A Collection of cases and other discourses lately written to recover dissenters to the communion of the Church of England by some divines of the city of London ; in two volumes ; to each volume is prefix'd a catalogue of all the cases and discourses contained in this collection.

II.

Secondly, We beg of them, that they would seriously and impartially weigh and consider, as well what is said on the one side, as on the other. This is a piece of Justice that every one owes to Truth, and which indeed every Man owes to himself, that is not wil∣ling to be deceived. To take up with Prejudices, which Education or long Custom have instilled into him, or wherein any other Arts or Methods have engaged him, without strictly enquiring whether those Preju∣dices stand upon a firm Foundation, is to see only on one side: to bind up ones self in the Judgment or Opinion of any Man, that is not Divinely-inspi∣red and Infallible, or pertinaciously to adhere to any Party of Men; how plausible and specious soever their Pretences may be, without examining their

Grounds, and endeavouring to know what is said against them, is to choose a Persuasion at a perad∣venture; and 'tis great odds whether such a one be in the right. In all Enquiries after Truth, we ought to keep an Ear open for one side of the Controver∣sie, as well as the other, and not to think we have done enough, till without Favour or Prejudice, and to the best of our Understandings, we have heard, tryed, and judged, the Reasons brought, as well for, as against it. And till this be done, I see not with what pretence of Reason, Men can talk so much of their Scruples, or plead for Favour on the account of their Dissatisfactions. Consciences truly tender, are willing and desirous to embrace all opportunities of Re∣solution, & are ready to kiss the Hand that would bring them better information, and are not wont to neglect, much less thrust from them the means that might ease them of their Doubts and Scruples. We justly blame it in them of the Church of Rome, that in a manner they resign up their Understandings to their Guides and Confessors, and are not suffered to be truly acquain∣ed with the Protestant Principles, and the Grounds and Reasons of the Reformation; nor to Read any of the Books, that are written for their Conviction, without a special and peculiar Licence. Whether our Brethren of the Separation be under any such Spiri∣tual Discipline, I know not; sure I am it looks very odly, that so many of them are no more concerned to understand the true State of the Church of Eng∣land, and the Nature and Reasons of her Constitutions, that so few of them care to Confer with those that are able to Instruct them, but Cry out, They are sa∣tisfied already; nay, some of them, to my know∣ledge, when desired to propose their Scruples, in order to the giving them satisfaction, have plainly and ab∣solutely

refused to do it. Little reason there is to believe, that such Persons have ever Read and Exa∣mined what the Church of England has to say for her self. Are there not many, that not only Scru∣ple, but Rail at the Book of Common-Prayer, that yet never heard it, nor perhaps, ever read it, in all their Lives? And if this be not to speak Evil of what they know not, I cannot tell what is. How many incomparable Books have been heretofore written in defence of our Church, her Rites and Usages, that yet generally lie by the Walls, little known, and less read, by those that so much Cry out against her. And at this time how many excellent Discourses have been Published, for the satisfaction of Dissenters, writ∣ten with the greatest Temper and Moderation; with the utmost plainness and perspicuity, with all imagi∣nable evidence and strength of Reasoning; so short, as not to require any considerable portion, either of Time or Cost, so suited to present Circumstances, as to obviate every material Objection, that is made against Communion with us; and yet there is just cause to fear, that the far greatest part of our Dis∣senters are meer strangers to them, and are not so just to themselves, or us, as to give them the read∣ing: And that those few that do look into them, do it rather out of a design to pick quarrels against them, and to expose them in scurrilous or cavilling Pamphlets, than to receive satisfaction by them. I do heartily, and from my Soul, wish an end of these Contentions, and that there were no further occasion for them; but if our Dissenting Brethren will still proceed in this way, we desire, (and hope 'tis but what is reasonable) that the things in difference may be debated in the most quiet, peaceable, and amica∣ble manner, that they may be gravely and substanti∣ally

managed, and only the Merits of the Cause at∣tended to, and that the Controversie may not be turned off to mean and trifling Persons, whose highest Attainment perhaps it is, to write an idle and senseless Pamphlet, and which can serve no other use, but only that the People may be borne in hand, that such and such Books are Answered. Which is so unmanly and disingenious a way, and so like the shifting Arti∣fices of them of the Church of Rome, that I am apt to persuade my self, the wiser Heads of the Dissenting Party cannot but be ashamed of it. If they be not, 'tis plain to all the World, they are willing to serve an ill Design by the most unwarrantable Means. But however that be, we think we have great Reason to expect from them, that they should hear our Church before they condemn Her, and consider what has been said for the removing of their Doubts, before they tell us any more of Scruples, Tender-Consciences, and the hard measure that they meet withall. I confess, could I meet with a Person that had brought him∣self to some kind of Unbyas'dness and indifferency of Temper, and that design'd nothing more than to seek and find the right way of Serving God, without respect to the Intrigues and Interests of this or that particular Party; and in order thereunto, had with a sincere and honest Mind read whatever might pro∣bably conduce to his Satisfaction, fairly proposed his Scruples, and modestly consulted with those that were most proper to advise him, and humbly begged the Guidance and Direction of the Divine Grace and Blessing; and yet after all, should still labour under his old Dissatisfactions; I should heartily pity and pray for such a Man, and think my self obliged to im∣prove all my Interest for Favour and Forbearance to∣wards him. But such Persons as these, I am afraid,

are but thin sowed; and, without Breach of Charity, it may be supposed, there is not One of a Thousand.