I fhall forbear to mention the very many and dangerous plots of the Romanifts against the Church and State; because what is principally intended in this digreffion, is an account of the opinions and activity of the Nonconformifts; against whofe judgment and practice Mr. Hooker became at last, but most unwillingly, to be engaged in a book-war; a war which he maintained not as against an enemy, but with the spirit of meeknefs and reafon.

In which number of Nonconformifts, though fome might be fincere, wellmeaning men, whose indifcreet zeal might be fo like charity, as thereby to cover a multitude of their errors; yet of this party there were many that were poffeffed with a high degree of fpiritual wickedness; I mean with an innate restless pride and malice; I do not mean the visible carnal fins of gluttony and drunkenness, and the like, (from which, good Lord, deliver us ;) but fins of a higher nature, because they are more unlike God, who is the God of love, and mercy, and order, and

peace;

were content to lay hold on it to the advancement of their caufe, by acknowledging therein the fecret judgments of God against the Bishops, and hoping that fome good might be wrought thereby for his Church; as indeed there was, though not according to their conftruction. For, 4thly, contrary to their expectation, that railing fpirit did not only not further, but extremely difgrace and prejudice their caufe, when it was once perceived from how low degrees of con tradiction, at firft, to what outrage of contumely and flander they were at length proceeded; and were also likely to proceed further.

:

a

A further degree of outrage was also in fact certain prophets did arife, who deeming it not poffible that God fhould fuffer that to be undone, which they did fo fiercely defire to have done, namely, that his holy faints, the favourers and fathers of the discipline, should be enlarged, and delivered from perfecution; and fee

ing no means of deliverance ordinary, were fain to perfuade themselves that 'God muft needs raise fome extraordinary means; and being perfuaded of none fo well as of themselves, they forthwith muft needs be the inftruments of this great work. Hereupon they framed unto themselves an affured hope, that, upon their preaching out of a pease-cart in Cheapfide, all the multitude would have presently joined unto them, and in amazement of mind have asked them, Viri fratres, quid agimus? whereunto it is likely they would have returned an anfwer far unlike to that of St. Peter: "Such and fuch are men un"worthy to govern; pluck them down : "fuch and fuch are the dear children of "God; let them be advanced."

Of two of these men it is meet to speak with all commiferation : yet so, that others by their example may receive inftruction, and withal fome light may appear, what stirring affections the difcipline is like to inspire, if it light upon apt and prepared minds.

Now if any man doubt of what society

they

they were; or if the reformers disclaim them, pretending that by them they were condemned; let these points be confidered. 1. Whofe affociates were they before they entered into this frantic paffion? whose sermons did they frequent ? whom did they admire ? 2. Even when they were entering into it, whofe advice did they require? and when they were in, whofe approbation? whom advertised they of their purpofe? whofe affiftance by prayer did they requeft? But we deal injuriously with them to lay this to their charge; for they reproved and condemned it. How did they difclofe it to the magiftrate, that it might be fuppreffed? or were they not rather content to stand aloof of, and fee the end of it, as being loath to quench that spirit? No doubt these mad practitioners were of their fociety, with whom before, and in the practice of their madness, they had moft affinity. Hereof read Dr. Bancroft's book.

A third inducement may be to dislike of the discipline, if we confider not only how far the reformers themselves have

proceeded, but what others upon their foundations have built. Here come the Brownifts in the first rank, their lineal defcendants, who have feized upon a number of ftrange opinions; whereof although their ancestors, the reformers, were never actually poffeffed, yet, by right and intereft from them derived, the Brownifts and Barrowifts have taken poffeffion of them; for if the pofitions of the reformers be true, I cannot fee how the main and general conclufions of Brownifm fhould be falfe; for upon these two points, as I conceive, they stand.

1. That, because we have no Church, they are to fever themselves from us. 2. That without civil authority they are to erect a Church of their own. And if the former of these be true, the latter, I fuppofe, will follow: for if above all things men be to regard their falvation; and if out of the Church there be no falvation; it followeth, that, if we have no Church, we have no means of falvation; and therefore feparation from us in that respect is both lawful and necef

fary: