to the Corinthians declares (they say) shall be saved so as by fire. And they more firmly also believe this Purgatory because, the Maccabees (that fought for the maintenance of G [...]'s Law) pray'd for their slain Brethren; which they [Page]often urge is recorded by an unquestionable Historian, if not be a Divine Writer.

As to their Idolatry in the Sacrament, they say, That by believing Christ really there, 'tis him they worship, & not a piece of bread. That the thing is no lesse possible according to humane reason than the Trinity: That the words. THIS IS MY BODY are as plain, as THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR RECORD IN HEAVEN [...] & I hat it is much for their advantage, that all sects of Christians in the world grant the Real presence, except a few Calvinists as they call them.

By that text of Scripture, Confess your sins one to another. They think their Confession enjoyn'd; & that Christs commission to his Disciples to binde & loose authorizes their Priests Absolutions and Interdictions. And before many of their Books of Pilgrimages, Reliques, Pictures. & the like (to show their worship is relative) they print this piece of Saint Jerom's Epistle against Vigilantius ‘We honour the Reliques of Martyrs, to render adoration to him for the love of whom they were Martyrs, wee honour the servants, that what we do for their service may be refer'd to their Master, who sayes, He that receives you receives me.’

I should never have done, were I to set down all their opinions, & Jesuiticall glosses, but this I must say for them, that they have much lesse to answer, since they really think themselves in the right, & are so united in their Fundamentalls, vvhilst the poor Protestants (to the great shame & vveakening of the common cause) quarrel irreconcileably about nicetyes, & then divide & subdivide vvithout end.

For be it therefore from us to damne these Papists though ignorant, especially seeing, vve must do the like then to the Lutherans, vvho are not only Protestants but the first Reformers also: for their Churches are cram'd vvith Crucifixes, & Pictures; and vvhich is more, they as really be­lieve Christ in the Sacrament, as the Pope himself; the maine point in vvhich he & his brood commit Idolatry, as the Church of England & the other reform'd Churches hold.

Let not therefore our passion shut up heaven against any to whom our Saviour has open'd it; & since Protestants themselves do so disagree (as sometimes each man in a family is of a different Church) let us be the more charitable in our censures, according to the healing advice of many a painfull Divine; and thus may the Papists be baffled vvith their ovvn di­stinction, viz. That they differ in school poynts only, & not in Fundamentalls.

But here I desire not to be misunderstood, for I hold many other Doc­trines extremely advantageous to poor souls, & heartily vvish all men of my opinion, but nothing but time & nevv methods can unite us vvithout the utter ruine of the Nation.

Having thus like a good Protestant prov'd, That Indulgence to dissenters though (they should encrease by it, as some vainly fancy) cannot hinder their salvation because all that do well may be saved; I will now come to the civil Government, & show you that it will be so far from causing disturbances, or endangering the true Religion, that in ten years there shall not be a dissenter left to piss against the wall; & this I hope (if practicable) must satisfy even those, that limite God's mercy, especially since they know how firmly sects are already rooted here, & could never be extir­pated by the severity of our Lawes.

I have often laught'd to heare persons of each Sect among us pretend that their Religion teaches nothing but obedience to Magistra [...]es, whilst all others foment Rebellion. Now for my part I would absolutely trust no Religion in the world with the full power of deposing Princes, no more then I would have an Infidel trust his wise in bed with me because I am a Christian 'tis most certain that the true religion of Christ, comands as well an exact obedience to our Rulers, as that we should not commit adultery; but yet whilst men are men, many of the Professors of this truth (what by the force of a partial appetite, & selfe intereste [...]d distin­ctions) when they have opportunity, often transgresse those two pre­cepts, though as positively commanded as can be: & therefore some doubt whether all the Primitive Christians would have been so patient under Nero, Domitian, Diocletian, &c. had they had power enough to contend: Nor will I more passe my word that the Grand Seignior should continue Emperour & Mahometon, were the sword wholly in the hands of his Christian subjects, than that all the members of the Church of England would have submitted to our present Monarch, had he yielded to the Papists, who were as buisy (they say) as Bees to convert him.

