A Friendly Trial of the Grounds Tending to Separation, Title page – To the reader
A FRIENDLY TRIALL OF THE GROUNDS TENDING TO SEPARATION; In a plain and modeſt Diſpute touching the Lawfulneſſe of a ſtinted Liturgie and ſet form of Prayer, Communion in mixed aſſemblies, and the Primitive ſubject and firſt receptacle of the power of the Keyes: Tending to ſatisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandring, and to ſtrengthen the weak: By JOHN BALL.
ISAIAH 8. 20.
To the law and to the teſtimonie: if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them.
PSAL. 119. 105.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
¶ Printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Univerſitie of Cambridge; For Edward Brewſter, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the Bible on Fleet-bridge. 1640.
To the Chriſtian Reader, ſound judgement, the ſpirit of wiſdome, uprightneſſe of heart, and ſweet communion with GOD.
Chriſtian READER,
IT is commonly profeſſed, though not ſo well known and obſerved as it ought, that Satan is alwayes buſie to ſolicite, and our own deceitfull hearts ready to turn aſide from the wayes of peace and comfort, either to the right hand or to the left. To ſay nothing of the lamentable ſtate of heathen Infidels, Turks, and Jews, who know not God, nor believe the Goſpel of JESUS CHRIST; Amongſt them that profeſſe Chriſtianity, ſome are ſo deeply plunged into ſuperſtition, that the truth of God and the ordinances of grace are not prized in compariſon of their own vain and fruitleſſe traditions. And others, on the contrary, do ſo farre diſtaſt all inventions whatſoever (as they ſpeak) in Gods worſhip, as they reject that which beareth the ſtamp and image of God, and might be greatly profitable to their ſouls. Many come profanely to the Lords table, and pollute the holy things of God to their own deſtruction: Others, through groundleſſe fears of defilement, do withdraw themſelves from ordinances Divine, and the ſociety of the godly, becauſe ſome unworthy are not debarred. To ſatisfie this latter ſort, who offend out of weakneſſe & miſguided judgement not of ſtubborneſſe and contempt, and to ſettle them that are ſtaggering, I have penned this poore & rude treatiſe, nothing doubting but the truth will be able to maintein it ſelf, and that the beauty thereof will procure favour and acceptance, though it come arayed in a very homely garment.
A ſtinted form of prayer hath been challenged as an image forbidden in the ſecond commandment, a forged and deviſed worſhip, unlawfull both in them that uſe it, and thoſe that joyn therein. To remove this ſcruple, I have ſhewed the uſe of a ſtinted Liturgie, lawfull and allowable by the word of God, of ancient uſe in the churches of Chriſt, approved by all reformed churches at this day: Upon which occaſion many things are diſputed touching the meaning of the ſecond commandment, the nature of true and falſe worſhip; and what it is to pray by the Spirit.
Many are the objections which are made againſt ſet forms of prayer, and particularly againſt our book of common prayer: all which I have endeavoured to anſwer ſeverally; and not becauſe they are of ſo great weight, but becauſe I deſired fully to ſatisfie every doubt, and roll away every ſtone I met withall. If one and the ſame thing be oft repeated, I deſire it may be conſidered that one and the ſame objection for ſubſtance is often brought forth, though perhaps in new aray, and every plain-hearted Reader (for whoſe uſe I principally intend this labour) is not able to apply an anſwer once given to ſundry objections in colour diverſe though for ſubſtance the ſame. And I ſuppoſe the prudent will think it more reaſonable that the wiſe in heart be burdened with over-much, then that the weak ſhould remain unſatisfied through ſome defect. Some ſtagger at this, that ignorant, profane, notorious offenders are admitted to the Lords table, and conceive that communicating with ſuch in the ordinances of religion they are partakers of their ſinne. And ſure it is a thing to be lamented with tears of bloud, that the body and bloud of our Saviour CHRIST ſhould be profaned, the houſe and church of God defiled, the name of the Lord diſhonoured, religion blaſphemed, and the blind, notorious, profane permitted to ruſh upon their own perdition. But it is not for private perſons to take that upon them which belongeth not unto their place; nor, being invited by CHRIST, to excommunicate themſelves, becauſe ſuch as are notoriouſly wicked be not admoniſhed, kept back, or cenſured.
