Ichabod: or, Five groans of the church: Prudently foreseeing, and passionately bewailing her second fall: Threatened by these five dangerous, though undiscerned, miscarriages that caused her first: Viz. [bracket] 1. Undue ordination, 2. Loose prophaness, 3. Unconscionable symony, 4. Careless non-residence, 5. Encroaching pluralities. Humbly presented to her supreme head and governour, the kings most excellent majesty, and his great council, the Parliament of England.

CHAP. II. (Book 2)

The Church of England's resentment of Vndue Ordination. (Book 2)

ALthough I am well satisfied (whatever the Romanists and others have of late suggested) that my Ordination is Authentick, ••••imitve and proper in the form o•• it; is va∣lid in the Author, being by men ordained in an uninter∣rupted succession by the Primitive Bishops, as they were by the Apostles, and the Apostles by Christ, and Jesus Christ by God himself; and is regular and legal in the circumstan∣ces of it, being agreeable to the established Lawes of the Realm; yet not without much regret must I confesse that solemn investiture of men to the great calling of Ministers, fallen much below its native glory much shrunk in its Pri∣mitive sacrednesse and reverence, and extreamly decayed in its first esteem and honour, beca••se my Reverend Bishops in the great intricacies of late alterations, are surprized to be∣••low the honour of that high calling, 1. upon the Young, 2. upon the Unlearned, 3. upon the Debauched; and 4. upon the Factious.

SECT. I.

Of Young Ministers, whereof I have a Call of above 3000.

WO is me! when I have those that teach before they have learned; that I have those that would instruct others, and have need themselves be iustructed which are the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ. Instead of the ancient Fathers, we have children who are made Priests in all

Lands. Former times honoured my excellent Clergy for their age and gravity, reverenced them for their learning and austerity and esteemed them as the wonder of the world; and said, Ask the Father, and he will shew thee; thine anci∣ents, and they shall tell thee: this age slights them for their youth and weakness, for their ignorance and unexperience, as persons that are but of yestardy, and know nothing. We have understanding, saith the common people to the young men, as well as you: we are not inferiour to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these? As the Patriarchs separa∣ted their first-bo••n for the Priest-hood, and Moses & Aaron reserved them••elves many years for their Ministries, and the Law prepared men thirty years for the fa••red service; and the blessed Jesus, the Preacher of righteousness, entred not until the thirtieth year of his Age upon the great work of the Ministry: so my Bishops, knowing how to behave them∣selves in the work of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth, took heed to themselves and the ••locks over which the holy Ghost had made them O∣verseers, that they laid hands suddenly on no man, neither were partakers of other mens sins, but keep themselves pure, taking care that men be first proved, and then use the Office of a Deacon, being found blamelesse; and then when they had used the Office of a Deacon well and purchased to them∣selves a good degree of a Priest or Bishop, then they took care t••at they should be blamelesse, vigilant, sober, of good behavi∣our, given to hospitality, apt to teach:—not Novices, left being lifted up with pride, they fall into the condemnation of the Devil.— Moreover, they took care they might have a good report of them that are without, lest they fall to reproach and condemnation of the Devil. But now, since the loose∣nesse of these late times, there are admitted to the Priesthood of the meanest of the people, who are not the sons of Levi: as in Ieroboam's days, every one that will, is made a Priest, that he may have bread to eat. Those Pulpits that were filled with ancient Fathers, are now Desks for young chil∣dren: those solemne Assemblies that were rapt up into the third Hea•••••• with pious Sermons and devout Prayers, hear the late pe••antique Herangues and juvenile Orations with scorn and laughter: those people that thronged to hear the

