foon found would be well pleas'd if his own way were fettled instead of it, and Laws made to oblige all others to the Practice and Obfervance of what he in his own Wisdom thinks best and fittest. And tho he doth not approve of what the Magiftrate hath appointed or commanded, yet he would have the Magistrate and every one elfe approve of that, and that only, which he in his own conceit fancies and commends.

And thus every one almost sets up for himfelf, and would have a Church of his own framing, a Liturgy of his own inventing, and a Government of his own devifing: and it is impoffible for us to be fatisfied, as long as we will fubmit to no Tribunal, nor ever be pleafed, unless every one be forc'd to believe and practise just as we our felves would have them.

That all Men should be of the same mind, and agree in the fame Conceptions and Apprehenfions of things, is impoffible, and no more to be expected in this Life, than that all Mens Faces and Complexions fhould be alike. As long as there are fome Places of Scripture hard to be understood, feveral things pertaining to Religion which are not fundamental, and therefore not plainly determin'd, but remain doubtful; as long as Men have different : Educations, Tempers, Conftitutions of Body, Inclinations of Mind, and feveral Interefts to serve; as long as there are different

degrees

degrees of Knowledg and Understanding in Men: In a word, as long as Ignorance and Confidence continue in the World, fo long there will be Difputes and Controverfies about Matters of Religion, even among those who yet agree in the fame Faith and Profeffion. Nor hath our Christianity provided any infallible way or means of filencing or putting an end to fuch Differences about lefs Matters and fpeculative Points.

We have indeed plainly propounded to us whatever is neceffary for us to know or practife in order to Salvation; and for the understanding of this, nothing elfe is requifite but an honest Mind and fincere defire of Learning. As for other things, which are not of fo great moment, and are more obfcure, it is fufficient that in all cafes we be modest and humble, teacheable and governable, that we preserve Peace, Order and Charity; and I doubt not but God will pardon the Errors of those who are upright and well-minded. What horrible Prefumption therefore is it in us to judg, defpife, condemn our Brethren for those Mistakes (if they be fo God will overlook and pass by? What devilish Pride is this (I cannot speak too earneftly in the cafe) to endeavour, like the old Tyrant, to ftretch or cramp up every Man to the proportion of my Bed? to prefume that God will judg and count with Men juft by the rate and meafure of my Understanding, and damn every one that hath ei

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which

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ther more or lefs Wit than I have? for either of thefe may be the occafion of his differing from me. It is the greatest Oppreffion and Ufurpation imaginable, to affault or try to overcome the Reafon of another by any thing elfe but Reafon and this is the uncharitable Spirit that fo eminently difcovers it felf in the Roman Church, which pretending to Infallibility and an unerring Authority over Chriftians, condemns and perfecutes all who will not fubmit to her Determinations, and believe as the doth. And with the fame Spirit many that hate Popery enough, are too. much levened; I mean thofe who appropriate the glorious Names of the Godly, People of God, Orthodox Chriftians, only to their own paltry Sect or Conventicle, and reprobate all that have not arriv'd to the fame Skill in their Dutch Divinity with themfelves.

Many Divifions and Sub-divifions there are now among us, and God only knows when they will be at an end: but if you would know from whence they arife, it is eafy to tell you in the words of Solomon, Only of Pride cometh Contention; or of St. James, Whence come Wars and Fightings among you? Come they not bence, even from your Lufts?

Self-conceit and Self-love, whatever is pretended, is the great and principal Root of all our religious Quarrels and Debates, whilft Men too highly value their own private Judgments in things doubtful and indifferent, think mean

ly

ly of the Determinations of their Superiors, and care not tho they facrifice Peace and Charity to the promoting of any trifling Opinion they happen to be fond of,

I find it quoted in one of the Reverend Hooker's ordinary Sayings, That the Scriptures were not writ to beget Difputations and Pride, and Scruples, and Opposition to Government, but Charity, Humility, Moderation, Obedience to Authority, and Peace to Mankind; of which Virtues (as he always added) no Man ever repented himself at his Death-bed. And if ever Unity and Christian Concord, and Peace and Brotherly Love be again recover'd, and prevail among us, it must be by thefe Means and Principles.

It is a vain thing to think to bring all Men to one Mind, but yet one would hope it not impoffible to perfuade Chriftians to a mean Opinion of themselves, that in Lowlinefs of Mind each fhould efteem others before himself; to a dutiful Subjection to their Betters in things under their charge and ordering; and to a mutual Forbearance and Charity where they cannot presently agree: and this would do every whit as well as if we were all of one Mind.

Several Expedients have been propounded for the uniting us, and reconciling our Differences; fome are for Toleration, others for Comprehenfion, others for the strict Execution of Penal Laws. But alas! neither thefe nor any other are likely to have any effect upon us till we learn Humility and Modefty, till Pride

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and Self-conceit, and all imperious Affectation of impofing our own Singularities upon others be rooted out of the World; till we learn to fubmit to our Betters, and in indifferent things not to oppofe our private Opinions to the publick Determinations of the Church. This one Virtue of Humility would go farther towards the putting an end to all our terms of Distinction and unchristian Separations, than all the Writings or Difputings, all the Laws and Proclamations about the Church have hitherto done. Whatever is the cause of the Error, Pride is always the cause of the Quarrel, that makes the Breach, and forms the Party.

Let but all amongft us agree together in common to mortify our Pride and Arrogance, and conceited Efteem of our felves, and base Contempt of others, and the fimple Truth will prevail in the World; or at least there will be no more of these unchriftian Separations and Schifms, but Peace and Unity will be establish'd and fecur'd amongst us.

To fum up all I have faid. Be not wife in your own Conceits; affect not things above your Skill and Reach; meddle not with what is beyond your Capacity, or out of your Sphere: fmall Abilities and great Confidence ordinarily make the most inconfiderable and ridiculous Creature in Nature.

Think it no Diminution in fome things to confefs your Ignorance, in all weighty Business to ask for Counsel and Advice: truft not too much to your own Judgment and Discretion.