Church Concord, Chapter 1
Chap. I. The Necessity of Concord.
THE Judgments of all wise and sober men must needs disallow both the Practice of Division and unwarrantable Separation from the Churches of Christ, and the common Liberty for Gathering Churches out of Churches now pleaded for, and too much practised by many; and also the Occasioning of Divisions and Separations by over rigorous proceedings with tender Consciences, and imposition of unnecessary things and too much severity against those that through infirmity are guilty of some culpable Divisions and Uncharitableness: For it's not this Oil that will quench these flames.
In order to the healing of our dangerous Divisions, I think it meet to deliver my thoughts in the ensuing Method. 1. To shew the Evil of our Divisions, and of the common practice of Private Separated Churches, where in Publick there are able, godly, faithful Ministers, and such Publick Churches as may lawfully be owned: For I meddle with no other case. 2. To shew what the agreeing Publick Ministers should do on their parts for the prevention and cure of these Distractions. 3. To give you the true state of the Differences that have occasioned them. 4. To propound those Terms by which a safe Reconciliation may be made. 5. To which I should add (if it were not for being thought too bold or confident) the Magistrates Duty, both in order to our Agreement, and in case we will not be agreed.
I. Though I take not a Private Meeting, or a Tolerated Private Church for so odious a thing in it self considered as some do, but confess that such may be Good or Evil, as the Cause of the Assemblies,—the Aspect of the Times, and other Circumstances and Accidents shall make them, and doubt not but there may be warrantable Separations from one or many particular Churches, where the blame may lie upon the Churches, and the Private Assemblies sometimes may be more justifiable than the allowed Publick ones; yet as unnecessary Separations and Divisions are a great transgression; so what the Aggravations of that transgression are, and what wrong the Cause of God receives from the Differences among the godly themselves, and the Divided and Private Congregations that are gathered by occasion of these differences, in many parts of England, I shall briefly shew.
1. When in one and the same Parishes (the boundaries of the ordinary Churches, as to habitation) there shall be divers Churches, one Publick, and one Private, it will ordinarily cause great Disaffection and Contention among the Christians of that place: There will be Pastor against Pastor, and People against People; and one will be accusing another according to their several apprehensions, and making the waies, and consequently the persons of each other to he odious or unacceptable to others: And hereby Christian Love will be much quenched, and Unity and Concord much overthrown, and all the Effects of Love abated, and the odious remnants of Uncharitableness, Malice and Emulations will revive. Too common and sad experience puts this out of doubt. Alas! what Factious Doctrine, for Parties and against Parties are usually managed in Publick and Private, where these Divisions once appear? What unconscionable Censures pass too often on one side or both? What bitter unchristian taunts and scorns, and reproachful words? When publick Writings so abound with these, and the Press is become the common scold, and the most unchristian Language is spoken so familiarly to all the Land, and uncharitableness and fury are afraid of being concealed, no wonder if in private among those that are pleased with such discourse, the Preacher sit in the Scorners Chair.
2. Uncharitableness and Divisions, are as plainly, urgently and frequently prohibited, and condemned in the Word of God, as almost any sins that are: And Love and Unity, Peace and Concord are prest as much as any Duty of Man to Man. Certainly these Great Obligations are such as smaller matters cannot dispense with. And wonderful it is, that so many thousand, that abhor the Popes dispensing with Oaths and Promises, and Subjects Duties, and with some of the positive commands of God, can yet without remor…e of Conscience so easily, so long, so confidently dispense with the greatest Duties of Man towards Man, even with Charity it self, and the effects of Charity. He that must owe nothing else, must owe Love, Rom. 13. 8. Love is the fulfilling of the Law. Verse 10. Every Commandment of the Second Table is briefly fulfilled in Loving our Neighbours as our selves. Verse 9. Yea he loveth not God that loveth not his Brother. 1 Iohn 4▪ 21. Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God: He that loveth not, knoweth not God: For God is Love. 1 Iohn 4▪ 7, 8. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his Love is perfected in us. Verse 12. God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Verse 16. If any Man say, I love God and hateth his Brother, he is a Liar: For he that Loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen, how can he Love God whom he hath not seen: And this Commandment have we from him, that he that Loveth God, Love his Brother also. Verse 20, 21. Every one that Loveth him that begat, Loveth him that is begotten also. 1 Iohn 5. 1. We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we Love the Brethren: He that Loveth not his Brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his Brother is a Murderer, and you know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him. 1 Iohn 3. 14, 15. Yea we ought to lay down our Lives for the Brethren. Verse 16. This is the New and frequently urged Command of Christ, that we Love one another. Iohn 13. 34. and 15. 12, 17. Gal. 5. 14. Iam. 2. 8. This is it that we must provoke each other to. Heb. 10. 24. and that must continue▪ Heb. 13. 1. We must Love one another with a pure Heart …ervently. 1 Pet. 1. 2…. Yea by Love we must serve one another. Gal. 5. 13. And Paul took this to be so Essential to our Sanctification that he tells the Thessalonians, 1 Thes. 4. 9. that [as touching Brotherly Love, he need not write to them, for they were taught of God to love one another.] And can that be the way of God that dispenseth with so Essential a part of Holiness, or that secretly and unobservedly extinguisheth this holy Love! Let Experience teach you, whether the present way of private separated Churches, be not the opening a Shop, or Forge, for Military Engines against each other? And under pretence of defending Truth, whether they be not the Nurseries of uncharitable Wars among the Servants of the Lord?