All men whatsoever affect to have their Prince of their Religion, because they fancy it most for the glory of God, but nothing heightens this zeale so much as persecution; for whensoever their is difficulty of obtaining our will, the desire of enjoyment encreases; as we see even in women that often risque life, fortune, honour, & all to enjoy a Gallent, when as if they afterwards marry (& then there will be no need of comming in by the window) tis a thousand to one but they presently loath each others conversation, & bed, Besides this natural pronenesse to pursue what is hinder'd us (for passion [...] often bear sway even in our spiritual actions) selfe preservation also or the hopes to be quiet puts the braines of dissenters upon propagating their Religion; nor is it a small argument to many of the truth of a new Doctrine, to see men suffer for it.

This we have experimentally seen here at home in every party that [Page 7]now contends with the Church; for what could be more irresistible than Presbytery in the beginning of the late war; & how many, men, women, & children, would have willingly ventur'd their lives for the Cause whilst kept under? & yet within three yeares or thereabouts after it's establish­ment 'twas kickt downe even by those who had before set it up with such zeale & hazard.

Phanaticisme (as all mankinde inlightned with the least spark of reason will acknowledge) has no greater enemy than it sel [...]e, nor ever did, nor ever can stand, because it wants all principles of [...]e [...]lement; & therefore 'tis we that blow the party into some appearance of unity, in hoping, by disturbance to hasten their ruine.

As for Popery, let us consider it in Queen Elizabeth [...] time, & we shall find in our Protestant Historians that for the first en yeares of her reigne no man as a Papist sufferd either in his life, or Estate, & yet from a hand­full the Reform'd became much more than halfe the Kingdome: but after that the Government began to enact sanguinary & penal Lawes we find that Allen, Philopater, & the rest of their active Writers insisted upon no argument more (to prove the truth of their Religion) than that Protestants of all sorts became dayly Papists, but not one in 7. years left them, except some scandalous fellow which was a greater advantage than losse to them.

Let us look in the next place on their Jesuiticall Seminaries at Douay, & Saint Omers, & you shall find them (as knowing men have assur'd me) much emptier now they can carry popish Children over with little danger, than in the former dayes, when it was done by great bribes, & they often indited for fugitives also.

Again if we reflect upon our late Rebellion, it was called by many (as I vvell remember) the Popes harvest, & Halcyon dayes; & yet vve knovv they lost besides others of note, tvvo Marquesses at a clap (I meane the heires apparent of Winchester, & Worcester) the like of vvhich cannot be paralleld in the greatest severities of the Queen, nor in the violent storme that universally fell after the Powder Treason.

Lastly, Concerning Proclamations & the like, what man ever found the least good by them? If there be any thing got, the Priests are the gainers: for (ever body say's) not one stir's out of England, & 'tis likely also by being in a seeming kind of danger, that they are the more caress'd by their Penitents. Nay if all things vvere vvell examin'd, vve shall finde that the Protestants themselves doe ever pitty them in distresse, & that there are never more conversions than in the height of these pudders, vvhich 'tis no [Page 8]wonder if they enter into their Annalls as Persecutions.

If punishment then serves only to encrease the number of Sectaries, why should we be so much their friends, & do them courtesies to be rayld at for our paines? Courtesies I say, because their Domine or Godly Pastor would otherwise starve, whereas now there's nothing thought too good for him; & the flock then would have also leisure to consider their extravigance, vvhich novv the pleasure of being haress'd hinders. No Cavaliers vvill vvonder at my joyning the vvord pleasure to harassing, since I dare say there are not any of those great & loyal subjects, though they novv possesse places suitable to their merits, but had formerly more satisfaction in one poor play by stealth at Hayns's, in one meeting at Doctor Gunning's in danger, or in contriving any halfe Moon-plot over a pint of sack, than ever they enjoyed (as to their own particular) since the absolute esta­blishment of his Majesty.

This is the nature of fraile man, & if the best & wifest of men cool a little by enjoyment, what must they do that have no other guide but passion.

I wish then that our Sectaries had churckes allowed them, & all the priviledges of their birth right as they call it; nor am I yet their Advocate, but the Nation's, as hoping to preserve it's Inhabitants & destroy their foolish blind Zeale, which hath been so fatal to us.

