Nonconformists Sentiments.
‘[They think,
Pag. 10, 11. [
Of the Power of Magistr. & Bishops, to confine and silence.] that the
Magistrate hath the Power of the
Temples and
Tithes, and
Publick Maintenance, and
Liberty; but that he hath not the Power of
Ordination or
Degradation.]’ To say nothing of that affected word,
Temples, so often used by him, (perhaps, that the
Churches might with the greater colour be
reserv'd for themselves.) If the
Magistrate have the Power of
Liberty, as is here acknowledged, what can they plead,
☜ to justify themselves, for
not obeying his Commands, touching the
Restraint of Number in their private Meetings, and
keeping of them to their Five Miles distance? To this
latter Instance indeed he saith afterwards:
‘[We have been hainously accused for coming within
Five Miles of any City, Corporation, and Place,
Pag. 69. where we lately preached; when Christ said,
If they persecute you in one City, flee to another.]’ Strongly argued! Therefore they must always have some City to fly unto; or therefore they must keep in or near that
City or
Corporation, where they reckon on themselves persecuted. — But this suits well, doth it not, with owning the
Magistrate to have the
Power of their Liberty in his hand, and at his disposal? And the
Pretence for their Disobedience makes it still the worse; when, to arrogate unto
themselves the Privilege of
Saints, they tacitly proclaim the
King a
Persecutor.
But then, if the Magistrate have not the Power of Ordination or Degradation, sure the
Bishops have.
Ordination hath
[Page 34] been allowed them by those, that would otherwise
diminish their Power; and when they have alleged some Testimonies for the exaltation of
Presbyters, were yet forced to add,
exceptâ Ordinatione. And
Degradation, as it is here used for
Silencing, one would think should as easily be granted to them. The matter among us is beyond dispute and controversy. But this Author seems to testify against the Power of Degradation and Silencing, in any Person whosoever, for so his words are:
‘[All this is utterly impertinent to them,
Pag. 47.
☞ whose Consciences
never allowed them to forbear their Ministry, in formal Obedience to any Man's Prohibition, but only when they had not
Power (that is here,
Ability,) or
Opportunity to execise it.]’ They are
such, it seems,
whom no Man may forbid: And tho their
Ordination and
Commission be confessedly from Men, yet will not their Consciences allow of any
Man's Prohibition. —
Pag. 25.Again,
[The
Nonconformists hold, that the Ministerial Office is not to be taken up on Trial, or for a time, but
durante Vitâ cum capacitate; and that it is no less than,
- 1. Horrid Sacrilege,
- 2. Perfidious Covenant-breaking,
- 3. Disobedience to God,
- 4. Cruelty to Souls; and,
- 5. Unthankfulness for great Mercies:
‘If any of us shall desert our undertaken Offices, (yea, tho a
silencing Diocesan should forbid us the exercise of it unjustly.’ Therefore preach and officiate, while we
can we
must.]
Durante Vitâ cum Capacitate, might be explained unto a tolerable Sence, if the
Moral Capacity were here intended: And so, [
When we can] restrained to
quod jure possumus. And so when he mentions,
a silencing Diocesan forbidding the Exercise of the Ministry unjustly; one would think he might allow him sometimes to do it
justly also, at least
before Men, and in
Foro Ecclesiae: And if
justly, then the Party is
judicially incapacitated for the exercise of his
Ministry, by one that
sent and
ordained him. He that gave him the
Faculty, suspends it. And his Obedience or Submission here is no
Desertion of his Office at all, for
[Page 35] the exercise of which he wants Commission. Who ever accused a disbanded Souldier, or a cashiered Officer, for
deserting his Colours or Command? So that he might have forborn all his
Tragical Aggravations of the Matter. — But he pleads an exemption, it seems, from all
humane Prohibitions. And accordingly in his
Title-Page he gives us this
strutting Description and Account of Himself:
‘[One that is consecrated to the Sacred Ministry, and is resolved not to be a
wilful Deserter of it, in trust that any Undertakers can justify him for such Desertion at the Judgment of God, till he know better how those can come off themselves, who are unfaithful Pastors, or
unjust Silencers of others:]’ That is, we may suppose, till Dooms-Day.
Dr.
William Gouge long since resolved this Case, with much more
Ingenuity and
Clearness:
‘(1.) Difference must be made, saith he, between
Times of Percution, when
Infidels, or
Idolaters, or the
open Enemies of Christ,
Whole Armour of God, p. 570, 571. bear Rule, who seek
utterly to suppress the Truth of the Gospel, and
root out the Professors of it; and
Times of Peace, when
Christian Magistrates, who defend the Gospel, and seek the Progress thereof, govern the Church. The Inhibition of Infidels and
Idolaters, made simply
against Preaching the Gospel, because they would have it
utterly suppressed, is in this Case
no sufficient Inhibition to bind the Conscience, being
directly and apparently contrary to God's Word: But when
Christian Magistrates inhibit Ministers to preach, it is because they think them
unfit and
unmeet, either for some
notorious Crimes, or some
erroneous Opinions, to exercise their Ministerial Functions. In these Cases such as are inhibited ought not to preach; neither are particular and private Men to judg of the Cause of the Inhibition, whether it be just or unjust;
☜ but as they who are appointed by the present Government to
ordain Ministers, are to judg of their
Fitness thereunto, so likewise of their
Ʋnfitness. And (2.) Difference must be made again between the
Kinds of Ministers that are inhibited to preach: Some were ordained
immediatly by Christ, and
particularly
[Page 36] commanded by him to preach the Gospel; all the World therefore could not
silence such: and if they were inhibited, yet ought they not to be silent, if not forcibly restrained. And this was the Apostles Case, (and the like may be said of the
Prophets, who were extraordinarily sent and appointed by God himself.) But others (as all in our Days) are ordained by the hands of Men, even of the
Governours of the Church. Now as they have Power to ordain Ministers, when they judg them fit for that Place; so have they power also to
deprive Ministers, when they judg them
unfit: And therefore
Obedience must be yielded to their Inhibition.]’ Thus
He.
And why should not this sober Resolution of his be
still allowed by them? — That noted Passage of Mr.
Calvin, in his Epistle to
Farellus,
Edit. Gen. in Fol. p. 122. deserves a Remembrance here.
Consilium interea Fratribus non possum aliud dare, nisi ut Collegam tuum coram Magistratu moneant, ut se patiatur in ordinem redigi. Quod si pervicaciter recusare institerit, denuncient, sibi non esse loco Fratris, qui communem Disciplinam contumaciâ suâ perturbat. Semper hoc in Ecelesiâ valuit,
☞
quod veteribus Synodis fuit decretum, ut qui subjici communis Disciplinae legibus noluerit, munere abdicetur. Neque hîc quaerenda est hominum authoritas, cum Spiritus S. de talibus pronunciaverit, Ecclesiam non habere morem contendendi: Valere ergo eum jubeant, qui communis Societatis jura respuit. This I could be content to leave to Mr.
B. himself to construe; but when I consider, that some of his
injudicious Teachers may need a plainer
Admonition, I will for their sakes also
english it.
‘— In the mean while, I cannot give other Counsel to the Brethren, but that they admonish your
Collegue (or
Assistant) before the Magistrate, that he would
suffer himself to be reduced into Order. But if he shall obstinately go on to refuse, let them denounce (or signify) that he is not in the
place of a Brother to them, who
disturbs the common Discipline by his Contumacy. This Practice hath ever obtained in the Church,
☞ which hath been decreed by
ancient Synods, that
whoever will not be subject to the Laws of common Discipline, should be outed from his Office or Function;’ (that is, in our Author's Phrase
degraded
[Page 37] and
silenced.)
‘Nor needs the Authority of Men to be enquired for here, when the Holy Ghost hath pronounced of such, that the Church hath not the Custom of contending. Let them therefore command him to be packing, who
refuseth the Laws of common Society.]’ And this indeed, if we advise upon it, is no more than what is adjudged
necessary in every
well-ordered Community; according to that Oath, which all, when come to Age, were to take at
Athens, as
Stoboeus records it.
‘— I will always prudently obey the
Magistracy set over me,
Stob. Serm 43. de Repub. and observe the
appointed Laws and
Decrees. And if any one shall attempt to
disannul those Laws, or
refuse to obey them, I will not
yeild unto it, but both with my self, (so for as I can,) and with the help of
others, revenge it.]’
But it is time that we return to our
Dissenting Brethrens Thoughts, who are given to differ much from the rest of
Mankind.
‘[They think,
[
Of ejected Ministers & their Successors.] that some of the Nonconformists were true Pastors of their several Flocks, before they were silenced, and cast out. They think, that the ejecting them from the
Temples and
Tithes, did not degrade them, or make them no true Pastors to their Flocks. They think,
pag. 11. that the Magistrates putting another Parish-Minister in possession of the
Temple and
Tithes, did not dissolve the
foresaid Relation of the former. They think yet, that
Prudence requireth Minister and People to consent to such a dissolution of their Relations, where they cannot hold it without greater hurt than benefit; yea, and to consent that the imposed Minister be their Pastor, when he is fit himself, and the Worship performed by him, fit for them to join in.]’
‘[The
Magistrates putting into possession of the
Temples and
Tithes,]’ is Language we are not
used to. 'Tis the Bishop with us, that gives us the
Institution, and
Mandate for Induction, which is executed also by the
Clergy. But it is a pretty World indeed, when nothing must be done without the
Nonconformists leave: and Obedience to Authority,
☜ both Civil and
[Page 38] Ecclesiastical, cannot oblige unto, or effect as much, as it is here acknowledged, Prudence requires Minister and People to do. — These are the Nonconformists
avowed Principles, or this Author wrongs them. Let us learn from him next, what Use and Improvement they make of them.
‘
Pag. 14.The Nonconformists will hold
distinct Church-Assemblies from the Parish-Church, — when the ejected Minister, in
Foro Conscientiae & Ecclesi
[...]
[...]erè sic dictae, retaineth still his
ancient Relation to his Flock, and part of them schismatically separate from him, and join with an Intruder publickly, that never had a lawful Call; and the other half separate not from their ancient Pastor. It is possible the Intruder, tho he hath the Temple, may be the Schismatick. Ask Dr.
Wild, and Dr.
Gunning, whether they thought not so fourteen years ago?]’ And of this again he tells us, that their Churches are gathered, as 'Dr.
Wild's and Dr.
Gunning's were fifteen years ago. Where, I know not for what reason,
Pag. 54. he advanceth a Year of his former account.
‘But
factious Disputers, saith he, see but
on one side. You thought not that your self were all this while proving your selves
Schismaticks.
Pag. 41, 45. I undertake to prove, that Pastors and People are the constitutive Essentials of a true Church; that Dr.
Seaman, Mr.
Calamy, Dr.
Manton, Mr.
Gouge, Dr.
Bates, Dr.
Jacomb, and abundance more such, with the People subject to them as Pastors, were true Churches: Prove you, if you can, that on
Aug. 24. 1662. they were degraded, or their
true Churches dissolved, [Who but he would dream of the Dissolution of Churches,’ upon the Death of their Incumbents or Pastors, which is yet more than a Deprivation, a Remove beyond the possibility of Return,
&c.]
‘on any reason, which any Churches for 600 years after Christ would own. If not, you seem your self to accuse their Successors of Schism, for drawing away part of the People from them, (meerly by the advantage of having the Temples and Tithes) and so gathering Churches out of true Churches. So ordinary is it for self-esteeming Men to talk to their own Reproach and Condemnation.]’
[Page 39] Again;
Pag. 41.
‘[What Law tieth us to be
such Schismaticks, as to renounce Communion with all other Churches, except Parochial and Conformists?]’
‘[Whose Conscience should sooner accuse him of Schism, a Conformist, that will hold Communion with none but his own Party, but separateth from all other Churches in the Land? or
Ours, that resolve to hold Communion seasonably with all true Christian Churches among us, that teach not Heresy, nor preach down Holiness, Love, or Peace, and deny us not their Communion unless we will sin.
Let the Impartial judg,
Pag. 42.
which of us is the Schismatick and Separatist.]’ He is mightily transported with the evidence of this Charge, and therefore we have it over and over.
‘— [As far as I can discern, this Dust of Schism,
Pag. 43. which you would
cast into other Mens eyes, obligeth you to
wink hard, lest it be blown back into your own.]’ Again,
‘[Is it not as easy for us to say, that you have
needlesly, and
sinfully, and
scandalously taken our Places, (I mean, as to the
Church-relation, and not as to the Temples and Tithes,) and drawn some of our People to Separation from those that were before true Churches.
We say not so; but put not your selves on the
hard Task of disproving it, if you are wise.]’ That is plainly,
☜ at the least, we
think so, and
would have the People to believe so of you, and that
you are not able to disprove it, and will hazard your
Reputation for Wisdom by attempting it; tho yet we would escape the
Odium of down right affirming it. And yet so much is said by this Author this way, that I cannot excuse his [
We say not so] from a direct and known
Falshood.
☜ For thus he proceeds to
harp still on the same String:
Pag. 60.
‘[Do you draw Churches to your selves out of our Churches that were before you, and then charge your Action on us?]’
‘[Why come you not to the private Churches among you, that have all this while been kept up?
E. Gr. in
London; Why may not Dr.
Manton, Dr.
Annesley, Dr.
