Church Concord, Chapter 2
Chap. II.
THE Second part of my Task I shall briefly dispatch, which is, to shew what is incumbent on the Pastors of the Church, for the prevention of such Separations, or their increase. Having spoken the most that I think necessary of this, in the end of my Catholick Key, Part 2. I shall refer the Reader thither for the Rules of the Churches Peace, and the terms on which they must be put in execution. I shall only here reassume these few particulars, suitable to our case.
I. If we would prevent our Peoples Separations, we must not make the door of the Church so narrow as to shut out the faithful, though infirm. If we keep them ou…, we cannot for shame childe them for not coming in. The principal thing that here we must avoid, is large and particular Professions of Faith, containing Controvertible Opinions, and Points that many true Believers are unsatisfied in; and also the imposing of unnecessary Ceremonies. The Holy Ghost hath decided this difficulty to our hands, and left it us as a standing Rule, Rom. 14. 1. That we must receive even him that is weak in the Faith, but not to doubtful Disputations. And that we must [be like minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus, and therefore receive one another as Christ also received us, to the Glory of God.] Rom. 15. 6, 7. Men must be called to no Profession but of Points plainly contained in the Holy Scriptures, and the ancient simplicity must recover us to the ancient Charity and Unity: And though more knowledge be necessary to the Pastors than to all the Flock, yet must the Scripture sufficiency be maintained, and necessary things distinguished from unnecessary, and those that are necessary to the being of the Ministry, from those that are necessary but to the Better being; and nothing should be imposed on Pastors themselves as necessary to the Communion of Churches, but Points that indeed are necessary to such Communion, and those (if possible) in Scripture phrase.
But because Hereticks will subscribe to Scripture and to ancient Creeds, and simple Confessions of Faith, therefore many have thought that other kind of Confessions must be made which they cannot subscribe to: But by that course the mischief of Heresie is not so much avoided, as the mischief of Divisions caused; and all because the right way of obviating Heresies is mistaken and overlookt. Heresie in the Mind is cured only by Doctrine, and is not it that we have here to obviate; but Heresie in the Mouth must be corrected by Discipline; and it is not a better Rule or Law than Scripture for them to Subscribe that is the Remedy, but a careful Execution of that Law against them, 1. By casting them out of our Communion after a first and second admonition, when they are proved guilty, and 2. By the Magistrates restraining them according to the quality of their offence. He that hath a Conscience to Subscribe to all the Scriptures, and yet contradict them by his Heresie, may do so by any Form that you can impose on him, that hath any appearance of fitness to be so imposed. We must not make new Laws, every time the old ones are misinterpreted or broken.
Our great danger in England is of Popery, above any thing except Impiety it self. And the strength and upshot of all the Papists arguings, is [Where was your Religion and Church before Luther?] which by their Exposition is, [Where was your Thirty Nine Articles, or your Assemblies Confession, or any Church that Successively from the Apostles held them.] This is their all, (which indeed is nothing.) LET US OWN AS THE RULE OF OUR RELIGION BUT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND EXPRESS OUR BELIEF IN SCRIPTURE PHRASE, (without distorting it to look towards any Heretical or Erroneous Sense,) AND THEN WE MAY EASILY TELL A PAPIST WHERE OUR RELIGION AND CHURCH WAS BEFORE LUTHER;] yea the simplest Women, that understand but what Christianity is, may thus be able to defend their Religion against the Cavils of these Learned Adversaries: Let us not therefore give away so great an advantage, and withal divide the Church of God, by departing from the sufficiency of the Scripture, when it is the principal point wherein a Protestant differeth from a Papist, and that wherein we unanimously oppose them.
II. If we would avoid Separations, we must keep up holy Discipline, and not leave the Churches so polluted by the abundance of impenitent impious Persons as may frighten tender Consciences from us: Discipline that is pleaded for must be faithfully practised. We must not step out of the way of God by unj…st rigor to please any Men, nor to avoid their offence; but we must cast out those that should not be in the Church, the rather lest those withdraw that should be in: And herein a principal part of our Care must be, to set Godly people a-work upon their own Duty, in a loving, humble admonishing of Offenders, that we may convince them how sinful a course it is to expect that Men should be cast out, before they have been dealt with on the Terms, and by the degrees that Christ hath appointed; and to run away from the Church because they will not do their Duties.
III. To this end that our Churches may be capable of Discipline, the Duty of Confirmation, must be so far restored, and faithfully practised, that none may be admitted into the Number of Adult Members for the Communion proper to such, till they have made a credible Profession of their Faith and Repentance, and renewed their Baptismal Covenant, (consenting to the State and Duty of Church Members, if they are stated in a particular Church) and so are Approved by the Pastors of the Church. Without this Discipline cannot be exercised, as I have shewed in a Treatise for Confirmation.
IV. Lastly, if we will prevent Antichurches and Separations, Ministers must be studious, that they may be able to confound Gainsayers, and then they must be holy, harmless, humble, self-denying, charitable, manifesting tender Love to all that they deal with, prudent, and very vigilant and industrious, thinking no cost or pains too great for their so great ends. Because we have neglected these four necessary things, Separations have afflicted us.