Their Churches or Congregations I would have under penalty pub­lique & register'd, which has nothing of particularity in it, seeing all the Churches in the Kingdome are so. By this meanes his Majestie would know their persons, manners, & Doctrine, which now by their meeting in holes, he is wholly unacquainted with; & if any man then spake i [...] the least against the Government, he should be made an example with all the severity that could be thought of.

I have heard say that in Holland (where no Religion is unwel­come) if any Minister in his sermon, or other spiritual function, meddles with state affaires, the Magistrates send him next day a pair of shoos to carry him forthwith out of the Prouince; & prefent­ly he provides for his march, otherwise he is sure to be hang'd unlamented; nor do they ever touch more than the offender, which proceed's not so much from Iustice or Compassion as Prudence; it being certain no penalty can so surely tye up an Incendiary's tongue as (when he suffers) not to be pittied by his Party.)

For to punish the whole Body (as the English custome is) for the [Page 9]faults of some members, makes them all desperate, racking many times their brain to defend an action (the then common cause) which otherwise they would have disown'd without difficulty; & besides it is a kind of real martyrdom when a man actually suffers either in his life or estate, for a crime which perchance strictly & truly he abominates.

No wonder then, that our Papists not only reckon themselves Martyrs, but are cry'd up & esteemed for such by so many forreign Princes; which must needs draw a scandal upon the Nation, & so do the Protestant Reli­gion a prejudice both at home, & abroad, if these encrease, and gain re­pute also by their sufferings. I cannot therefore but be highly dissatisfyed with our common Justice' which entailes Rebellion on a Sect, & insulting too much over the weaknesse of mankind, necessarily (as it were) in­clines from father to son unprincipled men to all villany & Treason.

Let us therefore call to mind the Scotch Presbyterian Rebellion in 66 last, & see what a ruine it would have been to England, had his Majesty instead of his own great prudence, & mercifull temper followed their councel, who thought it fit to pursue our Presbyterians at home, as com­plotters with those actually in arms. This would have driven all into the utmost despair, especially those that loved the King & Kingdom best; for then they would have deem'd it impossible to satisfye, & consequently thought ill designs the best of their play; nor would they have look't upon themselves or children otherwise than slaves, since no slavery is equall to that, of being always suspected by the Government. Many that are now faithfull, would then have been not only incens'd, but perchance have turned their Bibles over & over to find again arguments to maintain Rebellion, for what will not men fancy God says, when 'tis absolutely necessary for their ends?

Were every man that now heartily rejoyces at a Thief's execution at Tyburne, to suffer with the Mal [...]factour, we should not only see theft de­fended by its present condemners, but reckon'd for a virtue also. Some would cry up the life of a man for an inestimable jewel, & to be preferred before all worldly trash. Others would term propriety, a tyrannique, & un­just usurpation, with the like metaphysicall fancies; nay the tricks of a Ras­call would be then called the effect of a dexterons wit, & the setting upon two or three unarmed Grasiers, the height of all valour & courage.

There's nothing can ever destroy us in England but disagreement, nor shall the Government ever fail of being thought the common ene­my by all Nonconformists, whilst the folly or knavery of some few is im­puted to the whole gang in generall.

If this way of proceeding were lay'd aside (which now strongly ce­ments them) their Congregations would quickly be as well satisfied with [Page 10]the condemnation of a guilty Member, as we ordinarily are at what passes at the Ola Bayly, or at any of our other Sessions It may be some might strive to mince the matter of fact (as dayly friends to in all faults committed) but none would then defend a crime to be no crime, which is the thing I solely insist upon, for from thence arise all our disputes & factions.

'Tis an error to thinke there can be a great Boay of men inconsistent with Government, since to be lawlesse is as opposite to the nature of man­kind in general, as death it self. Every sober man therefore (let his Re­ligion be what it will) find's out some distinction or other to prevent confusion & to conform to lawes that tend to Government. The Pres­byterians are too discreet & rich to be anarchical, & whosoever has, & loves riches, will be alwayes fond of laws that preserve his right to them.

