The Cure of Church Divisions, Directions · Direction 56
DIRECT. LVI.
Keep still in your thoughts, the state of all Christs Churches upon Earth: that you may know what a people they are through the world, whom Christ hath communion with; and may not be deceived by ignorance, to separate from allmost all Christs Churches, while you think that you separate from none, but the few that are about you.
THousands of well meaning people live as if England were almost all the world. And do boldly separate from their Neighbours here, which they durst not do, if they soberly considered that almost all the Christian world are worse than they. But narrow minds who can look but little further with their Reason than with their eye-sight, do keep out at once both Truth and Love. It is a point that I have often had occasion to repeat, and yet will not forbear to repeat it here again; It is but about one sixth part of the known world who make any profession of Christianity and are baptized: (besides how much peopled the unknown part of the world may be, we know not.) Of this sixth part the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Syrians, Armenians, the Greek Churches, the Muscovites, and all the Papists, are so great a body, that all the Protestants, or Reformed Churches are little more than a sixth part of this sixth: (The Papists being about a fourth or fifth part; and the other Christians making up the rest) And of these Protestants, Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, and many other parts of Germany, making up the greatest part, are such as are called Lutherans! And of the other half, which are supposed to be more Reformed, there is scarce any of so Reformed lives as these in England and Scotland: And among these, how great a number are they that you separate from? If you look to the Papists, their worship is by the Mass: If you look to the Muscovians, they have a Liturgy much more blameable than ours, and have a few Homilies instead of preaching? If you look to the Greek Church, to the Armenians, the Abassines, and all the Eastern and the Southern Churches, in Asia and Africa, they also worship God by Liturgies, much more lyable to blame than ours, and have but little preaching among them, besides Homilies; and the Members of their Churches are commonly far more ignorant than the worst of ours, even than the rudest part of Wales. If you look to the Lutherans, they have Liturgies, and Ceremonies, and Images in their Churches, though not adored; and have far worse Preachers, and of worse lives, and more unprofitable preaching than is usually found with us; and the people more ignorant and vicious. If you look to the remnant, called the more Reformed Churches, in Holland, France, Helvetia, Germany, though they have much less of Liturgy, or Ceremonies, yet are their Church-members usually as ignorant as ours, and more addicted to intemperance, and there is no less scandal in their lives, than among ours. Now this being the true state of the world, and though we daily pray that it may be better, yet it is no better, I would only intreat you but to think of it as it is, and that to answer me deliberately these few Questions.
Quest. 1. Do you believe that all baptized professed Christians. (not denying any essential part of Christianity) are Christs Universal Visible Church?
Qu. 2. Do you not believe that this Church is only One; and that every particular Church, and every Christian is a part of it?
Qu. 3. Do you not believe that it is unlawful in any case whatsoever to separate from it? And that to separate from the Universal Visible Church, is visibly to separate from Christ?
Qu. 4. Do you not believe that to give a Bill of Divorce to the Universal Church, or to many hundred parts of it, or to any one part, and to declare that they are none of the Church of Christ, is not great arrogancy, and injury to men, and unto Christ himself?
Qu. 5. Dare you say before God, Let me have no part in any of the prayers of all these Churches on earth who use a Liturgy as culpable as ours? because I will have no Communion with them? Do you set so light by your part in their prayers?
Q. 6. If you travelled or lived in Abassia, Armenia, Greece, or any Christian Country, (where their worship is not Idolatry nor substantially wicked, nor they force not the worshippers to any false Oaths, subscriptions or other actual sin) would you refuse all communion with them, and all publick worshipping of God? Or would you not rather joyn with them, than with no Church at all?
Q…. 7. When you remember on the Lords days, that now all the Christian world are congregate, and are calling upon God and praising him, in the name of one Christ, and in the profession of one Faith, dare you think of being a Body separated from them all? And can you think that Christ disowneth them all, save you?
Qu. 8. Can you think it agreeable to the gracious nature, design and office of Jesus Christ, to cast off and condemn so many hundred parts of the Church-universal, and to accept that one part only which you joyn with? Judge by his actions and expressions in the Scriptures.
