A POSTCRIPT.
Representing the Inju­stice and Danger of Partial Conformity.

I Have in this Sermon (as fully & faithfully as I could) made an universal Survey of the several Branches of Christian Justice, and given notice, that the wilful Transgressors of any part of it, stand arraign'd and condemned for un­righteous [Page 66] persons, as to their guilt, and cannot (upon the Gospels re­quiring universal Obedience in ge­neral, and doing right to all men in particular, as the Conditions of Salvation by it) inherit the King­dom of God, as their punish­ment.

But amongst the great numbers of unjust men, I have (in the for­mer part of my Discourse) sorted those persons, who deprive the Su­preme Magistrate of his due, in that part of his Authority which concern Spirituals; and the Go­vernors of the Church of their right of Obedience from their Charges; by refusing to conform themselves to the Commands of both, so far as they are invested with a power from God, to insti­tute Laws and Canons, for the Peace, Order, and Unity of the Churches, under their Rule and Conduct.

[Page 67] Now because not only the Peo­ple in general are concern'd in that part of Evangelical Righteousness; but the Ministers also of Parochial Congregations stand most especial­ly obliged to it, and because their offences against it, are of far more dangerous consequence, I have for their sakes, who are of the Clergy, made this enlargement in that particular Branch of it, as to them.

And this I have done the rather, because (at this present time) this kind of Injustice is so spreadingly, and unconscionably committed and practiced; that (what with the miscarriage of some, who out of worldly prudence, of others, who out of weakness, of most, who out of wilfulness, neglect their due con­formity to the establish'd Laws) a great number of the Churches are made irregular and disordered in [Page 68] the publick Administrations of Gods service: By which means the Laws are baffled and despised, the Government suspected and defa­med, the Priesthood in general reproach'd as false and careless, and the whole profession of our esta­blisht Religion, is made a scorn at present, and ready to be made a prey in future, to our enemies on every side.

My Brethren, let us have a care therefore in time, we do not too much, and too long (for the nar­row Concerns of our present quiet or profit, or to conciliate vulgar Love or Fame) not only wickedly and unjustly, but weakly and im­prudently comply with the humors of any party whatsoever, in the neglects of our Duties, or partial performance of our Offices: For it is certain, that no man can do it, (upon what pious Motives soever [Page 69] he pretends to be induced to it, as favouring infirmities, or tender Consciences, and the like) but be­sides his real offence against the Laws of Christ strictly obliging Obedience to his Superiors just Commands, he doth thereby pro­mote and cherish a Faction in his own bosom; which being once warm'd into a sufficient strength, shall upon the next advantageous opportunity, not only destroy the Church in its Legal Constitution, but in the same pitch and posture of abasement, to which the con­descension was made.

And of this, let our late expe­rience be an impartial Judge. For when some Bishops, and other emi­nent persons of the Church, who out of a pious tenderness to some mens dissatisfactions, and designing the upholding their own, and the Churches Respect & Credit among [Page 70] them (for which they were distin­guished from their Brethren by the name of Puritans) did either not urge, or not practise strict Confor­mity, found at length their own grand mistake in the frustration of all those ends which they pro­pounded to themselves, as the rea­sons of their compliance: For nei­ther themselves, nor the Church for their sakes, found any mercy at all from them, in the days of their Power and Fury, when nothing less would satisfie them, than the confusion of both. Little did those Reverend Persons think, when they strain'd their Candor to that Party, beyond the bounds of their due O­bedience to Law, that such a pet­ty shew of tender Piety, and Con­sciences so demurely nice (that could not digest so much as a Ring on the Brides Finger, the Infants wearing the shadow of a Cross three [Page 71] minutes at its Baptism, upon its Forehead, or but the colour of the Priest's Vestment; for they pre­tended then but such little offences) should cover such black Designs, of the most unwarrantable pra­ctices that ever were acted in the world.

It behoveth us therefore to sus­pect, when we meet with Consci­ence-scruplings about such, or the like indifferent Rites and Circum­stances that there lodgeth under­neath an unsatisfiable dislike and dissatisfaction to the whole esta­blishment; so that if our Ingenui­ty should be tempted to debauch our Obedience, by a partial confor­mity to indulge them in those lesser things, it were prudence to believe, that we should be so far from giving them full satisfaction, that it would but the more advance and strength­en an unruly appetite, which no­thing [Page 72] could determine, but the de­struction of all. Of this their un­satiable humour, our late experi­ence can convincingly inform us▪ when their first modest desires of a Moderated Episcopacy, ended in nothing less, than its extirpation▪ and of regulating some offensive parts of the Liturgy, in its utter a­bolition. And when (as among many of them) after the Cross, followed Baptism it self; after re­moving the Rails and Genuflexion, went away the Sacrament: And when they had been at first a little gratified with the taking away the Habits, they were never quiet, till they had renounced the very Order & Calling of Priesthood it self. Such effects, and no better than these we must expect from the greatest condescention that can be made, to men of this temper and comple­ction.