wisdome of God delivered in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Spi∣rit and with power, are quite weary of that true foolishnesse of Preaching, that consists onely in the childish wisdome of words, and in the trifling enticing words of mans wisdome. I had reverend men that shewed themselves a pattern of good works, in Doctrine shewing uncorruptnesse, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that they that were of The contrary party were ashamed, having no evill to say of them, when I ordained Elders in every City. I had men blameless. sober, ju••t, holy, temperate; whose judgements were setled, whose passions were allayed, whose aff••ctions were composed, whose actions were advised, and conversa∣tion exact and uniforme: since, every one did what was good in his own e••es. My young Ministers have been un∣stable in all their wa••s, unsetled in their minds, rash in t••eir undertakings, imprudent in their carriage, weak in their discourses unexperienced in their behaviour not even, or∣derly and stayed in their conversation; to the grief of good men who esteem all Ministers very highly in love for their works sake; to the joy of those evil men that have ill-will for Sion, who cry Aha, aha, so would we have it. O young men, who requireth these things at your hands? Why do you run before I am willing to send you? O how dare you take this Office upon you, until you are called with solemn prepa∣ration, as was Aaron? Are not you afraid (now you have newly passed the elements of Philosophy, and the first prin∣ciples of Nature) to look into those mysteries which the Angels desire to look into, to search into that knowledge which passe••h knowledge? Are not you afraid to ascend that Pulpit whither Luther said he never ascended (though very aged) without fear and trembling? Are not you afraid to undertake that dreadful work from which the Prophets fled, the Fathers avoided, the Primitive Pastors trembled at? Do you know what you do, when you undertake to be Embas∣sadors in Christs stead to bring back the world to God, to be Co-workers with God in the salvation of souls, to be Angels of the Church, to be as Stars in Gods right hand, to be Stewards of the misteries of God, to watch for preci∣ous souls as they that must give an account?—How can you govern others, who cannot govern your selves? What

power have you ov•••• others, who have hardly any power over your selves? What esteem can you find among them, who will naturally dispise your youth? Did not Philosophy think you fit (O young men) to ••ear Morals, and shall Di∣vinity admit you to read divine Lectures? How can you in the heat of youth, in the vigour of your lusts, appear in the world perswading men to mortifie their lusts, to crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts? With what hope can you endeavour to compase the world to that great Rule, to which you cannot compose your selves? How will you be∣have your selves as Guides among persons whose years and experience are so much beyond yours? How impertinent∣ly will you converse? how weakly will you discourse? how imprudently will you deal? how contemptibly will you live among a staid and discreet people, wiser then you in their Generations?

The goodness of God having furnished man with two chief Instruments (saith an incomparable man) both ne∣cessary for this life hands to exercise, and a mind to de∣vise great things; the one is not profitable longer then the vigour of youth doth strengthen it, nor the other greatly t••ll age and experience have brought it to per∣fection.

SECT. 2.

Of Dibauched Men ordained, 1500.

OH, am I, as Iulian blasphemed, the sanctuary of all pro∣phaneness? Am I a re••uge for all licentiousness? Whom a strict Colledge expels, whom the severe University dis∣countenanceth, whom civil men note with a mark of hatred and abhorrence, must I admit to my sacred Order, and honour with my most solemne Ministrations? My care is, that each Minister should be of an holy and unblameable con∣versation: What have these poor creatures to doe to take Gods Word held forth by me in their mouths, seeing they hate to be reformed? O my reverend Sons, what, do you bring a man to ••each the world a God and his service, Who is without God in the world?—What, do you send them to speak of that God who is not in all their thoughts? Why are they employed to propagate the knowledge of God, who desire that the knowledge of the holy One may cease

from them? To what purpose do they preach an holy Life, who never intend to live it? Why do they put those poor souls to pray for those things of God, which they doe not desire? to read that Bible which they do not believe, to bind thosa heavy burthens upon the people, which they them∣selves do not intend to bear? to teach that on the Sabbath demurely, which they will con••radict throughout the Week profanely? Is there any need of authorizing publick pat∣terns of impiety? Do you intend to destroy what ye have built? I know you not. Why then do you send lewd Mi∣nisters to teach men by an evil example that prophanenesse which I have endeavoured to reform by my good instructi∣on? Wo is me, that I ••ee those within me running to all excess of riot, who are employed to teach a pure Religion, and undefiled before God. You, O reverend Fathers taught men to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live so∣berly, justly and godly in this present world; and will you suffer men to go from among you to reach all ungodlinesse and worldlie lusts? O ala••! one man a Divine and a Beast! What consecrated to God, and devoted to sin! An abomi∣nation in the holie place!—