Jacomb, and
abundance such, as fairly charge those that go only to the Temples, for separating from them? They say, they are
as true Churches as you. If their not hearing you is Separation, why is not
your not hearing of them so? Big words,
[Page 40] when Men are got into the Saddle, make not their Cause good.]’ And yet again,
‘[Are you Separatists for not hearing them? If not, why are they such for not hearing you?]’ — Now this way of
Questioning,
Pag. 70. by his
own Confession, is but
another manner of Saying: For so he takes up his
Antagonist;
‘[Nor should you by a
Question, saith he, have vented such a
Falshood?
Pag. 62.’
It is enough to expose these things without a more particular Refutation of them, that we may take notice of the Spirit of the Men. They, alas! are not for
big Words, and yet in their
low,
☞
calamitous, and
persecuted Estate, can
swagger after this high and mighty rate. They are the
Ecclesia verè sic dicta, the true Churches, we have only the
Temples and
Tithes: We are
Schismaticks and
Separatists from them, (the Sons of yesterday,) and
gather Churches out of their true Churches. — And sure they conceit, we have as
bad Memories as
Judgments, when they report themselves in the same condition now, with the
honest and loyal-hearted Sons of the Church of England
fourteen or fifteen years ago, kept out against all Law and Conscience from their Cures and Livings. — Mr.
Baxter, I perceive, hath not profited, as he might have done, by Dr.
Pierce's good Admonitions and Instructions, given him above twelve years since, which duly considered, would certainly have superseded all
this idle Cant and Expostulation. I will only be his
Monitor in a
Point or two, and so leave him to
con his Lesson better, if he be not now
too old, or
too proud to learn.
‘I shall desire to know of you, saith the Doctor, who are the
Schismaticks and
Separatists,
Appendix to Mr.
Baxter,
[...]. 29. p. 211. and so the
Breakers of Charity, and
Peace, and
brotherly Ʋnion? We, who
continue and persevere in the good old Way of the Church of England, in which we were
born and
baptized, and to which we have vowed a
due Conformity and
Obedience; or
You, and your
darling Presbyterians, who have
departed from our Assemblies, and
separated your selves from our Communion,
receded meanly from your Subscriptions, and bound your selves by an Oath to
extirpate your Fathers, who
were over you in the Lord, whom
[Page 41] you had solemnly promised
reverently to obey?]’ And again,
‘[You cannot charge any sort of Men for having separated from you,
Ibid. p. 214,
&c. without incurring the same Charge for having separated from us. When Mr.
Caudry wrote against
Independency and gave it the Title of a
great Schism, I could not but smile at the
Retortion which Dr.
Owen very speedily and fitly made him. Nay, it is publickly declared, by a great Body of
Congregationals,
Prefat. p. 13. That they did not
break from the
Presbyterians, but the
Presbyterians rather from them. You are so far from agreeing
one with another, that you can never expect to be at
Ʋnity with your selves, unless by being
reconciled to the Church of England, whose Calamities have
obscured, but not
destroyed her. The Sin of Schism is contracted,
Of Schism, chap. 11. pag. 178, 179. saith the judicious Dr.
Hammond, either by some
irregularity of Actions contrary to the standing Rule and Canons of this Church, or by
disobedience to some Commands of Ecclesiastical Superiors. And then, by
whom it is contracted, I need not tell you.’ But blessed be God, (as he goes on)
‘the Church of
England is not invisible; it is still preserved in
Bishops and
Presbyters rightly ordained, and Multitudes rightly baptized, none of which have fallen off from their Profession. To your
preposterous Demands then, Why we
separate from you, and refuse to go to your Communion? The first and
shortest Answer is this: That we are
passively separated, because you actively are
Separatists. We,
☜ by remaining as we were, are parted from you; and you, by your
violent departure, have made our Difference unavoidable. We are divided by
Necessity, and you by
Choice: We from you,
our Dividers; but you from us, and between
your selves: You (like
Demas) having forsaken us, and
embraced this present World; it is our Lot, (as it was
Paul's) to be
unavoidably forsaken. When the Times are
changed by some, and others are
changed by the Times, you must at least excuse (if not commend) us, that
we meddle not with those that are given to change.
Prov. 24.21. For you to go from us, and then to chide us for being parted, is the greatest Injustice to be imagined, because it requires us to verify the two Extremes of a Contradiction,
&c.’
Had these things, offered formerly to our Author's consideration, been digested by him, he had certainly been antidoted, in a great measure, against those odd Prejudices, which do now so exceedingly swell him.
‘[We are told of
Schism from the Church of England,
Pag. 35. when I would give him all the
Money in my Purse, to make me understand what the
Church of England is.]’ I know not well here which to admire at more,
[
Of the Church of England,
& of Schism from the Church of England.] the
Query it self, or the
Manner of propounding it; both for certain are extreme idle and extravagant. Had this been said in the Times of
Deformation, when the Face and Appearance of our Church had been obscured
[Page 42] by the thick and black
Clouds of Persecution, (or by one born and bred up altogether in those times) there might have been some pretence perhaps for it: But since the
Return of the Stream, and Tide of things into their ancient Channel, to make this Enquiry, is little other than groping for the Sun at Mid-day. He may publish himself an Episcopal Protestant, and one of the greatest Adversaries to the Papists, as long and as loudly as he please: Here is an evident Discovery,
whose Friend he is, and
what Side he takes to. — Had he lived in King
David's or
Solomon's time, or any other religious Prince's, on record in the holy Scriptures, he might have bid as fair to make him understand what the Church of the
Jews was. — But who can ever hope to make him
understand against his Will? He could have easily enough resolved himself unto a
tolerable Satisfaction, had he not design'd to become troublesom.
‘—[I confess easily, saith he, that many Churches,
Pag. 37. united under
one King, and living in
one Kingdom, and having thereby special Opportunity for
Synods, and
Correspondence, and
Concord,’ (he might have added, observing the
same Liturgy, agreeing in the
same Articles and Profession of Faith, and guided by the
same Laws and Canons in their Government and Worship;)
‘may be called
one Church, by a Denomination, (1.) accidental, (2.) humane, not used in Scripture; (he should have excepted the Old Testament.)’
‘And we will not be so quarrelsom, as to avoid that Language, where Men will needs use it.]’ Time was, when a National Church was no such slight matter in the esteem of his Brethren.
‘— [But it is the thing it self, saith he, and not the Name that we enquire of, What is that one essential constitutive Head, which makes the Churches of
England to be all one Church, in a proper political sence, as a Governed Society? None question the
Civil Head; none question the need of Agreement among all these Churches: But the question is only of the one Ecclesiastick constitutive Head.]’ Are not our Ecclesiastical Governors as unquestionably known as the Civil? 'Tis difficult therefore to know what he would be at, unless he would have us declare some one Pope over us.
‘[Tell us what you mean by our Schism from the Church of
England, saith he;
Pag. 38. we divide not our selves from the King or Kingdom, or from the particular Churches, as concordant in any necessary thing.]’ If you divide your selves from the Bishops or Governors of the Church, and oppose and confront those Ecclesiastical Constitutions,
☞ which are the standing Rules and Measures of the Churches Concord in Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship, and what things are necessary thereunto, you are guilty of this Schism; and so far you divide your selves from the King and Kingdom too, as that Government, and those Constitutions, are adopted into the Laws of both.
‘
Pag. 39.[But perhaps, 'tis our Disobedience to the Church, that is our Schism
[Page 43] from it. But every one that maketh himself an Ecclesiastical Governor over other Pastors and Churches, is not therefore their rightful Lord. The
King we know, and his
Officers we know; but we know not all that call themselves our Lords and Masters. Not but that Obedience is the easiest Course of Life to a
quiet humble Mind, (as yours, I doubt, is not); but Fidelity to our King commandeth the disowning of Usurpers.]’ The Intimation here is too foul and seditious, that our Lord Bishops are
such; none of the King's
Officers, but
Ʋsurpers;
☜ such whom the King
owns not, but they make themselves Ecclesiastical Governors.
‘The
self-obtruding Prelacy, as he elsewhere hath it.’
‘— [The
King we know,
Pag. 114. and his
Officers we know; but —]’ This Rhetorick was learned of an
evil Spirit, Acts 19.15. — But O the Tenderness and Loyalty of a
Presbyterianiz'd Conscience!
‘[Fidelity to their King commandeth them the
disowning of Ʋsurpers.]’ Just as formerly, Fidelity to King
Charles the First, made them down with the Bishops, and raise and maintain a War, under pretence of
evil Counsellors cleaving to Him,
&c. — Or rather, as Fidelity to King
Charles the Second, made
R. B. to disown
R. C. Qui dicit quae non debet, necesse est, ut, quae non velit, aliquando audiat.
‘[Where the Parish-Minister is
faithful, and the Parish small enough, and near enough to assemble in one Place,
Pag. 12. and the People satisfied with the Liturgy; I suppose, the
Soberest of the Nonconformists, (for they are not all of a Mind,) will gather no Church out of that Parish.]’ They were
mad certainly, should they endeavour what they have no more hopes of, and cast their Nets where they are like to
catch nothing. But this yet is the Wisdom only of the
soberest of them; and we are left to suppose, that they are not all thus far resolved to be sober and discreet.
‘[He that had rather Ten thousand Persons stay'd
idly at home,
Pag. 13. or went to Sports or Drinking in
Stepney Parish, or
Giles Cripplegate, or
Sepulchers, or
Martin's in the Fields, or
Clement-Danes, &c.’ (how shie he is of naming
Saint!)
‘than a N. C. should preach to them, I will not foul my Paper by calling him as he deserveth, tho he pretend, that
gathering a Church out of a Church is the thing that he opposeth.]’ — These, it seems, are the
Godly Party, who would flock to the N. C. in those great Parishes, (for otherwise to what purpose doth he here mention them?) Such,
viz. as would otherwise
stay idly at home, or betake themselves to
Sports or
Drinking. And yet, as the N. C. and his Preaching possibly may be, not much to be preferred to either. And, if you call the Man that saith so, by no other Name than he deserves, you need not fear the
fouling of your Paper by it; tho that be a thing too, I perceive, you are not always so squeamish at.
‘[What if any Number of Persons,
as good as you,
Pag. 14, 15. should think that the Liturgy is guilty of all the Disorders and Defects which once were
[Page 44] charged on it, and of some
Doctrinal Corruptions since? And what if they think, that the
Parish Churches are void of Christ's
true Discipline, and are under an
Alien, one which they judg unlawful? What if they yet say, that your Churches may be true Churches?]’
Truly we should look upon them as Men of
crazy Judgments, and
exorbitant Ʋnderstandings, and watch over them, and beware of them, (with so much the more diligence for their Number sake) as Enemies, that would undoubtedly, upon the first opportunity offer'd, down with that which they charge with so much Guilt, and eject those whom they adjudg
Aliens, and
Ʋnlawful; to advance, as they sometimes speak, a pure Worship, and the
Scepter of Christ in their own hands.
‘
Pag. 15.— [And if withal you say, that you
refuse them, and they
refuse not you; You will not give them the Lord's Supper, unless they take it
kneeling, (which I think they may do, but they think otherwise.) You will not baptize their Children, without the transient Image of the Cross, as a
dedicating Sign. —]’ This is wholly levell'd at the Law, requiring those things in common from them and us, which hath also as charitably provided for the explication of them, so far as might satisfy the
most tender Consciences, were not some Men
ambitious of keeping up Scruples, by putting
such Notions into their Heads, of
sacramental and dedicating Signs, which otherwise they would never think of; and when they hear, understand as little but the
Bug-bear Sound only. And if after all this, People will be
contentious, we have no such Custom, nor the Churches of Christ. They may be all admitted, if they please, upon the same equal terms, as their Christian Neighbours are.
‘
Ibid.[But in this last Case, I suppose, the most of the N. C. that live in
Country-Parishes, which have
good Ministers of their own, will not call themselves a
distinct Church (totally) but will hold their Meetings, as
Chappel-Meetings are held.]’ This Notion of
Chappels he is much taken with. [
'Chappels subordinate to the Parish-Church,] Which we also should like the
better,
Pag. 27, 30. were we once well secured of that
Subordination. But this, I conceive, is chiefly designed to
wind themselves by degrrees into the established Church.
‘[Suppose your selves, saith he, as
Chappel-Curates, under the Parish-Ministers,
Pag. 91. and so in Concord perform your Work.]’ This were something indeed, could we reconcile it with what he observes in another place.
Pag. 71.
‘— [I doubt the Separation is in this, that the tolerated Minister will not be your
Curate. But remember, that some are
Presbyterians, and therefore for
Parity of Ministers; and I, and many others, are so much for
Episcopacy, (it must be then surely in your selves) that we would not have
Prelatical Jurisdiction given to those
Parish-Priests, who themselves are against
Presbyters,’ (Elegant!
Priests against Presbyters,) 'and for
Prelacy.] Very good! Let us be then as we are.
[Page 45]
‘[Perhaps some N C. own Administrations may be as defective as the Liturgy.]’ How wary we are!
Pag. 16. Pag. 17.
‘— Some N. C. may be as defective,’ —
perhaps, —
‘Yet they prefer their
own Manner of worshipping God, as
better in their Opinion than the Liturgy, and therefore to be chosen, when they may chuse.]’
Quisque sibi suffenus.
☜ But let the People note well,
That is not always better in it self, which the N. C. in their own Opinion prefer as such.
‘— [They are driven from the Parish-Ministry against their Wills,
Ibid. and had far rather hold their ancient Stations.]’ That is, the
Temples and
Tithes; for otherwise, as we have heard already from him, the
Church-Relation still continues.