[Page 73] In stead therefore of any sinful [...]pliance with any Faction what­ [...]ver, by remitting our Duties, [...] please them, as Friends (which [...] will be no longer than they [...]ot be otherwise) let us gird our selves in all our spiritual Armature a­gainst them, as the Churches, ours, and their own, destructive Ene­mies; that is, let us fast and pray, and weep against their Ignorance and Perverseness in private: Let us preach down their Follies in pub­lik: But especially let us guard the establish'd Church against their designs of unsetling the peoples [...]herence to it, with an intire con­ [...]mity to its legal Constitutions [...] every Circumstance; and then let us conquer their prejudice with [...]nocency of Life and simplicity of [...]anners, till by these holy Me­thods, and Gods blessing, we have [...]tained (or at least endeavoured [Page 74] to administer the most reasonable means to obtain their recovery, [...] Sense and Obedience.

And though, if after all this, we cannot prevail, yet it will be [...] honourable and safe (before G [...] and Man) for us, who are the Phy­sitians of Souls, that they may be said to perish under, than without the application of the most suffici­ent remedy. And if truth must [...] to the ground, yet let it not [...] without a competent witness gi [...] to it, whatsoever we suffer for it. But by no means, let nor futurity lay it to our charge, that we have help'd to betray the best constitu­ted Church in the world to ruine, by neglecting our Duty, to hu [...] and indulge a perverse generation of men, whom no kindness could reconcile, no remissions or conde­scentions satisfie.

For he that thinks, that the les­sening, [Page 75] or laying aside his Confor­ [...]ty, or the concealing some ne­cessary Truths, because distastful [...] their vitiated Palates, or the [...]pping on to some degrees of com­ [...]ance with their popular Modes [...] Praying and Preaching, will se­ [...]re the Church from the danger [...] those Factions; shall find his [...]pedient as unsuccesseful, as that [...]ysitian's, who leaving the Cause [...] the Distemper behind, thinks [...] obtain health for his Patient, by [...]ring the Symptom for the Dis­ [...]se; or as absurd as his expectati­on, who would hope for a regular [...]fect, from the most equivocal [...]ause. For it is observed (and we are ready to make the Observa­tion good by several Instances) that [...] Congregations have contributed greater numbers to the Herds of the different Factions, than those that have been under the conduct [Page 76] of such, who would have the pieced, and partial Conformity and popular Compliances, esca [...] under the specious, yet mista [...] Title of Moderation.

I must confess, amongst the Ene­mies of the Church of England, think that sort of amphibious Cler­gy, not the least, nor less dange­rous than any; who forfeit the Fidelity to their solemn Subscripti­ons and Declarations, and treache­rously decline the work they have assumed, and act their Offices in the Church, in such a manner, that the People may believe, that there is something that is very evil in them, and that they repented them­selves of what they had underta­ken.

These are they, that set up Altar against Altar in the same Church that join the Liturgy and Directo­ry together, at the same Assembly [Page 77] but as much as possible to the Dis­advantage of the former, which they shuffle over with such an un­decent and undevout Mode of De­livery, and then manage their Vo­luntier Effusions in Prayer, and their Hints and Corollaries in Preaching, with such Zeal and Fer­vor, as if they design'd to tell the People, that they never were in earnest till then, or that those Of­fices in the Pulpit might be inter­preted to serve no better end, than to undermine the credit of what they had done (or undone) in the Desk.

Such unconformable Conformists as these began the Church of Eng­lands danger at first Reformation, and the miserable Series, of almost all its Troubles since, hath been propagated by them; and if a [...]imely care in Governors, and the Resurrection of a good Conscience [Page 78] in themselves, do not prevent it, they will yet contribute as much, (if not more) as any enemy we have, to make the present Distem­pers in the Church, to become an uncurable Disease, an unsuperable Evil.

