YOU judg aright, That at my last being in London, I did consider the unusual hurry of Excommunications a­gainst those called Dissenters; and because of the novelty of the proceedings therein, I did moreover endeavour my own satisfaction, as unto the design, causes, and ends of them: And I found it a thing easily attainable, without difficulty, or curiosity of enquiry. For whereas there is no covering of Religion, nor any thing appertaining thereunto, save only a Name or Title cast upon them, they openly discover themselves of what sort they are, and what they belong unto. And [Page 2] among many other indecencies wherewith they are accompanied, one seemed to me to be very notable; and this is, the collecti­on of whole droves together by Summons and Citations; then dealing with them in such a clamorous manner as makes a repre­sentation of a Publick Market or Fair for chaffering about Souls. But that, I found, which did principally affect the minds of men, was the event which these proceedings do tend unto, and will produce; and they generally concluded, that they would be highly prejudicial, if not ruinous unto all Trust and Trade, among the peaceable Subjects of the Kingdom. For they said, that if the Commissaries would do as in the old Roman Proscriptions in the time of Sylla, and of the Triumvirate afterward, and set up the Names of all that were to be pro­ceeded against, in Publick Tables, to be ex­posed to the view of all; those concerned, might shift for themselves, as well as they could, and the residue of mankind might be at liberty to follow their own occasions; but whilst they retain an unmeasurable re­serve in their own breasts, as unto persons to be ruined by them, so as that they know [Page 3] not whose names, their own, or of those with whom they are concerned, they shall see the next day affixed on the Church Doors, in order unto Excommunication, it deprives them of all repose in the Law of the Land, or Publick Justice, and breaks all their Mea­sures about the disposal of their Affairs. How far this is already come to pass, you that are in the place, know better than I; but sure I am, that the very Rumor of it gives a general discomposure unto the minds of Men.

Hearing no other discourse of these things, I was somewhat surprized with your Letter, wherein you required my thoughts what influence these Excommunications may have on the Consciences of them who are so excommunicated; for I did not think there would have any question been made about it: But since you are pleased to make the enquiry, I shall for the satis­faction of my respects unto you, (tho as unto any other end I judg it needless) give you a brief Account of my Judgement concerning these proceedings, which is the same for the substance of it, with that of [Page 4] all sober persons with whom I ever conver­sed.

Excommunication is the Name of a Divine Institution of Christ, wherein, and in whose due and just administration, the consciences of Christians are, or ought to be highly concerned; And this, as for other causes, so principally because it is the only sure re­presentation of the future Judgment of Christ himself; he did appoint it for this end, that so it might be. Providential dis­pensations are various, and no certain Judg­ment can be made on them, as unto the fi­nal and eternal determination of things and causes; No man knoweth love or hatred by the things of that nature that are before him; But this is ordained by the Law of Christ to be a just Representation of his future Judgment, with a Recognition of the causes which he will proceed upon: There­fore it is divinely instructive, in what he himself will do in the great day; it is futu­ri judicii praejudicium: But he will scarcely be thought well advised, who shall send men to Doctors-Commons, to learn the way and manner of Christs Judgment of his Church, with the causes which he will pro­ceed [Page 5] upon. He giveth himself another ac­count of it, Mat. 25.32. unto the end of the Chapter; of what he there declares, there is neither name, nor thing found among the men of these practices, which we treat about. The mentioning of them, would be looked on as a sedition against their Au­thority; or else make them ashamed, as a thief when he is found: But for any sort of person to undertake the administration and execution of the sentence of Ex­communication against others, not making it their design to represent the Judgment of Christ towards impenitent Sinners, is to bid defiance to him and his Gospel. Wherefore no person whatever, wise or unwise, good or bad, can be concerned in the Excommu­nication, in conscience, or on a Religious ac­count; I speak not only of them who are forced to suffer by them, but of them al­so by whom they are administred and de­nounced: For it is impossible that men should be so far forsaken of all understand­ing, as to imagine that the proceedings thereins, do belong unto the Gospel, or Christian Religion, any otherwise but as a [Page 6] debasement and corruption of it; neither is any man ever the less of the Communi­on of the Church of England, by these Ex­communications; tho he may by force be debarred from some advantages that be­long thereunto. Neither is the Communi­on of any Church to be valued, from which a man may be really and effectually expelled by such means: For this Excom­munication is not only null as to the effica­cy of its sentence on the account of its mal-administration; but it is not in any sence that which it is called, and which it pretends to be. Idols are called Gods, but we know they are nothing in the World: So is this proceeding called Excommunica­tion, but is no such thing at all. If a man should paint a Rat, or an Hedg-hog, and write over it, that it is a Lion, no man would believe it so to be, because of its magnificent Title. All that it can pretend unto is a political Engine, used to apply the displeasure of some, upon an acciden­tal advantage, unto them whose ruin they design; and therein a satisfaction unto Re­venge, for discountenancing their supposed [Page 7] Interest. That there is any acting in it of the Authority of Christ, any Representa­tion of his love, care, and tenderness to­wards his Church, any thing that is instru­ctive in his Mind or Will, any praeludium of the future Judgment, no man I suppose does pretend; nor I am sure can do so, without reflecting the highest dishonour imaginable on Christ himself, and the Gospel.