‘— [They will thankfully return to them, whenever they have leave.]’ Namely, upon their
own Terms and Conditions; and so we easily believe them.
‘— [And do earnestly pray, that these
Seemings and
Shews of
Separation may cease, the occasion of them being taken away.]’ That is, either the
Law, or their
Prejudice and
Obstinacy. This different Sence of the
Occasion divides us in our Prayers; we are for the latter, they for the former Acceptation.
Pag. 20. — But he doth ingenuously acknowledg, after all,
Seemings and Shews of Separation in their Practice. Oh! that they were but more tender in avoiding this appearance of Evil!
And how great the Evils are justly to be feared,
[
The great Evils of gathering into distinct and separate Churches] by their
gathering into distinct and separate Churches, he is very sensible; for he gives us a good account of them in six Particulars, worthy to be thought upon; and therefore I will repeat them here after him.
‘1. The exasperating the Minds of Persons,
Pag. 19, 20. ☜ for Number or Quality considerable; and so alienating them from their Brethren, and hindring their Good.’
‘2. And thereby
weakning the Protestant Interest, in a time which requireth our greatest Concord.’
‘3. And setting of Parties against Parties, and Churches against Churches, and turning Religion into Contentions, and mutual Oppositions.’
‘4. And the
countenancing of unlawful Separations, which will all shelter themselves under such Examples: And the Dividers will not see the different Principles on which we go, whilst our Practice seemeth to be the same.’
‘5. And so it may be injurious to
future Ages, by seeming to give them Presidents for their
unlawful Separations.’
‘6. And it is not the least evil Consequent, That we shall cherish, not only the Error of those, that think worse of the Parish-Worship and Assemblies than there is cause; but we shall also accidentally nourish
[Page 46] their Pride, who will think themselves an
holier People, because they erroneously censure the Persons and Practices of others.]’
God keep these Considerations warm upon their Hearts! And then, no doubt, they will find these evil Effects or Consequences much more in
Number, Weight and
Certainty, than any Benefits to be ballanced against them.
☞But may any one besides Mr.
B. be allowed to say thus much? How angry is he for anothers reporting in a few other words, what himself hath confessed in the fourth Particular before recited; see with what a passionate Preface he quotes them:
‘[But my expectation of
Modesty, I see,
Pag. 53. by the following words, needs a Pardon.’
Consider, I beseech you, how like Independent Apes,
your new Congregations will make you look. —]
In the Author himself the Words are thus:
‘[Consider, I beseech you,
Tolerat. not to be abused, p. 20. and see before hand, how like to Independent Apes, (
pardon the Expression) your new Congregations will make you look.]’ But instead of pardoning the Expression, such is his good Nature, he lays on unmercifully for it.
☞
Pag. 53.
‘[That is to say, Come N. C. if you will not be beaten from your Master's Work, we will try whether we can scoff and scorn you out of it: If that will not do, we will pretend
Christ's Name and Authority forbidding you. For as Christ,
Mat. 4. so you, must encounter a threefold Temptation. But we take pleasure in Infirmities, and can bear to be made as the
Off-scouring of all things, remembring who was cloathed with Purple, and then mock'd, as being like a King.]’ All this
Vent but on the warning of them against that
Symbolizing with the Independents, which he himself also reckons up, as a great Evil attending their withdrawing into
separate Churches. So that if we make any
Sence of what he saith here, to
ape or
imitate the Independents or Separatists, is to be made in his Opinion, the
Off-scouring of all things, &c. Were it not seasonable therefore to immind him upon this of his own words elsewhere to that Author:
Pag. 29.
‘[You understand neither the
Men you talk of, nor their
Cause They take not the Independent Assemblies to be the Tents of
Enemies: they leave Terms of
Enmity among
Brethren, to those that have Enmity in their Hearts.]’ And yet, alas! how unpardonable a Crime is it to suppose and represent them, as
Imitators of these dear Brethren! It were well if Mr. B. did not take pleasure in such Infirmities as these are.
Pag 20. [
On which side the Cure of our Di
[...]is. chiefly lies.]
‘[The prime great Obligation for the Cure of all this, doth lie upon some of the
Conforming Side.]’ How prone are we to excuse our selves, and shift off Duty and Obligation to other Men!
‘[It were easy for them not to silence Christ's Ministers, that are as wise and as good as
[Page 47] themselves.]’ The Aim is here manifestly against the
Law and
Bishops; and the silenced Ministers are all voiced up for the
Ministers of Christ, and as wise and good as the best of them that silence them. — This we call
Mortification, Self-denial, Humility, and
Modesty.
‘[It were easy for them, not to punish a godly Person so heavily as as an Excommunication comes to,
Ibid. & p. 2
[...]. for the Weakness of
scrupling a Sacrament Gesture; and not to punish their Children with being
unchristned, or themselves with Excommunication, who think the
dedicating Image of the Cross unlawful, or think it their
own Duty to enter their own Children into Covenant with God, rather than
God-Fathers, that have no propriety in them, and they are sure never intend to take them for their own, or use them as they
covenant to do.]’ It were easy for you, Sir, not to slander the Government with such like Imputations. It were easy for you to make a fairer Construction,
☜ both of our Constitutions and Usages. When did you know any godly Person excommunicated for
meer Weakness and Thoughts? It were easy for you to forbear that
invidious Phrase, the
dedicating Image of the Cross, and such like, which you too frequently abound with, when our Liturgy hath no such
Scarecrow word in it. It were easy for you not to have said, you are sure of what you know nothing of,
viz. the Intentions of God-Fathers at the Font,
&c.
But after all this, speak out the N. C. for your selves: Is here all you are offended at? Will it fully satisfy you,
☜ if the
Bishops silence not the Ministers of Christ, that are
as wise and as good as themselves? And, if you shall not be excommunicated for the weakness of scrupling a
Sacrament-Gesture, or thinking the Sign of the Cross unlawful, nor your Children unchristned upon this Score, (tho in truth they are all
christned, before
signed,) and you your selves permitted to enter your own Children into Covenant with God? Will you submit heartily to all the rest, if
kneeling at the Communion, the
Cross at Baptism, and
God-Fathers be remitted to you? Subscribe honestly, and declare you will stand to it. — But alas! 'tis in vain, I fear, to talk of Condescensions. We have been too much fool'd already with these Pretences, to be confident that nothing else sticks with you. You are a
craving Generation; and the Condescension of your Governors in two or three Points may but open your Mouths wider to ask more. They will gain, in all probability, as little as the last King of blessed memory did, by all his gracious Condescensions; and the Issue is like to be their own Ruine, as it was his; the only difference this, that their condition will be the less pitied, for loving Danger, and despising the Warnings given them of it.
‘If on such occasions true godly Christians are cast out of their Parish-Church, whether they err or not,
Pag. 21. all Ministers are neither obliged nor
[Page 48] allowed to desert them, and so to add Cruelty and Affliction to the Afflicted. ]’ In the Case of Excommunications, Sir, it would better become you to say to those in Authority, as you do well in another place:
‘[We leave your
own Works to your
own Wisdom;
[...]ag. 65. other Mens Actions are not ours.]’ But yet remember, there are those among the
Conformists, that have compassion for the Afflicted, no less than you: And upon this Supposal too, you are to congregate none but our Excommunicates, and those among them who are
truly godly Christians, and those cast out of their Parish-Churches, on such occasions as before were specified: And then, I conjecture, your Meetings will not be much thronged.
Pag. 21.
‘[They that think they answer all, by saying, those Peoples Scruples are but Errors, do but (1.) shew their
Self-esteem, who can call that Error, which they have said so little to prove to be so (in some of their Instances). (2) And he talketh neither like a
Pastor, nor a
Christian, nor a
Man, that thinketh all that err should be cast out off the Church.]’
☞He is yet to seek, I believe, for that
Pastor, Christian, or
Man, that so talketh. — But is it Self-esteem at this time of day in the
Christian Church, to call these Peoples Scruples
Errors? And hath there not enough been said by our Judicious Writers,
Whitgift, Andrews, Morton, Hooker, Paybody, Sanderson, and others, (to name none who are now living,) to prove them so? What will some Men think enough? — But how should we have heard of it, if we had called them
false Conceits, paultry Principles, and
Perverseness, as we find some of the like Principles, that have no less to be said for them, deservedly censured in this Book? By name,
Pag. 96, 97.
The Ʋnlawfulness of all Book-prayers, or all imposed: Placing Religion in being cross to the rest of the Congregation, in not standing up at the Creed and Hymns, &c. But, I beseech you, Sir, are you the only Man that may speak sharply against the Humors and Weakness of Religious People?
Pag. 126. Or are you the sole Demonstrator of those Mistakes which you inveigh against? Or have you the
Monopoly of Names and Censures? Abate but a little of that great and ungrounded Esteem you have of your self, and you will soon perceive it, not to be Self-esteem in others, to call those often baffled Scruples,
Errors at least, if no worse. The truth is, you would be well advised, to spend that time (I will not say, as some have done, in your
Greek Grammar, but) in
practical Meditations, wherein lies your chiefest excellency, that you waste in these
crude Scriblings, which you have scarce the Patience your self to read over, and correct, before you send to the Press.
‘[As the Weakness of the People enclineth them to causeless Separations and Disjunctions;
Pag. 23. so the doleful Pride and Selfishness of the
carnal
[Page 49] Part of the Clergy, hath in most Ages made them too impatient with the peoples Weakness, and make such a
Noise and Stir in the World, if a few do but draw from their Communion, as if all that disowned them, disowned Christ; and all, because
Pride would make every Man a God to the World.]’ For
Instance sake, when the Assembly at
Westminster were so exasperated at the
Five Dissenters, and the
City-Ministers exclaimed so
zealously, both from
Press and
Pulpit, against the
Independents; who were then the
carnal Part of the Clergy? Who, by
these measures, guilty of
doleful Pride and
Selfishness? Which,
where-ever found, deserve a Condemnation.
‘[If there be any such conformable Clergy-Men,
Pag. 25, 26. as
first will do all they can to
silence and
eject us, and forbid us to preach the Gospel of Salvation; and
then will do all they can, to
hinder our Restauration, and to keep us silent: And lastly, when his Majesty's
Prudence and
Clemency giveth us Liberty to preach, when they can no longer hinder us by
Force, would
stroke us into Silence, and Neglect of our Office, by a few such
silly and confident Reasonings, as this Author useth. — I will not offend the Readers ears, by giving them the Name that I think they deserve, but wish them to read, 1
Thess. 2.15, 16. and to tell them, (by what Names or Titles soever they be distinguished,) that I, that am a dying Man, would be loth to stand in
their Case before God; and that, if they and I were well agreed, that there is indeed a
God, a
Christ, a
Heaven, and a
Hell, I think, we should be
easilier agreed in all the rest of our Differences.
Some Teachers need these plain Admonitions.’
You of the
Conformable Clergy, now look to your selves; here is a
Siquis you are nearly concerned in. If there be any such among you,
☜ as do all you can, in your respective Places, (1.) To
silence and eject the N. C. who will not submit to the
common Orders of Publick Discipline, but
revile them; and forbid them upon this account to preach the Gospel of Salvation, who have sometimes preached
Sedition, Rebellion, or
Schism, instead of it; and, 'tis to be feared, upon an opportunity may do so again. And then, (2.) upon the
same Score, do hinder their
Restauration, without they
change, or renounce their former Principles, which they refuse to do, and keep them silent still, continuing in the same Grounds, for which they were at first legally silenced. And then, (3.) persuade them, by
Presbyterian Motives and
Reasonings, heretofore avouched openly by themselves, which was the
rebuked Author's Scope and Drift) not to take the Liberty of running into
Separations. Whosoever you are, I say, and by what
Names or
Titles soever distinguished, (whether
Arch-Bishops, or
Bishops, Priests or
Deacons,) you deserve a Name too ugly and abominable to be mentioned; and were it not for fouling of Paper, or offending
[Page 50] the Readers ears, you should hear it too. However, I will give it you, tho not in words at length, yet in
Figures, which sure you have Learning enough to uncipher, if you have but
Grace to use it. Pray, peruse that Text,
The same Text we may find in the Papers delivered from the
N. C. Commissioners, 1661. p. 108. with many other Passages of like nature with this Treatise. 1
Thess. 2.15, 16.
Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own Prophets, and have persecuted us, [even us the Apostles], and they please not God, and are contrary to all Men; forbidding us, [even us Apostles] to speak to the Gentiles, (to whom Christ himself hath sent us for their Conversion)
that they might be saved: To fill up their Sins always, for the Wrath of God is come upon them to the uttermost. Which Text is so exceeding pat and proper to the
present Case between you and us, that, lest you should not have your Bibles by you, I have taken care to prefix a good part of the Words (to leave you the more without excuse) in my very
Title-page. And in short, that you may from hence be able to spell your own Name, it amounts to this: Ye are
very Jews, persecuting Jews,
☞ such as
crucified Christ Jesus, slew their own Prophets, and now
forbid and restrain us the Apostles of Christ, sent forth to
save such Heathens as y
[...]ur Followers are: Nay, I fear, you are
not so good as those Jews, for there was some Religion yet in them, but you are a
Pack of Atheists or Infidels. — That is the
English of what follows:
‘[If they and I were well
agreed, that there is a
God, a
Christ, an
Heaven, and an
Hell.’ — And to a like purpose elsewhere:
Pag. 57.
