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THe greatest scandall of all (sayth the Defend.) is against the Church. Now this Non-conformists are made guiltie of two vvayes: 1. comparatiuely in this section, and then absolutely in the next. The comparatiue accusation is, that we for avoyding of offence towards our brethren, grievously offend our mother, in that wherin
wee owe obedience unto her. Where 1. the question is taken for granted, for we deny that we owe obedience in the ceremonies to any man or societie of men. 2. If our mother be somewhat an∣gry, that is not presently a scandall by his definition, sect. 1. but vvhen shee is provoked to a mortall errour. Now what mortall errour doe vve provoke the Church to? Our desire and scope is, that the ceremonies should be either wholly removed, or else left free to use or disuse: this is no mortall errour, I hope. The e∣vent by accident is the silencing, depriving, excluding, and molesting of us for Non-conformitie: This indeed is a great errour and sinne of the Prelates; but as vvas formerly shewed, the beginning of it is in their irregular Canons, and the ending of it, in their cruell executions. 3. by applying our selues to the will of the Prelates in these ceremonies, vvee should, though not anger, yet greatly scandalize them, by confirming them in a sinne of making their owne will a rule to the Churches, even in mysticall ceremonies of superstitious worship, contrary to their and our daily prayer, Thy will be done. 4. The convocation doth not carry herselfe like a mother toward us: neither doe we ac∣knowledge any such honour to belong unto it. As for the faithfull congregatious of England, the greattest part of them would wil∣lingly be rid of these burthens.
The rest of this Section is nothing pertinent: yet two things may bee noted in it. 1. An errour that the number of the lewish Proselites was great, and the converted Gentiles few, Acts 15. 2 A grosse assertion, that after the doctrine of Indifferencie in eating of meats, was made publicke by the Church, then to haue sought by abstain∣ing to avoyd the offence of some, had been to the preiudice of Christian li∣bertie, and to the scandall of the Church.
The other accusation of contempt is onely objected sect. 22. and varnished over with a few glosing words sect. 23. and there∣fore may well bee answered vvith contempt. But hee that will see a full refutation of this, let him read Mr. Parker chap. 5. sect. 11. 12. I am wearie of wrastling with the winde: yet one un∣worthy and unchristian taunt I cannot passe by, that hee upbrai∣deth the Ministers with, liuing upon voluntary contribution, and feare of offending their maintainers. For 1. when as he confesseth, he hath no windowes to look into mens consciences by, what rule of religion will permit him to cast upon his brethren such a sus∣pition contrary to their profession, of practising and speaking a∣gainst their consciences for gaining of a poore contribution? Is there not farre more cause to thinke, that great livings, and world∣ly honors (one of the choicest darts that satan hath in his quiver, &
therfore tried against our Saviour himself when al other faild, Mat 4. 8 9) is it not more likely I say that these promotions beare more sway in the mindes of our great Prelates, then a poore supply of necessaries vvith others? 2 Neither all, nor the most part of them against whom he writeth did liue upon contributions. Though they need not haue been ashamed thereof if they had: seeing not onely the primitiu•• Pastors did so, but even in our time, M. Per∣kins and other such lights of our Church, haue vvith that kinde of life done more good then all our Cathedrall men vvith their great revenues. 3 Who are the cause that many are forced to liue up∣on contribution? haue not the L••iterers of Cathedrall Churches•• ingrossed a great part of that maintenance vvhereby labou••ing Preachers should be maintained? Doe not our Pluralists and Non-residents cary away the fat of the greatest livings, and leaue scarce a Serving-mans wages to their Curats; so that either they must be supplyed by contribution, or else by begging? Nay, doe not the people in divers places take it for a great courtesie at the Non-residents hands, if he vvill take his Tithes, and suffer them to procure and maintaine to themselues an honest Minister in his place? haue not our Honourable Parliament offered to provide some competent maintenance for the Ministers, if the Clergie would forbeare their sinfull excesses? 4. Why should the Ministers depend so much upon contribution, if they had such accommo∣datiue consciences, as this Def. surmiseth of them? Some of them with serving the time, and the addition of Simony, might come to be Bishops: & the rest might be preferred by their meanes to some certaine in-comings.