The Phanariques are generally harmlesse & well meaning, & though a Qu [...]ker will not set out his Tithes, he will bid the Minister or Tithing man take them; nay if he find losse by their carving, he will at length do it himself with this or the like salvo, that 'Tis the old man & not the new that payes the Hireling that Indaical abomination: nor do these poor people refuse (it seems) to engage to live peaceably, as their friend Mr. Pen tells us in his Great Case. Now for the Paypists, the greatest & most absolute Princes of the World are not only of their profession, but our own King­dom also was extremely considerable under their Government, & our ex­cellent Lawes & prudent old customes were of their framing; as they well know, & also vaunt in their late Apology and Reply.

Besides though the Papists of England are still so great Assertors of the Popes power in Spirituals, that I really believe by what I have read & seen) that there would more dye for him here, than in any two Countreyes in the world, yet we know that in the very depth of Popery no body struck more bold & home at all temporal encroachments of the Romish See, than the English; for they not only made strict prohibitions against the comming in of Legates without leave, against publication of Bulls, & the like; but also enacted those nipping lawes of Mortmain, so that no body could voluntarily, & of his own head give one foot of land to the Church; Nor at this day do I find, (for truly I have made particular enquiry about it) any Frenchman more willing than our present Papists to tye up the Popes hands from medling with the civil Government of the Kingdom.

If therefore all or any of these Dissenters be now heaving at the Govern­ment, 'tis because they are distinguish'd from the rest of the Nation, & made as uncapable of many things as strangers & aliens; nor do's animo­sity or a rebellious Spirit always proceed from the Religion men professe but from the frallty of nature, which makes them often partial, & take the dictates of their appetite for truth & reason. Now were no English Chris­tian (as long as obedient to the lawful Power) inconvenienc'd for his Con­science, [Page 11]'tis impossible but Sectaries would be as heartily sollicitous for the good of the Nation, as any men else whatsoever.

This most evidently appeares by the Welsh, who (whilst we suspected & used them with rigour) were ever unquiet, & our most deadly enemies: but after we had recleved them as friends, & made them partakers of all the priviledges of the Kingdome, they not only forgot our strange usage of their Princes, the losse of their lands & the Egyptian slavery they were under, but so united themselves with us, that our losses are now theirs, & theirs ours; nor have they since ever stirr'd or made ill use of our favours, but (on the contrary) by them, both they and we are become one people, & one nation without the least rancor, or grudge; nay so fond have they been of our Monarchy (which once they hated above all things) that four parts of five of them were faithfull to his late Majesty, whilst such a number of English were up against him. If then gentlenesse & interest could reconcile long feudes, & make men from mortal foes become the greatest friends, why may not we expect by the like method the like successe in these our present distractions?

There's one argument (as 'tis thought) of great weight against this liberty of Conscience, viz: That all Dissenters when they were in power would tolerate noe Religion but their own (as the Papists in times past, & the Protestant Sectaries in the late Rebellion) & therefore in Iustice they ought now to be served in the same manner. The matter of fact is granted & taken out of their sermons I knowe, yet neverthelesse if persecuting Christians for Conscience, be in it selfe against charity, we must not retaliate, & render like for like. But on the other side, if the lawful Magistrate may punish tender Consciences when he thinks it for the honour of goa, & the quiet of the Government, this may perchance a little touch the Presbyterians & Phanatique [...] (who were our Ru­lers by indirect meanes) but then we can never blame any longer the Pa­pists for what they did, because their Government (as to its Juridiction) was as lawful as ours, & their plea consequently unanswerable, viz. That they really fancy'd their Religion true, & the Protestant heritical; That they thought it would for ever distract & disquiet the nation to permit new Doctrine; & in short, That they proceeded according to Magna Charta, & other Lawes enacted by the legal Authority of the Kingdome.

Noe man cna therefore better defend the Marian dayes & all Popish se­verity, than by advising the punishment of Non conformists, & practising it as we do; But if we would have the Church of England's great beauty ap­pear, & be the true spouse without pot or wrsnkle we must necessarily refrain from doing those things, which they whom we blame are deem'd guilty of.

It is pleasant to see now adays how Prethyterians, Independents & Pa­pists, (though really no great friends) begin to claw one another; & who [Page 12]can blame them for it, or would not think them otherwise fools, since they lye all under the same lash.