‘Alas! what
thoughts have those Men of
Souls, of
Sin, of
Holiness, of
Repentance, and of
their own Sufficiency and Labours!]’ Go ye now, and
chew upon this in private ▪
Sometimes he parallels the
N. C. Ministers Case, with the
Loyal Clergy, ejected
without and against Law in the
Times of Rebellion; but here, and in other Places, he rises
higher, and represents them to us, as the very Apostles,
sent immediatly by Christ, persecuted and silenced by us, as so many
cursed Jews or
Heathens: For which, he likewise tells us, the
Day of our Desolation is approaching, and Wrath from God coming upon us to the uttermost.
Such is the Truth and Modesty of the Man, that will yet presume no higher,
pag. 118. than to lay himself at the
Conformists Feet, and (under the sweet and affectionate Appellation of
Fathers and Brethren) humbly beseech and petition them.
But, to do him right, I must also tell you, that he is not always thus transported, and in his
Altitudes. In his
lucid Intervals he is far more discreet and moderate, and in an
obliging manner acts the
Advocate for us, against the more
Fanatick Objectors. Thus in his
Cure of Church-Divisions:
‘
Cure of Church Divis. p. 259, 260.[
Object. It is one thing to persecute for
particular Opinions and
Interests, as almost all Parties have sometimes done; and another thing, to persecute for Godliness it self.’
[Page 51]
‘
Ans. I confess, it is, and the difference between these two is very great. But, I pray you, consider;
First, they are very
few, perhaps
none at all, that you separate from, that ever
persecuted you any way at all, nor can you prove, that ever they so much as allow'd of it.
Secondly, That they, whom you and I do suffer by, do not believe that they persecute us for
Godliness, but think, that here the Case is more
defensible than
yours was; for you had
no just Authority over us. When the
Anabaptists did pull down the Ministers,
☜ they pulled down the
Magistrates too;]’ And when the
Presbyterians, and other
Nonconformists, outed the Bishops, they
rebell'd against the King too.
‘[And therefore it was a Persecution of
Equals without Authority: But those that we Ministers suffer by now, are our
lawful Rulers, (pray, remember that,
no Ʋsurpers,) who have made-Laws to
subscribe, and
say, and
swear, and
do the
things which we do not. And therefore they think, that we suffer but for a different Opinion, joined with
Disobedience. 'Tis not
all Men whom they forbid to preach, but only
those who dissent, and do
not obey them: 'Tis not all Men that are
godly, whom they imprison, but those that meet to worship God, in a
Way and Manner differing from theirs, and
forbidden by them. So that how can you say, that this is not for
differing Opinions?’
‘
Object. But we forbid them not to hold their own
Church-Communion: Tho we
separate from them, we never
denied them the Liberty of their Consciences.’
‘
Ans. Some of your Judgment denied many of them much of that Liberty, which consisteth in worshipping of God in their own way, when you were in
Power. But, suppose they had not, it is but another
Way of Ʋncharitableness; the Vice expressed seemeth to be the same, if you condemn them as
unfit for Christian Communion, and therefore you exclude them from yours; and you take their Communion among themselves, to be but a
Profanation of holy things, which maketh them the
more impious, and you the
more odious: And you
tolerate it in them, as you tolerate
Mens Folly and Madness, or
Leprosy, or
Plague, because you cannot cure it. And, I pray you, judg, if there be any more Christian Love in this kind of Dealing, than there is in that which you call
Persecution.]’ We are beholden to him for this
kind Apology.
But can any, amongst the most bitter Separatists, call us worse than he hath done, by
Interpretation at least, in the Section we have perused before? Who would ever think, that he had elsewhere said of the
Learned, zealous, high Conformists, and that in this very Treatise, that,
Pag. 119.
‘[They are not, by any sober Man, to be accused of doing, either they
knew not what, or what they did not
suppose was good, and would
countervail all that it should cost to procure it]?’ If such are not to
[Page 52] be accused by any
sober Man, we may appeal to him as
Witness, that he must needs be
mad with Passion and Prejudice, that rails upon them in the maner even now express'd. O! that he were
once so happy, as to
reconcile the Differences, and
cure the Divisions, between
Himself and sober Mr.
Baxter.
‘
Pag. 28. [
Presbyterian Resolutions.]1. I believe the Presbyterians will join with the Independents,
not as a Sect, as you
call them, but in all that they think good and lawful.]’ 'Tis not long since the
Presbyterians call'd them a
Sect too, and their Way
Schism,
Letter of
L
[...]n. Mini
[...]. to the Assembly,
Jan. 1. 1645. a
Schism, the
Toleration whereof they judg'd repugnant utterly to their Solemn League and Covenant. And they agree now, 'tis like, just as they did before, that is, against the
present Establishment.
‘2. That they will exercise their Ministry, as they are by
Covenant engaged, for
Christ and
Mens Souls.’
['As they are
by Covenant engaged,] That
just now mentioned, a
Testimonial of the taking whereof was required from every one that addressed himself to the Presbytery for Ordination.
See their Form of C
[...]rch-Government,
p 20 And of which Mr.
Case said,
‘The Waters of this Covenant have been a notable
Purgation to the
Rebels.
Quarrel of the Covenant,
Serm. 2.
pag. 65, 66. — It hath been a
Shibboleth to discover them, and a
Sword in the hand of the
Angel of the Covenant, to chase or slay them. The mighty Armies of
Malignants have not been able to stand before it: The
Walls of Jericho have fallen flat before it. The
Dagon of the Bishops Service Book brake its Neck before this
Ark of the Covenant. Prelacy and
Prerogative have bowed down, and
given up the Ghost at its Feet.’ — And again:
Ibid. p. 62.
‘I am humbly confident, that the
same Shores shall not bound this Covenant, which bound the
two covenanting Nations; but, as it is said of the
Gospel, so will it be verified of this
Gospel-Covenant:
The sound thereof will go into all the Earth, and the Words of it to the ends of the World, Rom. 10.18.’
‘3. They will worship God with the
Sect of the Diocesan Prelatists in the Parish-Churches also,
Pag. 29. as far as will stand with the due exercise of their proper Ministry.]’ That is, till, according to their
Covenant, they can root them out; which that they may effect the more successfully, the
Independents now are not a
Sect, but
Brotherhood, — No; 'tis the
Sect of the Diocesan Prelatists. — Divine Mr.
Herbert, in his Poem of the
British Church, (who very well understood what was
meant by it) gives her this
deserved Commendation above all others, that she sits in the
Place of Vertue, betweeen
Extremes on either hand:
‘
The Mean thy Praise and Glory is.’ But here is one that rudely and insolently thrusts her out, to
step himself into her Room; and
justles her, first to
one Extreme, and then to
another, before to
Church-Tyranny, and now to
Schism.
[Page 53]
‘O the Confidence of this
Adviser in his own Understanding,
Pag. 29. that
dare say,
[
Mr. B's
supercilious Contempt of his Adversaries.] he is sure the Presbyterians have no reason to engage in a way of Publick Worship, contra-distinct to the Parochial Congregations!]’ Leaving the
Adviser to his own Vindication, I will only take occasion here to note out some of the
passionate Exclamations, and
scornful Vilifications of the
Answerer, that we may see at one view, how able he is at this
sort of Rhetorick. ['O the
Confidence of this
Adviser in his own
Ʋnderstanding!] This is one of the
modester Sort.
Pag. 25.
‘[Such
silly and confident Reasonings, as this Author useth.] That we had before.’
‘[Alas! poor
England! whose Teachers talk
confidently at this rate.] Alas!
Pag. 44. for the People, that cannot try
Sence from
Nonsence!
Pag. 61. Pag. 60. with what
Stuff will such Men carry them away?]’
‘[Some Men can triumph in such
Reasonings for themselves, as would make
another sick to read them.]’ ['He will bring us into
Ʋtopia, Morus invented it.] And again:
Pag. 48, 50.
‘[If we must follow you into
Ʋtopia or
Moria.]’ Here is a
childish Clench, and somewhat else;
[...],
Mat. 5.22. —
‘[Such
Confidence upon such
insignificant Reasonings,
Pag. 57. is a great
dishonour to the Wit and Humility of the Author.
Pag. 61.]’
‘[His next Section is as
meer delusion as any of the rest.]’ ['What doth this Man, but talk
confusedly?]
‘[Look up, Man, without
Blushing.]’
‘[Sir,
villify not the Wits of those Clergy-Men,
Pag. 62. that chiefly contributed to our —]’
‘[
Honour their Ʋnderstandings more.]’
‘[His
pitiful Objection is but a
contemptible sporting of himself at the Game he is best skill'd at, objecting
nothing,
Pag. 48. that he may seem to answer it with
something.]’ ['O for
Modesty!]
‘[With
full Sail of Self-conceitedness, he next comes upon us.
Pag. 54. Pag. 43.]’
‘[His next hath no bounds, and grieveth me to read it. O
Posterity, how will you know what to believe!]’
‘[He addeth
old Speeches against Toleration,
Pag 62. wherein we lament his
want of common Sence or Modesty.]’ &c. — What a
Fountain of Virulency is there within,
Pag. 65 which sends forth so many Streams of contemptuous and provoking Language, against a learned, charitable, moderate, meek, and ingenuous Writer?
‘Is the exercising of a Worship and Discipline,
[
Of N.C. boasted Reasons.] more agreeable to God's Word than yours, (we are ready to give you the
Proof, when we have
leave,) no reason.’
‘— Had we had
leave to have confuted the
silly Reasonings of Mr.
Fulwood, and some other such
Pamphleteers,
Pag. 30. produced against the N.C. we had long ago shew'd you Cause to repress such Self-esteem. —]’
‘[He knoweth,
Pag. 31. Pag. 32. that we must not give him our Reasons against Conformity. He cannot but know, that many that conform not in all the Matters of Subscriptions, Declarations, Oaths, Discipline,
&c. (not meddling with other Mens Consciences) do think
[Page 54] it would be in them
a Compositi
[...]n of such hainous Crimes as they forbear to name them for fear of seeming to be accusers of others, and to be unpeaceable. And if he think that
such Toyes as Mr Fulwood, Mr Stilemans, and Mr Hinkleys &c. should
satisfy them, he thinks
Contemptibly of their understandings; And he that upon
such poor Temptations as these, will yield to
what their Consciences fear, can scarse tell what he may yield to before he dyeth. Let him procure us
Leave but to publish our
Reasons against Conformity; and then let him tell us that we were better Conform when he hath
Answer'd them. It is easy to talk, when none must
Confute him, and to
brave it out against one
whose Tongue is tyed.]’ Again —
‘[The
Love of Peace,
Pag. 43. and the
fear of frighting any further from Parish-Communion than I desire, do oblige me to forbear so much as to
describe or
name the
additional Conformity, and that Sin which N. C. fear and flie from, which maketh it
harder for us that desire it, to draw many good People to Communion with Conformists than it was of
Old. But, when both
Law and
Love of Peace and Concord forbid us so much as to
name the causes, it is disingenuous for the
Culpable to take that advantage against us, and to force us to do that which they themselves cannot bear.]’
☞Good man! How scrupulous and carefull he is to
do nothing without Leave! Not to Print a Book without a Licence, or Imprimatur, from Authority! How he fears and trembles to be an
accuser of the Conformists, or
frighten others from their Communion, or
seem unpeaceable! How powerful is the sence of the
Law, and the love of Concord in him, so that he dare not
so much as name the Composition of those hainous Crimes which the N. C. Conscience dreads in the point of Conformity! — And yet,
notwithstanding this profession of Tenderness and Conscience, and civility in the case, we have them
over and over named and pointed to.
‘— [It is no less, (as we heard
before) than (1)
Horrid Sacriledge,
Pag. 25. (2)
Perfidious Covenant-breaking, (3)
Disobedience to God (4)
Cruelty to Souls, and (5)
Ʋnthankfulness for great Mercies, if any of us shall desert our undertaken offices.]’ And again,
elss where —
‘[What if a tolerated Presbyterian should read the Common Prayer in his Church;
Pag. 71. and use all your Ceremonies, though he fear
Perjury and Lying, and Violating his Baptismal Vow?]’ Have we not here
enough of that
Composition of Crimes which you N. C. fear? — But, if there be not, you suppose us in another place to
know well enough without your telling.
‘[We confess that we do not actually obey the Civil unquestionable Power in every particular about God's Worship,
Pag. 39. which hath been commanded us. I
need not tell you why.]’ — O but the
Additional Conformity! that you dread so much as to point at. What then is the meaning of ['
Doctrinal Corruptions] p. 15. and ['The
New Doctrine about Infants brought into the New Rubrick.] p 45. I appeal to the Masters of
Ingenuity ▪
[Page 55] whether this be not the
worst and
most emphatical way of
hinting and
exposing to the People, when you pretend a thing
so Enormous, that you fear the very
naming of it. — But then, what must we say of this,
after you have named it over and over? — after your Reasons publiquely given in your
Due Account, as you call it,
to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1661. — After the
Survey of the Grand Case of the present Ministry, 1663 — After many
Other unlicensed Pamphlets and Sermons? — This, Sir, is
Ʋnpardonable.
Yet we cannot blame your
Policy, who would be thought still to have somewhat
more to say for your selves than hath hitherto been offered. This we are sufficiently assured of, that
No man,
☜
heartily reconciled to the Antient Establishments of the Church of England since the Reformation, would boggle, as you do, at the present Conformity; there being
Nothing new required, but
what was wholly occasion'd by the insincerity of some in their former Conformities, and the villany of others in Covenanting against,
[ex malis moribus bonae leges.] Pref: to Cure of Ch. Divis.
and casting down the former Establishments. And let me freely tell
you Sir, (what you have, said
your self sometime to
other Separatists)
‘[Read but the writings
against the Separatists of
those times, and you may learn, that
our Light is not greater but less than theirs, and that we
see not farther into that cause than they did, and the
Change of times doth not change the Truth, nor will warrant us to
change our Religion.]’
