A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 8
SECT. 8. Browniſts ſecond exception againſt us: about the entrance into a true church.
NExt they object againſt us the entrance into a true church. Wee ſhould (ſay they) have entred into the ſtate of a viſible church, by voluntary covenant upon knowledge, to advance the kingdome of Chriſt▪ and ſo to have a right to the name of a true church, and to the priviledges of it for us, and our children: but wee were forced in our firſt planting by edicts, lawes, and proclamations, and yet admitted members, and our poſteritie after us by baptiſme, even of ſuch of us as are not members indeed.
Put caſe this great plea were true at firſt, yet may not an after mending of what was firſt amiſſe, rectifie and confirme all? Things may bee ill done at firſt, which being once done, may bee of force, and being well carried may end with a bleſſing. A child marries without conſent of parents, and it is wickedly done, yet when it is done, and ſealed with the bed by free conſent, ſhall it not bee of force? Nay, doe not parents looke upon their courſes, and, if they ſee a good carriage, and good ſucceſſe, doe they not like it well, and follow it with their bleſſings? Shall wee make God an harder maſter? will hee not love Iacob though hee got the bleſſing by deceit? God purpoſed him the bleſſing: and though hee got not the poſſeſſion the right way, ſhall his purpoſe faile? God forbid: yea let God be true and every man a lyar; Ro, 3.3, 4Iacobs unbeliefe makes not the faith of God of none effect. So might God deale with us. Hee purpoſed to us the covenant of the Goſpell, and wee came not to it the right way, yet when we are in it, in the place where it was ſaid unto us, ye are not my people, Rom. 9.26wee ſhall bee called the children of the living God. Put caſe a childe bee cut out of the mothers belly, and come not the ordinary way, ſhal the father when hee ſees it live, and thrive, deny it to be his childe, and conclude it to be a baſtard? So will our God deale with us.
But why ſhould wee grant them this? wee failed not in our entrance: they can never prove it by the word of Chriſt. A true viſible church may bee conſidered two waies; in the planting, and in the reforming of it. How wee entred into a true church in our firſt planting, God knowes,Ro. 10.18 we know not from his word. The ſound of the Apoſtles went into all the earth, and their words into the end of the world. The Goſpel is come unto you (ſaith Paul to the Coloſsians) and to all the world, and bringeth forth fruit:Col. 1 6. and ſurely it entred to us (as it ſhould) by ſome Apoſtle, or Apoſtolicke men, to make our ancient predeceſſours a true church. Before, we were without Chriſt: now wee know him. Before, wee were without the covenant; now wee are in by baptiſme. Before, wee were no profeſſours; now we are,Ex. 20. and God ſhewes mercy to thouſands among them that love him, and keepe his commandements, and is their God, and the God of their ſeede. Gen. 9.9. Gen. 17.7.But this is not the ſtate of the queſtion now.
Therefore for the reforming of a church God would have this courſe. As it was with Iob, hee was firſt of Gods making, and next (by Gods permiſſion) of the Devils marring, when he was full of botches and ſores, ſcarce knowne to his friends, and loathſome to his wife. All this while Iob was a true man, as he was before, though clouded with ſome fearefull fits of impatience. But when God would lift up Iob againe, hee did not make a new Iob, but reformed the old, he cured, and cleanſed him, that hee might appeare like himſelfe, and his end was happy. So God dealt with the church. After it had covenanted with God at firſt, it wanted no botches, it was fearefully overſpread with diſeaſes. But when God would have it raiſed againe, hee doth not build a new church, but reformeth the old. Hee ſhewes our forefathers where they were at a loſſe: that they had the faith of Chriſt in the articles, and the profeſſion of it in publicke feſtivities: but with fearefull ſuperſtitions and vanities. Therefore hee puts into their hands, and the hands of his miniſters, the word of his covenant, and the ſacraments of his covenant rightly adminiſtred: and thus (by degrees) wee fall to publicke profeſſion of Chriſts truth, by union of lawes, conſents, and practiſes. What then, is the want in our entrance, which doth make us no true church?
The Browniſts heere, plead foure things.
1 All our members entred not upon knowledge.
2 They made not a covenant for Chriſt.
3 They were not voluntary profeſſours.
4 They were baptized when they were the ſeede of thoſe that were not members of the viſible church by actuall profeſſion.
