Of national churches their description, institution, use, preservation, danger, maladies and cure, partly applied…

3. If the sober Godly Conformists and Dissenting Ministers were once united, then sober understanding Laity would follow them; and so strengthen them, that the Tolerated, though pious and zealous in their way, would dwindle away in a little time as full experience hath proved in this Land. It would not be the Many that would choose a Life of unmaintained poverty, and censure: Their worth, labour, reputation, […] the Magistrates countenance would make the united so strong, that the rest (though loved and tolerated) would wither away.

3. If the sober Godly Conformists and Dissenting Ministers were once united, then sober understanding Laity would follow them; and so strengthen them, that the Tolerated, though pious and zealous in their way, would divindle away in a little time as full experience hath proved in this Land. It would not be the Many that would chuse a Life of unmaintained poverty, and censure: Their worth, labour, reputation, 〈…〉 the Magistrates countenance would make the united so strong, that the rest (though loved and tolerated) would wither away.

§ 19. Obj. But long experience telleth us that such a work is impossible.

Ans. It only telleth us that it is unlikely: Because, Pride, Worldliness, Malignity, Selfishness and Madness have got so large possession on Earth; and forsaking God's Government hath given Satan power over so much of Mankind. But God can cast out Satan, and interpose days with nights, and Summers with Winters, and turn Bedia as into sober Societies: It is but bringing men to their wits, as the Prodigal was. To give so great a number of Great men, Clergy men, Students, and debauched ignorant persons, true Grace as the healing of National Churches, as in most of the Christian World are, now the mortal Enemies of Peace (while they cry it up.) This I confess is so unlikely, as scarce to be hoped for: But God can force them by their own Argument: He can make them know that they must give Peace to their Friends that in vain have long begged it, or suffer from their Enemies worse than they have done to their innocent Brethren. If we will not open the Church doors to Unity, that have long been shut against it, God hath Keys that can open and no man shut them. Even Heathen Rulers oft saved the Apostles and Primitive Christians from the zealous cruel blinded Jews, and Gallio drave them from the Judgment Seat. Christian Jews were saved, when Vespasian, Titus, Trajan, and Adrian destroyed about three missions of the Infidels. And if our Frenchified Foreign-Jurisdiction-men, should think to escape and prosper by a bargain of Coalition, they may be mistaken, or speed worse than if they suffered.