These mens Congregations are the Fountains, from whence the crooked Rivers, and Rivulets, the Mother and Daughters of Factions, have deriv'd their streams, to that swelling greatness, as they now run among us, and almost over us▪ They were the Seraglio's, where the late Warriors against the King and the Church, were trained up and disciplin'd: And what the Se­minaries beyond Seas, are to the propagation of Popery, these are the same to the keeping up of all Factions among us. So that all at­tempts for the recovery of the Churches Peace, and Unity, by [Page 79] suppressing Conventicles (in which are many serious, though abused Souls, who would the rather be [...]itied (so far as can possibly con­ist with the Churches safety) be­cause they received their first pre­judice by them, whom we have too much or too little reason to call our selves) will be found uneffe­ctual for that end, so long as the Nurseries of Faction within the Church, are permitted to perpetu­ate a Succession of such, who up­on the least check or discontent, have prepared Principles and Affe­ctions to depart from us, and to supply their places. And this will easily be believed, when it is consi­dered, that the difference between some Ministers practices in Chur­ches, and those of unlawful Meet­ings is so small, that oft-times the separation may be rather account­ed [Page 80] a Change of Places, than Pro­fessions.

But that these Clergy-men may be more regularly convinced of their sin and folly, and find Argu­ments, both from Conscience and Prudence, to change their destru­ctive practices of popular compli­ances, into a Design of preserving the Church of England's general safety, by a faithful conformity to its Institutions; I shall here offer to their considerations, (besides those which I have already intimated in general) a particular Series of E­vils, certainly consequent to their Disorders.

1. From these mens Miscarri­ages, and the teaching their People to adhere to them (where they are) it comes to pass that the Enemies of the Church, have contrived an Ar­gument, by crying up the numbers [Page 81] of Dissenters (which by their means are more numerous in Chur­ches, than without) as great and formidable; to tempt, and terri­fie the Civil Power, from prote­cting the Church, under its pre­sent danger and oppression. Where­as, as I believe the allegation to be false (especially if a lesser number of men in power, and of learning, and honour, may be allowed to compensate a greater, of the mean and ignorant) so, if this one Ex­pedient were tryed, that all Cler­gy men might be compelled to serve God in publick, in one uni­form submission to Law, without any liberty to extravagate from that Rule; and so no more Beacons on fire in any neighbouring Chur­ches to alarm the Vulgar, to run up and down to gratifie their natural love of Opposition and Novelty; [Page 82] and a diligent care taken that no Factions without the Church, might be headed by men of Orders, or Parts (though the common people were less prosecuted with afflictive penalties) I am perswaded in a few years, the numbers of Dissenters, would be so far from being formi­dable, that they would not be con­siderable for any thing, but our pi­ty and Charity. And I have this ground to assure me of the possible successefulness of this Expedient, because it is certain, that where the strictest Conformity hath a long time been constantly used, there are fewest that do trouble themselves, or their Governors about the De­sign of Relaxation from it; and that there are none that hate con­formity so much, as they who live in places where it is discountenan­ced and neglected. And this ap­pears [Page 83] by the disloyal and undutiful temper of those that dwell in Ci­ties and greater Towns, where, be­cause there was no provision in Law for them, that would obey it; the people were resolved to bestow their Contributions on none, but such, by whom they might be in­structed and indulged in an assured opposition to the Church.

To which one cause, most of our former and present miseries refer, [...] effects; as when from those places were elected Burgesses of Parlia­ment of the same Principles, to cre­ate troubles above (whose heavy [...]and, our late Gracious Princes of Happy Memory felt sufficiently, even to the loss of the life of one of the best Kings that ever was:) and [...] when the People of the Neigh­bour-Villages flockt to their Mar­ket Lectures, and were there train­ed [Page 84] up, in dislike and enmity to the establish'd Church, and prepared to contemn their own Shepherds at home; unless they became such as themselves, which very oft they did, when younger Divines (who for want of Parts or Government, had little encouragement to conti­nue in the Universities) made it a piece of their Education, to go thither, to scribble Notes for their own Pulpits, and to learn the Tones, Gestures, and Phrases, which might give their own People con­tentment at home.

Whereas if our present Parlia­ment (as it was the Design of ma­ny) had upon the Kings Restaura­tion found out a way, to have set­led a competent legal maintenance, and men of the greatest Integrity and Learning (whose abilities are commonly either lodg'd up in Col­ledges [Page 85] and Cathedrals, or obscur'd in little Villages) planted in those greater places; and where they are popularly elective, if they had been brought under the Patronage of the Crown (whose safety is espe­cially concern'd in it) and a way found out, to embetter Trade, in the stead of Factious Lectures, there could not have been a Stone laid, which would have added more to the defence and security of the Church and Throne.

