Humble and modest proposals tender'd to the consideration of both houses of Parliament, for uniting the Protestant interest in the nation for the present age, and preventing our divisions for future
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
       Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 6 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A59823
         Wing S3294A
         ESTC R37545
         16970937
         ocm 16970937
         105557
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A59823)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 105557)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1159:3)
      
       
         
           
             Humble and modest proposals tender'd to the consideration of both houses of Parliament, for uniting the Protestant interest in the nation for the present age, and preventing our divisions for future
             Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
          
           [2], 9 p.
           
             Printed for C.P. and are to be sold in the Strand,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             Attributed by Wing to William Sherlock.
             Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England -- Government.
           Church and state -- England.
           Dissenters, Religious -- England.
        
      
    
     
        2003-11 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2003-11 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2003-12 Judith Siefring
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2003-12 Judith Siefring
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2004-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
           Humble
           and
           Modest
           PROPOSALS
           Tender'd
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           Both
           Houses
           of
           PARLIAMENT
           ,
           FOR
           UNITING
           THE
           Protestant
           Interest
           IN
           THIS
           NATION
           For
           the
           Present
           Age
           ,
           And
           preventing
           our
           DIVISIONS
           for
           Future
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             C.
             P.
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           in
           the
           Strand
           .
           1680.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           Humble
           and
           Modest
           PROPOSALS
           For
           Uniting
           the
           PROTESTANT
           INTEREST
           IN
           THIS
           NATION
           .
        
         
           I
           Doubt
           not
           but
           every
           pious
           and
           sober
           Protestant
           of
           this
           Nation
           is
           now
           in
           great
           grief
           and
           anguish
           of
           heart
           to
           observe
           the
           passionate
           Differences
           and
           unchristian
           Dissentions
           ,
           which
           dayly
           increase
           amongst
           Christians
           united
           in
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Doctrine
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           and
           reformed
           from
           the
           Errours
           and
           Superstition
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           which
           cannot
           but
           oblige
           every
           serious
           man
           who
           wisheth
           Peace
           and
           Prosperity
           to
           the
           Kingdom
           he
           lives
           in
           ,
           to
           consider
           what
           should
           be
           the
           occasion
           of
           those
           unhappy
           and
           ruinous
           Divisions
           we
           have
           so
           long
           suffered
           under
           ,
           and
           to
           offer
           probable
           means
           for
           the
           composing
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           their
           first
           rise
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           they
           owe
           their
           Original
           to
           the
           
             different
             manner
             of
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             and
             the
             establishing
             of
             the
             Orders
             which
             each
             Church
             did
             think
             fit
             and
             convenient
             for
             it self
             ,
          
           (
           as
           the
           Reverend
           and
           Pious
           Mr.
           Hooker
           acquaints
           us
           )
           
             which
             
             were
             so
             peremptorily
             established
             under
             that
             high
             commanding
             Form
             ,
             which
             rendered
             them
             to
             the
             People
             as
             things
             everlastingly
             required
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             that
             Lord
             of
             Lords
             ,
             against
             whose
             Statutes
             there
             is
             no
             exception
             to
             be
             taken
             ;
             by
             which
             means
             it
             came
             to
             pass
             ,
             that
             one
             Church
             could
             not
             but
             accuse
             and
             condemn
             another
             of
             disobedience
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           in
           those
           things
           where
           manifest
           difference
           was
           between
           them
           :
           
             Whereas
             the
             self-same
             Orders
             allowed
             ,
             but
             yet
             established
             in
             more
             wary
             and
             suspense
             manner
             ,
             as
             being
             to
             stand
             in
             force
             till
             God
             should
             give
             the
             opportunity
             of
             some
             general
             Conference
             what
             might
             be
             best
             for
             them
             afterwards
             to
             do
             ;
             This
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             had
             both
             prevented
             all
             occasion
             of
             just
             dislike
             which
             others
             might
             take
             ,
             and
             reserved
             a
             greater
             liberty
             unto
             the
             Authors
             themselves
             of
             entering
             into
             farther
             consultation
             afterwards
             ;
             which
             ,
             though
             never
             so
             necessary
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             easily
             now
             admit
             ,
             without
             some
             fear
             of
             derogation
             from
             their
             Credit
             :
             And
             therefore
             that
             which
             once
             they
             had
             done
             ,
             they
             became
             for
             ever
             after
             resolute
             to
             maintain
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           shortness
           of
           that
           time
           wherein
           our
           first
           Reformation
           continued
           under
           Edward
           the
           Sixth
           ,
           and
           the
           necessity
           of
           many
           learned
           and
           pious
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           flee
           into
           foreign
           Countries
           (
           as
           