To make these things yet more evident, and to show how remote the present Excom­munications are, from all possibility of af­fecting the Consciences of any, I shall briefly pass through the consideration of these things, which principally belong unto them, and whereunto all their efficacy is resolved; and that which first offereth it self, is the Persons by whom they are administred: The truth is, there is such a variety of Scenes in this Tragedy, and such different Actors in it, from Apparitor, with whom it begins, unto the Jailor with whom it ends, that it seems not easie, whom to ascribe the animating power and authority that is in it, unto: But yet on a little consideration the matter is plain enough. The Ministers of the Pa­rishes [Page 8] wherein the Excommunicated persons are supposed to dwell, by whom the sen­tence of Excommunication is rehearsed out of a Paper from the Court, have no con­eernment herein; for they know nothing of the causes, or reasons of it, nor of the process therein, nor do pretend unto any Right, for the cognizance of them; nor do for the most part know the persons at all, on whose qualifications alone, the validity or invalidity of the sentence doth depend; nor can give an account to God or man of what is done, as to right and equity; and therefore I no way doubt, but that these who are learned and pious among them, do hard­ly bear the yoke of being made such properties those acts and duties which apper­tain unto their Ministerial function; but it is known who they are, who begin the work, and carry on the process of it unto its final execution; and I shall say no more concerning them, but this alone, That how meet soever they may be for the transacti­on of Civil Affairs, or for the skilful mana­ging of that work herein, which they sup­pose committed unto them; yet as unto any [Page 9] thing wherein conscience may be affected with the Authority of Jesus Christ, they can be of no consideration in it. If any man can but pretend to believe, that our Lord Jesus by any Act, Grant, Law or Institution of his, by any signification of his Mind or Will hath committed, or doth commit, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the power of binding and loosing, of expelling out of, and ad­mitting into his Church, unto these or such persons, he hath assuredly confidence e­nough to pretend unto a perswasion of whatever he pleases. They do not believe it themselves; nor among themselves, pre­tend unto any such thing; but only a pow­er to execute their own Laws or Canons. They do not judg that any personal, moral or spiritual qualifications, are required un­to Ecclesiastical Administrations; which yet to deny, is to undermine all Religion, with­out which they may be fit for all Church Duties, who are no better than that Arch-Deacon of Oxford, who being charged with Immoralities in his Conversation, justified himself by the soundness of his faith, affir­ming that he believed Three Gods in one Per­son; [Page 10] and besides he believed all that God him­self did believe: Let a man out of interest, or fear, or ignorant superstition, strive never so much to affect his Conscience with the Excommunications of such men, he will ne­ver be able to effect it.

