The fourth part of naked truth, or, The complaint of the church to some of her sons for breach of her articles in a friendly dialogue between Titus and Timothy, both ministers of the Church of England / by a legal son and since conformist to the Church of England, as established by law.

Article 23. Of ministring in the Congregation.

Tim.

It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the Office of Publick preaching, or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lords Vineyard.

Tit.

I suppose we need not stay long here neither.

Tim.

No, for I know none but Quakers, Lay-elders, and such holders forth, as the Apostle describes,— That creep into Houses, and lead captive silly women, &c. but can digest this Article well enough, I am sure there is never an Orthodox Divine (nay, scarce a right Presbyterian) but will subscribe to it.

Tit.

Presbyterian, yes, for Ordination by laying on of hands is a Doctrine they stiffly maintain, both in their Sermons and Writings: yea, and many of them have admitted of Episcopal Ordination, rather than run before they were sent.

Tim.

I know they have, but for all the rest of the Dissenters, they had as lieve Old Ketch should goll them as a Bishop.

Tit.

Why then are the Presbyterians decryed as the great bane and pest in Church and State, when (at least in respect to others) they are men of some orders. —

Tim.

O Sir, because they are the leading faction.

Tit.

Leading do you call them, I am sure they lead the smallest number, of any Dissenters this day in the Nation,— yet unhappy men that they are; all that do any ways oppose or undermine the Government either in Church or State, are cryed down, under that (new frightfull and abominable) title, Presbyterians, for my part (though I know they are not in infallible yet) I cannot but pity them.—

Tim.

But I can't, what pity a crew of Knaves and Villains?

Tit.

Take heed [Tim.], for they come nearest the Church of England of any other Dissenters, and upon a small abatement, could joyn with her, which the rest of the Dissenters would not; and are they the worse Knaves and Villains for this?

Tim.

Yes, much the worse— but pray say no more of them, for I abhor the very name, and cannot hear it repeated with Patience. —

Tit.

I would not provoke you too much; but I would gladly hear your reasons.

Tim.

That I can't do without thinking of them, (at least) and the very thoughts of them put me into such an heat, as utterly confounds my reason.

Tit.

We use to say, break my head and shew me a reason: but it seems they must be content to be called Knaves, Villains, and what not, without reason.

Tim.

Yes, for this once they must and shall; and that for this reason, because I can't stay now to give my reasons.

Tit.

Are they so very long then?

Tim.

Yes, much longer I see, than the next Article, which I am just going to read.

Tit.

Well [Tim.] I perceive 'tis an hard matter to force reason from you. — proceed as you will.