But to recover my self from this Digression, I am confident that this Expedient that I have mentioned, (whatsoever is pretended to the contrary by them that have a de­sign to ruine us) will give far less trouble to the Civil Power to pre­serve the Church, than a Tolerati­on of all Religions (by the making and maintaining so many Rules to [Page] limit it, and so many Provisions to prevent the dangers that will ensue upon it, half of which cannot be be foreseen) will cost to destroy it: Besides the Dishonour of discoun­tenancing that Party, which are the only assured Friends to un­doubted Loyalty, all other Parties lying under a stain of being unfaith­ful to the Crown; of confounding the most absolute platform of Pri­mitive Christianity, which no other Perswasion makes any such pre­tence to; and in defending of which, we have so far prevail'd in all rational Debates, that our ene­mies stand ashamed, and baffled on every side: Of making that Church which hath appear'd hi­therto the honour of the whole Reformation, to become vile and contemptible in the eye of the world, by giving advantage for [Page] the encouragement and immixture of as many false and ridiculous Professions at one time among us, as all the Ages of the Church ever knew in its successive Periods: Of contradicting the sense of both the Universities, and of the principal of the most Learned men of the Age, with a great Blow to Learn­ing it self: Of opening a door to the increase of Atheism and Pro­phaneness, which if they have thri­ven so much under a looser hand of Discipline, what will they come to, when all the Bars of Ecclesia­stick Government are thrown down? Lastly, (with many more evils which a better and more ex­perienc'd skill might foresee) be­sides the dishonour of treading up­on the Bloud and Ashes, and of blemishing the Fame and Actions of our Late Gracious King and Mar­tyr, [Page] who died to prevent the ad­mission of those evils among us.

The Sum is, It is no wonder, (while so many Churches continue in their Irregularities) why the Arms of the Civil Power are wea­ried and discouraged, when all their Endeavours for the establishing an universal uniformity by the method of dispersing unlawful Assemblies, may be too justly interpreted to be but an emptying the streams, while the Fountain is kept running; and cutting down the Branches, while the Root is left entire, to propa­gate a new progeny of the same kind and spirit. So that when some Civil Magistrates have had their aid required, for the redressing of Misdemeanors without the Church, it hath been reasonably answered, and objected by them, let the Chur­ches own work of Reformation [Page] and Order be done at home, and we are ready to give our assistance to endeavour it abroad.

2. From these mens Disorders it comes to pass that it is no won­der that the Government and Dis­cipline of the Church is baffl'd and despis'd, and men are tempted to reproach them as ineffectual, and consequently useless; when it is considered, that besides the known Dissenters, who impudently op­pose them without, the R. R. Bi­shops universal care of their Chur­ches (every Parish being their pro­per Charge) is executed by so ma­ny Curates, who are Traytors to them and their Authority within. Who contrary to their trust (given and taken with all possible Religi­ous and reasonable Obligations) of keeping up the Reverence and E­steem of their Persons, Calling, [Page 90] and Discipline, by conducting Souls, in one legal uniform per­formance of their Offices, in Ca­nonical Obedience (which by Oath they stand oblig'd to) and Filial submission to them; they tempt and teach the people to decline all respect and obedience to their Au­thority, by setting up a new mode of Worship, by the Rubrick and Canon of their own Fancies, and in opposition to their Orders and Injunctions.

Thus in stead of those excellent enjoyned Prayers, and Regular Forms of Worship, which they either omit in whole or part, or render unacceptable by an irregu­lar usage, they substitute such an unsavory Offering of their own in­ventions, oft-times so full of Ri­diculous Clamors and Gestures, and odd Familiarities, if not of [Page 91] non-sense and blasphemies (against which evils, neither the Church, nor themselves, will be secured, while they are permitted to assume a liberty of uttering what they please, and of gaining a reputati­on by it, of praying by the Spirit) that the wiser sort of the Friends to the Church of England, are scandall'd and ashamed, and forsake the Publick Assemblies, whither by Law they are ingaged to go; and the ignorant and credulous Vulgar train'd up and disciplin'd, in the Love and Admiration of an irregu­lar Devotion, and in an irreconci­leable disaffection to the rational setled Service of the Church, and an insuperable hatred to the Laws and Persons that oblige and require it.

And then, as to the executing the Churches tender care of instru­cting [Page 92] Youth in form and manner, as they are ingaged by Law and Duty, they either wholly omit that sweet and charitable Office, and convert it at the time appoint­ed, into a Discourse, that neither for matter or manner, doth suit with either their needs or capaci­ties; or instead of conducting them in the knowledge of the duties of Christianity, by the Church-Cate­chism (which doth so concernedly design it) they have presumptuous­ly substituted a great company of other Forms, full of private Opi­nions, and Heads of controverted Doctrines (as those of absolute E­lection, Justification by Faith alone, and the like) which have no influ­ence upon, if not a contradiction to, the very reason of Christian Obedience; and thence Parents and Tutors, and the Children them­selves [Page 93] are left to a strange uncer­tainty, when (upon change of places) they are either committed to the conduct of men of other Fancies, or to those that follow the Churches Order in their Insti­tutions. Now what kind of Youth such irregular usage of Children is like to make, may be judged by them, which they trained up in their▪ Twenty years Liberty, to use their own Methods without controul.