But be the personal qualifications of those intended, what they please, the Questi­on is, How they came by that Power and Authority herein, which they pretend unto? They are Chancellors, Archdeacons, Commissa­ries, Officials, with their Court Attendants, of whom we speak. I confess these horrid Names, with the reports concerning them, and their power, are enough to terrifie poor harmless men, and make them fear some e­vil from them. But Excommunication is that which no man knows on what grounds to fear, from these Names, Titles, and Offi­ces: For that is the Name of a Divine Or­dinance instituted by Christ in the Gospel, to be admininistred according to the Rule and Law thereof; but these Name, and those unto whom they do belong, are utter­ly forreign unto the Scriptures, and as unto the Work, to the practise of the Church [Page 11] for a Thousand Years; what therefore is done by them of this kind, must of neces­sity be utterly null, seeing that as such, they have no place in the Church themselves by the Authority of Christ. But however it be undeniably evident, that they have no relation unto the Scripture, nor can have a­ny Authority from Christ, by vertue of a­ny Law or Institution of his, nor counte­nance given unto them by any practise of the primitive Church; yet what they do in this kind, being pretended acts of Power and Authority, an Authority for them must be pleaded by them: But then it may be justly demanded of them, What it is? of what na­ture and kind? how it is communicated unto them, or derived by them from others? This is that which those who are Excommunicated by them, are princi­pally concerned to enquire into, and, which themselves in the first place are obliged to declare and evince: Unless men are satisfied in conscience, that those who act against them have just authority so to do, or in what they do, it is utterly impossible they should be concerned in conscience in what [Page 12] is done against them, or be any ways ob­liged thereby: Here therefore they abide until they are satisfied in this just and ne­cessary demand.

But here all things are in confusion; they can declare neither what Authority is re­quired unto what they do, nor how they come to possess that which they pretend unto.

If it be from Christ, how comes it to operate on the outward concerns of men, their Liberties and Estates? If it be meerly of man, whence do they give the Name, and pretence of a Divine Ordinance unto what they do? If any should follow the clew in this Labyrinth, it is to be feared that it would lead them into the Abyss of Papal Omnipotency.

As they exercise this power in Courts of External Jurisdiction, and forms of Law, they will not deny, I suppose, but that it is from the King; but why do they not then act that power in the Kings Name; For [Page 13] what is not done by his Name, is not done by his Authority.

Ministers do not preach, nor administer Sacraments in the Name of the King, for they do it not by his Authority, or by Ver­tue of Authority derived from him; nor do Parents govern their Children or Families in his Name, but their own; because Autho­rity for it, is their own by the Law of God and Nature; but that exercise of Power which externally affects the Civil Rights and Liberties of men, must be in the Kings Name, or the foundations of the Govern­ment of the Nation are shaken—But I make it not my concernment what Name or Stile they use in their Courts. Let it be granted for their own security, that they have all their Power and Authority from the King, it must be therewithal granted of what Nature it is, namely, Civil, and not Spiritual, but why then doth what they do, not go under the name of a Civil Order, Constitution, or Penalty, but of an Ordi­dance or Institution of Jesus Christ? Are [Page 14] not these things in their own Nature ever­lastingly distinct? and is not conscience hereby fully absolved from any respect un­to it, as such an ordinance▪ which in this supposition it neither is, nor can be. It is easily discernable, how these things tend un­to the utter confusion of all things in Reli­gion.

If it be said, That the Power of it, as it is Excommunication, is originally seated in the Prelates, by virtue of their Office, and is communicated unto this sort of Per­sons, by Commission, Delegation, or De­putation, under their seals; it will yield no relief: For this fiction of the delegation of office-power, or the power of office, unto any, without giving them the office it self, whereunto that power belongs, is gross and intolerable. Let it be tried, whether the Bishops can delegate the power of Mi­nisterial preaching the Word, and Admini­stration of the Sacraments, unto any persons, without giving them the office of the Mini­stry. If Excommunication be an act of [Page 15] office-power, Authority to administer it, cannot be delegated unto any without the office it self, whereunto it doth belong; for these things are inseparable. I certainly be­lieve it is the duty and concernment of some men, to state proceedings of this na­ture on better foundations, that the exer­cise of such solemn duties of Christian Re­ligion be not exposed to utter contempt, nor men led by a discovery of false preten­ces of Divine Institutions, to despise the things themselves that are so abused.

