the Nation's and the Church's Peace: I will therefore demand,

1. Is it not Lawful e're a Subject renounces his Obedience to Established Laws, or a Chriftian leaves the Communion of an Establish'd Church, to Confider, Examine, and Weigh upon what grounds he proceeds to Act thus? This I fuppofe is fo far from being Unlawfull, that it is abfolutely Neceffary for every Man that will preserve a good Confcience. But alas! how many hundreds are there in an Actual Separation from our Church, who are fo far from having Examined, or Weighed either the Conftitution of our Church, which they forfake, or of that which they betake themfelves to, that they do not at this day understand either; and what is worse, have never endeavoured it. How many hundreds are there in Actual Separation from us upon a pretended diflike of our Rites, who have never Confidered or Examined the Nature of things indifferent, or of Christian Liberty, or of the Power of every particular Church in Establishing the Circumftantials of Divine Worship: Nay, that do no more understand either at this day, than I do the Laws and Interefts of the moft Remote and un

known

known Kingdom upon Earth. How many hundreds are there who have left our Communion upon diflike of Perfonal Errors and Corruptions, which our Church Condemns as much as they do, or upon Admiration of fome Men's Perfons or Abilities, which St. Paul himself Condemns. Now, 'tis manifeft that such as these are so far from Acting upon juft and proper Principles, that they Act upon none at all; their Divifion from us can be imputed only to Fancy or Rashnefs, and Inconfiderateness, or what is worse. Such as these certainly can never be faid to have done all that they Lawfully can do for the fake of Peace and Unity. Nor can fuch a Method of proceeding be ever juftified, unless it can be made appear, that it is a Matter left purely to our Liberty and Choice, what Communion we will be of; which can never be till Obedience and Difobedience, Schifm and Unity become things indif ferent.

Now, the Number of these is so great, as I believe every understanding Man that hears me this day, well knows that if all these fhould return to that Duty which they owe the Government and the Church, I do not queftion but that

Con

Conventicles would be fo thin, that there would need no Laws to diffolve them. I think therefore, I may very reasonably require and charge the multitude, who are rafhly, ignorantly and inconfiderately engaged in Separation, that they return to the Unity of the Church, as they will Answer for all the difmal Effects of our Divifions at the Dreadfull Day of Judgment.

2. I demand, whether every Man in a Difference of this Nature ought not to be of a Meek and Teachable Temper, ought not to be willing and defirous to be Inform❜d?

This I am fure is so far again from being unlawful, that it is every Man's Duty; and yet I am afraid, that all who have Travelled to reduce others to a right understanding have juft Reason to complain, that they have found it a far, more difficult Task to encounter the Paffions and Prejudices than the Reasons of fuch Men. Alas, how common is it that Men refift and fhun all means and attempts of their Information! How often is it that Men are enraged and provoked, not Inftructed or Inform'd by the most Convincing Truth, deliver❜d with Meekness and Integrity! Nay, fuch

is very commonly the carriage of some, that it requires not only a clear Underftanding, but approved Courage also in any Man who will take upon him to examine and baffle Popular Errors,though with all the softness and gentleness imaginable I am unwilling to enlarge farther, but I conjure all that hear me this day, if concern'd in the Subject I am Difcourfing of, as they value their Souls, that they do endeavour hereafter to poffefs themselves with that Meekness and Lowliness of Mind, which become all those who pretend to a fincere Love of the Truth, which become all those who Love the Peace of Sion: For I am more than abundantly satisfied in my self, that it is more than one half of your Information, to be willing to be Inform'd; and that 'tis not so much the removal of Mens Errors, as of their Paffions and Prejudices, which is Necessary to the clofing our Divifions and Breaches. How Reafanable is it for me to require this Temper in all those who would have us believe that they Act with a good Confcience? Common Gratitude,and Humanity, the Love of their Country, and the Love of their God does indifpenfably call for this Frame and difpofition of Spirit from

them

them: How can they fee thofe Blots and Reproaches with which their manifold Divifions have ftain'd the Beauty and Luftre of the Church of Chrift, without that Sorrow and Melancholy which becomes every Chriftian that is truly Zealous for the Honour of God? How can they look upon those fresh and bleeding Wounds which their Separation has given to their dear Native Country, without a bleeding Heart? How can they fee that Government, under which they enjoy fo many Bleffings, thus torn and fhaken, without a very fenfible tenderness and affliction for it? Were they but thus Affected, they would be fo far from being froward or wilful, from shunning the means of Information through Wantonnefs or Obftinacy, that they would refuse no Toil, no Coft for the fake of it; that they would kiss the Feet of those that could bring the glad Tidings of Peace, that could offer them any Light or Inftruction which might reftore them at once to the Unity of the Church, and the Peace of their own Conscience, and fo atchieve that Bleffed Work of removing their Scruples, and their, and our Calamities together.