Behold, thou are called a Minister, and re••test in the Law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the Law; and art confident that thou thy selfe art a Guide to the blind, a light of them which are in darknesse, an In∣structor of the foolish, a Teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth of the Law, thou therefore 〈…〉〈…〉 another, reachest thou not thy self? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adulterio? thou that abhorres•• ••dols, dost thou com••it Sac••iledge? thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the La•• dishonourest thou God? for the Name of God is blasphemed among the people through you.

SECT. 3.

Of Vnlearned Men Ordained.

I Am ashamed that than ignorance which formerlie found preforment should now find orders too; and that I should

settle them legally in that calling, whereunto I alwaies said they had illegallie intruded themselves. It was too much to suffer that daring ignorance to Vsurp the sacred Office, much more to consecrate it to it. The late Miscarriages want nothing to compleat them, but to be hallowed. The Catholick Church never enter••ained a Ministry but what was qualified either with extraordinarie gifts from above, or with humane lea••ning from below: by which the mind being instructed and improved in all the riches of wisdome and knowledge, which are part of the glorie and image of God in man; by this learning all truths are clearlie unfol∣ded. How do you think poor souls can clear divine truths, lying hid in the depth darknesse and ambiguity of Origi∣nal words, without skill in Languages? How can the attain the genuine and emphatick sense of the Word of God with∣out skill in the Original words and phrases? How can they maintain the truths I have established, and con••ute the er∣rours•• I have condemned? How can they detect the fallacies with which my poor people are deluded, and convince the gain-sayers with which I am ••roubled, and discover those sophisms in which poor souls wrap themselves, darkning wisdome with words without understanding, without the art of sound reasoning? How can they convey the holy truths they are furnished with to others, without an holy Eloquence, a sacred Perswasion and Rhetorick, which may commend them to mens minds, and enforce them upon their hearts? how can they satisfie themselves and others in the Contro∣versies of this Age, without the Observations, Histories and Customs of former Ages; and standing in the wa••es, and asking for the old, which is the good way, and walk there∣in, so find rest for their souls?

How is it possible for those poor creatures to understand sundry passages of Scripture, depending upon propriety of words & ••dioms, or upon the Cu••toms, Rites, Proverbs, Forms, Usages Laws, Offices and Antiquitie o•• the Assyrian, Persian, Gre••k and Roman Governments, without a competent por∣tion of humane Learning? My Religion was as the Kings Daughter, all glorious within; attended on by Arts and Sci∣ences, those Handmaids who cloathed her with garments wrought with needle-work of divers colours, embroidering

her with pathetick 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••ith solid Eloquence and Orations, with Sublimity and Gravity, with Method and Acu••eness, with excellent Morals, and useful Observations of a very sober sense. But now; alas it's exposed to a prophane world, with the ridiculous impertinencies and foolish adven∣tures of men zealous, but not according to knowled••e. What empty discourses do I hear? what incoherent Notions do I r••••d? what vain trifles am I troubled with? what pille∣ring learned mens works do I endure? O what abundance of things should a Minister understand! O what a great de∣fect is it to be ignorant of them•• O how much doe we ••••iss a competent Knowledge in ordinary Ministers•• 1. To satisfie themselves and others exactly in the true and original will of God. 2. To explain and unfold the words in which Gods will is originally expressed, and to endeavour by all means a right notion and conception of them, as they are to be un∣derstood in the Scripture. 3. To shew exactly what are those saving truths which are naturally contained in tho••e words so explained. 4. To confirm those truths so drawn out of the Scripture, by such evident Arguments and powerful Re••sons as may esta••lish the ••••ue believer, and convince the Gain∣sa••er 5. To press those ••••uths so made manifest upon men with that power, that they may have their proper influence and efficacy upon mens hearts and lives. The honest men that are industrious, I would willingly encourage provided they have what I wished alwaies, and shall now expect in all my Priests and Deacons solidity, gravity, modesty piety, and some savour of Learning, 〈…〉〈…〉, with humanity; some methods of intelligible Reason, and profitable Scripture-Divinit••.—The Law was published by Moses, learned in all the Learning of the Egyptians: the Gospel was propagated by St. Paul, bred up at the feet of Gamaliel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the varieties of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and J••wi••h knowledge: the Primitive 〈…〉〈…〉 St. Aug. St. Ambrose Min. ••el•• Lact••nt. and ••thers) maintained the Faith ••o propagated, by their comprehen∣sive Learning. Therefore I have taken care that none should be admitted ••o Orders but they who are app••oved by sober and wise men▪ as 〈…〉〈…〉 that their pro••i••ing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appear 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as