‘— [He that saith our
Preaching is Evil,
Pag. 32. may tempt men to think that the Gospel, which we Preach, is Evil; or that Infidelity, Atheism, Sensuality and Wickedness which we preach against, is good or harmless.— If you turn to them that
Calumniate us of Preaching
Error or Sedition, the Law is open. Our
Writings and
Doctrine are easily tryed.
If we say Evil, bear Witness of the Evil.]’
Blame us not then for using, upon occasion,
this Liberty and Freedom,
☜ which you
invite us to, and stand in some
need of, whilst you remain so securely
Confident of your own Innocencies. — Too much Evil hath been
said and Printed — And some
Witness hath been
born of it too, in the
Rebels Plea, the
Evangelium Armatum, the
Bishop of Worcesters Letter &c. — And somewhat is
added farther for the satisfaction of
your desires here, in
these Reflections, which I have not yet done with.
‘[The Presbyterians distinguish between a Parish-Church that
imposeth nothing on the Ministers or people that God forbids, and one that
doth.
Pag. 34.— And between a Parish-Church that is
reformable in that which notoriously
needeth Reformation, and one that
Solemnly covenanteth against Reformation.]’ The
intimation here is, that our Parish-Churches
impose on the Ministers or People, what God forbids,
☜ and
do solemnly Covenant against Reformation even in
that which notoriously needeth it. — And this he often
glanceth at.
‘— [For my self, I have
long been of Opinion, which one day you will pardon, that
Perjury, Perfidiousness, and
Persecution,
Pag. 74.
Proud contending who
[Page 56] shall be greatest, and
Covenanting never in certain points to obey Christ against the World and the Flesh, is not the way of God.]’ And
again, speaking to some of the
Conformists,
Pag. 132. whom he calls
Godly and sober.
‘[Plain dealing is not the Sign of
Enmity but
Love. I must tell you, that
we cannot but think that you need Repentance, Great Repentance for Sinning more, and that by
Publique, Deliberate, chosen, Covenanted, ministerial Sin, Protesting against Repentance.]’ This is
plain enough, and the
Charge high and home. Covenanting, Solemnly Covenanting against Reformation; and that not for a
time only, but for
ever; nor in some
one thing but
several. ['Never in certain points to obey Christ against the World and Flesh, and this
Ministerially, Publiquely, Deliberately, upon Choice, and this besides
other horrid Sins of
Perjury, Perfideousness, Persecution, and
Proud contending who shall be greatest, adding
that unto all, which makes them most
unpardonable, ['Protesting against Repentance.] There had need be
good proof giv'n of this Accusation, whereof yet none is offered, or we must record the
Accuser for a
shameless Slanderer, and admonish him, in his
own words, to ['Repent of
such Calumnies, and not study to
aggravate his fault by Excuses.
Pag. 64. — And, after all this, we must still believe, that he
loves us and
spares us, and is extremly
loth to say what evil he knows by us,
Pag, 43. Pag. 76. Pag. 32. unwilling to
frighten others from our Parish-communions, and loth to
provoke us more then needs, or to
meddle with our Consciences. Is not here a
Compositian of hainous crimes, sufficient enough to scare men from our Communion? Is not here enough to
brand us for a sort of the most flagitiously wicked wretches under Heaven? For who can lay on
greater loads of aggravation? And
that Preaching, which can
reconcile such Immoralities as these, with the attributes of
Godly and Sober, dishonours Christianity, and
debauches the World.
‘[He, that is fallen under such
Drunken Readers, as I was bred under in my youth,
[of Drunken Readers] Pag. 44. that were Drunk many times
ofter then they Preached (I am ready to prove it, for they
never Preached, but were Drunk-oft) This poor man and his Family must
venture their Souls on this sottish Drunkards conduct, because it is a
True Church. What a trick hath the
Devil found, to bind men to constancie in his service, so it be done in a True Church?]’
Bating the
spitefulness of the Reflection, and
subtilty of the Demonstration, ['Many times
oftner Drunk than they Preached, for they
never Preached.] The Church of England, Sir hath
better provided for all her Children in the necessaries to Salvation, than to leave them
barely to the private Discretion or conduct of the Best, much less of
sottish Drunkards. And, if any
such there be, it were a greater
charity to the Publick to complain of them to those,
☞
unto whom it belongs to admonish, suspend and remove them, than
propagate idle stories as the manner is, from hand to hand, to the prejudice even of the innocent. But as there are
more ways of Preaching in a true sense, than that which is
[Page 57] vulgarly cried up for such; so there are more ways also of
being drunk, than those two common ones, by Wine and strong Drink,
Isa. 29.9. We could easily tell you of Men
drunk with
Passion, and
Self-conceit, and
Error, and a
Spirit of Giddiness. Mr.
B. can tell you at another time,
That certainly Pride is a greater Sin than Whoredom or Drunkenness, &c.
Gild. Salvian. p. 179. And Dr.
Pierce hath formerly recommended this useful Remark to your Consideration:
‘[Many are no Drunkards,
Ans. to Mr.
B. chap. 6. §. 13. p, 152. who are yet more
scandalous than if they were. The
Devil himself is no Drunkard, but he is
proud, and
envious, and
hypocritical, rebellious, sacrilegious, and many other ways worse than a common Drunkard: His frequenting the Church, and
transforming himself into an Angel of Light, appearing like a
Saint, and
putting on Godliness for a Disguise, doth make him much more
scandalous, (in the true importance of the word) than he could possibly be, if he could be drunk. And altho a Drunkard is so detestable a thing, as not to deserve a Toleration in the
meanest of the People, much less
Impunity or Connivance in any
Priest; yet I would not have him punished more for his
Judgment than his
Life, (as I can prove many have been:) because a
Drunkard may be
Orthodox, and a
dry Man may be an
Heretick; a Drunkard may be
loyal to God's Anointed, whilst one, who never was drunk, may be a
Rebel. Nor can I think it praise-worthy,
Ad Rempublicam perdendam, aut Ecclesiam, sobrium accedere.]’
‘— [Tho we differ not at all from the Doctrine of the Church of
England,
Pag. 45. [
Of the N. C. difference from the Doctrine of the Church of England.] till the
new Doctrine about Infants was brought into the
new Rubrick, yet it is not in
minutioribus, that we differ from the
Conformists: Gather from it what you can. God knoweth, we think, the Matters in difference,
very far from things indifferent.]’
‘— [We differ not at all from the Doctrine of the Church of
England.]’ What,
not at all from
Artic. XX, where it is declared,
That the Church hath Power to decree Rites and Ceremonies.
See the XXXIX Articles. Not at all from
Artic. XXXIII, where it is declared,
That that Person, who, by open Denunciation of the Church, is rightly cut off from the Ʋnity of the Church, and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the Faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he be openly reconciled by Penance, and received into the Church by a Judg that hath Authority thereto? Not at all from
Artic. XXXIV, where it is declared,
That whosoever, through his private Judgment, wittingly and purposely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common Authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as he that offendeth against the common Order of the Church, and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the Consciences
[Page 58] of weak Brethren?] Not at all from
Artic. XXXVI, where it is declared,
That the Book of Consecration of Arch-bishops and Bishops, and ordaining of Priests and Deacons, — doth contain all things necessary to such a Consecration and Ordaining; neither hath it any thing, which is of it self superstitious or ungodly?] And are not these, part of the
professed Doctrine of the Church of
England? But why chatechize I you thus far, when you have before profess'd your Ignorance, what is meant by the Church of
England? How then can you tell, what the
Doctrine of that Church is, and whether or no, or
in what you agree and differ with it?
‘— [Till the
new Doctrine about Infants was brought into the
new Rubrick.
☞]’ If you differ not at all from the
old Doctrine of the
old Rubrick, as you would seem to tell us, there needs no question about the
new; for let us view them well together.
The
Old Rubrick thus:
‘That no Man shall think, that any Detriment shall come to Children, by deferring of their Confirmation: he shall know for a Truth, that it is certain by God's Word, that Children, being baptized, have all things necessary for their Salvation, and be undoubtedly saved.’
The
New more shortly, thus:
‘It is certain by God's Word, that Children which are baptized, dying before they commit actual Sin, are undoubtedly saved.’
Where indeed the
Preface of the former is omitted, but nothing is taught for a Truth,
certain by God's
Word, but what was so acknowledged before: For the Omission of that one Clause, [
have all things necessary to their Salvation,] is sufficiently included in, [
are undoubtedly saved]: and the inserting that other, [
dying before they commit actual Sin] tends rather to
restrain, than to enlarge the Proposition, as the impartial Observer will easily judg.
And yet, forsooth, this
new Doctrine, as he slanders it, sticks much with them, who avouch themselves not to differ at all from the Doctrine of the Church of
England, till that
new Rubrick which contains it, was introduced. And here is the Sum of his
Doctrinal Corruptions, in the Plural Number,
Pag. 15. which we had mention of before. And he hath yet another
Fling at it before the end.
‘[I read in the
Rubrick, of something about Infants
certain by the Word of God;
Pag. 75. but I never read, in what Chapter or Verse it was.]’ Now must he not evidently affirm as much of the
Old, if he agree unto it, as he would be thought to do? Is it not
[Page 59] there as express,
He shall know for a Truth, that it is certain by the Word of God? Is not that
Fanatick Exception, every whit as pertinent and agreeable there? ['But I never heard in what Chapter or Verse it was] What need of this, I pray, to either? What Chapter or Verse? As if Scripture Sence and Consequences were not as truly the Word of God, as Scripture-Words, and express Assertions? That which is there
dianoeticè, as well as that which is there
axiomaticè, as some love to speak. Or as if Holy Scripture were not, before Chapter and Verse were determined in it. — But this is the doughty way of arguing, which the
Presbyterians have furnished the other Sects withal against themselves:
What Chapter and Verse saith so and so? And this great Rebuker of other Sectaries, seems mightily taken himself with it.
Pag. 75.
‘[What Chapter and Verse saith, that only
Subscribers, Swearers, Declarers, and
Conformers, are the Church of Christ; and those that
fear an Oath and Conformity, are none of it?]’ This, one would think, were matter enough for
many Verses.
['Yet it is not in
minutioribus, that we differ from the
Conformists.
Pag. 45.] So it appears.
‘[God knoweth, we think the Matters in difference
very far from things indifferent: Gather from it what you can.
☜]’ We must gather from it then, That they are not
minute or small Matters, upon which you are rejected; and that the Church and you are not like to agree, until either she renounce her Doctrine, or you alter your Judgment about it. — We can therefore the more easily believe you, when you say:
‘—[We have almost twelve years ago cried out,
Pag. 65. [
Mr. B
's confess'd Ʋnmannerliness to the Bishops.] even to
Ʋnmannerliness, that, if possibly, we might have been heard, to the Reverend Prelates. — O drive not godly People from your Communion for nothing!]’
Ʋnmannerliness with a Witness! But can any thing be of
less weight than
nothing? Elsewhere you have it:
Pag. 72.
‘[Do you excommunicate, and drive from your several Parishes, the Members of Christ, for not eating with your Spoon?]’ And can there be any thing almost more
minute or indifferent than that? But elsewhere you are still more
irreverent, and in your own word,
unmannerly, (malè morati):
Pag. 60.
‘[Do you silence us, and depose us from the Ministry, and forbid Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, to all that have not as
wide a Swallow as your selves?]’ And yet all this while you meddle not with our Consciences. It were obvious to retort, that their
Swallow was wide enough, who could let down the
Covenant, Bishops and
their Lands together: and may claim Kindred with those on Record, for
straining at Gnats, and swallowing Camels.
[Page 60]
‘
Pag. 55. [
Some Taste what the N.C. would be at upon Toleration] Pag 124.Why may not we in the allowed Places exercise our Ministry, in
baptizing the Children of any of your Flocks that shall desire it, or
giving them the Sacrament? I yet understand not, unless for avoiding your Envy and Displeasure.]’ Again,
‘[What harm will it do you, if a N. C.
preach by you? if
many follow him, if some
prefer him before you? Yea, further, Brethren, what if the Nonconformable Ministers do
give the Sacrament to some, as you do to others? What if they call themselves a
Church, or
exercise Discipline, (which without
need I would not have them do) what harm will this be to you or others?]’
☞Were they once permitted, we may perceive how they would be still
hitching forward, and encroaching
step by step. For I note these Passages only as a Specimen of
those Liberties, which they design to take from their
Toleration. And yet we must believe him:
‘[We never desired to
play the Bishops in other Mens Diocesses.
Pag. 55.]’ What! not in the Bishop of
Worcester's? not in the Bishop of
London's?
&c — But to the Questions, briefly:
Why may we not do so and so? Or,
What harm will it do to you or others? We may answer, as the
Presbyterians themselves sometimes did their
Independent Brethren:
Letter against Tolerat. p. 4, 5.
‘[The whole Church of
England in short time will be swallowed up with
Distraction and
Confusion: — And the Mischiefs in the Church, will have their
proportionable Influence upon the Common-Wealth. — The Kingdom will be wofully
weakned by
Scandals and
Divisions. — And it is much to be doubted, lest the Power of the Magistracy be even utterly overthrown, considering the Principles and Practices of some, together with their Compliance with other
Sectaries, sufficiently known to be
Anti-magistratical.]’