             Strasburgh
             ,
             Geneva
          
           ,
           &c.
           )
           in
           Queen
           
           Mary's
           Reign
           ,
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           their
           lives
           ,
           where
           they
           frequently
           conversed
           with
           those
           eminent
           Divines
           ,
           who
           were
           the
           great
           Reformers
           there
           ;
           't
           is
           no
           wonder
           that
           some
           of
           them
           should
           return
           better
           pleased
           with
           their
           Discipline
           than
           their
           own
           ,
           especially
           considering
           that
           several
           of
           them
           had
           intimate
           Acquaintance
           and
           Conversation
           with
           one
           of
           the
           Reformers
           ,
           whom
           the
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Hooker
           thought
           
             incomparably
             the
             wisest
             man
             that
             ever
             the
             French
             Church
             did
             enjoy
             since
             the
             hour
             it
             enjoyed
             him
             .
          
           In
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           ,
           King
           Iames
           ,
           and
           our
           late
           Soveraign's
           Reigns
           ,
           't
           is
           well
           known
           how
           our
           Differences
           still
           increased
           ,
           until
           that
           unhappy
           War
           broke
           out
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           Non-conforming
           Interest
           prevailed
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Presbyterian
           Discipline
           was
           endeavoured
           to
           be
           fixed
           as
           the
           established
           Form
           of
           Government
           in
           this
           Nation
           ;
           our
           Universities
           ,
           Preachers
           ,
           Writings
           ,
           Education
           ,
           &c.
           were
           generally
           modelled
           thereto
           :
           by
           which
           means
           the
           greatest
           number
           of
           the
           Trading
           part
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           many
           of
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           and
           some
           few
           of
           the
           Nobility
           (
           observing
           the
           Precepts
           and
           Practices
           ,
           Lifes
           and
           Deaths
           of
           most
           of
           that
           Clergy
           to
           be
           
           pious
           and
           exemplary
           )
           joyned
           with
           men
           of
           this
           or
           the
           like
           Perswasion
           .
           Since
           which
           time
           it
           pleased
           God
           to
           restore
           our
           present
           Soveraign
           to
           his
           Throne
           ,
           and
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           Nation
           thought
           it
           convenient
           to
           establish
           the
           same
           Discipline
           which
           our
           first
           Reformers
           judged
           prudential
           ;
           not
           abating
           or
           leaving
           indifferent
           those
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           unhappily
           have
           occasioned
           those
           hither-to-irreconcilable
           Differences
           between
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           and
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           matter
           of
           dispute
           between
           the
           Reformers
           ,
           even
           from
           the
           first
           Reformation
           from
           Popery
           :
           Upon
           which
           account
           many
           of
           the
           Non-conforming
           Divines
           laid
           down
           their
           Livings
           ,
           and
           the
           old
           Disputes
           began
           afresh
           to
           be
           revived
           ;
           and
           so
           are
           like
           to
           be
           continued
           ,
           until
           we
           be
           either
           ruined
           by
           Popery
           ,
           or
           healed
           by
           Moderation
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           onely
           Salve
           to
           cure
           the
           Churches
           wounds
           ,
           and
           that
           admirable
           Weapon-Salve
           formerly
           proposed
           to
           the
           wisdom
           of
           Superiours
           by
           the
           Reverend
           Dr.
           Stillingfleet
           ;
           who
           having
           highly
           commended
           the
           
             prudence
             and
             temper
             of
             the
             French
             Churches
             in
             composing
             their
             publick
             Forms
             of
             Prayer
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             so
             far
             from
             inserting
             any
             thing
             controversial
             into
             them
             ,
             that
             Papists
             themselves
             would
             use
             them
             .
          