It were easie from many other considera­tions, to demonstrate the nullity of these mens pretended Authority, with respect un­to Excommunication, as it is an Ordinance of the Gospel, in which respect alone, the consciences of men are concerned; and as unto their power over the Civil Rights and Interests of men, those trou­bled by them, must shift as well as they can.

But yet further, the manner of the admi­nistration [Page 16] of the present Excommunica­tions doth evidence their invalidity and nul­lity. That which they pretend unto, as hath been said, is a Divine Ordinance, an Institution of Jesus Christ; and this de­clares in general how it ought to be admi­nistred by them who have authority for it, and are called thereunto: For it hence fol­loweth, that it ought to be accompanied with an humble Reverence of him and his Authority, diligent attendance unto his Law, and the Rule of his Word in all things, with solemn reiterated invocation of his ho­ly name, for his Presence, Guidance, and assistance: Where these things are neglect­ed in the Administration of any Divine Or­dinances, it is nothing but the taking the Name of God in vain, and the profanation of his Worship. It may be some will des­pise these considerations; I cannot help it, they do it at their utmost peril; it is Con­science alone which I respect in this Dis­course; they who have any such thing, will think these things reasonable.

[Page 17]Again, the especial nature of this Insti­tution doth require an especial frame of mind in its administration; for it is the cut­ting off of a member of the same body with them, which cannot be without sence and sorrow. To cut off any from a Church, who was never a member of it by his own consent, nor doth judg himself so to be, is ridiculous; hence St. Paul calls the execu­tion of this censure, bewailing, (2 Cor. 12.21.) Denominating the whole action from the frame of mind wherewith it ought to be performed; and he that shall dare to de­cree or denounce this sentence without sor­row and compassion for the sin, and on the person of him that is excommunicated, plays a game with things Sacred for his ad­vantage, and shall answer for his Presump­tion.

Besides, as was before observed, it is an instituted Representation of the Lord Christ, and his Judgment in, and of the Church at the last day. If the considera­tion hereof, be once out of the minds of [Page 18] them by whom it is administred, they must unavoidably err in all that they do; much more if it be never once in them; but this they ought to take on their souls and con­sciences, that what they do, Christ himself if present would do, and will do the same at the last day; for so he will deal with all impenitent sinners, he will denounce them accursed, and deliver them to Satrn. There is undoubtedly required from hence a reve­rential care and circumspection in all that is done herein: to make a false representation of Christ in these things, that is, his Wis­dom, Authority, Holiness, Love, and Care towards the Church, is the worst and most deformed image, that can be set up: What higher indignity can be offered to his Gra­cious Holiness, than to act and represent him as Furious, Proud, Passionate, Unmerci­ful, and delighting in the Ruine of those that openly profess Faith in him, and love unto him? God forbid that we should think that he hath any concern in such ways and proceedings.

[Page 19]Whereas also the next end of this Cen­sure is not destruction, but edification, or the repentance and recovery of lapsed sin­mers, it ought to be accompanied with con­tinual fervent prayers for this end. This the nature of the thing it self requireth, this the Scripture directs unto, and such was the practise of the primitive Church.

If we are Christians, we are concerned in these things as much as we are in the glo­ry of Christ, and the salvation of our own souls. If we only make a pretence of re­ligious Duties, if we only erect an image of them for our own advantage, we may despise them, but at our peril.

