13. Nor is it a matter of art or difficulty to declare a way for the security of the protestant religion, with the rights of the government and liberties of the subjects, with the due freedom of conscience, without any such church-state; but it is what the principles of reli- gion, common prudence, and the honest interest of the nation do
526 SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT
direct unto : as, to instance in the things that are most material unto that end, —
(1.) Let a solemn renunciation of Popery, suited unto the general principles of the protestant religion, ])e establislied by law, to be made publicly by every person that is to partake of the rights and 7:>rivileges already confirmed unto that religion, or which afterward shall be so; to be renewed as occasion shall require.
(2.) Let there be one solemn stated confession of the Christian protestant faith, such as is the doctrine of the Articles of the church of England, especially as explained in the public authorized writings of the church in the days of Queen Elizabeth and King James, before the inroad of novel opinions among us, to be subscribed by all enjoy- ing a public ministry.
(3.) Let the magistrate assume unto himself the exercise of his just power, in the preservation of the public peace in all instances; in the encouragement and protection of the professors of the protestant religion; in securing unto all men their legal rights, already granted unto them, in their several places and stations; in the punishment of all crimes cognizable by human judgment; in deposing of men from their enjoyments or privileges, which they hold on any condition, — as, suppose, their orthodox profession of the protestant religion, — if they fail in, or fall from, the performance of it ; leaving only things purely spiritual and evangelical to the care and power of the churches, and all litigious causes, of what sort soever, with the infliction of all out- ward penalties, unto the determination of the laws of the land; — and a great progress will be made towards order and peace amongst us.
(4.) Yea, these few things, in general, are only needful thereunto : — [1.] Let the king and parliament secure the protestant religion, as it is the public interest of the nation, against all attempts of the Papacy for its destruction, with proper laws, and their due execution. [2.] Let the wisdom and power of the nation, in the supreme and subor- dinate magistrates, be exerted in the rule of all persons and causes, civil and criminal, by one and the same law of the land, — in a com- pliance wherewith the allegiance of the subject unto the king doth consist; without which, government will never be well fixed on its proper and immovable basis. [8.] That provision l)e made for the. sedulous preaching of the gospel in all parts and places of the land, or all parochial churches ; the care whereof is incumbent on the magistrates. [4.] Let the church be protected in the exercise of its spiritual power by spiritual means only, — as preaching of the word, administration of the sacraments, and the like. Whatever is farther pretended as necessary unto any of the ends of true religion or its preservation in the nation, is but a cover for the negligence, idleness, and insufficiency of some of the clergy, who would have an outward
UNION AJIONG PROTESTANTS. 527
appearance of efifecting that by external force which themselves, by diligent prayer, sedulous preaching of the word, and an exemplary conversation, ought to labour for in the hearts of men.
(5.) It is evident that hereon all causes of jealousies, animosities, and strifes among the Protestants, would be taken away; all com- plaints of oppression by courts and jurisdictions not owned by the people be i^revented ; all encroachments on the consciences of men (wliich are and will be an endless and irreconcilable cause of difference among us) be obviated ; all abihty to control or disturb the power and privilege of kings in their persons or nile, and all temptations to exalt their power in absoluteness above the law, will be removed ; so as that, by the blessing of God, peace and love may be preserved among all true Protestants.
And if there do ensue hereon some variety in outward rites and observations, as there was in all the primitive churches, who pleaded that the unity of faith was commended and not at all impeached by such varieties; yet, whilst the same doctrine of truth is preached in all places, the same sacraments only administered, — wherein every pro- testant subject of the nation will be at liberty to join in protestant Christian worship, and to partake of all church ordinances in the outward way, and according unto the outward rites, of his own choos- ing, without the authoritative examination or prohibition of any pre- tended church power but what, in his own judgment, he doth em- brace,— no inconvenience will follow hereon, unless it be judged such, that the protestant religion, the liberty of the subjects, and the due freedom of the consciences of men sober and peaceable, will be all preserved.
A BRIEF AND IMPAHTIAL ACCOUNT
.T.
NATURE OF TEE PROTESTANT RELIGION
ITS PRESENT STATE IN THE WORLD; ITS STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS; WITH THE
WAYS AND INDICATIONS OF THE RUIN OK CONTINUANCE OF