pular, and have gained the good Opinion of others, fhall have imbib'd Principles of Rebellion, and fo interwoven them with their Religion, as to become a part of it; it is then high time for the State to look to it felf. For let fuch have their way, and not only true Religion must fink, but the State must be moulded to their bumour: On the other hand, if they be crofs'd, they think themselves bound in Confcience to rebel as faft as they can; and thus fuppofing that they fight God's Battels, the more they Murther, the greater fervice they think they do God; and if they fall in their wicked Attempts, they conclude they die Martyrs, and all is fafe on their fide. Thus their wicked Principles animate them with Courage beyond others, and fit them to do more Mischief, than thofe,who are feemingly the worst of Men. This (if we would give our Minds to learn any thing for our good) we might have learnt from the Cromwellian new Model, related by Dr. Bates (Elench. Mot. nup.) For in the Rebellion against King Charles I. the Royalifts had generally the better of the Roundheads, till that + that crafty Fox Cromwell broach'd his Enthufiafm, which being greedily fuck'd in by his Party, turn'd their Brains, and threw them into a Religious Madness; and then, in new modelling the Army, he entertain'd only such as were poffefs'd (and it little differ'd from a real Poffeffion) with an Opinion, that they fought God's Cause: And having thus fet up Religion and Confcience (as they wofully miftook it) against Loyalty and Gallantry, the DeSperateness of the one worfted the Bravery of the other; infomuch that they barbarously murthered their lawful King, butchered his faithful Subjects, made the Nation a Field of Blood, and ruined multitudes of good Families, who many of them feel it to this Day. It is no fmall encouragement to these dangerous fort of Perfons, when either a State is so negligent, or they fo ftrong, that by their Ungovernableness and Difobedience, they can not only defeat wholefome Laws, but procure to themselves Privileges beyond what the good Subject enjoys. For by this means they in fome measure rather give Laws to the Govern P ment, ment, than receive them from it; and this also animates them to struggle for more, and gives them hopes to attain the utmost they can defire; at which, if they can arrive, either Governors must be at their beck, or may be difmounted at pleasure. And befides, this is a vaft difcouragement to all dutiful Subjects: For when they find themselves ty'd up to harder Terms than fuch Libertines and turbulent Perfons, they are strongly tempted to run in among those, with whom they may reap greater Advantages. For tho' no Government can subsist without good Laws, and a due Execution of them; and good Men think it their Security, and a Bleffing to live under and obey them; yet the generality of Men are fo fond of what they falfly call Liberty,that they are very prone to join themselves with thofe, who feem to enjoy most of it, and fo ftrive for more, till they bring the Curfe of Confufion amongst them, and ruine all. When a Difcourfe runs on only in general, tho' fome Men may be jealous, that they are flantingly aimed at, yet it is commonly more eafily born with, because no Man's Man's Copyhold is directly touch'd: But if you make application, and come to Particulars, the whole Party presently cries out, that their Rights and Privileges are invaded; and then he, who hath provok'd this Neft of Hornets, fhall have them all about his Ears: So that it is dangerous meddling in fuch a cafe. But fince we are fallen into Times, wherein every Mountebank and Quack in Religion sets up for a Doctor of Divinity, it is a hard cafe, if a Man, who hath made it his study, shall not be fuffer'd to put in a word or two with them: And I being one, who more feek Men's good, than value their anger; and being now old, and having not long to live, so that their utmoft Malice, if it fhould rid me out of this wicked World, would not do fo much harm to me as themselves, I shall adventure to mention one or two fuch extorted Privileges; but they fhall be fuch as have been very little, if at all, taken notice of by others; though perhaps for that the more difpleafing. I will not enter upon a Discourse of Marriage, what is its Nature, what makes it, and wherein its Effence confifts; be that what it will, it hath always been thought fit, that it should be folemnly performed; and it being fo weighty an A&t, as to extend to the whole Life, all Civiliz'd Nations have thought it expedient, that it should be attended with the Blaffing of the Priest. But feeing that by Marriage the Community is propagated and continued, it may claim its fhare in it, or at leaft for its own safety ought to be allowed to take fome Cognizance of it. For it is by no means convenient, that a Community fhould confift of Whores and Rogues; nor could it long fubfist so. But if all forts of promiscuous, incestuous, fecret, or pretended Marriages, which perhaps fome may be firm to, and others at pleafure recede from, must be conniv'd at, I fear in a fhort time it would be little better. And therefore to prevent thefe Mischiefs, all Civil Nations have usually prescribed what fort of Marriage fhall be efteemed lawful by, and fatisfactory to the Community; fo that the Man and Wo2 man fhall keep true to each other, and their Children be legitimate, and fucced to Civil Eftates |