‘
[...]ag. 56.
Baxter hath told you, that Bishop
Ʋsher professed his Judgment to him, that even Bishops in Council, tho they are the Governors of the Flocks,
Of Ecclesiast.
[...]nods.] yet meet not for Government of one another by Vote, or of other Bishops, but for
Concord. And
Grotius, de Imper. sum. Pot. hath shewed you, that
Canons are not Laws, but Agreements.]’ Add to this:
‘[Be sure to keep out both the
Tyranny of Major Votes, and of the
proud, magisterial Self-arrogations of any Individuals,
Pag. 113. that think
others must stoop to them. — Voting is not for
Government, but for
Concord.]’
Whatever Arch-Bishop
Ʋsher profess'd to Mr.
Baxter, or Mr.
Baxter hath here told us from himself, he hath spoken somewhat
further and better in another place:
[...]e Disput. 12, 13.
‘[The Use of Synods or Councils is, saith he,
directly, (1.) For
Information and
Edification of the Pastors themselves, by the
Collations of their Reasons and mutual Advice: (2) For the
Ʋnion and Communion of the said Pastors, and of the
particular Churches by them, that they may agree in one. — But then, these direct Ends
[Page 61] of Synods presupposed,
indirectly they may truly be said to be for
Government. — For
Ʋnity sake it becomes
our Duty to submit to their
just A
[...]reements;
☜ and so the forming of such Agreements or Canons is consequently a part of Government. —
Synods, as
Synods, are
directly for
Ʋnity and
Concord, — by consequence, after a sort,
regimental.]’ And for
Grotius, whom he refers to, he hath sufficiently told us, that it was none of his meaning to
destroy or take away the directive, declarative, suasory, and constitutive Regiment of the Church in Councils,
De Imper. Sum Pot. ch. 4. §. 10. which he plainly asserts; but only that
Imperium, which is proper and peculiar to the
higher Powers, and to be derived from their Authority. To this purpose he instanceth: (1.) In the
Observation of the Lord's Day; and, (2.) In the
Choice of Deacons.
‘[In both, saith he, we see something
defined, and
constituted or appointed, by
common Consent, which none could oppose without
heavy Guilt: For somewhat certainly ought to be
determined, and nothing could be
so, one or other, it may be, disagreeing, unless either the
lesser Part should yeild unto the
greater, or the
greater to the
less; which latter, seeing it is
manifestly unjust, it follows, that the
former was necessary. This Right therefore of
Constituting and Determining, is natural to the
Church.]’ Thus that learned Man. But we have no such word from him, as the
Tyranny of Major Votes,
Pag. 113. which once believed, we shall presently conclude the
most August of all Assemblies,
Tyrannical. — Nor can there be any way possible to keep out the
Magisterial Self-Arrogations of Particulars, where many are concerned, if the
Majority of Votes must not carry it. As for what he annexeth:
‘[When it is once thought, that the
Major Vote must carry it, an
Ithacian Synod will tyrannize, and every weak
self-conceited Man, that hath nothing of Sence to say against you, will charge the learned, judicious, grave
Divines with Insolency, if they will not be governed by Ten, that are unlearned, or injudicious Self-esteemers.]’ He might have learned from Grotius,
Chap. 8. §. 2.
That no ones Right is to be denied for the possibility or danger of his abusing it: For otherwise no Right at all will be certain unto any. And our only Solace in this Case is in the Divine Providence.
‘—We that have conferred with
all the People of our Parishes,
Pag. 57, 58. [
The N C. vying with their Successors.] when we were permitted, found the Multitudes were almost as ignorant as Heathens: And yet our
excellent Successors, that do no such thing, (as to any two of them that ever I knew or heard of) but see their Faces in the Church, (
Ingenuous!) can prove all our Teaching needless, to those poor ignorant Souls.’ Is this
Humility, and
Ministerial Fidelity?] Ye are they that applaud and justify your selves, and sound the Trumpet loud in your own commendation. We should be glad enough of your Help, could we be secured of your Integrity and Honesty. But till then
[Page 62] we must say, with him in
Valerius Maximus, Non opus esse eo Cive Reipub. qui parere nesciret.
Lib. 6. c. 3 §. 4. The Church of Christ needeth not
Paterns of Disobedience, which, by how much their
Place and
Office, Parts and
Abilities, Devotion and
Holiness, are reputed greater than others, by so much the more effectually insinuate and recommend Disorder and Confusion to the People.
S
[...] b. Serm. 43. — Or, as
Chilo, one of the seven
wise Men: Optimam esse Rempub. quae maximè Leges, minimè autem Rhetores audiat. — As for your admired Teachers, they are known to love and frequent those Places most, which themselves cannot but judg to have
least need of their Instruction. And you may please to take notice, how justly
you your self have charged them home with Hypocrisy in this matter.
Pag. 93, 94.
‘— [Bestow the greater half of your Labour in
private, in skilful exhorting People
from House to House. If you did not so before you were silenced, repent betimes: if you did, you have
found the Benefit of it, (more ways, 'tis like, than one.) This is that which
few Nonconformists do; and in this you may best live as their
true Assistants, (and sometimes
Ʋnderminers too). Brethren, let me ask you, as before God, why hath no more of this been done, while you were silenced?
☞ Is it not
too much Hypocrisy, to cry out against them that forbid us
Preaching, which is
one half of our Duty, and in the mean time, wilfully to neglect that Part which
none forbid us? This
Way the Papists have done their Work.]’ Mark that Argument!
‘[And it is very considerable, that
most that come to your
Chappel-Meetings, are such as you take for the
least needy, as being
already turned unto God; but from house to house, you may speak with the more ignorant. — And
Sincerity enclineth Men to that Way of Duty, which hath least Ostentation.]’ But that is not the
common Way of the Presbyterians.
‘
Pag. 61. [
How far Lond.
Minist. formerly against Tolerat. Pag. 67.Look up, Man, without
Blushing, and tell the World, whether ever the
Presbyterians maintained it a Sin to
tolerate Presbyterians. — It is strange that any Party, who think themselves
only or
chiefly fit for
Legal Possession, should yet think
themselves intolerable.]’ I no where find the
Presbyterians apt to think meanly of
themselves; nor doth the Author you thus challenge, as far as I discern, intimate any such thing: but wholly reflects upon their present
Conjunction and
Ʋnion with such,
☞ whom themselves have sometimes reported
intolerable. Consult a while the
Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ,
Testim. to the Truth of Jesus Christ, and Sol. League, 1647.
and Solemn League and Covenant, subscribed by the London-
Ministers; and there you will find, among the
abominable Errors, damnable Heresies, and
horrid Blasphemies, not to be
tolerated.
More particularly, we abominate
these infamous and pernicious Errors, of late published:
☞
[Page 63]That
no Man shall ever perish in Hell for
Adam's Sin.
Pag. 8.
That Christ was given to undergo a shameful Death, voluntarily, on the Cross, to satisfy for the Sin of
Adam,
☜
Pag. 9. and for the Sins of
All Mankind.
That, as the Death of Christ was
extended to All; so likewise the
Benefits thereof were, both by the Father and the Son,
intended for All.
Ibid.
That, if God command the Gospel to be preached unto
all,
Pag. 10. and Christ died only for
some; then God commands a Lie to be preached to the
most Part of Men.
That if God should deprive Men of all
Ability and Power to repent and believe, and then should be still moving and persuading,
Pag. 11. still entreating and beseeching them to
(repent and) believe, with that
Patheticalness of Affection, wherein he expresseth himself in
Scripture,
☜ even to
them that perish, as well as to those that are saved; this would seem
very hard, yea, somewhat
harder than
Injustice it self: But this is not so.
[How could our
Answerer have escaped here with his,
O for Modesty! Tye Mens feet, and reproach them for not going? pag. 54.]
That neither
Paul nor
James exclude or separate
faithful Actions,
☜ or
Acts of Faith, from
Faith, or the
Condition of our Justification,
Pag. 15. &c.
That an
enforced Ʋniformity of Religion, throughout a
Nation or Civil State, confounds the
Civil and
Religious,
☜
Pag. 22. denies the
Principles of Christianity and
Civility, and that
Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh.
That little can be done, unless
Liberty of Conscience be allowed, for every Man, and Sort of Men, to
worship God in that Way,
☜
Ibid. and perform
Christ's Ordinances in that Manner, as shall appear to them
most agreeable to God
[...]s Word, and no Man
punished or
discountenanced by Authority for the same
These (say they) are
some of those many horrid and prodigious Opinions, which do in these unhappy Days swarm amongst us which,
Pag. 23. not without
Grief and Horror of Spirit, we here recite, that by this small Taste of their Wormwood and Gall, all the World may the better judg of the deadly Bitterness of the rest, and the more freely justify the
Fervour of our Indignation against them all. — Hoping, that as God hath stirred up the
Lords and
Commons in Parliament, to publish their Ordinance concerning the Growth and Spreading of
Errors, Heresies, and
Blasphemies; settin
[...] apart a
Day of Publick Humiliation, to seek God's Assistance for the suppressing and preventing of the same: so in his rich Mercy to
England, he will at length find out some
effectual Means, by Authority of Parliament,
Pag. 24.
☜ for the
utter Abolition and
Extirpation of them all out of this distressed Chur
[...]h. — Furthermore, we are abundantly convinced, that the
Presbyterian Government,
Ibid. (truly so called) by Presbyteries and Synods,
☜ in a due Line of Subordination of the Lesser
[Page 64] to the Greater, with prosperous Success exercised in the
best Reformed Churches, is
that Government, which is
most agreeable to the Mind of Jesus Christ revealed in the Scripture, concerning which the
Reverend Assembly of Divines have long since drawn up and presented to both Honourable Houses of Parliament their humble Advice; which we conclude so agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, that we can readily submit thereunto our selves, and shall think the Church of
England not a little blessed of God, when,
Pag. 25. by the countenance of
Supreme Authority, the
Presbyterial Government and
Discipline shall be
sincerely embraced, and duly
exercised, in all the Parts of this Kingdom. — And then, we with our Brethren, are confident, this Government will make the Churches of Christ among us,
☞
terrible as an Army with Banners, and like a strong and fenced City, against which the Adversaries shall despair to prevail, but by making a Breach in this Wall. — Wherefore we sadly lament
England's
general Backwardness to
embrace, yea,
Forwardness to
oppose this Government, and therein her own Mercy, whilst so many of all sorts set themselves
against the Lord,
Pag. 31.
and his Christ. — It is clearly evident to us, that
Schisms, Divisions, Heresies, and all
prophane Loosness, are
manifest Works of the Flesh, so sinful and damnable in their Nature, that they which do such things, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God: And that the Children of Light should be so far from having any fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness, as that they ought to reprove them,
☞ to
avoid such as practise them, to abstain from
all appearance of Evil, and to hate the
very Garment spotted with the Flesh. — That the Civil Magistrates have sufficient Warrant from the Holy Scriptures, not only to punish
Seditions, Treasons, Murthers, Adulteries, and other
Offences against Righteousness and Sobriety in the
second Table; but also to inflict
Punishment upon Offenders, for professed
Atheism, false Doctrines, Idolatries, Blasphemies, Sabbath-Profanations, and other Transgressions against true Piety and Religion in the
first Table of the Decalogue. — That a
publick and general Toleration will prove an hideous and complexive Evil,
Pag. 32. of most
dangerous and
mischievous Consequence, if ever (which God forbid,) it shall be consented to by Authority. — All the Reformed Churches shall be ashamed to own us; they shall all cry out against us,
Pag. 33. Is this
England, that covenanted and swore to the most High God, such a Reformation, and Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Prophaneness, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine, and the Power of Godliness? And after so long Travel, hath she now brought forth an
hideous Monster of
Toleration, — a
detestable Toleration?
Therefore, upon all these Considerations, we the Ministers of Jesus Christ do hereby testify to all our
Flocks, to all the
Kingdom, and to all
[Page 65]
the Reformed Churches, as our great
dislike of Prelacy, Erastianism, Brownism and Independency: so our utter
Abhorrencie of Antiscripturism, Popery, Arianism, Socinianism, Arminianism, Antinomianism, Anabaptism, Libertinism, and Familism, with
all such like, now too rife among us; And that we
Detest the fore-mentioned Toleration so much pursued and endeavour'd in This Kingdom,
accounting it unlawful and pernicious. — This was
subscribed Decemb. 14. 1647,
by no less than 52
Ministers, and among them
some of Those, whom Mr. B. undertakes to prove true Pastors.
These now he may call, if he pleases,
old speeches, but
such they are, as
convince the Presbyterians of a great change at this Day from their first and avowed Principles. What shall we think now of
his,
☜
‘I have met with
Few Presbyterian Ministers in England?] whither are they fled?
Sacril: Des. Pag. 5. or
what are they transform'd into? — What of
That? I see not,
what great hurt it would do, for
Anabaptists, Separatists &c. That cannot join with the Parish Churches, to have
leave to meet among themselves,
Pag. 23. and worship God together in peace.?]’ — What of the
blending Episcopal, Presbyterian,
Pag 29.
Independent and Erastian together?
But the
Truth is,
☜
This Answerer is not a competent Advocate for the Presbyterians, being manifestly a
Deserter of them and their Principles.
‘If Scots, saith he, or
any Presbyterians do otherwise, that is
nothing to me, who am no more bound to
their opinion than
yours.
