A discourse about a scrupulous conscience preached at the parish-church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, London / by Benjamin Calamy ...

TO S^r. George Jeffryes, Knight and Baronet, Chief Justice of CHESTER.

SIR,

THough I could not easily perswade my self to expose this following Ser∣mon to publick view, yet after I was once resolved to venture it abroad, I was soon determined to whom I ought to present it. To your Interest and Favour I chief∣ly owe my being placed in this Parish, to your Countenance my greatest Encou∣ragement here, and if it may gain your Acceptance and Approbation, I shall but little value the uncertain Judgment of o∣thers.

Upon how many this plain homely Discourse may have good effect, I cannot ghess; how many it will anger and dis∣please I am not at all concerned: and tho I may be thought by some ill advis'd in publishing such a Sermon, yet every one will commend and justifie my Discretion in prefixing your Name before it: for so great an awe have the Enemies of our Church and Government of your Loyal∣ty and Fidelity to both, of your undaunt∣ed Zeal and Activity for the Service of both, that they will not dare loudly to condemn what you are pleased to protect. They will be justly afraid of quarrelling with me, when they know I have engaged you on my side.

I am very sensible, that in this Age we live some are so extraordinarily wise and wary, as to censure and discourage all Men that speak roundly and act vigorous∣ly for the King and Church, as being

more forward and busie than is needful: but I am also as sensible, that if some Men had not shewn more Courage and Hone∣sty than those prudent Persons, both would have been by this time in far great∣er danger, than at this present, Thanks be to God, they are.

For my own part, no one is more fa∣vourable to a truly tender Conscience than my self, let it be as nice and scrupulous as it can well be, so it be about the sub∣stantial matters of Piety towards God, Ju∣stice between Man and Man, due Obe∣dience to Superiours, and when it makes us more exactly careful of our undoubt∣ed Duty in all Instances: But, when Men are scrupulous only on one side, about things commanded by lawful Authority, and make no Scruple of Disobedience, Schism, Faction, and Division; when Men set up their private Humour, Fancy, or Opinion, in opposition to established Laws,

when they become peevish, pragmatical, and ungovernable; nay, when Mens Con∣sciences prove so generally tender and scru∣pulous, as to doubt of and suspect the Rights of the Crown, (for that Consci∣ence that is so tender against the Church is also usually as tender against the King) such wayward skittish Consciences ought to be well bridled and restrained, or else they will be not only intolerably trouble∣some, but extreamly mischievous both to Church and State.

That the Blessed Rewards of Vertue and Loyalty may plentifully descend up∣on your Self, and all that belong to you, both in this Life and that which is to come, is the earnest Prayer of

Honoured Sir,

Your most humble and most obliged Servant, Benjamin Calamy.