And then as Love is extinguished, so the sinful fruits of the contrary Vice do by such Divisions prosper and abound! And what weekly Bills of heinous sins might we see, that are committed on these occasions, if all the envious, slanderous, censorious, and other uncharitable words were open to our view that many that profess the fear of God, are frequently guilty of. It is a sad condition that tempteth Christians to so much Sin, and quieteth their Consciences in it, as if their horrid iniquity were their piety; and that bringeth too many separated Churches under some such reputation as Alehouses are faln into (I speak it not in contempt but lamentation) which are taken to be lawful, but places where so much Sin is committed, that it is a suspicious sign for a M…n to be oft seen in them, especially near home. As Swearing and Excess of Drink are the ordinary sins of Alehouses, so Church dividing, Censorious, Envious words, with more that I shall anon mention, are the too common Sins of these Dividing Congregations.
And then as Love▪ so Unity and Concord is importunately urged on us in the holy Scriptures, and the contrary condemned. O read and study that prayer of Christ, that his Servants may be One, Iohn 17. 11, 21, 22, 23. how high he drives it, and how much he insisteth on it. His Church was then most spiritual and pure, when it had the greatest Unity, Act. 2. 1. [They were all with One accord in One place] when the Holy Ghost did fall upon them! Act. 2▪ 42. [They continued stedfast in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship, and breaking of Bread and Prayer] verse 44. [All that believed were together (yea and by the power of Love, though not by Levelling destruction of Propriety) had all things common.] Vers. 46. [They continued daily with one accord in the Temple—] Act. 4. 31, 32. They were together [praying when the place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: And the multitud… of them that believed were of one heart and soul.] So Act. 5. 12. Many great faults we find had tainted the Church of the Corinthians, the Galatians, and too many more; when yet we find not that any Separated Churches were gathered by the godly, for the avoiding these corruptions (nor that I remember, on any other occasion.) No where do I read in the same Precincts or Cities, of any Churches separated from the first Churches, but only the Societies of Hereticks, that are so much reprehended and branded with Infamy by the Spirit of God. Not one that ever I could find of the true Believers, did take this to be his duty: Name any Church that was separated from a former Church in Scripture, and held divided Assemblies in the same Precincts, and was approved by the Lord. I find Divisions in the Churches too many; some saying, I am of Paul, and some, I am of Apollo; but I find none but those condemned of Heresie, that divided from the Churches. Separation from the World was the practice of the Churches; but separation from the Churches was the practice of Hereticks only, as far as I remember; or those that are charged with Schism at least; though I remember not that meer Schism then rose so high. They that had the Apostles among them could not easily fall to such a Crime, till they fell from the Apostles. And far were the Apostles when they reprehended the Corruptions of the Churches, from perswading Men to separate from them. (Though it's possible for such a case to be, when that may be a Duty, yet all those faults enumerated by Paul, did not make it so.) But contrarily they charge them not to forsake the Assembling of themselves together, as the manner of some (the Hereticks) was. Heb. 10. 25. and [beseech them by the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ to speak all the same thing, and that there be no Divisions among them; but that they be perfectly joined together in the same Mind, and in the same Judgment. I Cor. 1. 10. 11. [That they be all of one Mind, having Compassion one of another, loving as Brethren, being pitiful and courteous, not rendring evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, &c.] 1 Pet. 3. 8, 9. O how constant, and how earnest were the Apostles in these Exhortations, and in answerable Prayers to God. Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. [If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ, if any Comfort of Love, if any Fellowship of the Spirit, if any Bowels and Mercies, fulfil ye my Joy, (and what was Paul's so much desired Joy?) That ye be like minded, having the same Love, being of one Accord, of one mind: Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves: Look not every one on his own things, but every Man also on the things of others.] Rom. 15. 5, 6. [Now the God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one Mind, and one Mouth glorifie God. Rom. 16. 17. Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them: For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own Bellies, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the Hearts of the simple.] So 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. Study. Iam. 3. throughout.
