Showing the Necessity of Conformity, To the reader
TO THE READER.
EVery part of Trueth is precious, euen the leaſt: (as the leaſt graine of muske is ſweete.) Becauſe it is the Trueth; Becauſe Gods Truth; and becauſe ſmall errors intertained againſt ſmall Trueths, hauehave often euill, ſometimes pernicious effects. Which laſt appeareth in the controuerſie of our Ceremonies; the ſparkles of which difference hauehave growen vntounto great flames in this our Church. Where the fault is, as God knoweth, ſo the day will try, and God will one day iudge. But difference of apprehenſions hath brought foorth difference of iudgements, and difference of iudgements, hath brought forth difference of practiſe, and diſagreement in affection. The difference of practiſe hath mooued Authority to ſilence and ſuppreſſe refuſers of Conformitie: The diſagreement in affection, hath mooued the Miniſters depriued to ſpeake euil of perſons in authority, and of Conformers: Whereby in the euent, the courſe of the Goſpell is interrupted, and of Popery enlarged; the friends of Sion are grieued, the enemies reioyced, the Deuill gratified, and God not pleaſed. The Church is rent with Schiſme, the Trueth ſcandalized by diſſention, & the Miniſters vndone by loſſe of liuing, and the vnitie of brethren liuing in the ſame houſe, profeſsing the ſame Faith, and reioycing in the ſame Hope, is pulled in pieces: And this like to continue God knowes how long; but all men know, the longer the worſe.
For which cauſe I hauehave vndertaken this ſeruice to Gods Church, to vnfold the ſtate of this queſtion, which as yet hath not been ſo directly and diſtinctly handled, in my opinion, as it might, by any that I know. The Miniſters hauehave heretofore laboured to proue the Ceremonies euill to be vſed, and fit to be aboliſhed; but they neuer went about to prooue, whether in caſe of Depriuation they ought to hauehave conformed; which is the queſtion directly concerning their caſe. This is performed in this tractate, and reſolued by reaſon drawen from God and man, from Scripture and Authority of all ſorts, which thou (good Reader) mayeſt perceiue, if thy deſire allure thee, or thy patience will giuegive thee leaue to reade.
The occaſion of my penning it was this: At The occaſion of penning this Treatiſe.firſt, being of aduerſary iudgement to the Ceremonies, I laboured (as men doe that are ſicke of preiudice) to gather all I could againſt them, and abſtained from the practiſe of them, as from things ſimply euill: But after, hauing been indicted at a quarter Seſsions for refuſing to conforme, by ſome of my Pariſh for my fidelity in oppoſing their diſordered life, I was occaſioned to looke more neerely into the ſtate of this queſtion, whether I might vſe them with my peace in any caſe, or not; namely, of neceſsity, & Depriuation. I asked of my ſelfe two things, whether I would rather ſuffer death, then vſe them in a Church profeſsing the foundation, and vrging them as things indifferent, not preſſing them, as binding Conſcience in themſelues, or as needfull to ſaluation? And whether the execution of my Miniſtery (which was preſſed on my Conſcience with a woe, if I neglected it) ſhould not be as deare vntounto me, as my life? Which queſtions, when they put mee to a ſtand, and that I could not well reſolue vntounto my ſelfe, for the ill conceit I had againſt the Ceremonies, I beganne to ſearch into the iudgement of our beſt latter writers, and the practiſe of reformed Churches, from whence I went vntounto antiquitie of primitiue and purer times; where with one conſent and harmonie of iudgement, I found them for the practiſe of farre more, and more offenſiue Ceremonies then ours may bee ſuppoſed, and chiefely in this caſe. This was a ground to ſtay my iudgement, and build my reſolution: From which when once I found it, in con-conſcience I could not, in modeſtie I durſt not depart in haſte. For with what ſhew or conſcience ſhould any man turne his backe in diſlike, or his face in oppoſition to the iudgement and practiſe of all Churches of Chriſt ſince the Apoſtles? And from all thoſe worthy Lights, thoſe Spirituall perſons, the Teachers of the Churches, the champions of the Trueth, the Maſters of Religion, by whom, and by whom onelyonly, God had in all ages propagated his Goſpell, conuerted ſoules, confirmed Veritie, confuted Hereſies and Errors, builded Chriſtes Church, diſcouered and ouerthrowne the Church of Antichriſt? Chiefly, ſeeing it is the iudgement not of one or two, nor of ſome againſt ſome other, but euen of All, not One excepted which is of note, or claſsicall authority: And none againſt this iudgement, excepting conuicted and condemned Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, ſuch as Donatiſts, Anabaptiſts, and our latter Browniſts. From thence I looked into the reaſons mouing them vntounto this iudgement, & that practiſe, which in this Tractate are ſet downe: So that here is no nouelty broached, or fancy of mine owne propoſed to thy view (Chriſtian reader) but Antiquity and Vniuerſality; not Papall, but Euangelicall, according to the Scripture; not of Carnall, but Spirituall perſons, which may bee to thy Conſcience as an foreign.