The main ground of the former doubt and all others tending to Separation ſeemeth to be this; That the power of the keyes is primitively given to the community of the faithfull, as the firſt receptacle. For then they conceive that it perteineth to them to cenſure offenders, or elſe to ſeparate from them. Then likewiſe it will more probably be concluded, as they think, That that ſociety which hath not the power of CHRISTS keyes is not the true church of CHRIST. Therefore to raze the foundation of Separation, and at once to overthrow their main objections, this queſtion is more largely diſputed: wherein is ſhewed by evidence of Scripture, That the power of the keyes is given by Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord and King of his church, and great Shepherd of his ſheep, to the church-governours whom he hath appointed to rule and feed his flock in his name, and to whom they muſt give account.
If any man ſhall think theſe things are ſmall and not to be inſiſted upon, he may pleaſe to conſider; How ſmall ſoever the things in themſelves ſeem to be, the evil conſequences that follow thereupon be both many and great: It is no ſmall matter to bury that under the condemnation of falſe worſhip, which the Lord the authour of all truth, the determiner of his true, pleaſing and acceptable worſhip, doth allow in his ſervice. It is no ſmall offenſe to forſake the prayers of the congregation, to depart from the table of the Lord when he calleth to feaſt with himſelf, and to break off ſociety and communion with the churches of Chriſt, where he doth cauſe his flock to reſt at noon; to fill the hearts of weak Chriſtians with doubts and diſtractions, as not knowing what to do, or which way to take; to ſpend time in reaſonings and diſputations of this kind, which might much more profitably be employed in the practice of repentance and holy obedience: to expoſe religion to contempt, and the truth of God to reproch, amongſt them that delight to ſpeak evil: Theſe are ſad effects of this Separation which is here oppoſed. Is it not lamentable to ſee poore Chriſtians, who ſincerely thirſt after the waters of life, and long to meet the Lord in his holy ordinances, caſt into doubts and fears about the things which ſo nearly concern their comfortable walking with God and ſalvation of their ſouls? May not this tend to the diſcouragement of divers that are coming on, and turn them who are halting clean out of the way? The rents and diviſions which have been in the church have evermore been one advantage which the enemies of the truth have taken to ſpeak reprochfully. And if the credit of religion, the glory of God, and the ſouls of our brethren be dear unto us, what can we do leſſe then by a juſt and mild defenſe of the truth ſeek the reclaiming of ſuch as are gone aſtray, the eſtabliſhing of them that be weak in judgement but zealouſly affected to the wayes of God; ſtop the ſtream of ſeducing, free the godly from unjuſt imputations, and ſettle peace and unitie in the truth amongſt brethren? I heartily wiſh we had not ſo much experience to leſſon us, that when men have once begun to neglect the publick exerciſes of religion, and to ſeparate from the churches of Chriſt, they have run from one errour into another after the fond imaginations of their own ſeduced hearts untill they have daſhed themſelves upon the rocks.
