4-34- The L I FE of the SIR, YOur firff Quern= is, Whether the way of Comprehenfionor Indulgence hmore deer rabk? í4nfw. If the Comprehenfionwere trulyCharitable and Catbolick, upon the Terms of the Primitive Simplicity in Do&rine, Difcipline and Worf hip, extending to all that the Apofolick Churches in their times received ; it would end all our Diffe- rences and Miferies, except what in this imperfedt flare of the Church Militant muf beftill ekpeeted : and it would prevent the fin and everlafting woe of mul- titudes of Souls. But becaufe there is no hopeof this, by reafon of the ignorance, impiety, uncharicablenefs, malice and fadtioufnefs of the Times ; rebus [ss tantibat, , it is mot evident thatnoFriendof the Church Ihould be for Comprehenfion without Indulgence ; nor for Indulgence without the Enlargement of the Aft of Uniformity to a greater Comprebenfon; but for the Conjunllion ofboth: which will attain the ends of both, and avoid the chief Inconveniencies ofeitheralone. I.'The way of Comprehenfion alone is not futficient (on Terms not Catholick, which muf be expeaed): r. Becaufe fach Comprehenfion will ftill leave out many worthy Perfons, whole Gifts God would have exercifed for his Churches Service. And he that rightlyvalueth the preaching of the Gofpel, and the faving of Souls, would rather choofe to have a Milione hang'd about his Neck, and be call into the Sea, than unneceffarilyto filence any faithful Minifters of Chrif. 2. Becaufe even the Culpable fhould be punilhed but according to the meafure of their offence: Thole thereforewhole Labours are liketo do more good in the Church than their Faults to do harm, fhould be Corredted for thole Faults, with filch perfonal gentle Chafifement, as may not take them off their Labours for the Church. It is a lighter Punifhment to honerMinifers, to make Brick as the Ifraeliter in Egypt, fo they may withal but preach the Gofpel, than tobe forbidden to preach for the Saving of the People. See Theft, 2. 14, 1 y, 16. 3. Efpecially confideiing that the lofs by Silencing them redoundeth to the Souls of others, efpecially the igno- rant and prophane : and why fhould other Men be denied the Means of their Sal- vation, and fo perilla, becau(e a Minifer differeth from the State in force feller things ? 4. Confidering alfo that there are not competent Men enough to do the Work of the Gofpel without them : Nay, there will be much want when all are employed. s. It is deGrable that his Mafefy have Power to indulge the Peace- alele, and abate Penalties, asin his Wifdom he (hall fee molt conducible to the Ineace of Church and Stare, and not to he too much tiedup byan indifpenfableEfa- blifhment. Thefe Reafons ( and many more) are confhderable for the way of Indulgence. 2. The way of Indulgence alone is not fuflicient ; but firfb, the Law fhould be made more Comprebenfive: r. Becaufe indeed the prefent Impolitions and Refri- ¿lions of the Law (confidering alfo the direful Penalty) are fach ( efpecially the Declararion and Sirbfription required), as the Age that is further from the heels of. Truth, Will fo el f vibe and denominate, as will make our Poferity with too late that the good of Souls, the welfare of the Church, and the Honour of ourNation had been better provided for a. Becaufe irisexceeding deGrablethat as much fliengtb and unity as may be, may be found in the efablifhed Body of theClergy : which will be the glory.of the Church, the advantage of the Gofpel, the prevention of many fins of Uncharitablenefs, and the great fafety and cafe of his Maiefy and the Realm: When as meer Indulgence, (iffrufrated by Refridlions, will be unfatif- fadtory,and not attain its ends; butif any thing large and full) will drain almof all the efablilhed Churches, of a moreconfiderable part of the Peoplethan I will now mention ;' and willkeep much difunion among the Minters. ;. If there be no way but that of Indulgence, it will load his Mafefy with too much of the offence and murlpur of the People. If he indulge but few, thofe that expedted it will lay all the blameon him : If he indulgeall or molt that are meet for it, he will much offend the Parliamentand Prelates, who will think the Law is vain: But a power of indulging afmall Number, when the moltare embodied by a Comprehenfion; will be ferviceable toGod and the King, and the Common Peace, and fully of- fenfive untonone. 4. The Indulgence will be hardly attained by fo many as need it, and are meet for it ; molt being diftant, many friendlefs and moneylefs, and too many mifreprefentedby their Adverfaries as unworthy, 4. If the Indulgence he for private Meetings only, it will occafion filch )ealouSes that they preach Se- dition,
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