Abundance of such passages are before us in the Word, which tell us that this Great and Necessary command of Love and Unity, is not to be dispensed with, nor Divisions among Christians to be accounted small things. And shall men professing the fear of God, go against such a stream of Holy Precepts? And be sensible of a Swearers or a Drunkards Sin, and not of so great a course of Sin of their own?
3. The Nature of Gods Graces in his Servants Souls is contrary to a way of Separation and Division: As Fire would to Fire, and Water to Water, so would Christian to Christian: Grace is sociable, and abhors Division as well as Nature. Wounding is not its Delight. Love is an Essential part of the New Man. The living Members rejoyce together, and suffer together, and be not easily set against each other; but it's hurt to all that's hurt to one.
4. Divided Churches are the Seminaries of Private dividing Principles; As they proceed from such Principles, so do they cherish and increase them. They espouse an Interest that's contrary to Catholicism and Christian Concord; and therefore we find that they make it much of their Business to propagate it. Whatever Opinion drew from the Communion of the Church, must be there pleaded for against the Peace of the Church. And to have a Mutineer in the Army of our Lord is bad; but to have Schools and Nurseries of Mutineers dispersed through the Land, and favoured by Godly Men, is far worse.
5. And certainly so far to forsake the Catholick Principles and Interest, and be so void of a Catholick Spirit and Love, as to set a part against the whole, or a smaller part against the Profit of the main part of Christ's Body, is a thing much unlike the Christian Nature, and unbeseeming a sensible Member of Christ. With what hearts do such dividing Brethren read all those passages of Scripture that speak of the Unity of the Catholick Church? We have all one End, one Hope, one Law. [There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one Hope of our Calling: one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism (one Baptismal Coveanting with God) Eph. 4. 4, 5, 6. one God and Father of all; who is above all, through all, and in us all; therefore must we endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace] v. 3. [For as the Body is one and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many, are one Body: so also is Christ: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body—] 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13. And the Spirit and Ministry are given to this one Body [for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the fleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in Love, may grow up in him, in all things, which is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body to the edifying of it self in Love.] Eph. 4. 12, 13 14, 15. Note here the Unity of the Catholick Body, and who is the Center of the Church, and in what way it prospereth to perfection? and all will tell you of Unity in Christ, and Communion of the several parts in Love. [God hath tempered the Body together, having given more abundant honour to that part that locked; that there should be no Schism in the Body, but that the Members should have the same care one for …nother: and whether one Member suffer, all the Members suffer with it, or one Member be honoured, all the Members rejoyce with it: Now ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular, 1 Cor. 12 24, 25, 26, 27. O how much the Nature and Unity of the Church Universal, even the Body of Christ, is forgotten by most men, that withdraw into separated Assemblies upon those grounds and terms, as condemn or cost off most of the Universal Church of Christ.
And how do they look upon the face of the World, if indeed they know what state it is in, and hath been in, when they can find in their hearts to keep up our Divisions? (of which more anon).
6. Moreover our Divisions and Separations do much destroy the Power of Godliness: partly as is said, by destroying Love and all the Operations of Love, wherein it principally consisteth: and partly by diverting Professors of Religion from Practical Doctrine, Conference and Meditation, and filling them with Fancies and Opinions and Passions. So that when once in a Town there is Church against Church, and Pastor against Pastor, almost all (or too much) of their time is taken up in wrangling and contending and making their Cause good against each other; and they strive not to overcome each other by Meekness, Patience and Love: It is the raising of an Ecclesiastick War through all the Quarters of the Land! And few thrive by these Wars above any Wars. Mark whether Holiness, Love and Heavenliness appear as much in their Families and Lives, where this War is raised, and Fire kindled, as it did before.
