Certain Observations, Section 14
SECTION. XIIII.
THe next ſort of Min…ſters, wherof ſome doubt, whether they may hear them or no, are ſuch as conforme to theſe ceremonies now controverted. Which howſoever it come in them from an utter hatred of Popiſh deviſes, and an heart carefull to keep themſelues unſpotted of the world, yet without all queſt…on they erre.
Concerning th…s therfore, that mor… clearly the truth may be boulted out, we will propound ſome grounds to ſtay upon.
1 The Ordinances of God remain pure and holy, though men be corrupt that adminiſter them; and ſo are like the Lord.
2 Private men are bound to try the doctrine of M…n…ſters, and look to that rather then be examin…ng of their entrance into that Calling, they are in, this all the Scriptures run upon.
3 God doth good to his Church by the gifts he hath given to wicked men for his people: For they are f…om the Holy Ghoſt given to reſtore the Saints, and for the work of the Miniſtry.
Theſe things conſidered, it may appear upon ſufficient grounds, that men may lawfully hear.
1 Such as are conſcionable in their Miniſtery, though they erre in judgement for the Ceremonies, and be ordained according to the manner of the times:
For firſt theſe hauehave the ſubſtance of a lawfull calling, elect…on and approbation from the people.
2 Diſſention in leſſer matters hath never hindred either Communion, nor eſt…em…ng one of another, twixt the ſervants of God. Phil. 3.
3 Theſe are ſent of God, though not by this way, they are not unlike to Iacob, whoſe the bleſſing was, though he ſhould not hauehave ſought …t by lying.
4 Their ſin in admiſſion is their own perſonall ſin, and cannot hurt others, not partaking with it.
5 Men may and ought to receiue their ſend…ng, not from men, but from the Lord of the Harv…ſt.
Object. It ſeemes to approue thei… ſinne, ſince men pertake with them in their Miniſtery which they hauehave gotten unlawfully. Is it not to communicate in ſtollen goods?
Anſw. No, for they ought to be admitted, and the Miniſtery is the…rs, and the Congregations chooſing them: onelyonly, it is their errour to come in by a wrong way. Now to ſt…al is to take from men that which doth not belong unto them, which cannot be applyed to them.
A ſecond ſort of Miniſters are bad, and corrupt in doctrine and manners: theſe preaching many truths from God may be heard: For,
1 They ſit in Moſes chair, Matth. 23.2, Moſes chair is the doctrine of Moſes, otherwiſ… they ſhould hauehave ſit in Aarons chair, if he had ſpoken of the Calling.
2 Otherwiſe we ſhould not yeeld abſolute obedience to the doctrine taught, except it were Moſes doctrine.
3 The main cauſe why the people ſhould hear theſe is manif…ſted by our Saviour; but this is not ſo much ſucceſſion in Calling, as ſucceſſion in Doctrine.
1 Theſe Phariſies had corrupted their Call…ng.
2 They perverted the Law with their Gloſſes.
3 Were ignorant of the righteouſneſſe of faith.
4 Hipocrites in life, and bitter enemies to the Kingdom of Chriſt.
5 They preached the Word without authority, coldly, as did not ſtir affections.
2 Argu… Doctrine and gifts are the Churches, who may take their own from a very theife.
Yet theſe Cautions muſt be obſerved.
1 That we be able in ſome meaſure to diſcern and try the ſpirits.
2 That w… be compelled by neceſſity.
3 That we b… careful to get what p…ivate and pub…que help poſſibly we can.
4 That we hunger after other powerfull meanes, and as ſoon as the Lord offers any we remoue and follow the light.
5 Refuſe private converſing with them.
6 Contend for the truth in any pa…t oppu…ned by them.
Object. May not Popiſh Ieſuits, or the like, then be heard.
Anſw. Th…ſe are the profeſſed ſervants of the beaſt, not of Ch…ſt, for they hauehave quite changed the Miniſtery into a Pri…ſ… hood.
2 We are quite ſeparated from this falſe Church, by the commandement of the Lord, and the Magiſt…ate, and all Chu…ches aſſenting to the ſame.
3 Th…ſe doe plainly ſeek to ſeduce us, and withd…aw us from the wor…h…p of the true God; all which cannot be found …n theſe of our own Church, from which wee hauehave …o ſuch warrant to ſeperate, nor doe ſeeke to draw us qu…te from Chriſt in fa th.
Yet thus far let me ſpeak to you of the Miniſtry, thus corrupted, that are negligent, and doe not ſorwa…n the peop…e of God of danger. You that look to your own wayes, and make your belly your God: You that preach as they Ier. 5, that other Lords may …ule over the flock of Chr ſt. Conſid…r what you are; Are you not men of God? Should not you be holy that draw neer to the Lord? Should you trouble the waters with your T…aditions, that none can drink almoſt w th a good conſc…ence? Should you make the ſacrifices of God abhorred by your d…ſſol…teneſſe? Should you ſmite with your tongues your fellow ſ…rvants, whoſe Min…ſtery and converſation you know is better then your own? Should you uſe the flock of Chr…ſt as you doe, never viſiting of them many of you? If woe be to them that joyn houſe to houſe; what ſhall become of you that joyn Congregation to Congregation, and to theſe prebenſhips, D…anries? &c. Should you be terrible to the humbled and afflicted ſoules? Surely, the Lord will judge for his people. Hear you that force men to things againſt their conſcience, without warrant from the Word: You that accuſe the truth of God of fa…ood, that oppoſe ho…neſſe and ſincere obedi…nce to the whole word: You that make ſad the hearts of the righteous, and preach…ng pleaſing things, ſt…ngthen the hand of the w cked, that none can ret…r… from h…s wickedneſſe; that propound the truths you teach, generally and confuſedly in frothy eloquence, glorying to fill your Sermons with patcht up ſentences of heathens; Beware, and turn and flie from the wrat… to come. You lay open the land to m…ſery. Will not that moue you to pitty? And to ſtir up your ſelues to preach ſincerely, and dilligently! you bring the bloud of ſoules upon your heads, Ezech. 34. Woe be to you without repentance: for the Lo…d will be ſanctified in them that come neer him, and you ſhall be deſpiſed or deſtroyed. The Lord will raiſe him a faithfull Samuel in your ſted, who ſhall ſpeak his words faithfully to his people. Shift it not off, ſaying, this is the word of ſome malicious fooliſh Puritan: for theſe woes are againſt ſuch ſinnes, which whether they be in you, I referre it to the Lord, your own conſcience, and all indifferent men to judg. This I would not hauehave thought, as ſpoken againſt all that conform, God forbid. But againſt ſuch as conforming, or not conforming, liue ſcandalouſly, and are …nemies to the Goſpell of Chriſt; not enduring others ſhould exceed them …n g…fts, or pa…s in their M…niſtery, or in ſtrictneſ…e of l…fe. Hear you, or elſe the Lord will curſe your bleſſings, and your great l…v…ngs ſhall make you the more miſerable.