The cauſes of publiſhing are principally three, reſpecting Cauſes of publiſhing.the trueth, the Miniſters my brethren, and my ſelfe. The publication of this booke concerneth the trueth in two reſpects: Firſt, becauſe it is a queſtioned trueth, which may not bee concealed without iniury to God, and to his Church: and it is a ſin of no light nature, to withhold the trueth in vnrighteouſneſſe: Rom. 1. 18.next, it is a profitable trueth, which may occaſion ſome Miniſters to enter, which dare not for conformitie, and others to returne which are depriued for not conforming to the Ceremonies, both tending to the benefit and edification of Gods Church. For what greater profit may there be, then that which is oppoſed to the greateſt miſchiefe? For as it pleaſeth God to ſaue them that beleeue 1 Cor. 1. 21. prou 29. 18.by preaching: ſo where no viſion is, the people periſh. Secondly, it reſpecteth the miniſters of two ſorts. Firſt, ſuch as are depriued, on whom theſe reaſons doe inforce a ſinne for not conforming in the caſe of depriuation: and it is very ſcandalous for Miniſters, profeſsing ſinceritie of Chriſt his Goſpel to hauehave begunne, and to continue in a wrong courſe; neither can they approoue their conſcience before God or man, to beginne and to remaine in error and not amend when they ſee a better way. Then, it concerneth the Miniſters that hauehave conformed in this caſe: both becauſe it ſerueth to cleere the innocencie of ſundry godly teachers, that hauehave conformed to preuent their depriuation, which are hardly thought of, and traduced as backſliders, and betrayers of Gods cauſe. And if this trueth were knowen, they would not hauehave condemned innocents: As alſo becauſe it is meete that the hearts of ſuch as hauehave conformed of feare, and are wounded with griefe, ſhould bee relieued: this trueth ſeruing to quiet their afflicted conſcience, which muſt not bee neglected. Laſtly, it reſpecteth my ſelfe, and that two wayes. Firſt, becauſe by ſuppreſsing of this veritie, I ſhould wrap my ſelfe in the guilte of a two fold ſin; namely, vnthankfulneſſe to God, & vnrighteouſneſſe to man. For why hath God opened my eyes to ſee this truth, but to that end I ſhould reueale it vntounto others?
And it were vnrighteouſneſſe, and hatred to my Leu. 19. 17.brethren to ſuffer them to ſin, and not to ſhew them of it, to ſee them to wander, and not to point vntounto the right way. Laſtly, it were iniquitie to my ſelfe, to ſuffer my Miniſterie to be euill ſpoken of, for practiſing the trueth; there being ſcandall taken farre and neere at the alteration of my iudgement, and profeſsion of my purpoſe to conforme, rather then to ſuffer depriuation, which I may lawfully, and muſt alſo of ſome neceſsitie preuent. To this I adde the reſpect I hauehave vntounto our Schiſmatickes, the Browniſts, whoſe errors are hereby diſcouered, and their falſe concluſions ouerthrowne.