           And
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             The
             same
             temper
             was
             used
             by
             our
             Reformers
             in
             the
             composing
             our
             Liturgie
             in
             reference
             to
             the
             Papists
             ,
             to
             whom
             they
             had
             an
             especial
             eye
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             onely
             Party
             then
             appearing
             ,
             whom
             they
             desired
             to
             draw
             into
             their
             Communion
             ,
             by
             coming
             as
             near
             them
             as
             they
             well
             and
             safely
             could
             .
             And
             certainly
             those
             holy
             men
             who
             did
             seek
             by
             any
             means
             to
             draw
             in
             others
             at
             such
             a
             distance
             from
             their
             Principles
             as
             the
             Papists
             were
             ,
             did
             never
             intend
             by
             what
             they
             did
             for
             that
             end
             to
             exclude
             any
             truly
             tender
             Consciences
             from
             their
             Communion
             .
             That
             which
             they
             had
             laid
             as
             a
             Bait
             for
             them
             ,
             was
             never
             intended
             by
             them
             as
             a
             Hook
             for
             those
             of
             their
             own
             Prefession
             ;
             but
             the
             same
             or
             greater
             Reason
             which
             made
             them
             at
             that
             time
             yield
             so
             far
             to
             them
             then
             ,
             would
             now
             have
             perswaded
             them
             to
             alter
             and
             lay
             aside
             those
             things
             which
             yield
             matter
             of
             offence
             to
             any
             of
             the
             same
             Profession
             with
             themselves
             now
             :
             For
             surely
             none
             will
             be
             so
             uncharitable
             toward
             those
             of
             his
             own
             Profession
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             think
             there
             is
             as
             much
             reason
             to
             yield
             in
             compliance
             with
             them
             ,
             as
             with
             the
             Papists
             .
             And
             it
             cannot
             but
             be
             looked
             upon
             as
             a
             Token
             of
             God's
             severe
             displeasure
             against
             us
             ,
             if
             any
             ,
             though
             unreasonable
             Proposals
             of
             Peace
             between
             us
             and
             the
             Papists
             ,
             should
             meet
             with
             such
             entertainment
             among
             many
             ,
             and
             yet
             any
             fair
             offers
             of
             Vnion
             and
             Accommodation
             among
             our selves
             be
             so
             coldly
             embraced
             and
             entertained
             .
          
           Thus
           far
           our
           
           Reverend
           and
           Learned
           Dean
           of
           Pauls
           .
           Upon
           these
           and
           some
           other
           like
           Considerations
           ,
           I
           should
           humbly
           propose
           to
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           this
           present
           Parliament
           ,
           some
           probable
           means
           to
           put
           an
           end
           to
           our
           present
           Differences
           ,
           and
           to
           Unite
           us
           for
           the
           future
           ;
           that
           so
           we
           may
           become
           a
           flourishing
           Nation
           ,
           free
           from
           the
           Factions
           and
           Divisions
           of
           former
           Ages
           .
        
         
           
             For
             the
             First
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             
               I
               Humbly
               propose
               ,
               That
               the
               Ceremonies
               at
               present
               enjoyned
               by
               Law
               ,
               might
               be
               left
               to
               the
               liberty
               of
               the
               Clergy
               to
               use
               or
               lay
               aside
               ;
               and
               that
               because
               the
               Dissenters
               on
               the
               one
               hand
               do
               declare
               that
               their
               conformity
               to
               them
               would
               be
               sinful
               ,
               and
               the
               Church
               of
            
             England
             
               on
               the
               other
               hand
               hath
               not
               onely
               declared
               upon
               our
               first
               Reformation
               in
               the
               account
               she
               hath
               given
               of
               Ceremonies
               ,
               why
               some
               be
               abolished
               and
               some
               retained
               ,
               That
            
             as
             those
             Ceremonies
             were
             taken
             away
             which
             were
             most
             abused
             ,
             and
             did
             burden
             mens
             Consciences
             without
             any
             cause
             ;
             so
             the
             other
             that
             remain
             are
             retained
             for
             a
             Discipline
             and
             Order
             ,
             which
             
               (
               upon
               just
               cause
               )
               may
               be
               altered
            
             and
             
               changed
               .
               