How well these things are observed in the present Excommunications, is notorious. Once to mention them, is to deserve a se­cond Thunderbolt: An account of them as to matter of fact, will be shortly given; at present I shall only say, That there is not any transaction of affairs in any kind a­mongst men civilized, wherein there is a [Page 20] greater appearance and evidence of turbu­lent passions, acting themselves in all man­ner of irregularities, more profaness of ex­pression, more insolent insultations, more brawling, litigious proceedings, more open mixtures of money demanded in pretended administrations of Right and Equity, than there are in the publick proceedings about them: Shall any Christian suppose that the Holy Spirit of God, on whom alone depends the efficacy of all Divine Ordinances unto their proper end, will immix his holy Ope­rations in or with this furious exertion of the lusts of men? If this be looked on as the Complement of Christian Discipline, or the last and utmost actings of this Authori­ty of Christ towards men in this World, it must needs be a temptation unto men of atheistical inclinations: certainly greater scandal cannot be given; and it is the in­terest of some, at least for the preservation of a veneration to their Office, to dispose of proceedings in this case, in such a way and manner, as may administer occasion of consideration unto them concerned, and [Page 21] not be carried on as at present, with Laugh­ter, Indignation and Confusion; and if Dissenters are to be destroyed, it is desired, that the work were left unto the Penal sta­tutes, which as now prosecuted and in­terpreted, are sufficient for it; rather than that the name of Religion, and a Divine ordinance, should meerly for that end be exposed to contempt.

The last thing that I shall trouble you with at present, is the consideration of the persons against whom the present Excom­munications are blustered, with the preten­ded causes of them. These are they whom they call Dissenters, concerning whom we may enquire what they are, and the cause of this pretended Ecclesiastical severity towards them. And as unto the first part of the enqury, They are such as believe and make open profession of all the Articles of the Ch [...]istian Faith; they do so, as they are declared in the Scripture; nor is the con­trary charged on them. There is nothing de­termined by the ancient Councils to belong [Page 22] unto Christian Faith, which they disbelieve; nor do they own any Doctrine condemned by them: They profess an equal interest of Consent in the Harmony of Protestant Con­fessions, with any other Protestants whate­ver. They own the Doctrine of the Church of England as established by Law, in nothing receding from it; nor have they any novel, or Uncatholick Opinion of their own.

It is therefore utterly impossible to sepa­rate them from the Communion of the Ca­tholick Church in Faith; or to cast them from that Rock whereon they are built thereby. They do also attend unto Divine Worship in their own assemblies; and here­in they do practise all that is agreed on by all Christians in the world, and nothing else; for they do not only make the Scripture the sole Rule of their Worship, so as to omit nothing prescribed therein to that purpose, nor to observe any thing prohibited there­by; but their Worship is the very same with that of the Catholick Church in all ages nothing do they omit that was ever u­sed by it, nothing do they observe that was [Page 23] ever condemned by it; and this must be the principle and measure of Catholick Union in Worship, if ever there be any such thing in the Earth; to expect it in any other observances, is vain and foolish. Offering Prayers and Praises to God in the Name of Jesus Christ, rea­ding the Holy Scripture, and expounding of it; singing of Psalms to God, preach­ing of the Word, with the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper; in a Religious Observation of the Lords Day, unto these ends; all accord­ing as God doth enable them by his Spirit, is the Sum and Substance of the Worship of the Catholick Church, wherein all Christians are agreed: These things the Scripture doth prescribe, and these things the Church in all ages hath observed: All differences about this Worship which have filled the World with inhumane contenti­ons, arose from mens Arbitrary Addition of Forms, Rites, Modes, Ceremonies, Lan­guages, Cringings, Adorations, which they would have observed in it, whereof the [Page 24] Scripture is silent, and Primitive Antiquity utterly ignorant—And it may be it will be one day understood, that the due obser­vance of this Catholick Worship, accord­ing as God enableth any thereunto, leaving others at liberty to use such helps un­to their Devotion, as they shall think meet; is the only Communion of Worship in the Church, which the Scripture requires, or which is possible to be attained: About the imposition of other things, there ever were, since they were, and ever will be, endless contentions. Wherefore these Dis­senters practising nothing in the Worship of God, but what is approved by all Christians, particularly by the Church of England, o­mitting nothing that either the Scripture or Catholick tradition directs unto, they are, notwithstanding this pretended Excom­munication, secure of Communion with the Catholick Church in Evangelical Wor­ship.