I remember when Doctor Hewet was to be executed, our Church of En­gland & City Divines joyn'd together (though they hated one aonther suf­ficiently) to petition Cromwel for him; at which some persons of quality wondring one night at Dr. Duns, Sir Henry Blunt answered, that he thought here was nothing extraordinary in that action; for (said he) I have neare my house a Common where my piggs & my neighbour's feed, & theere I dayly ee that they eagerly fight & bite one another at the trough, But if a dog happens to fall upon any one, the rest will presently take the part of the oppress'd with all the zeale & fury imaginable.

'Tis certain both Greek & Trojan will unite when they finde it their in­terest to do it & what greater interest can any man have, than the good of his Countery, if he be capable of participating of all the aduantages that accrue?

I do not therefore inferr that presently a Quaker must be made Master of the Ceremonies, or Revelles, but that if he can dance, & put of his hat with as good a grace as another, he should not loose the hopes of these places by reason of his Religion; for though thousands will never emerge but be Beggars and Tinkers, should all our Colliass be fraught with Gold, yet these very contemptible men would think the Government uneasie, and perchance wish it's ruine, were they by Act of Parliament never to rise to any higher pitch.

Were we all of one Opinion, no man should be more willing to keep out Sects than my self, for then 'twould be both seaseable and lawful; but since things are come to this height, 'tis now impossible to do it by Severit [...]; for all violent courses will only exasperate more than half our subjects, & cause many to catch at all seditious oppertunities that shall at any time accurre.

But some men (like Iustice Over doe) must be punishing, for otherwise they fancy all Discipline lost; & therefore of such I would faine know, since all Disseaters cannot in Prudence be brought to the ring, which of them would they baite had they power?

To fall soule on the Presbyterians would be madnesse, for who would not deem that action so w^th must needs provoak a rich, a prudent, & a numorous Party to be eternal enemies to the Government, & yet no Protestant can call their errours in Faith damnable. They once err'd we know, but this may be a means to make their children also faulty; & truly I doubt not but the miseries they at last suffer'd in the late Rebellion, (for wealthy men must smart in such disorders) will cause them to be for the future faithfull En­glish men, unlesse new exasterations pervert both their resolution & reason,

Tvvere pitty also, methinks, to be alvvayes punishing Phanatiques, vvho, rather vvant good Phisitian, & Cephaliques, than the authority of a Constable [Page 13]I am sure (as I said before) it makes them more obstinate, as fancying themselves like the primitive Christians, whilst the Hollanders grow rich by our losses, affording them that quiet which they find not at home, & thereby become masters of those manufactures which formerly we alone could brag of.

Or shall we then vent our fury against Papists, & make our selves still ri­diculous to our neighbouring Princes, who receiving odd accounts from their Agents, think us a weak people and casie to be distracted by vain fears & jealousies? Nor can it certainly be for the good or honour of the Na­tion to persecute those, who have shewed so much loyalty, that no race of men could ever parallel them unless the true Members of the Church of England; & that which makes me yet more their friend, is that at present (though we have often provokt them) they keep no privato cavalling with either France, Spain, Pope, Devil, or any thing that is ill (for had they done it we should have smelt it out long ago) but on the contrary, they have ever the King in their mouths, as if the Rump were now on foot, & expresse as much grief at our publique misfortunes, as any other Subjects in the Nation.

I defie all their Priests & Fryert to alter my principles in Religion yet I do acknowledge their Church to be a Church as our learned Prelates & Divines have taught me; nor can I but decrie those that will damn our great Grand-fathers, and consequently all before them; for I am sure every body then vvere Papists vvith a vengeance, unlesse sometimes tvvo or three foo­lish Lodards started up, vvho vvere far liker the Disciples of Fox & Naylor, than Members of the true Protestant Religion.

Avvay then vvith persecuting Christians purely for Conscience, vvhich is the only harvest for Knaves, & of this here at home vve have tvvo most vvofull examples; For neither had the Heads of our long Rebellion been so povverfully assisted at first, could their zealous Abetters have been assured of their Religion; Nor vvas it ever possible for Cromwel to have rais'd him self to that pitch he was in, but by laying hold on the tender Consciences of men, who despairing of favour from a lawfuller Government, became at last bawds to his ambition, & then shar'd with him in that rich & plentiful booty.