They that break off communion in the particulars mentioned, have not proceeded to a totall Separation from our congregations and aſſemblies, as no churches of Jeſus Chriſt: This rigid Separation they condemn, as that which was never approved or bleſſed of God. But they have gone further then the word of truth doth warrant them, or they have the Lord Jeſus for their guide: whereas it is the duty and ſafety of Chriſtians to follow after but not to go before their Lord and Captain. The firſt entrance into an erroneous way is dangerous: for in the track thereof there is no ſtop, unleſſe God of his infinite mercy do prevent. Errours are lapped up together in a bundle, and many times the leaſt onelyonly appear, which yet ſerve to bring on and uſher in the greater. At once men fall not into ſtrange and monſtrous opinions, no more then into outragious evils: but by degrees they inſenſibly are drawn from bad to worſe, untill they come to a great height. At the firſt ſight many a mans conſcience would have been affrighted with that errour which after ſome tampering he highly admireth and is bewitched withall. How many of great hopes and excellent parts have been overthrown hereby, is too evident by lamentable obſervation in all ages. Rents and diviſions are the diſeaſe, Separation the wound of the church, unto which of long time ſhe hath been obnoxious; but it is the ſinne of them who either lay ſtumbling-blocks of offenſe before their brethren, or ſeparate raſhly or unjuſtly, being carried away rather with prejudice then ſtrength of argument, and commanded more by the examples of others then by the authority of the rule of righteouſneſſe. There is but one body, the Church; and but one Lord, or head of the body, Chriſt: And whoſoever ſeparateth from the body the Church, ſeparateth from Chriſt in that reſpect. And if we withdraw our ſelves from Chriſt where he graciouſly inviteth us to feaſt with him, may we not juſtly fear that he will withdraw himſelf from us, and make us ſeek, when we ſhall not find him? Voluntary Separation from the Lords table and prayers of the congregation, what is it but a willing excommunication of our ſelves from the viſible tokens of the Lords preſence and love? And if it be a grievous ſinne in church-governours, to deprive any member of the church of all communion with the viſible church upon light and unneceſſary occaſions; is it not a greater ſinne in the members, to deprive themſelves of the ſame communion upon the like or leſſe occaſions? Zeal and tenderneſſe of conſcience muſt be nouriſhed by all good means; but they are not to move alone without their guide, that is, the word of God.
Perhaps this kind of writing may occaſion more diſputes. If ſo, it is contrary to my hearts deſire, who intend onelyonly the ſatisfaction of them that ſtagger, the reclaiming of them that are gone too farre, and the maintenance of peace, truth, and communion in the worſhip of God, as it furthereth communion with Jeſus Chriſt. If I may obtein this end, I have that which I beg of the Lord. Willingly I would not offend any that fear God, but endeavour onelyonly to remove the blocks at which I ſee ſome ſtumble, and to further the more comfortable walking of others, who deſire to pleaſe God in all things, but are kept under in the means of comfort with vain ſcruples. And happy were it, if, doubtfull diſputations laid aſide, we might joyn together with one heart and ſoul to advance religion, worſhip the Lord purely, edifie one another in our moſt holy faith, and walk unblameably in the fear of God and comfort of the holy Ghoſt. I take no pleaſure in controverſies of this kind, and could heartily wiſh that, theſe matters rightly compoſed, we might give heed to that one thing which is neceſſary: But if it ſeem good to any man to reply, I earneſtly beg that he would take the word of God truly underſtood for his warrant, make proof of what he ſaith, keep himſelf to the points in hand without impertinent digreſſions, and proceed on in love and meekneſſe, as becometh them that profeſſe the truth, and deſire to preſerve the peace of a good conſcience. A good cauſe is no way advantaged by heat and paſſion. We muſt ſo write and ſpeak in controverſies of religion, as that we remember we muſt give account to God of that which we ſay. And if paſſionate and diſtempered ſpeeches in common talk be no light offenſe; in matters of religion, which are ſoberly to be debated as in the preſence of God, to give way to humane raſhneſſe and diſtemper is much more diſgracefull. God will not hold him guiltleſſe that telleth a lie for the glory of his name. To bear falſe witneſſe in civill contentions betwixt man and man, is odious and abominable: Therefore it behooveth us to fear and ſtand in aw, leſt being tranſported with miſguided zeal we call evil good and good evil, and misapply the ſcriptures, when we ſpeak of our ſelves. Let us weigh all things, and hold that which is good. The Lord in mercy look down from heaven upon his poore church and people, bring his truth to light more and more, diſpell the miſts of ignorance, remove all occaſions of offenſe, ſettle peace and truth, proſper the means of grace, build us forward in faith and holineſſe, and unite the hearts of his people in love, that they may direct their courſe by one rule (if they cannot be all of one mind in every thing) and as one man may walk together in heaven-way, untill they receive the end of their faith, the ſalvation of their ſouls.