                 But
                 since
                 his
                 Majesties
                 Restauration
                 ,
                 the
                 Church
                 of
              
            
             England
             
               hath
               again
               declared
               in
               her
               Preface
               to
               the
               Common-Prayer
               ,
            
             That
             the
             particular
             Forms
             of
             Divine
             Worship
             ,
             and
             the
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             appointed
             to
             be
             used
             ,
             being
             things
             in
             their
             own
             nature
             
               indifferent
               and
               alterable
            
             ,
             and
             so
             acknowledged
             ;
             it
             is
             but
             reasonable
             that
             upon
             weighty
             and
             important
             Considerations
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             various
             exigency
             of
             times
             and
             occasions
             ,
             such
             changes
             should
             be
             made
             therein
             ,
             as
             to
             those
             that
             are
             in
             place
             of
             Authority
             should
             from
             time
             to
             time
             seem
             either
             necessary
             or
             expedient
             .
             Accordingly
             we
             finde
             that
             in
             the
             Reigns
             of
             several
             Princes
             of
             blessed
             memory
             since
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             the
             Church
             upon
             just
             and
             weighty
             consideration
             her
             thereunto
             moving
             ,
             hath
             yielded
             to
             make
             such
             Alterations
             in
             some
             particulars
             ,
             as
             in
             their
             respective
             times
             were
             thought
             convenient
             .
             
               Thus
               far
               the
               Church
               of
            
             England
             .
             
               And
               of
               late
               I
               finde
               ,
               that
               a
               very
               eminent
               Member
               thereof
               ,
               the
               Reverend
               Dean
               of
            
             Canterbury
             ,
             
               hath
               acquainted
               us
               in
               a
               publick
               Sermon
               preached
               by
               him
               at
               the
            
             York-shire
             -
             Feast
             ,
             That
             though
             it
             was
             not
             for
             private
             persons
             to
             undertake
             in
             matters
             of
             publick
             concernment
             ,
             yet
             he
             thought
             
             he
             had
             no
             cause
             to
             doubt
             but
             the
             Governours
             of
             our
             Church
             (
             notwithstanding
             all
             the
             advantages
             of
             Authority
             and
             Reason
             too
             ,
             as
             they
             thought
             ,
             on
             their
             side
             )
             were
             persons
             of
             that
             Piety
             and
             Prudence
             ,
             that
             for
             Peace
             sake
             ,
             and
             in
             order
             to
             a
             firm
             Vnion
             amongst
             Protestants
             ,
             they
             would
             be
             content
             ,
             if
             that
             would
             do
             it
             ,
             not
             to
             insist
             upon
             little
             things
             ,
             but
             to
             yield
             them
             up
             ,
             whether
             to
             the
             infirmity
             or
             importunity
             ,
             or
             ,
             perhaps
             ,
             in
             some
             very
             few
             things
             ,
             to
             the
             plausible
             exceptions
             of
             those
             that
             differed
             from
             them
             .
          
           
             Now
             seeing
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             hath
             once
             and
             again
             declared
             her
             excellent
             temper
             and
             moderation
             for
             the
             preservation
             of
             Peace
             and
             Unity
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             the
             great
             end
             and
             designe
             of
             all
             Church-government
             ,
             we
             have
             little
             reason
             to
             question
             her
             readiness
             
               (
               at
               such
               a
               time
               as
               this
               is
               )
            
             to
             comply
             with
             so
             modest
             a
             Proposal
             as
             a
             liberty
             of
             using
             or
             refusing
             those
             Ceremonies
             ,
             which
             she
             saith
             ,
             
               In
               their
               own
               nature
               are
               indifferent
               and
               alterable
               ,
               and
               upon
               weighty
               and
               important
               considerations
               ,
               may
               be
               changed
               ,
            
