A Mild and Just Defense of Certain Arguments, Tract · Part 3 · Argument 15
THE 15. ARGVMENT.
As the Parliament hath had a godly care of ſeverity, for the better converting of the Papiſts, ſo likewiſe there ought to be the like godly care for their good inſtruction by ſuch able Miniſters, as againſt whom they may hauehave no iuſt exception. Ergo.
In this reſpect the Parliament ought to doe the more; for the liberty of the Miniſters ſuſpended etc.
I defferr the reply to all the marginall notes, to the further anſwer following.
G. PowelAs if there were not able Miniſters inough, in both Vniverſities & in other partes of the kingdome (if competent mayntenance might be procured for them) for every Congregation, without the ſmall hand full of ſchiſmaticall Miniſters.
ReplyPart of this hath been anſwered before: yet to help the anſwerers memory (if it be weake) I tell him agayne, that if we had tentymes as many more, as there are, either in the univerſities, or elſe where, there would be uſe of them all. The Lords harveſt is great: the day is farr ſpent: the laborers that are, are ſome ſo weake, ſome ſuch loyterers, and ſome ſo unskilfull, that they make no cleane worke, but leaue as much behind them, as they gather and carry before them.
Beſides is it a ſmall matter, for the Miniſter to be acquainted with the people, and the people with the Miniſter? As likewiſe for the Miniſter to affect the people, and the people the Miniſter? Agayne, are all fit to teach & to governe the people, that are learned and good ſchollers in the Vniverſity? It hath been juſtly blamed by learned wryters of our ſide, that ſome Papiſts hauehave blaſphemouſly called the ſcriptures a noſe of waxe, & a ſhipmans hoſe. But now would God, it were not ſo made in open pulpit, by ſome great ſchollers, that are accounted great divines. Yea, it is lamē table, that in ſome great places (if not in the greateſt) men preach of the ſcriptures; and yet never interpret the ſcripture wherof they preach: yea that indeed ſo hammer the ſcripture, as though it were a peece of mettall, the which they might worke or caſt: into what forme themſelues beſt liked: who alſo make the Pulpite a place rather to ſheew their owne witt, wherby to win credit and prayſe to themſelues, (perhaps alſo to get a Biſhopprike in the end) then faithfully to deliver the meſſage of God, wherby to glorifie God, and either to winne ſoules unto him, or to confirme and further in godlines, thoſe that are already wonne. Laſtly, who rather playe with the ſcripture as if it were ſome gue gawe, then wiſely handle the ſame.
As for competent maintenance, I remember what one (that hath now turned his coate, and every where almoſt chafeth at vsus like a Cooke, I remember (I ſay) what he once anſwered a Biſhop being asked, where he would hauehave ſufficient maintenance for preachers in every Congregation: A good thong (quoth he) might be cut out of your hyde. As alſo what Iohn Baptiſt ſayd unto the people,Luc: 3:11 He that hath two coates, let him part with him that hath none. So ſay I, that for the better mayntenance of the goſpell where there were neede; there might be many a good ſhare had out of the ſurperfluity of thoſe, that maintayne their wiues in ſattin and dammaske gownes, velvet kirtles, cheynes etc: that bring up their children like the children of Noble men, that fat themſelues and theirs, and ſtarue the Lords people: and who after their great abundance Preach not ſo much in 4 yeares, as they did before, in one.
G. PowelSuppoſe there were not able Miniſters inough for this purpoſe: HaueHave not the refractary Miniſters, then greater reaſon to joyne with their brethren in preaching the goſpell, confuting the Papiſts etc: then ſuperſtitiouſly to quarrell about croſſ and ſurplice, and to forſake their neceſſary vocation?
Nay.Reply, HaueHave not the Prelats the more reaſon to ſuffer us ſtill in the worke of the Miniſtery with them? We are all willing, ſo farre to joyne with any in preaching the Goſpell, as we may doe nothing againſt the Goſpell, to craze the peace of our owne conſcience. The anſwerer often charging us with ſuperſtition, cōvinceth them that ſay that we doe not that which we doe of conſcience. For if we be ſuperſtitious in not yeelding to croſſe, ſurplice, etc: then are they to us meere matters of cōſcience. For ſuperſtition is not in words, but hath her ſeate in the conſcience.