Moreover, they plead, that their conver­sation is unblamable; that they are peacea­ble in the Civil Government, and useful a­mong [Page 25] their neighbours; if they do evil in these things, let them that prosecute them, bear witness of the evil; but if they do well, why are they smitten? If they can be charged with any immoralities, with a­ny disobedience unto the Rule and Precept of the Gospel; those by whom they are thus prosecuted, are highly concerned, if not in Conscience, yet in Honour and In­terest, to manage the charge against them, that some countenance may be given unto their Proceedings: For the Law is not made (as penal) for a righteous man, but for the lawless, and disobedient; for the ungodly, and for sinners; for unholy and profane; and if it be otherwise with the Laws about these Ex­communications, they neither belong to, nor are derived from the Law of God.

There are indeed great clamours against them, that they are Schismaticks and Sepa­ratists, and things of the like nature; that is, that they are Dissenters: But in this case the whole force of any inference from hence, is built on this supposition, That it is the Will of Christ, that those who profess [Page 26] Faith in him, and Obedience unto him, un­blameably, should be excluded from an interest in, and participation of these Odinances of Divine Worship, which are of his own Institu­tion, who will not comply with, and observe such rights and practises in that Worship, as are not so, but confessedly of humane invention. But no colour of proof can be given here­unto; for it is directly contrary unto ex­press Scripture-Rule, to the Example of the Apostolical Churches, and unheard of in the world, before the branded Usurpation of Victor Bishop of Rome: An Assertion of it, is to prostitute the Wisdom, Authority, and Love of Christ towards his Disciples, unto the wills of Men, oftentimes pre-possessed with Darkness, Ignorance, and Superstition, and other lusts, as shall be more fully manifested, if there be occasion. Let any colour be given unto this supposition from Scripture or Antiqui­ty, and the whole cause shall be given up; yet thus is it, and no otherwise, in the mat­ter of the present Excommunications; Persons of all sorts, every way found in the [Page 27] Faith, unreprovable in the Catholick Wor­ship of the Gospel, professing Love and O­bedience unto Jesus Christ, without blame, are excluded, what lies in them, who ma­nage these Ordinances, of Divine Worship, which the Lord Christ hath appointed and injoyned, without pretence of any other cause or reason, but only their not obser­vance, in that Worship, of what he hath not appointed. He that can believe this to be the Will of Christ, neither knoweth him, nor his Will as it is revealed in his Word; and the Consciences of men are sufficiently secure from being concerned in that, where­in such an open defiance is bid unto Evan­gelical Precepts and Rules, with Apostolical Examples.

And further, to manifest the iniquity of these Proceedings, whilst these Dissenters are thus dealt withal, all sorts of Persons, ignorant, profane, haters of Godliness, and openly wicked in their lives, are allowed in the full communion of the Church, with­out any disciplinary admonition or con­troul: [Page 28] But as this serves to acquit them from any concernment in what is done a­gainst them; so nothing can be invented that tends more directly to harden men in their sins and impenitency; for whilst there is a pretence of Church-censures, they will be apt to think, that they are sufficiently ap­proved of Christ and the Church, seeing their displeasure is no way declared against them; so they are not Dissenters, they have reason to judg that they are safe here, and shall be so to Eternity; let them look to themselves who deserve to be excommu­nicated. Is this the Rule of the Gospel? Is this the Discipline of Christ? Is this the representation of his future Judgment? Is this the way and manner of the exercise of his Authority in the Church, a declaration of what he owns, and what alone he disa­vows? God forbid that such Thoughts should have any countenance given unto them.

Ecclesiastical Laws have been always look­ed on as cobwebs, that catch the smaller Flies, whilst the greater break them at [Page 29] their pleasure, but amongst those lesser, to spare those that are noxious or poysonous, and to cast the net over the innocent and harmless, is that which the Spider gives no pattern of, nor can imitate.

I shall not mention the avowed end and design of these present Excommunications; only I shall say, They are such, as many good men tremble to consider the horrible prophanation of things sacred, which they manifest to be in them.

There are also many other things which evidence the nullity of these Proceedings, which may be pleaded if there be occasion; what hath already been spoken, is abun­dantly suffitcien to satisfy my engagement unto you, Namely, That the Consciences of men are not at all concerned in the present Excommunications.

