A conference between a Bensalian bishop and an English doctor, concerning church-government shewing the difference betwixt that of Bensalia and the Church of England : together with a letter from the Bishop of Bensalia to the Archbishop of Canterbury in order to the healing of our church-differences ...

A LETTER from the Bishop of Bensalia to the Archbishop of Canterbury, in order to the healing our Church differences.

My LORD,

HAving by the advice and consent of our King of Bensalia and his Sophi, had lately a Conference with your beloved friend, and your Country-man an English Doctor, (providentially cast upon our hitherto unknown Coasts) about matters relating to ours and your Church, &c. who since that discourse, has been so highly favour'd by the King and Council, as to be indulg'd the liberty of looking into, and taking cognizance of the Government, Laws, Cu∣stoms, and other grand affairs of our thrice happy Country, yea, has been thought worthy of taking a prospect of Solomon's house, that glorious fabrick of the world, and there to view the admirable improvements of Art and Nature to their utmost perfection they are capable of: And to whom the Sophi has been free to impart some of their grand Hermetick Arcana, (otherwise by Writers upon that subject, wrapt up in Hieroglyphicks, and other dark Enigmatical Characters) also has had con∣ference with some of our Physicians, who doubtless for their high knowledg in the Theory, and great skill in the curing of Diseases, may without any affected Hy∣perbole, be reputed the best in the world. As to which, what advantage he may thereby reap in the influencing his practice at his return, will be afterwards known. What was then left imperfect in my late discourse with him, shewing the difference betwixt our happy Church of Bensalia and yours of England, in the late thing there propos'd, viz. the propounding some happy Expedient in order to the healing your clashing differences, and what might most tend towards the begetting a Christian charity▪ and love union among you, is now I say the main scope of these lines. And indeed our King, his Sophi, and our Bishops, (men doubtless gifted with high and noble endowments from God) do all unanimously consent and concur in the matter of advice I am by their appointment now to propound to you, which is in the particulars following.

First, That you will set your Church-doors not only achar, but wide open, by cut∣ing off at halves, or rather indeed the whole 〈…〉〈…〉ll of dispensible Ceremonies in your Church▪ discipline and Worship, no way essential to the Apostolical Doctrine of Christ Jesus.

2ly. That you will expunge or eject all idle, dronish, drunken, lend, ignorant, scandalous Ministers, who in publick only serve to read over a Transcript, scarce daring to cast their eye off it, and whose evil examples, as they are bad presidents to the vulgar, and more loose, wickedly inclin'd, so they are also offensive and scandalous to the sober, good▪ and well inclin'd people▪ and thence become a great block of offence.

3ly. That in lieu of the aforesaid debaucht or otherwise scandalous Ministers, you would admit of as many honest▪ conscientious, sober, judicious, vigilant and able Ministers (now as the present state of affairs are, secluded) such whose Do∣ctrine is sound, agreeable to Scripture, and the known Truthe thereof, and whose lives for piety, are exemplary in all good Christian conversation.

4ly. In order thereto, that in all your Visitations you have a stricter eye to the Doctrine and Morals of the Preachers, than to the demeanor of the people.

5ly. That all manner of force or compulsion be forbidden, whereby no other than soft, gentle, tender, bowel-like means may be us'd.

6ly. That you impose no heavy burdens in matters of Religion, upon the consci∣ences of your people; but that that may be kept free, whose singular prerogative it is to be subject to God alone, as being his Kingdom and jurisdiction, and in the main solely accountable to him.

7ly. That the path to Ecclesiastical preferments may never be way laid by inte∣rest, Symony, or other indirect courses; but that every man according to the de∣merit of his conversation, learning, gifts, and qualifications, may himself (and not by proxy, interest, &c.) gradually ascend those steps of preferment.

8ly. That no one person have two Livings, nor no one able Preacher to be with∣out one.

9ly. That you forbid all manner of disputes and scholastick janglings in con∣troversial points of Religion; keeping a middle road betwixt the extreams of the severest Galvinism, and extravagant Arminianism, in matters of Election, Repro∣bation, and Free▪will; rather acquainting the people with, and pressing them to the great necessity of their obedience to the requirings of the Gospel than too much prying into the secrets of Gods council, preaching the Doctrine of Christ in the evidence of the Spirit, with demonstration and power.

And by this wide manner of opening the Church-doors, and the milder treats, you will surely find by a wise (but honest) stratagem, manag'd by a gentle and ge∣nuine method, the most of other sorts of perswasions (who at present are at a re∣mote distance from them) brought over to be one with you. Those who will not here∣by yet come in, will in probability be scarce more than two sorts, who still are to be treated with all gentle means imaginable. And because those who remain, are generally such as are much tutor'd and led by their Teachers, whose example and Doctrine doth strangely influence their proselytes; therefore your vein of policy must chiefly tend towards them; and that first in lieu of Citations, Excommu∣nications, Capias's▪ Gaols, &c. by studying all manner of interweavings of interest and traffick with them, by making use of them in their imploys (if they have any) or by kind invitations, inter-marryings of yours with their Sons and Daughters, therehy and other familiar treats to remove all bars or lets in communication (want of which is the very gate to prejudice, and private feuds) whence from a free intercourse, all strangeness, private heats, and animosities, (from not right∣ly understanding each other) will quite be remov'd and they consequently reduced to a mutual firm unity, and Christian charity with you, the great end of all Chri∣stian conversation. Add to all which, if a score or two of the eminentest heads be taken off (not by an ax but) by preferring them to places of trust and repute, viz. either by conferring places of trust at Court, or making them Noble-mens Stewards, Subtreasurers, &c. will mightily win upon them, and put a stop to the current of the present animosities, the bane of Christianity.

Thus by your innocent and Christian▪ like policy, you may without a peradventure gain such a conquest over all your separated Brethren, as all the ruder and more se∣vere methods in the world could (if complicated) never effect; and would there∣by alter the whole series of affairs, make a new, but lovely scene of friendship, amity, and unity to appear; of the truth of all which by matter of fact upon trial, you would be abundantly satisfied.

Thus, my Lord, I have with great humility and sincerity perform'd my charge: And whit other conference your English Doctor has had with Masters of the Arts and Sciences, whom he has converst with; and what discourse has past between him and some of our Doctors and Apothecaries, relating to the great improvements of the practice of Physick: As also what mutual intercourse he has had with some of our Sophi (those masters in wisdom) relating to the highest Hermetick Arcana, attainable by Nature and Art; he has liberty from our King and Council at due sea∣sons to divulge; and what improvements may thence redound to your people, we leave to the future issue of time. If any scruples should arise wherein you would be further satisfied, concerning what I have said in the behalf of our so happy Church, the difference betwixt ours and yours, and expedients here propos'd; your Lordship may write it down, and send it to your English Doctors, who knows ways of sending to us, and you shall as speedily as may be receive further satisfaction. Mean while desiring that your people may be the first who shall write after our original Copy, I take leave and remain,

My Lord,

Your most affectionate and humble Servant in all Christian Charity, Theophilus Do-well.

FINIS.