             &c.
             especially
             considering
             that
             by
             this
             condescention
             of
             hers
             ,
             she
             will
             certainly
             bring
             into
             her
             Communion
             a
             great
             number
             of
             the
             pious
             ,
             moderate
             ,
             and
             more
             considerative
             Non-conformists
             :
             Which
             will
             not
             onely
             adde
             strength
             to
             her self
             ,
             but
             give
             a
             great
             joy
             and
             content
             to
             all
             those
             who
             have
             wish'd
             well
             to
             the
             Peace
             ,
             Unity
             ,
             and
             Prosperity
             of
             this
             our
             Church
             and
             Nation
             ;
             and
             have
             long
             made
             it
             the
             subject
             of
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             live
             to
             see
             those
             days
             in
             England
             ,
             wherein
             Iudah
             might
             not
             vex
             Ephraim
             ,
             nor
             Ephraim
             envy
             Iudah
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             I
             would
             likewise
             humbly
             propose
             ,
             That
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Protestant
             Dissenters
             from
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             might
             be
             indulged
             by
             Act
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             provided
             they
             neither
             Preach'd
             ,
             Wrote
             ,
             nor
             discours'd
             against
             the
             Doctrine
             or
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             as
             by
             Law
             established
             ;
             and
             that
             ,
             because
             Charity
             ,
             which
             is
             kinde
             ,
             and
             thinks
             no
             evil
             ,
             would
             oblige
             a
             sober
             and
             indifferent
             person
             to
             believe
             that
             the
             reason
             of
             their
             Separation
             from
             our
             Church
             ,
             did
             onely
             proceed
             from
             a
             tenderness
             of
             Conscience
             (
             impressed
             upon
             them
             by
             the
             force
             of
             their
             Education
             ,
             Study
             ,
             Conversation
             ,
             &c.
             )
             lest
             in
             complying
             with
             the
             present
             established
             Form
             of
             Worship
             ,
             they
             should
             sin
             against
             God
             ,
             and
             wound
             the
             peace
             of
             their
             own
             Souls
             :
             
             for
             otherwise
             their
             own
             present
             quiet
             and
             interest
             must
             necessarily
             have
             obliged
             them
             to
             a
             different
             Practice
             ,
             they
             having
             been
             under
             a
             continual
             danger
             and
             hazard
             of
             the
             execution
             of
             the
             Laws
             at
             present
             established
             against
             them
             ;
             whereby
             they
             have
             been
             not
             onely
             deprived
             of
             that
             Maintenance
             which
             by
             the
             countenance
             of
             Authority
             they
             might
             otherwise
             have
             expected
             and
             publickly
             enjoyed
             ,
             but
             exposed
             to
             many
             wants
             ,
             difficulties
             ,
             and
             sufferings
             .
          
        
         
           
             As
             to
             the
             Vniting
             of
             us
             for
             the
             future
             ,
          
           
             I
             humbly
             propose
             to
             the
             wisdom
             of
             this
             present
             Parliament
             ,
             That
             an
             Act
             might
             be
             passed
             ,
             whereby
             every
             person
             (
             after
             a
             limited
             term
             of
             years
             )
             intending
             to
             take
             holy
             Orders
             ,
             should
             be
             incapacitated
             for
             any
             Church-preferment
             ,
             or
             for
             a
             License
             to
             preach
             in
             private
             Congregations
             ,
             who
             could
             not
             give
             a
             satisfactory
             account
             of
             his
             proficiency
             and
             ability
             in
             Church-History
             and
             Primitive
             Learning
             ,
             whereby
             he
             might
             be
             able
             to
             give
             a
             clear
             and
             plain
             account
             of
             what
             Discipline
             and
             Order
             were
             used
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             God
             nearest
             our
             Saviour's
             and
             the
             Apostles
             days
             ,
             when
             Differences
             and
             Errours
             in
             Doctrine
             or
             Church-government
             began
             first
             to
             spring
             up
             ;
             with
             the
             Authors
             ,
             occasion
             ,
             and
             effects
             thereof
             .
             The
             Advantages
             which
             must
             necessarily
             attend
             the
             making
             of
             such
             a
             Law
             ,
             would
             be
             very
             great
             both
             to
             our
             interest
             in
             Church
             and
             State
             ;
             amongst
             which
             I
             beg
             leave
             to
             name
             the
             following
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             We
             might
             hereby
             (
             for
             the
             future
             )
             more
             assuredly
             hope
             for
             ,
             and
             expect
             Peace
             and
             Union
             amongst
             our
             Ecclesiasticks
             ;
             they
             having
             been
             all
             well
             acquainted
             with
             Primitive
             practice
             ,
             and
             therein
             with
             the
             rise
             and
             growth
             of
             all
             Heresies
             ,
             Schisms
             ,
             and
             Divisions
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             with
             the
             fatal
             consequences
             that
             have
             attended
             them
             ;
             whereby
             in
             all
             probability
             they
             would
             not
             more
             rationally
             than
             unanimously
             make
             choice
             of
             one
             and
             the
             same
             Form
             of
             Worship
             and
             Discipline
             ,
             but
             most
             heartily
             unite
             in
             their
             affections
             to
             one
             another
             ,
             endeavouring
             with
             all
             their
             united
             strength
             to
             maintain
             the
             Church
             in
             Peace
             and
             Purity
             .
          