Obiections anſwered.But it will bee ſaid I am in error: If ſo, it ſhall the eaſier be confuted. And when any man hath ſhewed it to be error, hee may the more ſafely call it ſo: And I ſhall bee the rather induced to confeſſe it ſo to be. It will be well, and more agreeing to the comfort of mens conſciences, and more fitted to the rekconing they muſt giuegive, to bee aduiſed before they ſo conclude it. Howbeit, if I erre, it is with ſuch company, with whom in ſome caſe I had rather erre (as one ſpeaketh) then thinke or know the trueth with ſome other. Neither can I bee perſwaded, neither will any man proue eaſily, that all true Churches of Chriſt, of all ages, agreeing in a pointe, hauehave agreed in an error.
But thus good men receaue diſgrace that ſtand againſt the Ceremonies. To this I ſay that no man can, no good man will eſteeme the trueth to bee his owne diſgrace. It is a grace by ſeeing error to acknowledge it. It is an honour vntounto God to diſgrace our ſelues, by gracing and embracing of his trueth. Can any man preferre his credit to Gods diſhonour, and redeeme it with the ſhipwracke of the trueth?
O, but I lay a ſinne vntounto the charge of all the Miniſters depriued: And to this I ſay, they lay a ſinne vponupon their brethren not inferiour to themſelues, that hauehave conformed to the Ceremonies (by their account) in nature euill. Nay they lay a ſinne vponupon all Churches and godly Teachers ſince the time of Chriſt: ſhould any man indure ſo great indignity, or ſwallow ſuch abſurditie by ſparing them? And admit they be prooued to be found in ſinne, it is no newes that hath beene taught from the beginning, Rom. 3. 4 23. Iam. 3. 2. 1. Cor. 13. 9, 10that all men are liers, and that all hauehave ſinned; yea, in many things wee offend all: Wee know but in part, and difference will bee among the beſt, and with difference, error on one ſide or another in matters circumſtantiall, vntill perfection come. Our Pſal. 19▪ 12.comfort is, that all ſinnes, eſpecially vnknowne to ſuch as are in Chriſt, are pardoned, as being included in the compaſſe of their generall repentance. Though reaſon accuſe them of a ſinne, yet grace in 1. Ioh. 1. 7.Chriſt his blood cleanſeth from all ſinne, neither can any man condemne where God hath iuſtified. Rom. 8. 33, 34.And what I thinke of them in charitie, that to my comfort I thinke of my ſelfe and all that holde this iudgement albeit it prooue an error.
Yet againe good mindes will be offended at this, which I hauehave written. But either it is Truth or error. If error, I confeſſe they hauehave iuſt cauſe, and I will confeſſe it when I ſee it. But if it bee the Trueth: what? will the children of the light bee offended at Gal. 4. 16. Luk. 7. 35.the light? or am I their enemie becauſe I tell them the Trueth? wiſedome is iuſtified of all her children. And eueryevery one that is of the Trueth heareth the Iohn 18. 37.voice thereof.
And wicked men, with ſuch as are the enemies of our Church, ſuch as Papiſts, Browniſts, Anabaptiſts, will triumph and reioyce, that ſuch as hauehave ſtood out againſt Conformitie, doe now defend it: But when was it otherwiſe, when will it, how can it bee, but that weake eyes ſhould be offended at the light? It is a griefe to raigning ſinnes to ſee others to amend. They triumph in our conforming, but will they not much more in our eiection? they reioyce in our conforming to the Ceremonies, and wee will grieue at their conforming to the world.