Then as to the improving the Churches care of instructing men by the Office of Preaching, in the Duties of Justice, and Mercy, Peace and Innocence, Subjection to Authority, and (which is the Sum of all) universal Obedience: the Peoples ears are accustomed to the noises of new invented Phrases, and impertinent Notions; with the Discourses of Gospel-Privi­ledges, [Page 94] Christian Liberties, and controverted Opinions (such as of the Famous five Points, and their dependent Articles). And instead of Preaching upon the Renown­ed Sermon upon the Mount (in imitation of our Saviour's own ex­ample) and pressing the Rules of Life contained in it, the People hear the weight of their Salvation laid upon some occasional expressi­ons in the Epistles of the Apostles, (especially those to the Romans and Galatians) or else they send them to Patmos, to busie them­selves about opening some of the Seals of the Revelation.

By which kind of Preaching, the People (as their Practices do too pregnantly declare) are kept in Ignorance (some think, greater than in the darkest Age of Pope­ry and Superstition) of those [Page 95] Christian Duties, but especially of their necessary obligation, for the attaining Eternal Salvation: which doth evidently appear, when it is observed, that no sort of Peo­ple of the Nation, are so defective in most of them, nor (as to the case in hand) so cross & intractable to all Authorities, nor so apt (on all occa­sions) to rebellious designs against them (which if a strict observation were made what places did most es­pecially afford the greater numbers of them, that were lately ingaged against the King and the Church, would easily be proved) than those that have been under the conduct of such Ministries.

Hence ingenuous persons may consider, what grand and confused difficulties (made so through these mens disorders) the Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction hath to deal with, to [Page 96] preserve the Church in any degree from a present sinking, into a total ruine; and (as things stand) how impossible it is (were its power ex­ecuted to the greatest perfection) to attain its end of universal Peace and Order.

But if all Ministers of Congre­gations were compelled to do their Duties exactly according to Law, and not one permitted to perform any thing in the publick Worship of God, by his own choice or fan­cy, whereby one Church should be distinguish'd from another; and so none be presum'd to come to Church, nor meddle with any Of­fices or Business about it, but such as come thither (there being no temptation from any thing else) in a willing submission to conformity, which ('tis supposed) none would do but such, as would also be wor­thy [Page 97] and civil to the Government of the Church: And that all pro­fessed Dissenters were look'd upon as excommunicate persons (all which are really so, either, by the Sentence of the Church, or by their own wilful Separation) and so no further to belong to the Churches Jurisdiction (while they resolve ob­stinately to continue so) than an Heathen, or an Alien: And that then the secular power would look upon them as only their proper Province, to regulate them by such Laws as they are, or shall be im­powered withal, made on the most Charitative Design to restore them to the Church; its Discipline would do its own work with honour, and all that live under its excellent conduct, enjoy it with comfort and safety to their Souls.

Whereas, while so many Chur­ches [Page 98] remain in their irregular, and mixt conformities, and for that cause as dangerous enemies, as any the Church of England is oppressed with, continue a kind of Commu­nion with it, in her publick places; no wonder, when such persons are either made Officers, or any other­wise dealt withal, by the Churches Jurisdiction, that they appear, ei­ther, to affront it, or to render it as trifling and ridiculous as they can: and when the Secular Power by due execution of Laws, shall bring any man to some publick Churches, it's a question whether he be restored to the Church of Eng­land, or only removed from a les­ser Conventicle to a greater; and so the Law be made use of, rather to confirm the Dissenters in their opposition, than to restore them to the peace and order of the Church.

[Page 99] 3. By these mens humouring the poor people with their Directorian Conformity, it is, that the True Sons of the Church, who in Con­science of their duty to God, shall entirely conform themselves to the Laws established, are made the scorn and hate of the people: who are taught to reproach them (for want of an accusation that hath truth or sense in it) by the names of Popish & Superstitious: where­as their own Teachers might with less Injustice, and upon a nearer a­greement than we have with either the Pope, or the Worship of Dae­mons (as I can shew them if they desire it) be called Jews or Turks, did not a good Cause solemnly ab­hor such Unchristian Defences, though a bad one (and it is a con­vincing sign it is so) hath no other to protect it.

