54. ANi:^IADVERSIOXS ON A TREATISE ^
necessary to be discussed, as to the matter of fact, in reference to this rule the reader may find handled under that consideration of the first supposition which our author builds his discourse upon.
Sect. iv. p. 48. " Heats and Resolution" is the title of this sec- tion ; in which, if our author be found blameless, his charge on others will be the more significant: the impartial reader, that will not be imposed on by smooth words, will easily know what to guess of his temper. In the meantime, though we think it is good to be well resolved in the things that Ave are to believe and practise in the wor- ship of God, yet all iiTegular and irrational heats, in the prosecution or maintenance of men's different conceptions and apprehensions in relio-ion, we desire sincerely to avoid and explode. Nor is it amiss that, to further our moderation, we be minded of the temper of the Paeans, who, in their opinion-wars (we are told), used no other wea- pons but only of pen and speech; for our author seems to have for- gotten, not only innumerable other instances to the contrary, but also the renoAATied battle between Ombi and Tentyra. But this forget- fulness was needful, to aggravate the charge on Christians that are not Romanists, for their heat, fury, and fightings, for the promotion of their opinions; as being in this so much the worse than Pagans, who in religion used another manner of moderation. And who, I pray, is it that manageth this charge? Whence comes this dove with an olive-branch, this orator of peace? If we may guess from whence he came by seeing whither he is going, we must say that it was from Rome. This is their plea, this the persuasion of men of the Roman interest, this their charge on Protestants: to this height the confi- dence of men's ignorance, inadvertency, and fulness of present things amounts. Could ever any one rationally expect that these gentlemen would be public decriers of fury, wars, and tumults for religion? May not Protestants say to them, " Quae regio in terris nostri non plena cruoi'is?" — "Is there any nation under the heavens, whereunto your power extends, wherein our blood hath not given testimony to your wrath and fury?" After all your cursings and attempted depositions of kings and princes, translations of title to sovereignty and rule, invasions of nations, secret conspiracies, prisons, racks, swords, fire and fagot, do you now come and declaim about moderation? We see you not yet cease from killing of men, in the pursuit of your fancies and groundless opinions, anywhere but either where you have not power, or can find no more to kill ; so that certainly, whatever reproach we deserve to have cast upon us in this matter, you are the unfittest men in the world to be managers of it. But I still find my- self in a mistake in this thing : it is only Protestants, and others departed from the Roman church, that our author treats of: it is they who are more fierce and disingenuous than the Pagans, in their
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contests amongst themselves, and against the Romanists, as liaving the least share of reason of any upon the earth. His good church is not concerned ; which, as it is not led by such fancies and motives as they are, so it hath right (where it hath power) to deal with its ad- versaries as seems good unto it. This then, sir, is that which you intend, — that we should agree amongst ourselves, and wait for your coming with power to destroy us all ! It were well, indeed, if we could agree ; it is our fault and misery if we do not, having so abso- lutely perfect a rule and means of agreement as we have. But yet, whether we agree or agree not, if there be another party distinct from us all, pretending a right to exterminate us from the earth, it behoves us to look after their proceedings. And this is the true state of all our author's pleas for moderation ; which are built upon such jorinciples as tend to the giving us up, unarmed and naked, to the power and will of his masters.
For the rest of this section, wherein he is pleased to sport himself in the miscarriages of men in their coining and propagating of their opinions, and to gild over the care and success of the church of Rome in stifling such births of pride and darkness, I shall not insist upon it. For as the first, as generally tossed up and down, concerns none in particular, though accompanied with the repetition of such words as ought not to be scoffed at; so the latter is nothing but what vio- lence and ignorance may any where, and in any age, produce. There are societies of Christians not a few in the east, wherein mere dark- ness and ignorance of the truth hath kept men at peace in errors, without the least disturbance by contrary opinions amongst them- selves, for above a thousand years; and yet they have wanted the help of outward force to secure their tranquillity. And is it any wonder, where both these powerful engines are set at work for the same end, if in some measure it be compassed and effected ? And if there be such a thing among the Romanists (which I have rea- son to be difficult in admitting the belief of) as that they can stifle all opinions as fast as they are conceived, or destroy them as soon as they are brought forth, I know it must be some device or artifice un- knowTi to the apostles and primitive churches, who, notwithstanding all their authority and care for the truth, could not with many compass that end.