men of whom there is some hope, because of their promptne••s of wit, quickness of conceit, fastness of memory, clearnesse of understanding, soundnesse of judgement, and readinesse of speech; that they ••ay in time, by art, industry, experi∣ence and observation, become skilful Linguists, subtle Dis∣putants, ••opiou•• Orators, exact Critiques, comprehensive Historians, profound Divines, and powerful Preachers; that throughout the three Kingdomes I may have those that may settle the people rightly, instruct the ignorant clearly, satis∣fie the doubtful fully, meet with the seducers skilfully, and promote piety and peace succesfully. As the times now are, wherein Learning aboundeth even unto wanton∣nesse, and wherein the world is full of Questions, Contro∣versies, Novelties and Niceties in Religion, and wherein most of our Gentry and people are (by the advantage of long peace, and the customes of modern Education, toge∣ther with a multitude of English Books) are able to look through the ignorance of a Clergy-man, and censure it, if he be tripping in any point of History, Cosmography, Moral or Natural Philosophy, Divinity or the Arts; yea, and to cha••tise his very method and phrase, if he speaks loosely or impertinently, or but improperly. I, as these times are, must not admit any Clergy-men without a competency of Learning; as who may endeavour by their prayers, care and industry to improve the Learning they have, so as they may be able upon good occasion to impart a spiritual gift to the people of God, whereby they may be established, and to speak with such understanding, sufficiencie and pertinen∣cie, in some good measure of proportion to the quicknesse and ripeness of these present times; shewing in their Doctrine uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech which cannot be condemned; that they which are of the contr••ry party may be ashamed, ••••ving no evil to say of them. I▪ whose Clergy professed to use, and prayed to God to blesse their long Preparative Studies, Mediations, Writings, Readings, habitually to fit them for that dread••ul work, and for every actual discharge of it; I am ashamed of those poor Smatte∣rers, who have gathered a few raw and indigested Notions, either by superficial reading of the Scriptures, or by hear∣ing some Sermons, or by gleaning a little here and there

from the plainest Writings, (without any Critical, Histori∣cal, or Polemical Learning) who are fit implements to bring in such ignorance, irreverence, Atheism, Superstition and Confusion, as shall quite put out the Christian and re∣formed Religion in this Nation, (reducing all to the anci∣ent darkness, looseness and barbarousness) which hath been established by persons of real abilities, of good Learning, sound knowledge, sober Judgements, orderly Method grave Utterance, and weighty Eloquence; which all wise and so∣ber Christians expect should appear in every true Minister of the Church of Christ, insuch a competent measure and evident manner, as they may be able comfortably to discern them and usefully to enjoy them. I am ashamed to see a Roll of four hundred and fix and twenty Tradesmen, who, 1. out of desultory restlesness, 2. out of covetousness and am∣bition, 3. out of ••ullennesse and discontent, 4 out of pride and envy, having intruded in former years into the sacred Calling of a Minister, are now ordained to it. I am asha∣med that my Authority should consecrate their Extravagan∣cies; and that what I looked upon as the misery of late times, should be allowed in this; that I should countenance vain men that run from that Calling wherein they are cal∣led, and usurp the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Honour and Authority of that sacred Priesthood and Evangelical Ministry, instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ, as sent of God the Father; a mischief that greatly threatneth the Church and State, Faith and good Manners, all things Civil as well as Sacred. O what wise and honest hearted Protestant (that hath any care of posterity, or prospect for the future) findes not a sad dispon∣dency, with an holy impatience arising in his soul, while he seeth so many weak shoulders, such unwashen hands, such unprepared feet, such rash heads, such empty souls pub∣likly intruding themselves upon all h••ly Du••ies, all sacred Offices, all solemn Mysteries, all divine Ministrations with equ••l insolency and insufficiency, being for the most part so much the more impudent, by how much they are grosly ignorant; in whom you cannot discern any either ra••ional or religious, orderly or honest expressions in any degree proportionable to what was observable in my most solid Mi∣nisters, my most acute Scholars, and most profound Divines,

