132 The LIFE ofthe LIB.1. bad Doctrine, rather than the Do /brines for the Men ; and to know that Satan can ufe even the Names ofPopery and Antichrift, againft a Truth. 26., Iam deeplier aflBis}ed for the difagreements of Chrittians than I was when I was a younger Chriftian. Except the Cafe of the Infidel World, nothing is fo dad and grievous to my thoughts, as theCafe of the divided Churches. And there- fore I am more deeply fenfible of the finfulnefs of thofe Prelates and Paftors of the Churches, who arethe principal Caufe of theft Divifions. Ohow manymillions of Souls are kept by them in ignorance, and ungodlinefs, and deluded by Falion as if it were trueReligion. ; How is the Converftonof Infidels hinde. ed by them ! and Chrift and Religion heinoufly difhonoured ! The Contentions between the Greek Church and the Roman, the Papifts and the Proteftants, the Lutherans and the Calvinifis, have wofully hindered the Kingdom of Chrift. 27. I have fpent much of my Studies about the Terms of Chriflian Concord, and have over and over confidered of the feveral ways, which feveral forts of Reconci- lers have devifed : I have thought of the Papifas way, who think there will be no Union, but by comingover wholly to their Church : and I have found that it is neither paíble nor deferable. I have thought and thought again of the way of the moderating Papifis, Caffander, Groriva, dalwin, &c. and of thole that would have all reduced to the flare of the Times of Gregory the Firlt, before the Divicon of the Greek and Latin Churches, that the Pope might have his Primacy, and govern all. the Church by the Canons of the Councils, with a Salvo to the Rights of Kings and Patriarchs and Prelates ; and that the Do&rines and Worfhip whichthen were received might prevail. And for my own part, if I lived in filch a (late of the Church, I would live peaceably, as gladof Unity, though lamenting the Corrup- tion and Tyranny : But I am fully allured that none of theft are the true defirable Terms of Unity, nor fachas are ever like to procure an Univerfal Concord : And I am as fore that the true Means and Terms of Concord are obvious and carte to an impartialwilling .mind. And that thefe three Things alone would eafily heal and unite all theChurches. t. That all Chriftian Princes andGovernours take all the Coercive Power about Religion into their own Hands, (though if Prelatesand their Courts mutt be u- fed as their Officers in exercicng that Coercive Power, fo be it): And that they make a difference between the approved and the tolerated Churches ; and that they keep the Peace between thefe Churches, and fettle their feveral Priviledges by a Law. a. That the Churches be accounted Tolerable, who profefs all that is in the Creed, Lord's Prayer and Decalogue in particular, and generally all that they (hall find to be revealed in the Word of God,and hold Communion in Teaching, Pray- er, Praifes, and the two Sacraments, not obftinately preachingany Hereticcontra- ry to the particular Articles which they profeti, nor feditioufly difturbing the Pub- lick Peace: And that fach Heretical Preaching, and filch Seditious unpeaceableneß, or notorious Wiickedneß of Life, do forfeit their Toleration. ;. And that thofe that are further Orthodox in thofe Particulars, which Rulers think fit to impofe upon their Subjeets, have their publick Maintenance and greater Encouragement. Yea, and this much is become neceffary, but upon fuppofition that Men will flill be fo felf-conceited and uncharitable, as not to forbear their unne ceffary Impofitions. Otherwife there would be found but very few who are Tole- rable, that 'are not alfo in their meafure to be approved, maintained and encoura- ged. And if the Primitive Simplicity in Do/brine , Government and Worfltip, might fern turn, for the Terms of the Churches Union and Communion, all would be well without any more ado; fuppocng that where Chriftian Magiftrates- are, they keep the Peace, and reprefs the Offenders, and exercife all the Coercive Government : And Hereticks who will fubfcribe to the Cbri/lian Faith, mutt not be punifheddbecaufe they will fubfcribe to no more, but becaufe they are proved to preach or promote Heretic, contrary to the Faith which they profefs. ah. I am farther than ever I was from expe /bing great matters ofUnity, Splen- dor or Prefperity to the Church on Earth, or that Saints lhould dream of a King- dom of this World, or flatter themfelves with the Hopes of a Golden Age, or reigning over the Ungodly, ( till there be a new Heaven and a newEarth wherein dweller, Righteau¡neß). And on the contrary I am more apprehenfive that Suffer- ings mutt be the Churches molt ordinary Lot, and Chriflians indeed muff be felf- denying Crofs-bearers, even where there are none but formal nominal Chriftians to be theCrofrrsakers : And though ordnariiy God wouldhave Viciffttudesof Summer and Winter,Day and Night,that the Church may grow extenftvely in the Summerof Pro- fperity,
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