2. For the Church.

TO this objection, That his Do∣ctrine is against the 9th. Article in the Church of England. He saith, I have already answered it in some additio∣nal Papers, which are already published. I would I might have had the opportunity to have seen them, supposing they may contain some kind of Apologie, which might have saved me the labour of an Additional in this latter part. But for what I here see he must give me leave for to speak, as that he may see, That (in judgement, though not in Charity) we are Two. His zeal for the Church Page  106 of England, seems to be such and so much, that he is protesting before hand, against all that shall but seem to suspect it. But he is indigning him in especial that shall take upon him to tax him for it, in the least degree. I hope this will not overprovoke his patience, only to intreat him; First to reconcile his own understanding to his subscription; and then, his own words, to the words of the Article.

(First) A faithfull subscription of a dutifull Son of the Church, is to sub∣mit his understanding, and consent sim∣ply unto her suffrage. And to under∣write (with hand and heart) her Arti∣cles and Canons, accepted in their plain literal sense; And not to bring to them, nor yet reserve from them, any other understanding or intention of his own. Laws (we say) are to be interpreted and accepted, according to the mind of the Law-givers; and a promissary Oath ought to be performed, according to the intention of him to whom the pro∣mise is made. Now for him to say, I have oftentimes subscribed that Article, and, I am ready a thousand times to sub∣scribe that Article, and yet to say a∣gain: Page  107 I doe not understand the words of that Article, as most men doe, but I understand them, as they can be true, and as they can very fairly signi∣fie, and as they agree with the word of God, and right reason, What kind of subscription call you this? with such a liberty or reservation a man might have (without all scruple) taken the Prote∣station, the Covenant, the Engagement, or an Oath of Abjuration. But whom means he by those most men? certainly not the Adversaries of the Church, who refuse to subscribe them: But the Sons of the Church, his brethren, who have subscribed them as well as he. The Ad∣versaries, though they consent (for the most part) to the Doctrine, yet they refuse to subscribe the Article, meerly because it is our Churches. But as it is the Churches, so, we that are Sons and Brethren, doe (with one understanding) simply subscribe it, nor doe we make our own conditions, by way of excepti∣on; but we take them all in an undoubt∣ed concession. For we also understand the words of the Article, as they can be true, and as they can fairly signifie, and that is even in their literal and gramma∣tical Page  108 sense. And likewise as they agree with the Word of God and right rea∣son, for so we suppose them in the sense aforesaid. And although we confesse, with him, that the Church used an in∣comparable wisdom and temper in com∣posing her Articles, both with respect to New-reformists and Non-conformists too, notwithstanding we believe her Prudence and Piety was such, that she intended not so to secure the outward Peace of the Church against either, as that the Truth of it (in either part) might be prejudiced thereby, much less that she contrived any thing in such a charitable latitude, as to give license to any, for passing the rectitude, and ar∣ctitude of Verity, or that any one should presume upon his private and dis∣sentaneous opinion, notwithstanding her publique and unanimous Judgement. It was discovered by some of themselves, that when the Councel of Trent com∣pleated her Canons of Original Sin, and many particulars of them appearing so consonant to the Scriptures, and to Or∣thodox Antiquity; yet they studied to compile the whole with such Artifice, as that notwithstanding they might Page  109 leave to their own Scholasticks a liberty of disputing and opining what they pleased: But I trust the like shall never be said of the Church of England, either as touching this, or any other of her Articles; and for my part, I conceive it to be a truer part of a Son of the Church, rather to restrain his sense, to her words, than to strain or enlarge her words, to his own sense.

(Secondly,) As concerning this Ar∣ticle of Original birth, or Sin, or Birth-Sin, in as much as he says, if I had cause to dissent from it, I would certain∣ly doe it in those just measures which my duty on the one side, and the interest of truth on the other would require of me. Hereupon I am very willing to beleeve him on his own word, as liking exceeding well of his ingenious Confes∣sion: I have no cause to disagree, and not much misliking his resolution, I will not suffer my self to be supposed to be of a differing judgement from my dear Mother, which is the best Church of the world. Wherefore I shall doe no more (which is the least that can be done in an appearing difference) but set down the words of the Article, and then his Page  110 own words in the Antithesis, And so leave it to himself (according to his own pro∣mised temper and measure) to reconcile them. Neither wil I so much as once ima∣gine, that he hath less zeal for our Church than my self, that so I may spare him the labour of a fruitlesse vow; in being all his life confuting me. Let him but shew how his own sayings are conform∣able, or not repugnant to what the Ar∣ticle saith (which to me and many others seem so contrary) and we two have done, nay are (as we were) in Faith and love of Christians, one. But if he goe otherwise to work, I must take the confidence to tell him; he may be all his life confuting, and not confute.