7. Moreover, it keepeth out too often a Saving work of Grace, and turns off many that were coming on, and crusheth fair hopes too often in the bud. Many a Minister hath rejoyced in the Hopes of a Conversion which seemed to be begun, on the younger sort especially of his Hearers: And when they have seemed to be somewhat humbled, changed, resolved for a Holy Life, suddenly some Divider or other layeth hold on them, and turneth the stream of their Thoughts and Z…al, upon Opinions and barren Controversies, and spoileth our hopes of the work of Grace, and formeth them up into Contentious Hypocrites. And alas how apt are such separated Assemblies to …empt men to this miserable case? even as Ale houses are to make men Drunk. Sober men may be there; but there's the Nursery of Opinionative Religion.
8. But there is no effect so grievous to my thoughts, as the common hardening of the ungodly. Who sees not how it makes them think unbelievingly or contemptuously of all Religion, when they see so many Churches and ways, and hear them so condemn each other, they think they may warrantably condemn them all, and say as bad by them, or speak as contemptuously of them as they do of each other. They think they are as well already, as turning to such a divided People can make them? And when they think of turning, the Tempter asketh them, as the Papists use to do, Which Party will you turn to? Why rather to this, than all the rest?] What a readiness did I see to entertain the way of Godliness presently after the Wars in many places, that had before been under the Power that most reproacht it! Till they saw us by the Ears among our selves, and see us fall into so many Parties, and then they turned their reverence into contempt.
Let no man fly to God's Decrees here, and say, that [Offences must be, and Heresies must arise that the approved may be manifested, and that the Elect cannot be deceived to Perdition] For Sin is Sin, and Misery for all this: They may on those Grounds as well let Physicions have leave to give men Poison, or any m…n to set our Towns on fire, because nothing can be done against God's Decrees? It is as true among the Indians and Turks, that the Elect cannot be deceived to Perdition, and that God knoweth who are his, as here: and yet I hope all Christians will lament the Sin and Misery of the World of Infidels, and Idolaters, and pray and endeavour (as far as they can) their recovery by the Gospel: We must fetch no such Conclusions from any Decrees of God, as shall hinder from praying that his Name may be Hallowed, his Kingdom come, and his Will be done in the Earth as it is in Heaven: Such as may encourage us to dig Pits for the Blind, and cast such stumbling blocks in their way, and be Servants to the Tempter and Enemy of Souls in hindering them from Salvation. And what can we to hinder them more, than to bring the Churches and Holy Worship and Ways of God into doubt or contempt among them?
9. Our Divisions make us and the Cause of God to be our Adversaries Reproach, and his Name is evil spoken of among them through us. They have taken it up as their common Argument to draw men to Popery, (and now at last to Infidelity), that we are a Babel of Confusion, and have no Unity among us, and they point to our several Parties, and ask men, How they know that this is in the right more than all the rest? and why he will cleave rather to one of them than to another? Can a tender Conscience, and one that regardeth the interest of Christ, forbear to mourn while the Name of God is daily reproached, and his Servants made the Song of Drunkards, the Scorn of Papists and all their Adversaries, and the by-word of the Prophane, by our Divisions?
10. These Divisions and Antichurches do hinder the Holy Order and Discipline of Families, when the Husband is of one Church and the Wife of another; or the Parents of one, and the Children of another; or the Master of one and the Servants of another; or one Child and Servant of one Church and another of another: This hindereth the Governours from seeing effectually that their Families be soundly instructed, and kept from Heresies, or neglect of Ordinances: It hindereth them from taking a due account of their Children and Servants of what they learn: It divideth Families, and induceth the Children and Servants to refuse to joyn in Family Prayer and other Duties with their Parents and Masters, and to refuse to hear them repeat those Sermons, which they refused to hear from the Minister himself: And it turneth the Holy Conference, and charitable Communion of Families, into perverse Contendings about their several ways.