Pag. 41.]’ He differs from many (of
them, as well as us) 'In
several Doctrines of moment,
Ep. Ded: to Sts. Rest. as
himself hath told the World. — He is for a
Church in the Idea and Notion, like to
Plato's famed Common-wealth; and can hardly subscribe to any form of
Ecclesiastical polity, which obtains actually in Christendom. — In a word. He is (as
Dr. Abraham Clifford
[To whose
Methodus Evangelica, printed
after his Death. 1676, Mr B. with Dr. M. prefixed a Preface.] Sacril. Def;: Pag. 74.
sometimes said in Discourse of him, being press'd with
his judgment)
Suae potestatis Litera. So that
others deal by him, just as he by them, accounting
themselves no more bound to
his opinion than
he to
theirs. And yet none so ready to speak
in the Name of N. C. as he.
‘When you say that a Toleration may reduce the common sort to an
indifferency in Religion. I Answer, get
your friends together then, that
have brought it to that pass, that
it must be thus or worse, and bring them to weep over
their Sins before God, that if a miserable Nation may not be saved from the
Fire that
you have kindled,
your Souls yet,
if possible, may be saved▪]’ That clause,
'it must be so or worse.] Sounds like a
threatning, and takes so much from the
Grace and Clemencie of the Rings Toleration, as it adds to the
necessity of it, with reflection upon which, it may be,
☜ he before phrased it so
warily. 'When his Majesty's
Prudence and Clemencie giveth us liberty to Preach.
Pag. 25.] — But I observe here the
Necessity of a Toleration, or somewhat worse, is charg'd
wholly upon the Establishments; and
those Establishments are made the
Sins of the Conforming party, who, he saith,
[Page 66] have
kindled the Fire in this miserable Nation; and the
possibility of whose salvation is to be questioned. — O
the meek and humble Mr. Baxter!
‘
[Who the Chief causes of our Divitions.] Pag. 82.It is our
Divisions, that will
let in Popery: No doubt of it, if it ever be done. Come and speedily debate the case with us;
who have been the great causes of Protestants division, Conformists or Non-Conformists?’ But I am asham'd to say that it
needeth a debate.] That is, 'Tis
as clear as the Sun shines,
☞ that
the Conformists, and not the N. C. have been the great causes of Protestants Divisions: Those who obediently
kept Close to the Laws of Order and Ʋniformity, and
not they who first opposed those Laws, and
then divided from their Brethren, and among themselves. He would say
as much, 'tis like, were he to determin the
Case of our
Civil Wars, on whose side the Rebellion and Injustice lay. The
Cavaliers and Conformists must bear the blame of all.—And yet it is worth our while to
note, how he
else-where seems to contradict himself, or afford at least
ground enough to evince, that he
needed not to have blush'd for saying, 'that it
needeth a debate.
‘
Pag. 113. and 114.[Nothing, saith he, hath
more plagued the Church than the
Pride and arrogancy of some of the Pastors, that think they are
wrong'd, if they may not
rule. Think not that this Spirit is only in
Papists or Diocesans. Pride is the heart of the
Old man, and
born in all; and doleful
experience telleth, how it
surviveth in too many Anti-prelatical Ministers, of
humbling Principles, and unhumbled Souls.
☞ Do we not
know, that the Pride of
some among our selves (N.C.
sure enough) that must
be all, and do all, till they have
undone all, is the
very thing that hath silenced so many Ministers, and brought us to the state that we are
now in?]’ Magna est veritas, et praevalebit. — They are
Non-Conformists again,
Pag. 97. of whom he saith in
another place.
‘[The Ministers that have
bred and cherished these Principles.
☞’ (viz: the
unlawfulness of prescribed Forms of Prayer, of
Repetitions, of
Responses, of
standing up at the Creed and
all the Hymns of Praise &c.)
'Have been our subverters and are our shame.] To
Them again he speaks yet farther after
This fashion.
Pag. 105.
‘— [Wo to
those few Teachers, that make up their designs by
cherishing these Distempers! One would think, that
their warning had been fair. But —
si nati sint ad bis perdendum Angliam — The Lord have mercy on us!
☞]’ 'Tis
easie Latin. Yet I will
English it here for the
People's sake. ['If they are born to destroy England twice.] And then the supposition is plain, that they have destroy'd it
once allready.
‘
[The Conformable N.C. or Mr B's Character of himself] Pag. 100.[I
prescribe to no man, and Toleration so far taketh off publique impositions, as that
none can now say, this Form is imposed on me, and therefore unlawful. But though I will
not bind my self [pray,
have a care of that] I here tell the World, that if my strength, and Toleration, and a call should ever more give me opportunity for the freer exercise of mine Office,
☞ I would
sometimes pray freely without Forms, and sometimes use
[Page 67]
some part of the Common Liturgie, and sometimes use
the Reformed Liturgie which in 1660
was agreed on by the commissioned Non Confirmists, [who yet had
no Commission to make a new Liturgie]’ though being
done in extreme haste, it should be
renewed and perfected, [a Liturgie and no Liturgie,
☜ Reform'd and needing Reformation]
‘I would
ordinarily pronounce the
Creed, as the
Faith which the Church assembleth in the Profession of; And ordinarily recite the
Lords Prayer and Decalogue, and read
two Chapters and the Psalms: And they, that would not joyn in
This way of Worship, should freely go chuse them a Teacher more agreeable to their opinions: for I would
not serve the humours of any in their dividing Errors.]’ 'Tis enough for him, that he hath his
own. Let every one else do what is good in their
own Eyes also. — Here we have at large the Lively Portraiture of the
most conformable Non-Conformist drawn by himself, as to
his Worshipping postures; The View of whom (notwithstanding the powerful bias of his
phantastic and affected singularity) may satisfie
our people, how well they are provided already in the substantials of their publique Devotion.
We have seen the
Man. Now see his
address by way of
Humble Petition, as he calls it, to the
Conformist.
‘[
Fathers and Brethren,
[His humble petition to the Conformists.] though I presume to Counsel the N. C. as my
Equals, I will will presume no higher with you, than to
lay my self at your feet, and
humbly a second time to become your Petitioner, for the
Souls of men, for the
Gospel, the
Church, and the
Interest of Christ.]’
‘[And a man might
hope, that one that should become a
Petitioner to you,
Pag. 118. that
your selves would not destroy that Church, might find acceptance and prevail.]’ Truly, to deny
so just and reasonable a Petition, as this is, That the
Fathers of the Church would not
themselves destroy the Church; and that
to a man humbly prostrating himself at their Feet, and earnestly
begging of it at their hands for
God
[...]s sake, for the
Gospel's sake, in
meer Compassion to the Souls of men, and for the
pure interest of Christ, without any
self ends at all in it,
must needs reflect upon them as persons, of whom the worst that can be imagined is too good to be spoken; And indeed for
such as they are to give an occasion for such an importunate address, presupposeth them none of the best Christians or Ministers. —
‘[But Satan hath got so great advantage, that the
Wisest man living is uncapable of speaking rightly to you without offence.]’ This methinks,
ibid. is but a
course Complement on the heels of the other, and
suits odly with the demure pretences of so profound a Reverence and Humility. For it sounds
Thus.
☜ [
The Devil is so great with you, that the Wisest man on Earth (Mr
Baxter himself) can not speak to you without offence.] For of
himself it is, that he speaks it
a little afterwards.
‘[To these Reverend persons
I have formerly spoken to their great offence. p. 119.]’
[Page 68]
‘
ibid.[He, that can draw men into great disgraceful Sins, hath thereby raised a
Bulwark to defend his work.’ To be silent and comply is to be Cruel to the Sinner and himself. And who can do it that believeth Death and Judgment? To call men to
Repentance is utterly to loose them, by implying that they have
sinned. O little did I once think that Repentance had been so hard a work &c.]
Quae dicis aliis, dic Tibi, ipse ut audias.
'It is not in my thoughs to
Confound all Conformists.] No, no, you have told us
before,
Pag. 119. 'The
Presbyterians do not love Confusion.] p. 33.
'I know there are
many sorts of you.]
‘
ibid.I. There are some
Learned zealous High Conformists, who think they have done
good service to God &c.]’ If they are
Learned and
zealous together, having a
zeal according unto knowledge, certainly they are the
most honest and considerable sort you can name.
‘— But
these it seems, you altogether
despair of, and think good to
pass them by, as having
formerly spoken to their great offence.]’ And well may they be
offended at any who should perswade them to
destroy the Church of England, that they might
not destroy the Church of Christ. You
your self would be offended too,
another time,
Ep▪ ded: to Sts Rest. at those, who would
Cure and Reform the Church by cutting of her Throat.
‘II. I would there were no Minister so
pitifully dark, young and raw, and so much out of
love and rellish with things spiritual,
Pag. 119. through the prevalencie of a
stronger appetite, as that their
incapacity convinceth me, that I am not to expect much regard from them, as knowing with
what Ears they hear.]’ The
first sort were
offended. This
second sort is
uncapable, by their injudiciousness and carnality, of these spiritual things which are to be propounded. Venter non habet aures.
‘
ibid.III. There are also some, call'd
Latitudinarians, who love not
Fopperies or
Violence, but are
men of reason and sober conversation.]’ Well, the
first Learned and Zealous, but not, it seems,
men of Reason and Sobriety. The
Second neither Learned nor Spiritualized enough. What hinders but
this Third sort should be for the
turn? especially being of so
moderate a Temper, like your self, neither for
Fopperies nor
Violence. Why, there is yet
Conscience wanting in them.
‘— Though they are not so
tender and scrupulous as the N. C. but can
break over greater rubs.]’ That is, They are men of
too wide a swallow,
Pag. 120. as you somewhere phrase it. —
Where then will you resolve to fix?
IV. 'There are other
Godly, Sober, unwilling Conformists, who, by the Benefit of subscribing in their own sense, have
stretch'd themselves to do what they have done:
ibid. who conform on the Terms of
Mr. Sprint, submitting
[Page 69] to what would else be
Evil, only to
obtain the liberty of Preaching (far be it from me to put in any selfish ends) who are
unwilling Conformists, as the
Westminster Assembly were that after took down Prelacy.
These, These are the hopeful men. The other are
too learned and zealous,
☜ or
too ignorant and carnal, or
too reasonable and generous, And
all of them
too resolved and hearty in their Conformity to be wrought upon. But these are
Godly and Sober, and, which is the
principal, unwilling Conformists, whose Conformity is their burthen, who have
stretcht themselves to do what they have done, men
formed in the very same mould as the Westminster Assembly was that after took down Prelacy: And therefore it may well be hoped, that
these will in time
lend their helping hand to a second Lift, and
take down Prelacy again.
'To all of them, that
yet have ears to hear,
ibid. I humbly present
These following Requests.] That is, To
all, who are
not yet past Grace and hardned, but especially to
you, our
Dearest Brethren of all the Conformists, the
Godly, Sober, unwilling ones, that
offer violence to your own minds, and
Conform against Conscience, that
subscribe, say and
swear with a mental Reservation, in your own and not in the Churches sense, that for the sake of
Preaching do that, which
otherwise you look upon
as Evil and Abominable, the
Genuine Off-spring of the Westminster Assembly, that notwithstanding all their
former Subscriptions, Oaths and Declarations, when
opportunity serv'd,
gave themselves a Dispensation, and
took down Prelacy.
‘We take not
you, whom I
now write to, to be
consenting to this work,
Pag. 134. (of silencing the N. C.) though your
Silence and Non-resistance hath bred
such thoughts of you in People, as we would fain have you cure by the
contrary means.]’ That is, by
speaking out now in our behalf, and
Resisting Authority; for these are the
contray to
Silence and
Non-resistance.
'If we had expected,
Pag. 135. that
heretofore you had
petitioned our Rulers for the Liberty of our Ministry, it had been no unreasonable expectation. — 'If you had but humbly acquainted our Rulers. — That
your judgment was, that
our Ministry was more necessary than our personal Conformity; (1) You know not but you might have been heard.
Pag. 136.
Civil Governours are never so Cruel in matters of Religion as the Ruling and exasperating Clergy are.
This the Abstract of Prynn's Antipathie of English Lordly Prelacie &c. 1641. (2) Or, at least, you might have had the greater
peace of conscience in
all the Confusions that have follow
[...]d, and said, It is
not long of us. And (3) you would have acquitted your selves in the judgement of
all your hearers [who are presumed to be of the
same leaven] and they would have been the
less prejudic'd against your Ministry.] — But
what should they have moved for? That is the
next point to be observed.
'Had you petitioned, and prevailed, for
These Two things, you had healed
all our Breaches.
[Page 70]
‘
Qui dabat olim Imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
Continet at
(que) duas tantùm res anxius optat.
Juven. sat. 10.
First; That the Door of Entrance might not have been barr'd by any other
Subscriptions, Professions, or
Oaths, than what were used in the Churches of Christ, till the Exaltation of the
Papacy, (for 600 years) besides the Oaths of
Allegiance and
Supremacy, (which are a
Noli me tangere,) and the
Subscribing of the Doctrine of the Church of England, in the
XXXIX Articles, according to the Thirteenth of Queen Elizabeth.]’ Which makes a plausible Sound.
‘
Secondly; That those (so subscribing) who dare not use the Liturgy and Ceremonies, might have leave to preach in the Churches which use them,
pag. 137. under Laws, which shall restrain them from all unpeaceable Opposition to what they dare not use, or to the Government of the Church.]’ Mark it! These should have been the
Heads of your Petition for us. — Well, but is this all? No, you should have remembred the
good People somewhat too.