That all our members entred not upon knowledge, is falſe; were they in planting from no church, or in reforming from a corrupt church? Surely, the knowledge of the doctrine of ſalvation by the bleſſed trinitie, Mat. 28.is ſufficient for the receiving in of members. For Chriſt ſaith, Goe teach all nations and baptize them. And wh…t muſt they bee taught? That which they muſt bee baptized into, their faith in the father, ſon, and holy Ghoſt, which was Chriſts firſt creede that made churches. Had not the members of our reforming church this knowledge? where was the ſeede of our many hundreds of Martyrs? and where is theſe mens charities? Even the darkeſt times that our church hath ſuffered hath preſerved this knowledge, and the profeſſion of looking to bee ſaved by Ieſus Christ the ſonne of the living God, Matth. 16which is that Rocke againſt which the gates of hell ſhall not prevaile.
Yea but (they ſay ſecondly), put caſe they had this knowledge, yet they entred not into our viſible church by covenant. Indeed it is lawfull for chriſtians, that have beene diſjointed in the ſervice of God, to make covenants betwixt themſelves to ſerve him better. So Aſa and his people entred into a covenant to ſeeke the Lord God of their fathers, 2 Chro. 15.12.14.yea, and they ſware unto the Lord. So wee reade of the Princes, Levites, and Prieſts, that made a ſure covenant,Neh. 9.38 writ it, and ſealed it. Surely, this was a good way to tye up the unruly colts that were among them to Gods ſervice, if they had but naturall conſcience, and the Prophets did not condemn it. From whence I conclude, that it is lawfull to helpe our ſelves in the ſervice of God by any meanes not forbidden, though it bee not preciſely commanded in the word: yet is their practiſe a binding law to us ſo far, as to unchurch us if wee doe it not? How many glorious viſible churches doe wee reade of in the ſcriptures, which never tooke this courſe, nor were bound unto it, and yet entred covenant with Chriſt too when they were admitted members?
They were made Chriſts diſciples by teaching, and receiving the word, Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.41. 2 Cor. 5.19 Levit. 2.13 Deut. 29 12. Deut. 26 18. Deut. 33.3. & 26.17 Act 2.41 Act. 8.12 37.38. Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 10.16 Pſal. 44.17which is the word of reconciliation. And this word given to his people, is, Gods covenanting with them, and his avouching them to bee his peculiar people: and their receiving it, is their covenanting with him, and taking God to bee their God. Then doe they goe to the ſeales of the covenant (the ſacraments), according to Chriſts rule, which doe knit us rogether in an holy league, for the ſervice of Chriſt, to our eternall good, if wee doe not deale falſly with God concerning his covenant. If therefore, they denie not (as they cannot) that our firſt members had the true word of God, and ſacraments, neither can they deny that they have entred into the church by covenant.Gal. 3.27 Rom. 4.11. Hee that is baptized, putteth on Chriſt: and baptiſme is Chriſts ſeale of the covenant upon them that are baptized,Ezech. 16.20. as thoſe that were circumciſed, were ſaid to bee borne to God by covenant: which if we breake, we renew againe ſo oft as we come to the ſupper of the Lord.
Yea but (they ſay thirdly), put caſe that they entred covenant with God by baptiſme, yet were they forced to keepe his covenant, in a better way then they had done, by the edicts, lawes, and proclamations of princes. They were not voluntary ſervers of Chriſt, Pſal. 110.3. Acts 2 41as the members of a true viſible church ſhould be. Put this caſe to them alſo, yee are the ſonnes of your mother, who was forced by the authority of her father, or guardian, to marrie your father: will yee ſay, that yee are baſtards, not lawfull heires, or not true members of the family, becauſe your mother was not married to your father freely, and willingly? with what will ſoever ſhee was married, ſhee afterward lived in love, faithfulneſſe, and obedience, and brought forth much fruit unto him. Such may bee the caſe of a true viſible church. Shee may come to Chriſt her husband, as a Beare to the ſtake, being forced by conviction, and the power of naturall conſcience; ſhe may bee drawne before ſhee runne after him;Cant. 1.4. yet afterward, ſhee remembring his love more then wine, Rom. 7.4.may live in obedient love, and bring forth fruit unto God. Though this bee a ſufficient plea, yet let them know, that the firſt members of our church, in planting, were a willing people, for ought they know, and for our firſt members in reforming, I anſwere foure things. Firſt, that the free acts of the leaders of the people are accounted by God as the acts of all; when Moſes was bid tell the children of Iſrael; and hee did but tell the elders of Iſrael, and they anſwered,Ex. 19.3.7.8. all the people are ſaid to anſwer together in them. So Ioſhuah called twelve choiſe men, out of every tribe a man, to carry twelve ſtones,Ioſh 4.…, 8 and the children of Iſrael, whom they repreſented, are ſaid to do it. So Aſa tooke away the altars of the ſtrange Gods, and brake the idols,2 Chro. 24 2.4 7. and cut downe the groves willingly; and though hee commanded his people, and ruled by power, yet they obeying, are ſaid, to ſeeke the Lord▪ and to proſper. Thus far then, our firſt reformers were willing members; they were willing in their guides and leaders, who willingly put themſelves on to advance the kingdome of Chriſt. Secondly, not onelyonly the governours, but the people were willing covenanters in generall body. It was done by the free proceedings of the houſe of parliament, where Knights, and Burgeſſes, were choſen by the free vote of the commons: and they (being knowne to be able men) doe refer themſelves to their determination in the Lord. What though ſome ſubmitted out of feare of power? Thus, many in Mardocai's time became Iewes for feare, Heſt. 8.17.yet were ſo accounted. And many in Hezekiahs time were brought by poſtes, as it were,2 Chro. 30 by the ſound of the trumpet, to the paſſeover, and yet their ſervice was accepted. Thirdly, put caſe the lawes, and proclamations of our Princes forced ſome to bee members, who were willing to doe worſe.
