fo happy as to enjoy the publick La bours of the Perfon by whom they could edify moft, and whom they would chufe before all others. From hence I think it will follow, that if they would act with refpect to the Church of England, agreeably to their own maxim, and their own Practice in their Separate Congregations, they ought, in confcience, readily to recede from this Right (though it be never fo truly their Right) and Conform. For if any Reafons in the world be weighty enough to engage them to do this, certainly thofe taken from Peace, and Order are fo: and this their behaviour fhews us to be their own opinion. And certainly, if the Peace, and Order of one particular Congregation be of force enough to move them to this; much more ought they to be moved to it by the Peace and Order of a whole National Church, and by the confideration of Univerfal Concord, and Unity. Were their Salvation likely to be endangered by their Conformity; or, could they not conform without giving themselves up entirely to the guidance of one who would miflead them, and hazard their eternal happiness, I would not argue thus but but own, that they had a Right to confult their own eternal intereft in a Separate way. But I have before observed, that the falvation of any ferious Perfon is not endanger'd by Conformity, and you your felves will not fay that it is: and that they may conform without fubmit ting themselves to their Parish Minifter, after the manner You fpeak of, I fhall fhew by and by. What I now say is this, That they ought to recede from this Right, upon weighty confiderations; that Publick Peace and Order are confiderations weighty enough to induce them to do it; that it is plain from their Practice, that they often think fo themselves; that, therefore, fince they may do it without endangering their Salvation, they ought to conform, tho', by this means, they recede often from this Right. 2. I must obferve to You, that in Parishes, and places where the People chufe their own Minifters, there are the greatest divifions, and quarrels, the greateft feuds, and paffions remarkable; as Unqualified Minifters, as in other places; and, perhaps it may be faid alfo, the greatest number of Diffenters from the Established Church. Nothing hath been K 4 the the Cause of greater variance and ftrife, and illwill amongst neighbours, than this Choice, and the time of Election is commonly the time of heat, and anger; and it ends often in a bad Choice, and in the alienation of the minds of many Men from their Brethren, and from their Minifter, worthy, or not worthy. I would not have you think, that I argue barely from fuch ill confequences as thefe, to fhew that any Right is to be given up; for I am fenfible, at this rate, We might argue our felves out of all Rights, and this would be of the worft confequence imaginable. But I argue thus; These confequences of a general enjoyment, and exercife of this Right, are worse than any, which will follow upon a general acquiefcing in the way now fettled: taking this into the account, that there is fuch a provifion for the fouls of Men in the Church of England, that they are not in the leaft danger, or, under the leaft neceffity of feeking any farther affiftances in a Separate way; which, I hope, I have already proved, and fhall fay fomewhat more to, prefently. And from hence it appears, that this Right is not offuch mighty advantage to the Chriftian Church, or to the People's fouls, or, of fuch neceffity, confidering the Legal Provifion for them, that You fhould be fo concerned to maintain the People in the actual exercise of it, and they be so often, and vehemently allarmed with the fear of lofing it. And then, if in these Parishes, where the Minifter is chofen by the Votes of the People, there be no smaller a number of Diffenters than in others (if fo fmall) this doth not look as if the People diffented because they cannot, in the Established way, Vote for their Minifter, but upon fome other account; and that if they were univerfally restored to this privilege, this would put no ftop to their feparation. And, if Parifb-Order be at all to be regarded,as You fay it is, this Right of Voting for their Minifter is all that your People can poffibly claim. For I observe, 3. That the Conftitution can never be fo ordered, or fo happily contrived, that every particular Chriftian fhall be under the Ministry of the Person whom He would chufe before all others. Your own People can acquiefce when they fee fit (tho' every one cannot be pleased in the the choice of a Paftour) upon the motive of Peace, and Unity. If this, therefore, cannot be, and yet the People are prefently to affert their Title to this Right, and not to fufer a Pastour to be impofed upon them by any Perfons in the world but themselves, in what muft this end? There must be Divifions, and Schifms numberless, and the bleffed confequences of them; and the Church and Nation must be torn in pieces. If the People be not obliged to affert this Right when the Peace and Unity of your own Congregations are concerned, but only in oppofition to the Church of England, why do not You fpeak out, and fay fo? If there may be confiderations fufficient to induce them to relinquish it, why is not this inculcat ed upon the People? If there be not confiderations, on the fide of the Legal Establishment, fufficient to do this, why is not this proved? If there be, why is it not fairly, and honeftly granted? If it be only in the Cafe Unqualified Minifters, that this Right is to be afferted, why is it not said in the plaineft words? Why is not a full account given? who are truly unqualified? And why is not one very meterial point proved, That |