Wife into a capacity of everlasting Salvation?) the restless importunity whereof, together with the ill advantages they of that party can make from the sad* confusions that are amongst us in these times, it will be very hard for one of the weaker sex perpetually to resist; or else, in case she stand firm in her Religion against all assaults and attempts to the contrary, whatsoever he may be towards her in outward carriage, he cannot but, in his inmost thoughts, pass judgment upon her as an obstinate and desperate heretic, and, so living and dying, an accursed and damned creature. These are sad things both; and it is not conceivable how a Woman so matched should live with any comfort, or ever hope to see a good day, wherein she shall not either be tempted from her Religion, or censured for it. What assurance can she have of his good affections towards her, who is bound not to permit any better opinion of her than of a reprobate and castaway? It is possible there may be so much good nature in the husband as to take off somewhat from that rigidness, which otherwise the principles of his Religion would bind him to, or so much discretion, sweetness, and obligingness in the wife's demeanour towards him, as to preserve a good measure of conjugal affection between them, notwithstanding their different persuasions. This, I say, is possible; and where it happeneth so to be, it rendereth the condition of the parties so much the less uncomfortable; and that is the utmost of the happiness that is to be hoped for from such Marriages; and I think there cannot be produced many examples thereof. Yet even there, there cannot be that cordial affection and fulness of complacency (wherein yet the chiefest happiness of conjugal society consisteth) that would be, if the same parties, supposed to be of the same qualifications otherwise, were also of the same Religion. I omit other oeconomical differences that may, and very frequently do occasionally arise, betwixt husband and wife from this difference in Religion, as concerning the entertainment of friends, the choice of servants, the education of children, very considerable things all, besides sundry other perhaps of less moment, yet such as are apt to breed discontents and jealousies, and sometimes break out into great distempers in the Family. Such Marriages therefore* I should utterly dissuade, especially in the Nobility, Gentry, and Commonalty, where there is choice enough otherwise to be had of persons of equal degree, estate, and education of the same Religion to match withal. Kings and Princes, for reasons of State, and because there is little choice of persons of equal dignity with themselves, are therefore oftentimes, by a kind of necessity, put upon such Marriages; yet even there, where they are certainly the most excusable, it hath been observed, that such Marriages have proved for the most part unfor tunate. The other particular proposed in your Letter, is concerning the Marriage of a daughter to one that professeth the Protestant Religion, but having had Popish parents, may be suspected, though he deny it, to be that way inclined. The resolution whereof, as of most other Cases and practical questions, will depend very much upon the consideration of circumstances, whereunto being altogether a stranger, I am less able to give judgment in the Case with any certainty. Only in order to the resolution of the Question, these, to my understanding, seem to be the most proper and important inquiries. First, whether the parents of the young person be living or no, one or both? If both be dead, the temptations from them (which in such cases are wont to prevail very much) are by their death clearly superseded; and then the danger is by so much less. But if either be living, there can be little security of the son's continuance in the Protestant's belief, notwithstanding his present profession thereof, when he shall be assaulted with the whole authority of them to whom he oweth reverence. Secondly, with what degree of confidence, and with what kind of asseverations he professeth the one, and denieth the other Religion? For although they out of design put on a counterfeit vizor, and use all the art they can to dissemble it, yet very seldom can it be done so cunningly, warily, and constantly, but that at some time or other, the dissimulation will unawares bewray itself to the eye of a curious observer. * 'therefore.' So in the Dolben MS. In the printed books 'thereof.' Thirdly, what measure of understanding the young person, who is, you say, of great abilities for his age, hath in the fundamental Articles of the Christian Religion: those I mean, wherein the English and Romish Churches are at agreement; for in those the substance of Christianity consisteth. He that rightly understands those Catholic Truths taught in the Catechisms of both Churches, and concerning which all Christendom, in a manner, are at perfect accord, and then will but suffer himself to consider that the Church of England doth not impose upon the judgments and consciences of her members any thing to be believed or received, as of necessity to Salvation, than what is truly Catholic, and by her adversaries confessed so to be; and