It may be it will be said, That all this while we have been doing just nothing, or that which is to no purpose at all, as not concerning the present case; for these of [Page 30] whom we treat, pretend no power in Foro interiore, or the Court of Conscience, or unto nothing that should immediately af­fect it. Their Authority is only in Foro ex­teriore, in the Court of the Church, which it seems is at Doctors Commons: Wherefore by their sentence of Excommunication, they oblige men only unto their outward con­cernments; as unto what concerns con­science, they leave that unto the Preachers of the Word: It may be it will be so plead­ed; but before they quit their hands well of this business, they will understand, that Excommunication it self is nothing but an especial way of the application of the Word unto the consciences of sinners, unto their Edification; and that which is not so, pretend what it will, is nothing at all; unto the dispensers, therefore, of the Word, it doth alone belong; and whereas the Apo­stle tells us, that the weapons of our Christi­an Warfare, are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to bring into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ; they [Page 31] seem herein to say, that the Weapons of their warfare are carnal, and mighty through the aid of some body, to cast men into prison, or to bring their persons into captivity: And in­deed this outward Court of theirs, is part of that Court without the Temple, which is trodden down by the Gentiles, and shall not be measured in the Restauration of the Worship of God; yea the distinction it self is silly, if any thing be intended by this outward Court, but only the outward decla­ration of what is, or is supposed to be ef­fected in the inward, or the mind and con­sciences of men. But let it be what it will; those who have neither Name, nor Place, nor Office in the Church by Divine Institu­tion, who attend not at all in what they do unto any rule of the Scripture; nor can, nor do pretend any Authority from Christ, in and for what they do, are no way to be heeded in this matter, but only as the in­struments of external compulsion, which for the sake of the publick peace, is to be submitted unto with quietness and patience.

[Page 32]I find, I confess, by the books with me, sent us weekly into the Country, that in this state of things some of the Reverend Cler­gy do manifest great compassion to­wards the Dissenters, in writing and publish­ing many discourses containing Persuasives unto, and Arguments for Conformity, where­by they may be freed from their trouble­some circumstances: But I must needs com­mend their Prudence in the choice of the season for this work, as much their Charity in the work it self: For the Conformity they press, needs no other recommendation at this time; nor need they use any other arguments for it, but only that it is better than being hanged, or kept in perpetual du­rance, or stifled in Prisons, or beggar'd, they and their Families; or be starved in Exile. And it hath been always observed, that ar­guments which march with Halberts, Bills, Staves, Serjeants, Bailiffs, Writs, Warrants, and Capiasses, are very forcible and prevalent.

But I have done, and shall leave it unto others to declare what mischiefs do ensue on these Proceedings, on civil accounts, [Page 33] and what an inroad is made by them on the Government of the Kingdom. For a new Tenure is erected by them, whereon all men must hold their birthright priviledges, es­pecially that which is the root whereon they all do grow, namely, their Personal Liber­ty. They hold them no longer by the Law of the Land, nor can pretend unto security, whilst they forfeit them not by that Law; they are all put into the power of Chancel­lors, Archdeacons, Commissaries, and Officials; they may deprive them of them all at their pleasure, aganst the protection of that Law under which they are born, and which hath been looked on as the only rule and measure of the Subjects Liberties, Privi­ledges, and Possessions. These things tend not only to the disturbance, but the ruine of all peace and trust amongst men, and of all good Government in the World.

And if they should Excommunicate all that by the Law of Christ are to be excom­municated on the one hand, and all that are to be so by their own Law on the other, and then procure Capiasses for them all, [Page 34] it is to be feared, the King might want Sub­jects to defend his Realms against his Ene­mies, unless he should do as they did of old at Rome in great distresses, open the Goals, and arm the Prisoners; or it may be the lesser part would at length find it trouble­some to keep the greater in prison. But these things concern not you nor me. I beg your excuse, as not knowing whether you will judg this hasty Writing too little for the Cause, or too much for a Letter. As it is, accept it from