An Apology for the Nonconformists Ministry, Treatise · Part 1 · Objection 12
12 Obj. But with what conscience do you come into Cities, Corporations, or within five miles of them, or of your former Preachingplaces? Doth God bid you preach just here? And how do your scruples engage you thus to break the Laws?
Ans. Even with such a Conscience as we Preach in England, when the Scripture nameth not England to us. Did not the ancient Christians also disobey a lawful power, when they setled their Churches in Cities, even when they were forbidden both City and Country? and if Christ say, VVhen they persecute you in one city, fly to another; and you bid us, fly from all, and fly to none. Hath not a Nonconformists Conscience something of the command of Christ to countenance his practice? But our true Reasons are the same as are forementioned for our Preaching. If necessity be upon us to Preach because of the peoples necessity to hear, then where their necessity is greatest, there our obligation is greatest. But in populous Cities and Towns, when the ablest conformable Minister is insufficient for a quarter of the Parish, the peoples necessities are greatest. Ergo,
If it be lawful for us to desert and betray to Satan the souls of all the Cities and Corporations in England, and within five miles of them, and of all the places where we have Preached, why will it not be lawful to do so by the rest? VVhere the carcass is, the eagles will be gathered together; and where the work and Vineyard is, the labourer must be.
And all good men love the publick good, and therefore will chuse those places for their labour (caeteris paribus) which the publick good doth most depend on.
Especially if the people of their ancient charge live there, and they think that their relation to them is not dissolved.
And I must profess, that few of the passages of this generation do more astonish me with dread and wonder, than to think that City-Pastors who have so vast a charge, and so much more need of help than the Country, yea men of reputed learning, sobriety and piety, should ever be desirous to take this burden wholly on themselves, and should be the forwardest to drive away assistants, yea and make it a sin to preach to those souls, that they know they cannot preach to themselves! Yea, that the same men that one year have much ado to satisfie their own consciences to conform, and think they speed well, if with Conformity they can but keep up some reputation of honesty, yet the next year make so great a progress, as to question his honesty, that will not sacrilegiously renounce his Ministry, and are the forwardest to put down all Preaching save their own! Do the Pastors themselves no better know the Parish bounds, and the peoples wants, or the worth of souls? What then can we expect from others?
Obj. But it is not your help, but your hindering us that we are against. Do you help us by drawing the people from us to your selves?
Ans. I cannot tell whether we help you or not, till I know what is your help. If your work be not to get followers and applause, but to bring men to Christian knowledg, faith, love, obedience, and patience, then all the Ministers that I plead for are you helpers; those that are not, silence them, and spare not. But if your work be to preach up your selves, and your successes be reckoned by your applause, I cannot tell whether we help you or not. For though we seek to increase your reputation with the people, yet it is not as you are self-seekers, but as in charity we hope you preach more for Christ, and mens Salvation, than for your selves.