consequently, that the difference betwixt her and the Romish Party, is wholly about those additionals or superstructures, which they of the Roman faith require to be believed and received with like necessity as the former, but appear to us of this Church respectively, either evidently false, or of doubtful truth, or not of absolute necessity to be believed I say, whosoever well considereth this, may rest satisfied in his judgment and conscience, that the Faith taught and professed in the Church of England, is a plain and safe way to lead a Christian Believer to Eternal Salvation, if he withal lead his life and conversation answerable thereunto. To the last particular in your Letter, all the return I have to make, is no more but an humble acknowledgment and sense of his Lordship's noble favours towards me, in entertaining an opinion of me more suitable to his own goodness and ingenuity than to my merit. I know not, nor desire to know of any occasions likely to draw me into those parts so distant from me, being grown into years and infirmities that render me very unfit for long journeys, unless the business of my Son's Marriage, which occasioned my late journey to London, require a second thither in Michaelmas Term. But I am so sensible both of the trouble and charge of such journeys, besides some inconveniences to my affairs at home whilst I am long absent, that I will avoid it, unless there be no other remedy. I shall not willingly decline any employment, within my low and narrow sphere, both of outward condition and parts, wherein * 'difference.' 'controversiam' Cambridge Version. 80 THE CASE OF MARRYING WITH A RECUSANT. my services may be any ways useful, or but acceptable, to that noble and excellent Person. But truly, Sir, I conceive there will be little need of my further endeavours, as to that particular expressed in yours, whether what I have written now give satisfaction, or not. There are persons nearer hand,† whom I know to be much fitter for an employment of that nature, than myself who have ever studied peace more than controversies; and namely, one at the next door to HattonHouse, whose sufficiency and readiness in that kind is well known to Mr. Geoffrey Palmer.§ Sir, because I would willingly keep some account of what I write upon such occasions as this, and I have no other copy of this present script, I desire that I may have either this Paper, or a transcript thereof, returned me at your bye leisure. It may be conveyed unto me at any time by the means of my son or of Mr. Henry Serle, Bookseller.|| Sir, I wish you happiness, desire your prayers, and rest Botheby Paynell.¶ July 7, 1656. * ' services' Dolben MS. Edd. 'service.' †? Bishop Hall; of whose Resolutions and Decisions of divers Practical Cases of Conscience, first published in 1649, a third Edition had appeared in 1654. Jer. Taylor, on the 25th of March in the year following the date of this Case, showed Evelyn 'his MSS. of Cases of Conscience, or Ductor Dubitantium fitted for the press.' Memoirs, i. 304. The person here intended may ROBERT SANDERSON. be presumed to have been Peter Gunning, eventually Bishop of Chichester, and afterwards of Ely, who, when ejected from his Fellowship in Clare Hall, became Tutor to the Lord Hatton. § Attorney General, and Chief Justice of Chester, 1660; created a Baronet in 1661. || This Paragraph is inserted from the Dolben MS. The Names are inserted from the Dolben MS. THE CASE OF A BOND TAKEN IN THE KING'S NAME. Proposed July, 1658. R. C. was seized in fee of certain houses of small value, with the appurtenances; and in the year 1635, whilst owner of the said houses, he intreated A. B. to be his surety for one hundred pounds; and continued the same at interest till 1639. At which time he requested A. B. to discharge that Bond, and in consideration thereof selleth the said houses to A. B. and his heirs for ever: the said R. C. also buyeth of a merchant a parcel of goods: the merchant, being a receiver of some part of the late King's Revenue, and under pretence of a privilege thereby, taketh a Bond of the said R. C. for the payment of two hundred pounds to himself, but in the name of the late King, as if indebted to the King; and under that pretence procureth an Extent upon the Houses sold to A. B. and maketh seizure thereof. Was R. C. seized of the same, when he entered into that Bond? † The said King, 1640, published a Proclamation, wherein he declared that the taking of such Bonds was contrary to his intention and an abuse of his Prerogative, and prohibited all such crafty courses, as tending to the oppression of his subjects; and it is to be noted, that the said Proclamation was published two years before the Extent was executed upon the houses, which nevertheless have been held under that Extent about fourteen years, which is beyond the value of the houses. The said R. C. died poor: the merchant is dead also, without any child, leaving an estate behind him of twenty thousand pounds, as is supposed: a great part visible in lands, as appeareth by his last Will upon record. * de viginti libris sibi solvendis.' tion appears in the Cambridge VerCambridge Version. + Nothing equivalent to this QuesSANDERSON, VOL. V. sion. G |