[Page 100] And then upon the temptation of those reproachful. Names that signifie and prove no determinate thing (had they said Conformity had been against any Law of Christ, and shewn us a Precept general, or particular to prove it so, they had done like men and Christians) the people think themselves acquitted towards God, if they persecute their conformable Pastors, with all imaginable acts of Cruelty, to make their lives bitter and vexati­ous to them: To which evils they add this also (with him in the Psalm, imagining God to be such an one as themselves) that if any sad Acci­dent (in common contingencies) shall befall them, it shall be record­ed as a Prodigy from heaven to ar­gue Gods disowning them And whatsoever Faults (be they true or false) their watchful eye of envy [Page 101] can find in their lives, they shall (with all possible disadvantage to their Reputation) be rumour'd a­broad as Scandals to their Profes­sion, and as Arguments against the Church. Not considering that the Juggling of their own admir'd Guides with Christian Obedience in some things, and their gross Dis­obedience to Authority in others, (to the universal wrong both of their Civil and Ecclesiastick Supe­riors) are sins so much more scan­dalous against the Gospel, than any their Malice pretends to lay to the Conformists Charge (if the miscar­riage of some were allowed to be a just Accusation of all) as the Hy­pocrisie of a Pharisee is worse than the open Offences of a Publican; and as a sin that passeth under a pre­tence of Godliness, is much more dangerous, than those sins, whose [Page 102] shame is written on the Offenders Foreheads; and for which there is no approbation or allowance from those of their own perswasion, and (so oft as their Spiritual Governors can have it signified to them) for which, some have been obliged to submit to the Penances of publick Recantations; as hath been done in this particular Diocess.

But a wise man may easily disco­ver (though the People cannot) the difference between the Solid Piety, and Innocency of a true Son of the Church (by which as he hath no design, so, to which he hath no temptation, but to please and honour God, and is not much concern'd if any but his All-seeing Eye shall know it) and the Sheeps­cloathing of Wolves, the Angeli­cal Light which the Devil puts on, when he turns Fanatick, and the [Page 103] Form of Godliness of a Deceiver, that is so much outward Sanctimo­ny and framed Piety, as will (by a subtle observation of the Peoples humour) gain an acceptance and re­putation from them of being God­ly, without any regard to the com­mon Peace of the Church. And if any of them shall chance to fall in­to any apparent acts of sin, which they dislike, and of which they so bitterly accuse others, and the Church for them, so long as they comply with them in their disobe­dient humour to the Church, all the condemnation they shall have, shall amount to no more, than, It [...] pity for the man, and God in his [...] time will shew him his Errour, and call him home; but he shall not lose the opinion of an honest man. But wo to the poor Confor­mist, if he falls into the same.

[Page 104] 4. From the example of these mens Disorders it comes to pass, that the ignorant and easie Dissenters are encreased, confirmed, and hardned in their Separations, be­yond all possible recal; when they understand, that what they depart from in the whole, is but that which those men (who by mistake enough and by incompetent Judges are ac­counted the only Godly Ministers do in their Churches reject in por­tions. And when, as to that little they observe, the matter is so or­dered, that they may be believed to do it, but in their own defence unwillingly, and by constraint, and as resolved to continue the doing it no longer, than they can get them­selves set free from the burden of Authority.

But this mischief ends not here & that which makes it much worse [Page 105] is, that such persons, who are yet unconcern'd as to any Religion, and are tempted through Idleness, or Business, or some little Offence to the person of their Priests, to stay at home; do answer all inward Checks of Conscience, and all out­ward Perswasions against their neg­lect of serving God according to the order of the Church, by al­ledging to themselves, that they absent themselves from nothing but that, which those that are account­ed Godly, do make it their Religi­on to scorn, and forsake, and would fight to destroy; and those that use it, seem to be opprest by it, and seek to avoid it as much as they can.

By which it comes to pass, that great numbers of Men (I dare not say how great I think them) and of Youth especially (O unhappy they [Page 106] that gave the occasion!) by conti­nued absence from the Blessings and Ordinances of the Church, and the means of Grace and Knowledge are grown Atheistical and Barba­rous, Vile and Vitious, Bold and Hardened in their opposition to [...] Virtue and Goodness.

Hence it is (what with the one and the other) that some places look like (if they really be not) an universal defection from Christiani­ty: And some Priests who faith­fully perform their duty, could not without great shame and oppression of Spirit, be serving God in the Publick Place, with so few about them (perhaps two or three in some populous places) but that they comfort themselves, that their lit­tle Handful, compared with the Flocks that attend Faction, look so like the different Numbers in the [Page 107] Narrow and Broad way, mention'd in the Gospel, and the unequal pro­portion of the good and evil in the world; and by considering, that Multitudes (when Differences are upon the Stage) seldom (and that by accident) entertain the right side, but do usually suffer them­selves to be conducted by such Im­postors, who because they cannot satisfie their Pride and Ambition in being considerable in real worth and weight, will endeavour to make themselves so, in Throngs and Num­bers.