11. And these separated Churches do much hinder the Labours of the Ministers of Christ, and the true Reformation of the Churches. It grieveth the Souls of Faithful Pastors, to see that their Children, or those that they hope have somewhat of Christ in them, shall be the Instruments of Satan to hinder their Labours; and it grievously weakeneth the Builders hands when they are thus opposed by those for whom they have spent themselves, and in whom they should have Comfort after their Travels, and from whom they should have help for the promoting of their work with others; Drunkards and Swearers in some places, hinder not the Ministers work so much as Antichurches, that make it their work to draw men to themselves, and to that …nd do find themselves engaged to speak against the Publick Church and Ministry, and to that End to quarrel with or reproach the Doctrine or Worship there performed. And how can th…se Ministers reform their Churches, that are forsaken (yea and opposed) by so many of those that should be the Materials of their Churches, and should be their strength against the Prophane, and help them in Reforming, and in the exercise of Discipline? It making Discipline it self (on both parts) also to be of almost no Effect, when he that is cast out of one Church can presently step into another, and perhaps under pretence of greater Holiness, and there reject those that rejected him, and seem more Innocent than they.
12. These private separated Churches also do give great advantage to the secret Enemies of the Truth, and Corrupters of Sound Doctrine, to creep in and sow the Tares of Heresies among poor Christians that have no Pastor at hand to contradict Deceivers. And most of the horrid Errours of these times, that have poysoned Souls, dishonoured God, divided us and disturb'd our Peace, have crept in at these back Doors: Few have made their Entrance at the Publick Assemblies, in comparison of those that have come in at private Meetings. And here it is that Papists and other Adversaries have opportunity to Play their Games, and to lay their Trains of Gun. Powder to blow up both Church and State, without the Odium of being Traitors and Powder-Plotters, yea, by the Countenance and Favour of the State. It will not secure us, that Papists are excepted from Liberty among us, as long as a Vizir, or another Name, and some Equivocation shall be to them a Patent for Liberty and Toleration.
13. Moreover, our Separations tend to the grievous Pollution of the Ordinances of God, by setting up prophane Persons as Ministers, and encouraging prophane Administrations, and Societies, and so dis…o…ouring the Christian Name, and hardening the Ignorant and Ungodly by these means. For when those that are most Zealous against Prophaness are withdrawn, and leave the ignorant careless People to themselves, they will have Ministers like themselves (if such are to…erated) and they will make up such Churches as are uncapable of Discipline, and will go on as smoothly in the Abuse of Sacraments, and the Praises of God and all Holy Ordinances, as if they were the only Christians in the Land, and theirs the only regular Churches, and none but Sectaries differed from them. Or if they were not allowed the Publick holding of Undisciplined Churches, and prophanation of Holy Ordinances, yet as long as all may have what private Assemblies they please, they will there at least have their Ignorant unworthy Ministers to fit all their Humours, and there they will Prophane the Name and Holy things of God. And O what abundance of provoking Sin will be committed in England every Week, and this through the Separations of Pious Persons, and the toleration of the State, as for their Indulgence? Do we make Laws against the Prophanation of the Holy Name of God, by Swearing and Cursing? and shall men fearing God let loose, (yea further) the Rabble of the Ungodly through the Land, in the Prophaning of the same Name, and Holy Ordinances, and the Office of the Ministery, under a pretence of Worship? The case of Nadab and Abihu, and the Bethshemites and Uzza, do tell us, that God is more jealous about his Holy Things, than in our common Affairs.
14. Moreover, It is an actual Reproaching of all our Solemn Assemblies, to separate from them; as if you openly proclaimed them to be such, that an honest man may not lawfully hold Communion with. Whereas the Interest of Christ is so great among them, so much of his acceptable Worship, and so many of his faithful beloved ones are there, that he will not take such usage well. If we must needs have private separated Assemblies, let the Servants of Christ so close together, that the Ungodly and not they may be the separated part, and may be driven into Corners: Let the Holy ordered Assemblies of the Saints be the Publick Assemblies, and let not the ungoverned have that honour.