           
           
             2.
             
             By
             this
             means
             we
             might
             be
             assured
             to
             enjoy
             the
             most
             Learned
             Clergy
             that
             ever
             this
             Nation
             brought
             forth
             ,
             who
             would
             not
             onely
             prove
             a
             greater
             Bulwark
             against
             Popery
             on
             the
             one
             hand
             ,
             but
             Schism
             and
             Faction
             on
             the
             other
             ;
             and
             being
             so
             well
             accomplished
             for
             the
             Ministerial
             Function
             (
             before
             they
             enter
             into
             it
             )
             might
             much
             more
             assuredly
             engage
             the
             affection
             and
             hearts
             of
             their
             people
             ,
             by
             spending
             in
             private
             the
             greatest
             part
             of
             the
             Week
             in
             instructing
             them
             in
             the
             Principles
             ,
             and
             encouraging
             them
             in
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
             a
             Duty
             ,
             alas
             ,
             too
             much
             neglected
             in
             our
             days
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             By
             this
             means
             we
             might
             be
             sure
             of
             Preferments
             to
             answer
             every
             mans
             merit
             ,
             especially
             if
             the
             Parliament
             should
             think
             it
             prudential
             to
             raise
             a
             sum
             of
             Money
             for
             the
             purchasing
             all
             Impropriations
             and
             Advowsons
             ,
             the
             latter
             of
             which
             to
             be
             annexed
             to
             the
             several
             Colledges
             in
             both
             Universities
             ;
             one
             of
             the
             principal
             reasons
             we
             can
             give
             at
             present
             why
             we
             have
             more
             Clergy-men
             than
             Livings
             ,
             being
             this
             ,
             That
             a
             great
             number
             of
             ordinary
             Country-men
             and
             Trades-men
             ,
             out
             of
             an
             ambitious
             designe
             to
             make
             their
             Children
             Gentlemen
             ,
             do
             send
             them
             to
             the
             Universities
             ,
             though
             they
             be
             not
             able
             to
             maintain
             them
             above
             three
             or
             four
             years
             :
             Whereas
             were
             there
             such
             a
             Law
             (
             as
             I
             proposed
             )
             once
             established
             ,
             they
             would
             be
             willing
             to
             bring
             them
             up
             to
             honest
             Professions
             and
             Trades
             ,
             much
             more
             suitable
             for
             them
             ;
             and
             persons
             of
             better
             Estate
             and
             Quality
             would
             be
             encouraged
             to
             bring
             up
             their
             Children
             in
             the
             Universities
             ,
             and
             continue
             them
             there
             until
             they
             were
             arrived
             to
             that
             pitch
             of
             Learning
             ,
             which
             would
             not
             onely
             render
             them
             honourable
             to
             foreign
             Nations
             ,
             and
             highly
             serviceable
             to
             their
             own
             ,
             but
             would
             capacitate
             them
             for
             the
             enjoyment
             of
             a
             Preferment
             suitable
             to
             their
             Parents
             charge
             ,
             and
             their
             own
             pains
             and
             industry
             .
          
           
             In
             short
             ,
             I
             heartily
             wish
             that
             we
             might
             often
             and
             seriously
             remember
             our
             blessed
             Saviours
             Prediction
             ,
             that
             
               a
               Kingdom
               divided
               against
               it self
               ,
               cannot
               stand
            
             ;
             and
             likewise
             consider
             that
             fate
             which
             attended
             the
             Faction
             and
             Division
             of
             the
             Iews
             ;
             which
             grew
             to
             that
             height
             ,
             that
             they
             could
             not
             forbear
             destroying
             each
             other
             ,
             even
             when
             their
             declared
             Enemies
             the
             Romans
             were
             coming
             to
             besiege
             their
             City
             .
             
               From
               which
               ,
               good
               Lord
               deliver
               us
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           POSTSCRIPT
           .
        