5. From these mens disorderly performance of Gods Service in the Church, and the Confusions which they bring upon the Government by it, the Romanists (whose Ends are chiefly served by it) have their Hands daily strengthened, and Hopes advanced, for the accom­plishing [Page 108] their Designs. And I am assured (of which sufficient Rea­sons and Instances may be given that nothing can so fully defeat their Endeavours for the introdu­ction of their Spiritual Empire a­mongst us, as an entire practis [...] Uniformity in all our Churches, and a full adherence to, and a faithful preservation of, the establish'd Ec­clesiastick Government; as the main Bulwarks, which they endea­vour to overthrow, and which we must chiefly trust to (under God for the Churches universal Safe­ty.

But the truth of this is so infete [...] ­ed with Riddles, and made so like the doubtful Answer of an Oracle to the People, that they are perfectly cheated into the Belief of a Sense as contrary to it as it it's possible and so are delivered into an Opini­on [Page 109] of pursuing the Churches safety against Popery, by that Method, which is the only probable means of delivering up the Church unto it.

The Romanists know, that they can never bring this Nation back to their Religion, but first the esta­blisht Church must be overthrown; and they know also (no other dan­ger yet appearing) it must be done, by improving the Dissenters Ma­ice, and the Peoples Folly, to confound the Peace and Order of it, by the ruine of Episcopacy and Liturgy: which that they may do with the greater Zeal, the Cheat [...], they must be made believe, that all that they do is to pull down An­tichrist, and keep out Popery; and to hate the Conformist, as designing to uphold both: whereas there is no man, but he, that prevents the [Page 110] setting up of both among us.

Thus the best Prince, Prelate, and Statesman then in the world, lost their Lives, by being first ren­dred the Peoples hate, as design­ing to bring in Popery; when wise men knew, that there were not three persons under the Sun, whom the Romanists would rather have removed out of the way, as the grand hinderers of their Design. The people are taught not to con­form to the Liturgy, because it is Popish; whereas the Papists hate it, because it is not so; and when some of them have been dispensed to hear our Sermons, they are al­ways prohibited to hear the Ser­vice.

And whereas the Factions are at work to make the People ruine E­piscopacy, as Popish; there is no­thing the Romanists desire to see [Page 111] rather, than it's confusion; as knowing that it was that Order of men, that did at first throw, and now keeps out their Usurpations. And it is known, that the strictest Adherers to the Pope, are but back-friends to the Order of Bi­shops in the Countries of their own perswasion; and that the Order of Jesuites was first rais'd up, and now continued in its greatness, on design, to retrench the power of Bishops, as an Order that can only endanger the Popes Usurpations, and yet themselves stand upon a firm bottom of primitive Catholo­cisme.

But fully to confute the Peoples grand Mistake, who have been so falsly and disingenuously tempted, and instructed, to suspect the strict Conformists, as inclinable to Pope­ry (the spiteful Artifice of the Fa­ctions [Page 112] to render them odious) I wish them to consider, against whom hath the Romanists bent their For­ces in all their Debates, and with what bitterness they have some­times managed them (to instance in Mr. Serjant's Schism-Disarm'd, against Dr. Hammond) not against the Factions, one or other, but al­ways against the establish'd Church of England? And who hath main­tained the Disputes against them, but the strictest Adherers to it, and those generally of the Episcopal Order it self? And if this cannot sufficiently manifest the falseness of the Accusation, and how far the Faithful Sons of our Church are from being Favourers of Popery, what can be said or done more to convince them?

Then let them consider on the other side, what kindness the Ro­manists [Page 113] have shewn to the Factious, (not that I think they love them more than us, or would not destroy them also, when they had done their work of confounding us) of which none can be ignorant, that will enquire after so many Stories that pregnantly prove it, and that are Printed, and not Confuted: Of which there is hardly any Clergy­man, but can say something from the Circle of his own Observation. Let the world therefore judge, whether they that have so unwor­thily prejudg'd the People with a suspition of us, have not given occasion to be accused as really guil [...] of the same themselves.

