Reason I. ALL Laws which do not agree with the Divine Law , ought to be repealed . It is true , that the Supream Lawgiver has left humane Societies , at Liberty to Establish such Laws , as They in Prudence , shall judge will most conduce to their External welfare , or Political well being : Provided always , That they Exact nothing that is repugnant , to THE DIVINE LAW . But let it be considered , whether the Sacramental Test is not so . For , the Holy Sacrament was not appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ , to be used as a Qualification for Civil Offices , but for other Sacred Ends and Purposes . And therefore to use it as a Test for Civil Employments , is to Pervert and Corrupt an Holy Ordinance of God , and consequently to Transgress the Divine Law .

Reason II . The Impleaded Test is not consonant with the Doctrine of the Church of England . For our Church has Taught ( as the Scriptures do ) that Unworthy Receivers ought not to be admitted to the Lord's Table , In our Liturgy it is declared , That so many as intend to be Partakers of the Holy Communion , shall signifie their Names , &c. And if any of them be an Open and Notorious evil Liver , the Curate having knowledge thereof , shall advertise him , that in any wise He presume not to Come to the Lord's Table , until He has openly declared himself to have repented and amended his former naughty life . And the Priest is by our Liturgy required to Say to the Communicants , That They are to Examine their Lives and Conversations by the rule of God's Commandments , and that They must be ready to make restitution to those whom They have wronged : For otherwise the Receiving of the Holy Communion does nothing else but increase their Damnation . Therefore if any of you be a Blasphemer of God , an Hinderer and Slanderer of His Word , an Adulterer , or in Malice , or in Envy , or in any other grievous Crime , Repent you of your Sins , or else come not to that Holy Table , lest after the taking of the Sacrament , the Devil enter into you as he entered into Judas , and fill you full of all Iniquities , and bring you to Destruction both of Body and Soul . These words are in the Common-Prayer Book . It is moreover therein truly asserted , That in the Primitive Church there was a Godly Discipline whereby such Persons as stood convicted of notorious Sin were put to shame , and that it is much to be wished that the said Discipline may be restored again . But how is it possible for the Godly Discipline of the Primitive Church to be restored again as long as the Sacramental-Test is in force ? It is pretended that by means hereof the Church of England is Established : But if we go about to Establish our Church by a Practice or by a Law which is contrary to the sound Doctrine therein professed , I am afraid that we shall thereby , rather occasion our own Ruin than any thing else .

Reason III . The Sacramental Test has been a Cause of very much Sin . For it hath caused a Sacred Institution of Christ to be polluted , and the Blood of the Son of God to be prophan'd by Multitudes . It is certainly a great Sin to Administer the Sacrament to any that are known to be unmeet Subjects thereof . Calvin was a Presbyterian , and therefore I omit to mention that He and several other Protestant Divines were Banished from Geneva , because They refused to give the Sacrament to some very Scandalous Persons there . But methinks old St. Chrysostom's words are of weight ▪ who professeth ▪ That He would sooner have his right Hand cut off , than He would give the Body and Blood of Christ to a known wicked Man . But the Sacramental-Test-Law , puts the Ministers of our Church on great Temptation to do thus . It has also caused many whose Consciences assure Them , that if They partake at the Lord's Table , They shall Eat and Drink Damnation to Themselves , yet to venture . The too true Relation of a Prophane man , who that so he might not by means of the Sacramental Test , be deprived of his Livelyhood , resolved to present himself at the Lord's Table but there declared to some that sat by Him , He would Eat that Bread , and Drink that Wine only as Common Bread , and Wine , is much talked of . Yea , and this Sacramental Test hath hardened the Papists , and caused Them to Blaspheme the Protestant Religion , and in a peculiar manner ▪ our Church of England . I remember a Roman Catholick did in my Hearing protest He was resolved to Publish in Print a Passage relating to this Subject , which Himself ( he said ) knew to be true . It was this : A Gentleman ( whose Name and all the Circumstances of Time and Place ▪ he mentioned ) because of the Law , presented himself at the Sacrament . But the Night before He made himself Horribly Drunk : And when He came the next Day to receive the Cup of the Lord , with a fearful Oath in his Mouth , He demanded of the Curate , Why He did not get better Wine for them than that was ? The Curate replied ▪ It was the best He could procure . The Gentleman rejoyned with horrid Execrations ( which I abhor to mention ) that if He had sent to Him , He would have given him better . The Papist did from this in my hearing take occasion to revile Protestants , but especially us who are of the Church of England .

Reason IV . If there be not a Reformation as to this particular , we have cause to fear that some Publick National Judgment will fall upon us , as a Testimony of God's righteous Displeasure . For as long as this Test is Established by Law , it becomes a National Evil . If a Nation be guilty of Prophaning or Perverting any Ordinance of Christ , that infers a National guilt . The famous Church of Corinth was exposed to an heavy Judgment from Heaven on this account . And why may not the Church ▪ of England fear lest it should be so with Them . It was a celebrated Saying of the Learned Paraeus , I wonder not that God has ▪ visited Germany with the Sword , when I Consider how the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper has been Prophaned . I pray , that the Holy God may not be provoked to pour out the Blood of our Nation , because so many therein have prophaned the Blood of his Son ▪

Reason V. It is for the King's Interest That the Sacramental-Test should be taken away . For by means thereof , many worthy Persons and good Protestants , who are every way Qualified for Publick Employments , are made uncapable of Serving His Majesty , the English Nation , or the Protestant Interest : Had this Test been imposed on the London-Derry or Iniskilling Men a few Months ago , all Ireland had been lost before this day . And had this Test been insisted on among the Scots , His present Majesty would probably have lost that Kingdom also . Many Good and Wise Men are of Opinion that this ( more than any thing else ) has been the Cause of the unsuccessfulness of our Armies and Navies , and that nothing can be thought of , which at this Juncture will more Effectually promote the Interest of the Papists , than to continue a Test which does so unhappily divide Protestants one from another , making them Unable to afford their Joynt-assistance against the Common Enemy . We that are of the Church of England , acknowledge that Receiving the Sacrament , just after our Mode is only an Ecclesiastical , and not a Divine Institution . Shall we for a Ceremony which may lawfully be removed , hazard the Ruin of the Nation ! and the whole Protestant Interest in the World also ? No doubt but that our wise Senators will seriously consider of these things before it be too late .