It was not in the firſt planting of a church, where faith is not to be forced (the kingdome of heaven ſuffers violence, Violentiū non coactorum eſt regnum caelorum. 2 Chro. 30 19.20.but faith ſuffers not compulſion): but it was in the reforming of a church; and in ſuch a caſe God did bleſſe the compulſion of Hezekiah, and the people were not rejected, as no members, though they were not purified according to the purification of the ſanctuary.2 Chro. …3 16 2 Chro. 34 32.33.Did not Manaſſeh, after hee was come home to God, command Iudah to ſerve the God of Iſrael? Did not Ioſiah cauſe and make his people to ſtand to his covenant to ſerve, even to ſerve the Lord our God? Is it not lawfull for good Princes in reforming to follow theſe examples? may not they binde their people ſome way, by oath, 2 Chro. 15 12 Neh. 9.38 & 10.29. Ez. 10.3, 19 Object. Sol.bond, ſubſcription, or taking, and giving hands for better performance of duties of religion? why may not our good Princes follow thoſe old patternes in reforming? They ſay, becauſe it is not found in the new teſtament. Bee it ſo: yet it is found in the old teſtament, and not condemned in the new, nor any other order preſcribed in ſuch a caſe. Surely, ſeeing in this new deviſed way, they will bee tried by none but the new teſtament, they ſhall be caſt at this bar in their own courſes. Let them give but one text to prove any man called, or ordained to a Paſtours office in the church, by a company of private men alone, and I ſhall give them another text to prove any thing they pleaſe, I can yet reade of none but Apoſtles, Evangeliſts, and the elderſhip that made miniſters there. If they can ſhew no text, I am ſure they have no ſuch Paſtours as they ought: but I am ſure we have true kings, who have power in reforming, to compell wicked people to be better then they are,Rom. 13. becauſe they beare not the ſword for nought.
Yea, but (ſay they laſtly) put caſe they entred upon neceſſarie knowledge; that they made a covenant in receiving the word, and ſacraments; that they were voluntarily, or forced, yet lawfull profeſſours, when they ſtated a viſible church: yet they were (many of them) baptized, when they were the ſeed of them that were not members of the viſible church. Conceive it thus. If a man be a member of the viſible church, then his children have a right to baptiſme, before they actually profeſſe the faith, by vertue of that promiſe, I will be thy God, Gen. 17.7and the God of thy ſeede. But if hee bee not a member of a viſible church, (as a Iew, Turke, or Pagan) then have they no right to it, before they actually confeſſe,Act 8. as the Eunuch did. Now the Browniſts (keeping a great coile about the jointing of members into a church, as if it were all one to be jointed into the body of Chriſt, coapted, and fitted to our head Chriſt, for life and ſalvation, and to bee a member of the viſible church, in outward communion and fellowſhip of Chriſt, for the outward priviledges of the church) they have (I ſay) eſpied, among many others, this one crime, in the Dutch, and French churches,Fran. Iohnſ Artic againſt Fr and Dutch Churches. that they baptize the ſeede of them that are no members of the viſible church: much more, when they looke upon us, whom they account not members of a true viſible church, muſt they quarrell (if all bee of his mind), if our firſt reformers be not members of a true viſible church, and yet their children are baptized before they are of yeares to profeſſe their owne faith.