         
           UPon
           some
           Considerations
           ,
           I
           thought
           it
           would
           not
           be
           unacceptable
           to
           print
           the
           Speech
           of
           that
           wise
           and
           great
           General
           and
           Emperor
           Vespasian
           ,
           to
           his
           Roman
           Officers
           ;
           who
           seeing
           the
           Iews
           at
           great
           variance
           and
           civil
           discord
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           pressed
           Vespasian
           their
           General
           not
           to
           lose
           this
           opportunity
           ,
           affirming
           that
           it
           was
           Gods
           providence
           (
           who
           fought
           for
           them
           )
           that
           the
           Iews
           should
           be
           at
           civil
           discord
           among
           themselves
           ;
           and
           that
           therefore
           he
           should
           not
           over-slip
           so
           good
           an
           occasion
           ,
           lest
           the
           Iews
           should
           quickly
           be
           friends
           again
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           either
           by
           the
           weariness
           of
           Civil
           Wars
           ,
           or
           else
           repenting
           themselves
           of
           that
           which
           they
           had
           done
           .
           To
           whom
           Vespasian
           thus
           answered
           :
        
         
           
             That
             they
             were
             ignorant
             what
             was
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             and
             desirous
             rather
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             in
             a
             Theatre
             to
             shew
             their
             forces
             and
             strength
             ,
             than
             with
             him
             to
             consider
             what
             was
             profitable
             and
             expedient
             .
          
           For
           
             (
             said
             he
          
           )
           if
           we
           presently
           assault
           them
           ,
           our
           coming
           will
           make
           concord
           amongst
           our
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           so
           we
           shall
           bring
           upon
           our selves
           their
           forces
           yet
           firm
           and
           strong
           ;
           but
           by
           expecting
           a
           little
           while
           ,
           we
           shall
           have
           less
           ado
           to
           conquer
           them
           ,
           their
           chiefest
           forces
           being
           destroyed
           by
           their
           own
           Civil
           War.
           God
           is
           more
           our
           Friend
           than
           you
           are
           aware
           of
           ,
           who
           without
           any
           labour
           and
           pain
           will
           deliver
           the
           Jews
           into
           our
           hands
           ,
           and
           will
           give
           us
           the
           Victory
           without
           endangering
           our
           Army
           .
           Wherefore
           it
           is
           rather
           our
           part
           to
           be
           beholders
           of
           the
           Tragedy
           ,
           than
           to
           fight
           against
           men
           desirous
           of
           death
           ,
           and
           troubled
           with
           the
           greatest
           
           evil
           possible
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           
             Domestical
             Sedition
             and
             Civil
             War.
          
           And
           if
           any
           think
           that
           the
           Victory
           is
           not
           so
           glorious
           ,
           because
           gotten
           without
           fight
           ,
           let
           him
           know
           and
           consider
           the
           uncertain
           events
           of
           War
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           better
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           ,
           to
           get
           a
           Victory
           without
           bloodshed
           ,
           than
           therewith
           to
           hazard
           a
           Defeat
           :
           For
           they
           who
           by
           counsel
           and
           advice
           do
           any
           act
           ,
           deserve
           no
           less
           praise
           than
           they
           who
           by
           force
           of
           Arms
           atchieve
           a
           Victory
           .
           Moreover
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           that
           the
           Enemies
           destroy
           one
           another
           ,
           our
           Souldiers
           may
           take
           rest
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           stronger
           and
           better
           able
           to
           fight
           when
           need
           shall
           require
           .
           Besides
           ,
           it
           seems
           not
           that
           there
           is
           much
           haste
           required
           to
           get
           the
           Victory
           ;
           for
           the
           Jews
           neither
           prepare
           Arms
           nor
           Engines
           of
           War
           ,
           nor
           levie
           any
           Forces
           ,
           nor
           seek
           for
           Aid
           ;
           and
           so
           by
           delay
           no
           damage
           can
           ensue
           ,
           but
           they
           will
           plague
           one
           another
           more
           by
           Civil
           War
           ,
           than
           our
           Army
           by
           attacquing
           their
           City
           .
           And
           therefore
           whether
           we
           consider
           Prudence
           or
           Glory
           ,
           we
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           but
           let
           them
           ruine
           themselves
           ;
           for
           in
           case
           we
           should
           even
           at
           this
           present
           make
           our selves
           Masters
           of
           that
           great
           City
           ,
           so
           it
           would
           be
           justly
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           Victory
           was
           not
           to
           be
           imputed
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           to
           their
           Discord
           .
        
         
           Foelix
           quem
           faciunt
           aliena
           pericula
           cautum
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .