Bum. Ah Citt, that I were but as capable of Learning as thou art of Teaching! Pre'thee explain thy self a little upon the Conscience of Profession too.
A Conscience of Profession.
Citt. Observe me what I say then, Bumpkin; There is a Profession, Particular, and General: Particular, as when One Cavalier serves another in a Duell, he's oblig'd to't by the Profession of a Sword-man, without Formalizing upon the Cause. There's a Conscience of Profession even among the Banditi themselves. What is it but the Profession of Presbytery, that makes the whole Party oppose Episcopacy; as the Independents do Presbytery, the Republicans, Monarchy, and the like.
Bum. Now I thought that there might have been Conscience of State, as well as of Profession in These Cases.
Citt. Thou sayst very well, Bumpkin, and so there is, and of Profit too; and it was much the same Case too, throughout the Circle of our Late Revolutions, when we Swore and Vow'd from the Oaths of Allegiance, and Canonical Obedience, to the Protestation, the Solemn League and Covenant, the Engagement, the Negative Oath, the Oath of Abjuration, and so till we swore round, into the Oath of Allegiance again.
Bum. What do you mean now by your Generall Profession?
Citt. I mean the Subordination of a Partiall to a Generall, of a Private Profession to a Publick; as thou seest in the Late Times, Bumpkin, how strictly the Divided Reformers kept themselves to This Rule, so long as the Common Enemy was upon his Legs.
Bum. But who do you mean by the Common Enemy?
Citt. I mean, the Court, and the Church-Party. So long (I say) all our Brethren of the Separation joyn'd as one man, against that Inordinate Power; and herein we were Conscienciously True to our General Profession; but so soon as ever we had subdu'd that Popish and Tyrannical Interest, through the Conscience of our General Profession, we then consulted our Particular; and every man did Conscienciously labour for the Establishment of his own way. But now we come to the great Nicety of all; that is to say, the Conscience of making a Conscience of using any Conscience at all: There's a Riddle for ye, Bumpkin.
Bum. I must confess I do not understand one Bitt on't.