‘
Ibid.— Only let not the People who
scruple Conformity, be therefore denied Church-Communion and Sacraments.’
Let us now a little view the Particulars. And first, for the
Ministers.
‘That the Door of Entrance be not barr'd by any other Subscriptions, Professions, or Oaths, than what were used in the Churches of Christ, for 600 Years, or till the Exaltation of the Papacy.]’ We will not now dispute about
that Calculation. — But this taken by it self, might possibly exclude the Oaths of
Allegiance and
Supremacy; and
Subscribing the Doctrine of the XXXIX Articles too; for before the
Exaltation of the Papacy, there was no occasion of
disclaiming it, or
declaring against it, as there we do in sundry of those Articles. Here therefore comes in the Exceptions. — 'Besides the Oaths of
Allegiance and
Supremacy:] Understand it,
So far as they can stretch themselves to take them in their own Sence.
‘— And the
Subscribing of the Doctrine of the Church of England, in the
XXXIX Articles, according to the Thirteenth of Queen
Elizabeth.]’ The
former gives the colour of
Good Subjects; this latter of
good Church of England Men. — But observe it carefully; 'Tis not all the 39
Articles, which yet are the Doctrine of the Church of
England; they are but for
some of them only, called by them the
Doctrine of the Church of England, as distinguished wholly from all Matters of Discipline or Government, as they sometimes explain themselves. And therefore they add that other Phrase, ['According to the Thirteenth of Queen
Elizabeth,] to unriddle their meaning to some, and at the same time conceal it from the Vulgar.
Anno 13
Eliz. ch. 12.Let as consider briefly the Words of that Statute, —
Declare his Assent, and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion, which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments, comprized in a Book imprinted, entituled, Articles:
Whereupon it was agreed, by the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of both Provinces, &c. Now this, it seems, they construe
[Page 71]
thus, or to this effect:
Only to those of all the Articles, which concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments. But the Words of the Statute run
gramatically thus:
To all the Articles of Religion, which only concern, (viz. all which Articles of Religion only concern)
the Confession of the true Christian Faith, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments.] And that this was the Intendment of the Law, appears from what follows there: That the Person thus assenting and subscribing,
shall bring from the Bishop, or Guardian of Spiritualties, in Writing, under his Seal Authentic, a Testimonial of such Assent and Subscription, — and openly on some Sunday, read both the said Testimonial, and the said Articles. That is certainly, all the 39
Articles, the
Book of Articles; and what he is to read openly, he is supposed to have first assented and subscribed to. And again, in the same Statute, there follows a Penalty for maintaining or affirming any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles. — But if we explain it by
currant Practice, there can be no manner of doubt left about it. —
We have seen briefly,
what they could swear and subscribe to; let us mind next, what they most
stick at. And one would guess, by those words, [
till the Exultation of the Papacy,] they should stick at
nothing but what had some
known tendency thereunto. But the matter is otherwise, the Door of Entrance is not to be barr'd by any other
Subscriptions, Professions, or
Oaths, besides these by Name here excepted. By a Review then of what else is enjoined by Law, we must conclude,
what they cannot yeild unto.
First, then, They cannot
declare their
unfeigned Assent and Consent to the
Liturgy and Ceremonies, with the Form or Manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of
Bishops, Priests, and
Deacons.
2
dly; They cannot
declare, that it is not
lawful, upon any pretence whatsoever, to
take up Arms against the King; and that they do abhor that
traiterous Position, of taking Arms by his
Authority, against his
Person, or against those that are commissionated by him.
3
dly; They cannot declare, that they do hold there lies no Obligation upon them, nor any other Person, from the Oath commonly called, the
Solemn League and Covenant, to endeavour any Change or Alteration of Government, either in Church or State; and that the same was in it self an
unlawful Oath, and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm, against the
known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom.
4
thly; They cannot take the Oath of
true and Canonical Obedience to the Bishop, in all things
lawful and
honest; and so in like manner, that against
Simony, and that for
Residence on Vicarages without a Dispensation: For neither of these are in their Exception.
[Page 72]All these Bars therefore to the Door of their Entrance must be removed: And it concerns Authority to consider well, what Judgment they proclaim themselves of, both as to Church and State; and what
Propositions they yet
E. gr. No Bishops no common Liturgy or Ceremonies. It is lawful on some pretence to take up Arms against the King, and by his Authority to war against his Person, and those commissioned by him — The solemn Leag. and Coven. still obligeth to endeavour the alteration of the Government,
&c
[...]e.
The Foun
[...]ation-Princi
[...]les of the good
[...]d Cause of
[...]ction and Rebellion. maintain, who profess they
cannot do these things; and what their
Practice upon them in time is like to be, that is, (
ubi adsunt vires) when ever they are able. Which is more certainly to be gathered from the Observation of what it hath been in
Times already past, than such bare Words as are given for the
present. To whom therefore that of
Salvian is but too applicable:
Parum est, quod nudis assertionibus dicitis; ipsi actibus vestris contra vos testes estis.
‘But then an Admission upon this their own limited Subscription will not serve, unless
those who dare not use the Liturgy and Ceremonies, may have leave to preach in the Churches which use them:’ A proper Expedient, by degrees to worm out the Use of both. Nor is the
Salvo added,
‘[Under Laws, which shall restrain them from all unpeaceable Opposition to what they dare not use, or to the Government of the Church,]’
extensive enough to prevent the Mischief: For we must needs conclude, that those who dare not use the Liturgy and Ceremonies, dislike the Government, and believe these things highly sinful: For so we are told,
‘[It is
Sin, and no
small or
tolerable Sin, which their Consciences fear.]’ And what they so believe, they will certainly upon all opportunities,
directly or
indirectly, bear witness, and caution against, and labour to withdraw others from. How indeed shall they be faithful in their Office upon their own Principles, if they should do otherwise? [To 'be
silent, and comply, is to be
cruel to the Sinner and h
[...]mself. And who can do it, that believeth
Death and
Judgment?] So we had it even now.
‘— [How guilty are those Ministers of the Blood of
[...]ouls, that will not tell Men of their Sin and Danger?]’ So elsewhere. Next for the people.
‘It is to be desired, [only that all who
scruple Conformity, (in any point) be not therefore denied Church-Communion and Sacraments.]’ Every one, 'tis to be supposed, in that way and manner as the Teachers they shall adhere to, administer in. — The short is, that they be
tied to nothing.
But the godly, sober, unwilling Conformists have it seems, been sadly neglective of their Duty, in petitioning
against the Laws for these things hitherto: If they are at length penitent, and resolve to do any thing for the Cause hereafter, it will be some amends. — And that they would do this, is the last Request our Author hath to make.
‘
[...]g. 137.— And having mentioned this, what if I added yet this Clause to my present Petition to you? That you will yet petition for us, or rather for the
Church of Christ, that upon the foresaid Terms we may be,
[Page 73] if possible, taken into the established Ministry; if not, yet tolerated as
Lecturers under you, in such Churches where the Ministers desire us, not taking any of their Maintenance from them, but trusting God for our daily Bread.]’ Fain would they be on their own Terms in the
Established Church, if so it may then be called; and when they are in, do their best to shake other Establishments out of it. But if this may not be granted them,
Lecturers under some Conformists, yet this
under is a scurvy word, they like it not; ['
No Prelacy in Parish-Priests,
Pag. 71.] as we heard before. However, under some of their Brethren Conformists, that desire them to carry on the Work as Assistants, would be perhaps no great Burden especially,
‘[not taking any part of their Maintenance, but trusting God for
daily Bread,]’ as if others did not trust God for that too. How this
Proviso, against taking any part of their Maintenance, can be secured, I know not; for a great deal of that, in such populous Places as they most affect, depends upon the Peoples Contributions: And, where it doth not, yet they conceive some Right in themselves still to it; and how that Thought may work in Time, who can tell? It begins already.
‘— I think it had savoured of no excess of Charity,
Pag. 134, 135. and Ministerial Ingenuity, if he had said: Brethren, you must perform your undertaken Ministry; and we, and the Peoples Souls, have need of all your Help; and the Maintenance is given for the Work, therefore you that work with us, shall have part of the
Church-Maintenance with us,
☜ at least, a
fifth part, as was allowed to the
Ejected by the Parliament,’ (for those Times are an excellent Pattern for our Imitation,)
‘because the People cannot maintain you, and it is hard to serve God
without Anxiety, while your Families are in
Want. This had better beseemed our Brethren. But we crave and expect no such thing from you.]’ Only these are
broad Signs, and speak it loud enough, that they are both
uncharitable and
unjust, if they deny part of the
Maintenance to you, who do the Work whereunto it belongs. — And what will the People think and say of them?
‘— By this means you shall have no need to fear our
injuring of your Wealth and Reputation.
Pag. 137.]’
q. d. We have thought it requisite to suggest this unto you, because, the truth is, we look upon you as somewhat more
worldly-minded than our selves, and so your
Covetousness of retaining your own, which most of you find
little enough, may keep you from doing us that Service, which otherwise we might hope for from you. Alas! you are utterly mistaken in us, if you shall once imagine, that we regard our selves. 'Tis the Church of Christ only we are sollicitous
[Page 74] for; nor do we seek
yours, but
you. — 'Have we served God
twelve Years,
Pag. 73. without
one Bit of the Levite's Portion? And cannot we do so till we die? —
‘It sufficeth us to tell you, that we preach not for Riches, and we will not cease through Poverty. Talk at this rate to one another.]’ Worldly Wretches as ye are!
‘
Pag. 137.—And now (for the Close) as God will judg, so let the World judg, and let Posterity judg, whether we [
Pharisees!] are unworthy, in comparison of the
present Ministers of
England, to be permitted to preach Christ's Gospel, on these
self-denying and
abasing Terms.]’ You should rather have said,
self-assuming, self-arrogating, self-exalting, but
Church-denying, King-abasing, Law-disowning, Prelacy-deposing Terms. — And so let the
Impartial judg upon the Premises. — And, when they have determined this, if you please, let them resolve themselves further,
Q. 1. Q. 2. Where the Petition against Establishments is like to stop; and whether the
Plea of Conscience be not as equal for tolerating all the dividing and subdividing Sects, as for any one of them? It being acknowledged, that all the contending Parties, from the
Papist to the
Quaker, are ready to give themselves the Commendation of being
Lovers of the
Truth and
Peace.
Pag 6.
But what pious and prudent Indulgences Authority may judg meet upon occ
[...]sion to grant unto some Particulars of the
truly humble, quiet, and
peaceable Dissenters, upon the satisfaction given them by such Deportment, is not for us to advise or determine.
The Protestation of the Writer of these Reflections, to all that shall vouchsafe to read them, touching Himself, and his Design.
THe Writer of these Reflections doth here protest once for all, his real Belief of a God, a Christ, an Heaven, and an Hell: And that he is neither Papist, nor Popishly affected, nor under any Covenant not to obey our Blessed Saviour, against the World and the Flesh; nor yet an Enemy to those truly modest, humble, quiet, and peaceable Dissenters, who do what they can of that which is enjoined them, and for the rest, submit themselves wholly with Patience and Meekness, without contempt or reviling to the Laws and Government.
That he hath no Malice, nor personal Grudg against Mr. Baxter in particular; nor any Controversy with him, further than as in his publick Writings he disagreeth with, and reproacheth his more calm, considerative, and sober Self; or seeketh to undermine and cast dirt upon the Venerable Establishment of this Church and Kingdom, with the Bishops and Governours of both, and All that (as it becometh orderly Christians and Subjects) pay their conscientious Obedience thereunto.
And, That his Design herein was not to villify and disparage any thing that is otherwise good and commendable in this Author, (whereof a competent Collection may be seen in the Preface before-going); much less to expose real Piety and Vertue unto Scorn, by reason of the Pretences unduly made unto them; or to embitter the inordinate Passions and Rage of any, against those that differ in some Opinions from themselves.
But only to check and abate somewhat (if possible) of that fond Esteem this Man of Contradictions expresseth of his own Abilities and Judgment, and that Popular Admiration of Him, which may redound to a Publick Mischief.
[Page 14]And, To warn every one to study a due Consistence with Himself, and Deference to his respective Superiors, whether Civil or Ecclesiastical:
And, to expose all Pride and Arrogance, Opinionatry and Affectation, Singularity and Self-conceit, Envy and Ambition, Censoriousness and Ʋncharitableness, Morosity and Peevishness, Frowardness and Perverseness, Cavilling and Quarrelsomness, Strife and Contention, Schism and Division, Faction and Sedition, Defamation of God's Priests, and speaking evil of Dignities, Pharisaism and Hypocrisy, Headiness and Rashness, bitter Zeal and Giddiness, Abuse of Holy Scripture, and Superstition, Rudeness and Ʋnmannerliness, (those Brats of Hell, Pests of the Church, and Incendiaries of the World, which it is great cruelty to be tender of,) unto Infamy and Detestation.
And finally, To admonish, if any have private Persuasions of their own, not to trouble the Church with the unseasonable divulging them; or if they have Petitions to prefer unto Authority, not to make them first to the People, nor to mingle them with Reproaches, Challenges, and Threatnings; or if they have Apologies and Defences to offer for Non-conformity, briefly and cooly to give their Reasons, with what nervousness they can, but without vain and idle digressions, needless multiplying of Controversies, slandering the Laws and Constitutions, or contumelious and provoking Language.
Hast thou Faith? Have it to thy self before God: Happy is he that condemneth not himself, in that thing which he alloweth.