who have been 〈…〉〈…〉 Cer∣tainly (Reverend Fathers) you will not so de••ase and un∣dervalue the Evangelical Offices of Christ, as to admit eve∣ry self 〈…〉〈…〉 presen••ly to officiate, without any due ••••amination o•• approbation from those with whom that commission and power hath been ever deposi••ed in a regular and visible succ••ssion from Christ, the great Exam∣plar or Origin••l▪ al••hough: (duely considering the diversi∣ties of gi••••s fr••m the same Spirit) you are not to exclude a∣ny modest pe••son though of meaner parts and less impro∣ved education) if he be of ingenious education, of pious af∣f••ctions, an•• an orderly life) from a place in Christs Mini∣st••y where one may sow, another may reap, according to the several dispensati••ns and gifts of the same God, who worketh all and in all.

SECT. 4.

The Church of England's resentment of the thirteen bundred forty and ••wo••factious Ministers that have been lately or∣d••ined.

YEt I will justifie you (O'ye my reverend Sons) in this, that though you were surprized to ordain young men, yet you hoped that years might improve them; and debau∣ched, yet you may hope that Discipline may reform them; and unlearned men, yet you may hope that time (with Gods blessing upon their private industry and studious piety) ma•• instruct them; but I cannot with patience see your hands laid upon their heads so suddenly for their Ordination, who laid their hands lately upon you for your ruine. O that mine head were waters, that mine eyes were a fountain of tears, to weep for the unhappinesse of the daughter of my people, that must needs unadvifedly authorize men princi∣pled against its Government, prejudiced against its Order, prepossessed against its Liturgy, and privately practising a∣gainst its peace and happiness! In vain doth Authority si∣lence ••our old ••dversa••ies, if you consecrate new ones: in vain do they suppress the former race of Non-consormists if you raise up a new Generation, a seed of evil doors, children that are corrupters.—Shall we perpetuate our miseries, and keep up our unhappinesse? Must a sad race of Dissen∣ters run parallel with the Ortho••ox succession to the end of

the world? whereby I must languish and die, my re••o••med Religion must decay, my piety and charity must be weak∣ned, and my Authory and discipline languish. What e••e will pity me when I have raised those men that shall ruine me, when I have commissioned those men that shall oppose me, and given them an opportunity for popular applause who shall use it against me? without my leave, no Ordinati∣on; no Ordination, no pretence to preach; no preaching, no publick, opportunity to seduce whole multitudes against Doctrine and Discipline, against Order and Government. My safety is now in mine own hands: if I take care whom I prefer, I need not care whom I may fear: if I carefully chuse my Ministers I need not offensively suspend them: if I took care whom I ordained, I might without any noise put an end to all my tro••ble: Mortality would silence those Mini∣sters that now distrub my peace, and m•• care may prevent any more. How ominously do some men discourse? how popularly do they endeavour to preach? what dangerous intimations do they make? how untowardly do they con∣firm? how ackwardly doe they use my Ceremonies? and read my Liturgy? When I consider the general approbati∣on and submission to my Government and Discipline before the Wars, by all the Clergy and Layty of these Kingdomes; and withal, remember how contrary to true Learning and honest Integrity, as if they understood not what they did, or that they did con••orm contrary to their conscience, con∣trary to their former oaths and practise, against their obe∣dience to the Laws in being before the points in controver∣sie had any free and impartiall debate, these men cryed; down the established Government and Religion, and appro∣ved and encouraged the violent and most illegal Extrava∣gancies, tending to the utter ruine of Religion and Go∣vernment.