Away I say, with this persecution, the chief cause also of to much Atkeisme amongst us; for men who want courage to suffer, by sinning often against their Consciences, become hardned in time, & instead of ever really appro­ving the Religion impos'd, think every thing at last a meer cheat, & so from harmlesse people (erronious it may be at first in points of small con­cernment) grow sixt by degrees in all infiaelity & prophanenesse; nor has any one thing been more destructive to our Government than so many Oathes, for most that were truly ill men never scrupled the taking of them, when­as D [...]ssenters that stood on Principles have always refus'd them, & often­times [Page 14]smartly suffer'd for it. Thus the best fall only within reach of the lawes, whilst the most factious & dangerous against whom these very lawes were intended) escape their deserved punishment.

I professe to the whole world I have no inclination to the Religion of our Sectariet, but their persons; who being so numerous can never be misus'd without an unspeakable inconvenience to us all; & though I have been a Cavalier (I thank God) ever since the name came up (& to this day dote upon any thing that truly was of that party) yet I have laid aside all ani­mosity against our old enemies, because I am sure it is for the interest now of that Prince whose Rights we all heretofore so eagerly asserted.

As Rebels against the State must be pardon'd whensoever they are many, even so we must do vvith Dissenters in Religion, for though the executing of three or four Traytors may be Iustice, yet to hang up many millions, would be termed oruelty let the fact be what it will.

Let there then be a general Toleration, for unlesse it be generall we shall never be at rest, but furnish knaves still (as I said before) with advantages to cousin poor people, & provoke them (being once deluded) to kick against their lawfull Magistrate.

Let Presbyterians whine their fill, & tell us of Soulsaving-sending-home-comforts, let Phanatiques sigh till they be in earnest; & let Papists tire them­selves with their Pater Nosters & Ave Maries, & then I am sure they will all of them soon find the honour & welfare of their Countrey to be their only interest. Nor is there danger that the bare hopes of recovering the publick Lands they once bought in the late civil War, vvill make the Body of Pha­natiques fond of alterations; since they very well know, let vvhat changes soever happen (which god in his mercy defend us alvvaies from) the new Adventurers will get the prey to themselves, for that must be proportioned to each Actor, according to vvhat he theu do's, & not to vvhat he or his fa­ther formerly did: but though by rebellion they can have no assurance of reenjoying their old silly purchasses, or any temporal gain more than other nevv partizans, yet all of them are sure that Liberty of Conscience vvill be granted them from the first, vvhat faction soever takes up armes against the King vvhich must needs make even quiet Sectaries greedy to hear of insurrections & broils. Hovv necessary are the means of preventing such an ill? for wo be to that countrey to so great a part of vvhose Inhabitants, sedi­tion & disorders are a certain advantage.

'Tvvere needlesse to mention the many places vvhere Toleration even at present is granted, as vvell in Popish as Protestant Countries, vvhich shovvs all discourses against its unpracticablenesse chimercial, & the idle vvhimsies of mens brains; nay vve knovv that in Holland, & in many provinces of Germany (besides several plantations, in the East & West Indies, & a thousand [Page 15]other places) Dissenters are not only good Subjects & make the publick interest of the Countrey their own, but also after their playing the fool a while, they become tyr'd at last by being let alone, & then commonly conform themselves to the Reli­gion of the Government under which they happen then to be.

Nor is this all, for Toleration will convert several Sects from those abominable opi­nions as to Obedience which now they are thought tainted with; because whilst they secretly meet in by places what may not their Pastours infuse into them, & what will they not easily swallow, being discontented and troubled? On the other side, if their [...]hurches be publique & allowed by Authority, we may all then not only truly know what is taught by them, but also their Congregations (being enjoyned to give up in writing the summ [...] of their tenets) will without peradventure soon conform to the due obedience mentioned; for 'tis certain to all mankind that things posi­tively against the Law of Nature as Murther, Theft, Adultery, Liberty to kill Kings when we please, & the like) will never be permitted by any Power in the world, & therefore the Knaves, or Ringleaders of our Sectaries (whose ambition and de­sign is to draw people after them) dare not insist upon such Doctrines, as knowing it cannot be so much as conniv'd at by his Majesty; & instead of being thought martyrs they are sure to be deserted by their own Followers, who will soon discover the cheat, when they find the King really Indulgent & good natur'd & shockt at nothing, but at that which is destructive & hurtfull in it self: for us I said before, There's no Body of men truly anarchicall.