Qu. 9. If there were b…t ten persons of your mind in all the world, would you believe that God would save none but those ten, or accept the worship of no more, or that it were lawful to have communion with none but those ten? If not, how can you think so in a case so neer it?
Qu. 10. Can you prove that Christ doth separate from all the Christians of the world which you separate from? or that they have no visible Comm…nion with him? or that he taketh them for no Churches, and disowneth the administration of all the Ministers in the world whom you disown? or yet that it is safe, to separate where Christ doth not separate, and to be gone from his Ho…se while he there abideth? and to condemn those whom he condemneth not? nor yet commandeth you to forsake or to condemn?
Obj. The Church of Christ is a little flock, and not to be estimated by number: And if he confine his grace to never so few, I will confine my Communion to as few.
Answ. First, Grace is not visible to you, but the Profession of it only: Therefore your Communion must be extended according to mens profession, and not according to sincerity which you know not? when the question is, who hath grace, and who hath not, God hath not made you a heart▪ searching Judge, but hath made profession the sign which you must judge by. And he that professeth Christianity, professeth all that is of necessity to salvation.
Secondly, If Christs flock was little when he spake those words, it is much greater now. And if it be little still (as it is in comparison of the world of Heathens, Infidels, and Hypocrites) will he give them thanks that will make it less, yea a thousand times less than it is indeed? Hath he so few? and will you take from him almost all those few? If you had but a hundred sheep when your neighbour had a thousand, would you thank him that would rob you of all save one?
Thirdly, So far as God hath revealed the fewness of the saved, we reverence his Counsels, and believe his word: But if you will make it so much less a number, while you falsifie Gods word, you will tempt your selves at last, not to b…lieve it, because you have made it false and incredible by making it your own. Brethren, I beseech you be not angry with us while we pity you, and would save your souls from your own snares and del…sions. You know not how fast you are hastening to infidelity, and to the renouncing of Christ himself? you little suspect that your extraordinary strictness, for the purity of the Church doth tend to your turning heathens, and denying the whole Church? But remember, that the nature of God is so infiaitly Good, as well as Iust, and the Gospel is such glad tydings to all the world, and Christ called, the Saviour of the world, and God is said so to love the world in giving him, Joh. 3. 16. that if you should say God would save but one man in the world, or ten, or a thousand, and damn all the rest, if you did in your bravad… believe your selves this year, by the next you might be like enough to believe that the Gospel is but a fable. I have much adoe to forbear naming some high Professours (known lately at W…rcester, Exeter and other parts) who died Apostate-infidels, deriding Christianity and the immortality of the soul, who once were Separatists. And I must profess to you that for my own part, if I did believe that Christs Church were no more numerous than all the Separatists on earth, it would make the work of faith more difficult: For as he is no King that hath no Kingdom; so he is next to no King, whose Kingdom is next to none: He that would prove that our King is only King of …slington, or Hackney and no more, would by deriding him to day, prepare for the deposing him to morrow. They are glorious things that are spoken of the Kingdom of Christ; even that the Kingdoms of the world are become his Kingdoms. And if you will take from him all save two or three Cottages, I mean the separated Churches only, it is but a little addition to your treason to take the rest, and to Crucifie Christ afresh and write over him in der…sion, the title of a King. You do not discern the design of Satan. He that cannot entice an Apple from a Child, if he can get him to let him eat all the rest till it come to a little of the Core, will then easily get him to throw away that worthless relict. If to day you will needs believe that Christ will reject all the world, and all the Churches, save only a few persons who have pride enough to condemn all the rest, by to morrow or e…e lo…g you are like▪ enough to add one other degree to your derision, and to deny him to be Christ.
Obj. But we are more than were in the Ark of Noah.
Answ. First, You never yet proved that all that were out of the Ark were damned, and no more saved from Hell, than were saved… from the Deluge. Secondly, If you had; yet th… Scripture speaketh such great things of the Universal Gospel Church, as that which maketh up … former diminutions and losses, and helpeth … against such difficulties.