Indeed I must co••fesse that most of all sides who have thought or Hone amisse, have done so not out of malice or wilfulness, but out of mis-information or mis apprehension of things: and therefore I charitably think none will be more faithful then those persons who upon mature delibera∣tion being made sensible of their errours, doe feel in their hearts most vehement motives of repentance, and earnest de∣sires

fires to make some reparations for former defects. Yet such fincere Converts are they, who are not so much-frighted with the sudden miscarriage, as convinced of the continued er∣rour of their ways; who are rather perswaded by the truth and reason I always urged, then awed by the authority and power I now enjoy; and so are not blindly carried on by that Providence that advancet•• me now, as it did, and may again overturn me; but are rationally wrought upon by the pregnant evidence of the Word, the clear practice of the Catholick Church, the best Comment upon that Word, and the irresistable strength of Reason for Order and obedience, upon which I was alwayes established, which they have not rashly complyed with, until they had examined all Allega∣tions impartially, surveyed the merit of the Cause leasurely, waited upon God by prayer humbly, searched the will of God and the constant practise of good men diligently and sincerel••, conversed with good and knowing men profitably and satisfactorily, and denyed themselves in all worldly re∣spects most Christianly. The Lapsed were not formerly ad∣mitted to the communion of Christians, much less to the honour of Ministers, without that discreet delay wherein they might have time to satisfie themselves in the ••eason, and others in the sincerity of their repentance and conversion. With that caution was the Jewish Proselyte received to the Synagogue? with what care ought a Christian be brought to the Pulpit? Do they serve God in this complyance, or do they serve the time? If they serve God, he was the same as yesterday, so to day, and for ever. Do they serve the times? God forbid that they who teach a Religion whose interest is in another world, should yet own no more Religion then may con••ist with their interest in this. Alas, (say poor souls, distracted with alterations of times and men, to their un∣constant Ministers) is this way lawful you submit to •• why then did you declare it superstitious, Popish, and intolera∣ble these twenty years, before God, Angels and Men? Is it unlawful? why do you practise it now? Was it against your Consciences all the while it was discountenanced, and is it agreeable to your Consciences now it is upon a sudden countenanced? Oh have you perswaded us these twenty years to venture Lives and Estates against those things you

allow and practise! Is it for this you prayed? Is it for this we fought? is this the issue of all our blood and treasure? &c. Oh it's a sad thing to see men in the same Desk reading Common-prayer in a Surplice, where they preach'd against both Common pra••er and Surplice. Oh it's a sad thing to see men build up in a day, that which they have destroy∣ed these twenty years. It's intolerable to see men keep their places by Conformity, which they gained by Non-confor∣mity; when they turned out honest men by crying down my Government and Worship, now they keep them out by compliance with my Government and Worship. Alas, to see men Presbyterian in the beginning of the War, Inde∣pendent in the end of it, and now Episcopal. Where shall we stop? Where we are now, we know; where we shall be a year hence, God knoweth. Alas, is a good Living the onlie Creed men have? and Preferment their only Confes∣sion of Faith? It was a miracle that St. Peter could convert three thousand at one Sermon, it's nothing now that his Majestie hath converted ten thousand Ministers with one glance of his eye. Ah, blessed Hammond, thou didst write rationallie; excellent Gauden, thou didst perswade power∣fullie; devout Taylor, thou didst urge patheticallie: honest Nicholson, thou didst answer satisfactorilie: solid Sander∣son, thou didst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 clearly; holy Vsher and Hall, you did offer moderatelie, heartily and learnedly.—But who O ye worthies! believed your report? who would hear you? who was convinced by you? The King is restored, I flourish, and dispose of all Preferments, and my Converts are innu∣merable. Well, I have but two Wishes; the first is, That all who have gone astray may be reclaimed to the way of truth; the second is, That all who are reclaimed, may be reclaimed from mature deliberation, and a serious conside∣ration of all that can be alleadged on all hands, trying all things and upon good grounds holding fast that which is good. Give me the men who conform upon the conscience of my principles, and not upon the prosperity of my Cause; —who can neglect the most successful errour, and own the most afflicted truth; who are settled upon my princi∣ples which are constant, and not upon my preferments which are uncertain. Is it the Kings Majesties favour they

