The Deprived and Silenced Ministers Arguments, Answer 18
I. REASON.
God ſent lately amongst vsus a mightie and fearefull peſtilence, for omiſsion of ſome dutie which ſhould hauehave beene performed.
Ergo. The high Court of Parliament is preſently to reſtore the refractarie Miniſters, eſpecially ſeeing the plague doth ſtill hover over our heads.
ANSWER.
1. TO let the Antecedent paſſe, which yet is not ſo fully and warily laide downe, as it ought to hauehave beene. Who doth not ſee the weakneſſe of the Conſequence. For doth GOD plague vsus becauſe of the proceedings against the Refractarie Miniſters; and not rather for our horrible ſinnes of ſecuritie, pride, vnthankefulneſſe &c. This is certaine: and that reſts to be proued ſtill.
The Errour is manifold. 1. foreign.2. foreign.3. foreign.4. foreign.
II. REASON.
God hath lately delivered the Houſe of Parliament & the whole land from a bloudie intended maſſacre.
Ergo. That honourable Court ſpecially ought to teſtifie their thankfulneſſe vntounto God, by reſtoring the Refractarie Miniſters.
ANSWER.
1. AS if there were no other meanes whereby that honourable Court might teſtifie their thankfulneſſe, but by reſtoring Schiſmaticall Paſtours vntounto the Church, the more to diſturbe the peace thereof.
3. The errour is, foreign. Alſo, foreign.
III. REASON.
Many of the honourable Lords, and other members of the Parliament, are very ancient and ſtriken in yeares; and therefore never againe like to be of any other Parliament.
Ergo. They ought to do good now, by reſtoring the Deprived and Silenced Miniſters.
ANSWER.
1. BVt it hath not beene yet proued, that to reſtore the Refractarie Miniſters, is to doe Good, and not rather to doe hurt; and to ſinne by being cauſe of nouriſhing faction and diſſention in the Church.
2. The Errours be, 1. foreign. 2. foreign. 3. foreign.
IV. REASON.
The Refractarie Miniſters would be very glad, if they were comforted, reſtored, and let alone.
Ergo. They ought ſo to be.
ANSWER.
SO would all Schiſmatiques, Heretiques, Papiſts, Atheiſts, yea all malefactors, murtherers, theeues, cut purſes, be very glad, if they were comforted, deliuered, and let alone.
V. REASON.
The Houſe of Parliament, by their mercy ſhewed towards the Refractarie Miniſters, ſhall not onelyonly treaſure vp comfort vntounto themſelues againſt the day of their death, but ſhall alſo make their olde Age the more honourable, and their names memorable amongst all poſteritie.
Ergo. They ought ſo to do.
ANSWER.
1. IF by Mercy, they meane their reclaiming from Schiſme and faction, I grant the whole.
2. But if they meane their Reſtoring againe, they continuing ſtill the ſame men they are now: then is the Antecedent a foule begging of the Queſtion, and the Argument inconſequent.
3. For, contrariwiſe it may be concluded. The Houſe of Parliament, by reſtoring Schiſmaticall Miniſters, to diſquiet the peace of the Church; ſhall not onelyonly attract guilt and remorſe of conſcience; but alſo preiudice their honourable Age, and make their names reproachfull amongst all poſteritie.
VI. REASON.
As Iael was bleſſed aboue other women dwelling in tents, for driving a nayle into Siſeraes head: So ſhould theſe Parliament Men, be bleſsed aboue many former if they vtterly tooke away all the Whore of Romes ornaments yet remayning &c.
Ergo. They ought to do ſo.
ANSWER.
1. THe inſtance is altogither different. For Siſera was a ſpeciall enemie of the Children of Iſrael, and of the Church of God, (Iudg. 4.2.) But the Ornaments the Suppliants ſpeake of, are the good Creatures of God, hauing no hurt or ill in them.
2. Neither were the Popiſh idolatrous Prieſtes ever decked with our Ornaments, neither are they now.
3. Neither were our Ornaments ever worſhipped or abuſed to Idolatrie, neither are they yet.
4. Neither if they had beene, is it abſolutely neceſſarie to deſtroy the Subſtance of them, togither with the abuſe: but the abuſe is to be aboliſhed, and the true vſe reſtored. The reaſons hereof, and cautions to be vſed in this point, I hauehave layde downe in another place. Chap. 11. Lib. de Adiaph.
5. The Errour is, foreign. And, foreign.