15. It is an unspeakable Mischief of these Antichurches and Divisions, that they are the great Impediment to Universal Communion of all the Servants of Christ in the Land: which is a work of great Necessity to the common good, and exceeding desirable to all Christians. Were we but one, One Body by some common Bond and Communion, our Rulers would quickly be resolved in the Point of Toleration, Heresies might be easier extinguished, and Prophaneness might through all the Land lye under such Discouragement as might much abate it; whilest every where the unanimous Servants of the Lord did keep out all the obstinate Impenitent Persons from the Publick Communion; and he that is cast out of one Church is cast out of all; and none in any Country would entertain him: Whereas now they have ordinarily a room in the most Publick Assemblies, or if one Church reject them, when they travail into other Parts, they are as acceptable as others: and so Communicatory Letters are made useless. But the Principal thing that I here intend is, that excellent Security of the Gospel and Godliness to our Posterity, and the welfare of the Nation that might be happily promoted by this Unity: For then the Church and Commonwealth might be so complicate and commensurate as would be the Strength and Glory of them both: They may hold in Life, but never attain that stability and Glory that God hath propounded to them, and given them means for, till (for the generality) the Members of the Church and the Freemen☜ of the Commonwealth are the same: (I say not [the Subjects] but [the Freemen] that is, those that shall be capable of Governing or electing Governors.) Then will not the Interest of Church and State be set in Opposition against each other, nor Rulers keep up sinful jealousies against the Gospel and Ministers of Christ, then will the Magistrate support and second the Ministry and Church, and the Ministers and Church be the faithfullest obeyers and defenders of the Magistrate: And then we shall not need to fear when one Parliament hath made us wholsom Laws, and own'd the Gospel, left a majority of malignant impious Choosers should give us another that will undo all, and cast out the chief Blessing and Glory of the Land. Were Church and Commonwealth but duly commensurate (as aforesaid) then sober men and faithful to the interest of Christ would choose our Parliaments, and so a Succession of Righteous Governours might be secured to the Land! A Mercy of inestimable Value, that would advance Britain yet much higher above any Nation under☞ Heaven! And what clear Reasons could I give for this; and how easily could I answer all considerable Objections, and how easily might it be quickly put in execution, if it were not for this one most lamentable Evil, even the unreconciled Parties, and the undisciplined Churches and Antichurches among us? Till then, we hold our precious Mercies on such slippery terms, as should awaken all honest men to look after a better Security: God can make Wolves befriend his Lambs, and the Serpentine brood that are haters of Piety to choose Pious Governours: But Wonders of Mercy are fitter for a grateful remembrance, than for secure Expectations, when we wilfully cause our peril.
16. And it is an aggravation of the Sin of these Dividing ways, that they are continued in such a time and place as this! When men have nothing forced on them that they were wont to complain of; and nothing wanting but what they have such more than ordinary helps to procure in the Publick Churches▪ Formerly it was the Prelacy, and Li…urgy and Ceremonies that by the Separ… tists was pretended as a justifying Cause of their Separation: (And yet then the ancient Nonconformists themselves did write against them more than any did): But now they can pretend no such things as these: Who forceth any thing upon their Consciences, which the tenderest Conscience of understanding People hath cause to refuse? And if Discipline be wanting, they have much encouragement to endeavour and hope for a supply: If the Ministers be bad, they may cast them out: We all desire it: If they be faithful, they will be willing to go as far as they can in the exercise of Discipline: and it is the discouragements, Divisions, and withdrawings of those that should help them that doth much disable them.
And it seems to me a great Aggravation that usually this Sin is the fruit of so many other Sine! How oft is it brought forth by a proud over-valuing of mens own Opinions, Parts and Piety? and by uncharitable censoriousness of others, and a vil…f…ing extenuation of all that is good in them! And how ordinarily doth it bring forth disobedience, murmuring, and disdain of those that were their Teachers? and evil speaking against the things that they understand not? And too commonly it proceeds from laziness! When they will not be at the trouble and cost of doing their parts to reform the Churches where they are, they will lazily separate, to save them a labour: It is a harder work and requireth much more Self-denyal to joyn in the admonishing of the several Ungodly Persons in the Churches, and follow it in God's way till they are reclaimed or cast out, than to get in private among a few that will put us to no such trouble. I see not but these Persons while they cry up Discipline, would destroy it. As some on one extream refuse to exercise it, so these on the other extream will be Members only of such Societies when they shall have little or no use for it, and consequently exclude it, or at least where it shall not cost them much. Lay this together, and consider whether in such times as these, when Godly Magistrates are ready to encourage us, and Godly Ministers willing to do what they can in Reformation, and no burdens are forced on their Consciences, and we refuse not their Communion that differ from us in tolerable Points, that yet in these times men will fly from our Assemblies, and set up Antichurches as they do! Alas, what pievish Children are in the Family of God. One part now separate into private Churches, because we have not Prelacy, Liturgy and Ceremonies; and another part separate, even when they are cast out, because they be not pleased in all things, that look to the other Extream! Doubtless the Separatists in our days of Reformation and Liberty, are much more unexcusable, than they were in the times of Ceremonies and Violence. What! cannot all the Endeavour… of Magistrates and Ministers by such a Reformation, that many others think too much, yet sweep the Churches clean enough for you to enter? In other Ages it was the affliction of the Godly to be cast out of the Church by evil Governours: But now how many do cast out themselves? The Jews persecuted the Disciples by casting them out of their Synagogues, Ioh. 16. 2. and 12. 42. And will you cast out your selves from the true Churches of Christ? And that from such Principles, and with such concomitant aggravating faults as those forementioned?