Laſtly, ſome hauehave obſerued, how certaine of the Modeſt offer. fol. 19.Miniſters which ſtood againſt Conformitie, hauehave after yeelding, euidently loſt the grace and power of their gifts, ſome fallen to idleneſſe, neglect of publicke and priuate duties, yea to prophane and ſcandalous life & conuerſation. And ſo (ſay I) hauehave ſundry done vponupon my knowledge, that hauehave holden out againſt Conformitie, euen to ſuſpenſion & depriuation; whoſe zeale in that behalfe, hath either been prepoſtrous, more inſiſting on the leſſer then the weightier matters of the Law, or ioyned with groſſe ignorance, themſelues not able to hauehave giuen a reaſon of their doings before God or man: It being iuſt with God to puniſh them on either ſide, who without conſcience or ground of Faith, do either conforme or refuſe Conformitie. For otherwiſe none can be ignorant, but that on either ſide, ſundry hauehave remained in the conſtant euidence of Gods beſt gifts and graces, and in the bleſsing of a ſanctified eſtate. To teach vsus that it is not the zeale, for or againſt the Ceremonies, but an heart eſtabliſhed in grace, that Heb. 13. 9.can keepe men from the markes and badges of hypocriſie.
Now, for the manner of my handling theſe my The manner of handling.reaſons, I truſt it ſhall appeare to eueryevery perſon fearing God, that as I hauehave written theſe things with a good conſcience, as in the ſight of God: ſo I hauehave performed it with due reſpect to my Brethren, as it becommeth Truth. I know with whom I hold this controuerſie, not with enemies but brethren, and I hauehave not learned the language of fowle ſpeech. If any man be moued to reply, I wiſh him to performe it in the ſpirit of meekeneſſe, and in the euidence of Iames 3. 17.heauenly wiſedome; for that our paſsions are great hinderances of finding out the Truth: And no man breaketh out into inordinate affection in any controuerſie, chiefly of this nature, but hee hazardeth the loſſe of a better thing then that he ſeeketh. Hee ſeeketh Truth, and loſeth Charitie and power of godlineſſe; whereas he ſhould ſeeke Truth in Charitie: For Charitie reioyceth not in iniquitie, but in Epheſ 4. 15. 1. Co…. 13. 6.the Truth. God needeth not our lies to defend his Truth: I leaue ſuch practiſe for my part to Papiſts and to Browniſts, who by vnableneſſe to leaue their rayling formes and bitterneſſe, do manifeſt the fouleneſſe of their heart and falſehood of their cauſe, that cannot bee defended but by weapons borrowed from corrupted nature, and the diuill; And in a word declare themſelues vnprofitable in the Truth they know, & vncapable of any Truth they know not, and quite vnworthy of reſpect. Wee hauehave had contentions enough about circumſtances and Ceremonies. The yeeres ſhould teach vsus how ſmally the Lord doeth bleſſe the diſſentions of Brethren: And the times approach wherin it muſt be knowne, Rom. 14. 17.that the kingdome of God ſtands not in meate and drinke, nor godlineſſe in Ceremonialls, but in the power of a regenerated ſtate: And that ſauing grace wil ſtand, though men neuer write or preach againſt a Biſhop, or ſuffer depriuation for refuſall of a Ceremony: And that the grace of God doth teach vsus to ſeeke reſolution of eueryevery doubt, and to witneſſe our diſlike of things to bee diſliked in wiſedome and proportion; but neuer to contend about any thing, but for the faith once giuen to the Saints. If any man Iude v 3. Phil 3. 15.bee otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reueale the ſame vntounto him. If any man bee ignorant, let him be 1. Cor. 14 38.ignorant ſtill. If any man will be contentious, we 1. Cor. 11. 16.hauehave no ſuch cuſtome, nor the Churche of God. In the foundation we all agree. Time and day will 1. Cor. 3 11. 12. 13. 15▪ 10.try the hay and ſtubble from the gold and ſiluer: And the fire of Gods triall will ſurely ſindge delinquents. Let eueryevery man take heede how hee builds. 1. Cor. 4. 5.Let vsus iudge nothing before the time, vntil the Lord come, who will bring to light the things hidden in darkeneſſe: Phil. 3. 16.But whereunto we hauehave attained, let vsus walke by the ſame rule, and let vsus minde the ſame thing. Iude v. 20.Let vsus edifie our ſelues in our moſt holy Faith, and pray one for nother. And the in their hearts. Iames 5. 16.Lord doe good to thoſe that are good, and to them that are vprightPſal. 125. 4.
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