The Sum is, So far as a partial Conformist, doth by his unworthy usage of his Offices, cherish in the People a dislike and disaffection, to the Service, Orders, and Go­vernment [Page 114] of the Church, whereby they are prepared to oppose them, (if not to destroy them) on all oc­casions; so far he must be suppo­sed to be doing the Papists work, to be digging down the Wall, pluck­ing up the Hedge, which fence and secure the Church against them; and laying all open to give them opportunity to re-enter and possess the holy Vineyard of God amongst us. And I think of this they have been sufficiently forewarned, by the late Incomparable Prelate and Martyr, when in his dying Sermon, he foretold what a Harvest the Pope would make of our Confu­sions; though for his good will, and dying-tender care of the Church, the Head of a Faction, (who afterward lost his own) was so impudent, as in a Triumph, to dip his Handkerchief in his Blood, [Page 115] in requital for his Kindness.

6. And Lastly, By these mens undutiful practices it comes to pass, that the Parochial Officers, who should inform Authority of the Miscarriages of Congregations, are for their sakes, tempted to break their solemn Oaths to God, given and taken, for the good end of the Churches Order and Unity, and of the purity of Life in the Mem­bers of it, which are wholly de­feated by it.

Of which Oaths so broken, those Ministers cannot but be highly guil­ty, as being in no capacity to re­prove them, and necessarily oblig'd to indulge them, in their abomina­ble sin of Perjury: And all to save themselves from being justly questioned, for their own Disor­ders and Disobedience.

[Page 116] And the event is, that most Chur­ches will be (without all visible re­medy) kept unreformed from the grossest Abuses; and the Nation in general will be taught by such remarkable Presidents of Perjury, almost in every Neighbourhood, to contemn all other Obligations by the solemn Religion of an Oath; that the King can promise to him­self little assurance of Fealty, from them that have sworn it; and no man secure of his Life or Fortune, when both are committed to the tryal of the Law, when only the tye of an Oath can assure any man to have right done him. And there are already Complaints made of gross Miscarriages, where Favour or Interest have tempted men to deal unfaithfully, and to betray the Truth, to the preservation of which, they stood engaged by oath.

[Page 117] And if men still proceed to be so Atheistical, and hardy, as to make no Conscience of an Oath, and consequently not of the lesser tyes of Honour, and common Honesty; the whole world will in a short time be sensible, that we are a false, per­fidious, and perjurious People, a­bominable to God and Man.

All these evils (till they shall en­deavour to convince me to the contrary, which if they do, I shall either give them a sober Reply in my own Defence, or a just acknow­ledgment of my Mistake) I con­clude to be done or occasioned by them. And do yet believe, that without Repentance towards God, and a sincere endeavour to make satisfaction to the Church, for the wrongs they have done, they must answer deeply for them, at the Bar of Divine Justice, and be reckon­ed [Page 118] among the urighteous in my Text.

As for the People who are abu­sed by them, in their Judgment and Affections against the Church of England, so many of them as are invincibly prejudiced, that is, such as having derived their Errour from the force of an unhappy Edu­cation, and since been kept up in their prejudice, by the strong Temptation of their Teachers seeming Godliness (in which it is no hard matter to de­ceive a weak, though innocent, mind) and have not natural capa­cities to discover their Mistake, by the help of an ordinary and gene­ral Means of Conviction; My Cha­rity tells me, that such may be dear and beloved Servants of God, and such as may attain the end of the [Page 119] Gospel in pure and innocent lives, that is, that would not for any earthly advantage, wilfully and deliberately persist in any evil way, (except in the Instance of their (which I suppose) invincible Mi­stake) whereby God should be of­fended, or dishonoured by them.

And I wish that the best care might be taken in every part of the Nation, to distinguish them from those, who observedly, out of a [...]oss humour, pride or envy, wick­edly maintain their opposition a­gainst the Church, and that then there were a particular application made to them, managed with the greatest meekness, and prudence, to undeceive them; and that all Churches did the same thing with­out distinction, and no subtle heads of Factions permitted any more to abuse them, and that Church-men [Page 120] would be exactly careful of giving them no offence, by the Irregulari­ties of their Lives, I am perswaded in a short time, the greatest part of the Innocent Dissenters might be gained to the Church, and be an Ornament to it, and the obstinate would either hide their Faces in shame and discouragement, or ma­nifest their Falseness by the evi­dence of some grosser universally acknowledged Miscarriages.

But as to the persons whom I am now reproving, as it is not possi­ble but they must know the tenur of their Oaths, Subscriptions, and Engagements, and cannot but un­derstand that a departure from them, to a contrary practice, must needs be a wilful transgression of their duty to God & man, so I know not yet what Argument to give my­self, [Page 121]upon which I may ground a charitable interpretation of their Irregularities and Compliances.