17. And it is an aggravation of this Sin that it is continued against so much and long Experience. Have we not long found by Experience how it quencheth Charity, and hindereth the Gospel, and cherisheth Errors, and causeth the rest of the forementioned Evils? And shall we love it, when we have found it Evil?
18. And it is no small aggravation of this Sin, to consider what England is, and what all the rest of the World is at this day, and what it hath been from the beginning until now: Had it not been the greater Sin to have separated from▪ the Jewish Church (much worse than English Congregations) when all the rest of the World were Aliens, and much further from God than they? Five Parts of the World are Idolatrous Heathens, and Mahometans: A Sixth part only make any Profession of the Christian Name: Not a quarter (I think) of that Sixth part are Protestants: How ignorant and rude the Eastern and Southern Churches are, is lamentable to relate: Few of them have any Preaching, but only Homilies and Liturgies read. What the Papists are I need not tell you. Not the Twentieth part of the World … adm…nts: And among these, alas, how few have so much of the life of …ining th… …mong them as the meaner sort of our English Congregations? And hath Go… called this spot of Earth, this narrow Island, a corner of the World, to honour with the greatest lustre of the Gospel, and true Reformation and Godliness? and yet will these men withdraw from the Publick Churches here, as if no Publick Church on Earth (but the few of their way) were worthy of their presence: Are they no more thankful for England's singular Privileges? nor no more humbly sensible of their own unworthiness? And would they separate from all the Publick Churches almost in the World?
19. These continued Divisions among our selves are a great discouragement to our highest Rulers from seeking the healing of the Churches abroad. The greatest Service they can do to God, is to reconcile the Churches, and bring them to Agreement, and strengthen them thereby against their Adversaries. And all good men desire this of them, that they would improve their interest to this end. But alas, with what heart can they set upon it; as long as they are unable to reconcile and unite the best of the Subjects here at home; It was the Grecians Jest upon a great man among them, that he went about to reconcile all the Princes and States of Greece, and could not reconcile his Wife and her Maid that lived unquietly at home. And do not we prepare such Entertainment for our Governours attempts in so good a Work?
20. Lastly, I heartily desire that our Divisions and Antichurches may not prepare renewed Wars, and Calamities to the Commonwealth. Certainly the Body of the Nation is much disaffected to them: And I wish that for their sakes they grow not disaffected to the Government, and ready for Enterprizes that beseem them not. But I much more fear, left animosities among the several Parties should make them busie and bold in their Enterprizes against each other, and still seeking opportunities to oppress one another, and to advance themselves. And lest the several Parties be to their Prince, like the many Wives that some of the Jews had to their Husbands, that were still jealous of his Affections, lest he loved this or that Wife better than the rest: Every one looketh to be most esteemed. And jealousie is apt to break its bounds. But I will not Prognosticate, but forewarn: If Unity be our Strength, and Division our Destruction, let us pity the calamitous Church, and not set fire on the Commonwealth. And let all Christians (that are such indeed) lament our distances, and lay to heart the Sin and Calamity of our long Divisions; and at last let Catholick Principles and Affections be entertained by us, and let us pray, and study, and seek, and submit and deny our selves for the Unity of Christians, and the Churches Peace.
For my part I have spoken much of this from certain Experience: The Evils of Divisions and Antichurches I have seen abroad: The Ease and Comfort of Unity and Peace I enjoy at home! O what a Mercy is it to me, and the poor Flock that Christ hath committed to my Charge; what a help to my Labours and to their Souls, that we have not Minister against Minister, nor Church against Ch… any separating Parties to ensnare men; but that we Serve the Lord …, to … Heart and Soul, one Mind and Mouth. If I can procure the e…t of this Mercy no further, I will compassionate the Church, and rejoyce in it at home.