depend upon? he may fail. Is it the Church-Government they depend upon? that may fail. Is it Church-encourage∣ment they stick to? that may fail, Is it the ancient Truth and Faith they comply with? that hath never failed, and that will never fail. Give me Ministers who as they preach, so live upon the things which are not seen, and not the things which are seen; the things which are seen are tem∣poral, the things which are not seen eternal.

And must I have a Samaritan of Religion? serve the true God in the Temple, and the Calves at Bethel? Must I have a sound form of words in the Desk, and an extempory effusion in the Pulpit? must I have the same man read Episcopally to walls, and preach factiously to a throng? use the Ceremo∣nies,* 1.1 and say to his confidents, They are a burden to him? use the Surplice, yet unwilling to give offence? use the Crosse in B••ptism yet say I wish it were forborn? Well, I shall never forget the words of a wise and judicious Father, now with God:

They themselves (meaning the Non conformists) when time was seemed to be, and if they dissembled not, which we are unwilling to believe, were indeed reasona∣ble well affected: for they submitted to Government, used the ••••t••rgie, and observed the Ceremonies appointed ac∣cording to Law and order; and gave their own professed approbation of the same, as well by express words from their mouths, as by subscription under their hands yet re∣maining upon record: what hath wrought this change in them, (evidence of reason, or worldly interest) and how f••r it hath wrought upon them (in reality, or but in comply∣ance) and in what order too, (by immediate assault upon their judgment, or by dealin••, under hand first with their affection) themselves do or should best know. It highly con∣ce••neth them as much as the peace of their consciences are worth, (and much more then so) to be well assured that their hearts are upright in this affair: and in order there∣unto, not to content themselves with slight and overly ex∣amination, (there is more wickedness and deceitfulness in the hearts of all men, then most men are aware of) but to make the more diligent, distr••ct and impartiall search pos∣sible into the true Causes and Motives of this Change; (and for so much as fears and hopes have been ever found the

fittest engines to work such seats) to enquire particularly what influence or opperation either the fear of loosing what they had, or the hope of getting more might have in this work towards the producing such an effect.

••t will best become others to judge as charitably as they may; but doubtlesse it will be safest for them to be very jealous over themselves, lest so great a Change could not have been wrought in so short a space, without a strong infusion of the one, or of the other, or both▪ into the Medicine that wrought it; especially since the conjuncture of time wherein this change happened, may very probably raise some suspition that a visible hope and advantage had some co-operation at lest with whatsoever was the principal cause of this so sudden an alteration. If not so, nor so, but that they find themselves clearly convinced in their judgements of their former er∣rour, and that they are fully perswaded that they are now in a better way then that wherein they formerly walked, it is happy for them, and I doubt not but that they will fi••de matter of rejoycing in it if they be not mistaken (a thing not impossible) in the tryal of their own hearts. O that I had men that in the change of times were unchangeable in their mind and opinion and to hold to their former and well-grounded Principle, so long as they can neither appre∣hend any reason of sufficient strength to convince 〈◊〉〈◊〉 un∣derstandings that they are in the wrong, or to mainfest unto them the necessity of making such a change.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. H. Mr. M. Dr. I. W.