The Cure of Church Divisions, Preface – Directions to pastors 2
The Preface.
THE Reason why I think it needful, to adjoyn these few Directions to the Pastors, are: First, Because I think that the rest will do but little good without them. Though the people are more inclined to separations than the Pastors, yet are the Pastors the greater causes of most of the Divisions in the Church; And therefore must be the chiefest in the Cure: Because the advantage of their parts and place, doth make them most significant in both: (And their office obligeth them to be the most skilful and forward in the Cure.)
Secondly, Because I should be chargeable with such partiality as beseemeth not a Minister of Christ; if I should fall upon the miscrariages of the people only, and say nothing to my self and brethren, who are as deeply concerned in the matter in hand.
Yet I must here premise, that as I have done this part with greater brevity, so also with submissive tenderness and respect: And that I do not at all intend any of the Directions following, as a Magisterial Dictator to those in authority; nor any of the admonitions, as factious reflections upon superiors or inferiors; or as pleading for or against any party now among us.
To the reasons after given for tenderness to Religious dissenters, though too much inclined to separations, I shall here only add First, That the general weakness, even of the Pastors through most of the Churches upon earth, should make us rather pity the weakness of the people, than angrily revile them: And to think of Christs words, Let him that is without sin cast the first stone. Alas, our preaching, our praying, our conference, our living, tell all the world too lowdly that we are weak! How few are there that be not either ignorant, or injudicious, or imprudent, or dull and liveless, or dry and barren, or of a st…mmering tongue, in our Ministerial work? And in so high a business, any one of these is a lothsome blemish. If we are put to defend our Religion, or any necessary part thereof, how weakly and injudiciously is it usually done? In a word, Our great divisions among our selves, with our censures and usage of one another, do tell…all the world not only that we are weak, but that too many of us account one another to be worse than weak, even intollerable, and unworthy of our sacred office. And shall we by our weakness and faultiness become the peoples scandal, and tempt them to undue separations; and when we have done be impatient with their weakness, while we overlook our own?
Secondly, Let us be so impartial as to remember, how far some have spoken to their sense, who have been of most veneration in the Church. I instance but in two: First, The wise and ancient Britain, Gildas, who saith no less, than, Apparet ergo eum qui vos sacerdotes sciens ex corde dicit, non esse eximium Christianum: Sane quod sentio proferam— O inimici Dei & non sacerdotes! O licitatores malorum, & non pontifices! traditores, & non sanctorum Apostolorum successores … impugnatores, & non Christi ministri!—Sed quomodo vos aliquid solvetis, ut sit solutum & in coelis, a coelo ob scelera adempti, & immanium peccatorum sun…bus compediti? &c. If the Author of these words …e Venerable, account not the speakers of such like now, to be utterly intollerable.
The second is St. Martin, whose story out of Sulpitius Severus, I have afterwards abbreviated. If a Sainted Bishop most famous for myracles, pretend to Angelical Revelation for so much as is there mentioned; let us be charitable and patient to those tender conscionable Christians, who mistakingly go in such like wayes.
I am my self so sensible of the evil and danger of Dividing separating principles and …ayes, that it is much of my labour to cure them with all! And therefore I have written what I have here done, though I am sure I shall displease the guilty: But overdoing and illdoing will prove but undoing.
The Lord give more Wisdome, Holiness and Love, to Pastors and people; and open our ears to healing counsels▪ before we are incurable!
Amen.
Directions to Pastors how to deal with those weak Christians who are inclined to Divisions.
WHen the young and ungrounded sort of Christians, do by their errors, pride or passions disturb the Churches peace & orde, it is the Pastors usually that are first and most assaulted by their abuses, and therefore are most impatient and exasperated against them: And it were well if we were so innocent our selves, as that our consciences need not call us to enquire; whether all this be not partly the fruit of our own miscariages. However seeing that both the eminency of our grace, and the nature of our office, should make us more sensible of the Churches dangers, and more solicitous of its safety, than the private members are; I think that the chief part of the Duty is incumbent upon us, which must be done in order to the prevention of these maladies, and to the cure. And therefore I think that the principal work of a Director or Counsellor in this case, must be with the Ministers of Christ themselves; The Churches peace lieth most upon our hands: And if we miscarry, and will not understand instruction, nor bear admonition, nor do our parts, how little hope will be left of our tranquility? The body must needs languish, when the Physician is as bad as the disease.