This will cause them then at least to explicate the worst, & most seditious Doc­trines so, that Rebellion must be own'd unlawfull, and the persons of Kings esteemed Sacred, by which great numbers will be undeluded, and made faithfull, seeing that publickly condemned by their own Assembly, which now at best lyes undetermined, & therefore may be asserted by the Preacher when he pleases. Moreover this enjoyning each Congregation to give in a Confession of their Faith, will certainly reduce all Sectaries to their wits; for thus they will be accustomed to stand to some Principles or other, whereas now they have nothing positive, & consequently can hardly be confuted, the only aim of their politicall & cunning Teachers.

If it be then true Proustant charity not to damn Christians for Opinions whilst they agree in the maine, If moreover Sects are already so fixt, that they cannot be roo­ted out by force without destroying the Nation, & if Severity blinds them that would otherwise see the truth, and makes them persevere in their errors, entailing also a hatred against the Government on most of their Posterity (which at present weakens & may for the future again undo u) where is the fruit of tormenting men for their consciences, unlesse it be to furnish our Sectaries (especially Papists) with an unanswerable argument for any action committed whilst the power was in their hands.

But if Liberty were granted, if guilty men only suffer'd and not their Parties, & if Dissenters were capable of favour & trust, all people would joyn in the mainte­nance of the Government, Delinquents might be punish'd to the satisfaction of [Page 16]the rest & also the designs of all dangerous Milcreants would be wholly frustrated; & in that only consists the only possibility of new troubles. Nor can Dissenters by Liberty of conscience have any pretence in the least to Bishopricks, Deancries, or our other present Ecclesiastical preferments, more than to any mans private lands; because they never contributed to them, & therefore the King (had he no other title) must dispose of them, being ever heir where there is none, & to how many men of parts & learning, our famous Monarchs have still from time to time since the Reformation be­stowed them, no English-man can I am sure be ignorant. What [...]ectaries give of their own for the maintenance of their Pastours, in Goas name let them have it; & as for the claim of Papists to the Premisses we need not fear it, though our Ancestors of that perswasion were the Benefactors; for they that got the Pope in Q Maries time (for the quiet of the Kingdom) to confirm the Act of Parliament that sold Abbey lands (which makes our title to them unquestionable upon all accounts whatsoever) will without doubt in consideration of Indulgence do again the like, should any man be so scrupulous as to defire their release to that little which is still left the Church.

No benefit can there then be to invent new Sects, or to continue them, because Liberty to do as they please will quite cool (as I said) the zeale of men delighted with novelties, nor shall the persons of many now amongst us be admired who under pretence of suffering for God, devour Widdowes & Orphans, & by de­grees become the ruine both of Church & State.

How great & strong therefore must the Church of England grow by this Indul­gence, vvhen tvvil be no advantage for Deceivers (that novv dayly rage) to rob her of her children, & vvhat shall hinder the sheep that vvent astray to return, when they find neither pleasure nor profit in their folly? Nor shall we then (to the present wonder of mankind) be always consulting about Religion, as our v [...]ry Grammar has it; nor will our Parliaments be longer troubled with the insolencies of Papists & Pha­natiques, which has been the common artifice to divert sober motions, when they ran counter to the private interest of a few. Having thus stated each Party's principles & case as full as I could (& really believing Toleration will so settle us in our spi­ritual & temporal concerns, that in a trice neither of them will have any considera­ble enemies left) I now defie our Dissenters themselves to prevent their own ru­ine, though I have discover'd every thing, & show'd them the very trap & pitfall.

All that their Leaders can (I am sure) do, is (as some have already done) to kinder under hand that Indulgence which they seem so carnestly to desire; for they are sen­sible enough (as I mentioned) that they will hereby not only loose the present benefit they make of their followers (who in peace will soon be weary of them) but also that all their rebellious designs must be frustrated, as being never able to perswade them to fight the Battailes of the Lord, or in plain English to rebell, that already enjoy what they hope for by the danger: & besides all these true rea­sons, Pity it self cast's something into the Ballance, for if the righteous man be mer­cifull to his beast, much more ought we so to be to poor well-meaning Christians.

LONDON 1672.