A Defense of the Principles of Love, Part 2 · Exception 14
EXCEPT. XIV. (Hereafter I must12 Untruth. number them, for he is weary of it) Answered. This hath little worthy observation, but his 12th. Untruth, viz. that [by mentioning the separatist as a distinct body of men, from Whom I mean by Dividing; And of his Curse.the Antinomian, Quaker, and Anabaptist, it is evident I can mean no other, but my Presbyterian and Congregational brethren] which he follows with An Appeal to God against this Slanderer, and earnestly prayeth that he would please to rebuke him.
Whether this earnest prayer be a Curse? and whether it be like to that rule, to pray for them that curse us, and whether this brother himself doth not in these very words put his error into his earnest prayer, even in print, and so verifie what he would so vehemently gainsay (to say nothing of the Common fame in London, that he that is famed to be the Author of these Exceptions, kept a day of Humiliation about me and my book) I leave to the Readers observation. And also whether this earnest prayer (or Curse) and this bold Appeal to God, be not prophane, and rather a fruit of passion, than charitable zeal? And whether he here knew what spirit he was of?
But to his Untruth I answer, 1. I protested openly that my meaning was not what he affirmeth it to be; And could he know it better than I? 2. An Antinomian and Anabaptist as such, are distinct from Separatists as such: But doth it follow that therefore they may not be Separatists also that are Antinomians and Anabaptists? Though the Errors whence the Sects are denominated be various. 3. I have long ago in many books told the Papists that I mean them, as the Chief Schismaticks and Sect; and Dr. Hide for the first page of his book, what I thought of him; And the Lutherans that so resist all the endeavours of Dury, Calixtus, Bergius, Lud. Crocius, and many more, in refusing Communion with the Calvinists, that I mean them; And here I profess that I mean no other party of men at all, but the Dividers of all parties whatsoever, even in the beginning of my Preface; And yet, alas, brother, did you not tremble first to publish so gross an Untruth, and when you had done, to ground your Appeal to God, and earnest prayer against me, upon it? The Lord give you a meeker spirit, and a tenderer conscience.
And that I mean not an Independent as such (for the Presbyterians will not suspect me) I will stop your mouth with this sufficient proof, 1. That the chief Independants have written excellently against separation, as Mr. Iacob by name; And they pretend that Mr. Bradshaw and Dr. Ames were Independants. 2. That I rejoyce in the state of the Churches of New England, since the Synods Concessions there, and good Mr. Eliots propositions for Synodical constant Council and Communion of Churches, as much as in any Churches State that I hear of in the World, (Though as to the form of Government, my judgement most agrees with the Waldenses, or Bohemian, published by Lascitius and Commenius;) especially since the Magistrates late printed Order, that all the Ministers shall take especial care to Catechize and personally instruct all the people under their Charge, even from house to house; at least 3 or 4 Families meeting together, &c. which I much rejoice in. It is evident then, that though a man may be a Divider, that is Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independant or Anabaptist, yet as such as their denominations signifie, I mean none of them; for many of all these names are no Dividers (though a Papist is so by the essence of his Religion, un-churching all beside his Sect.)
And if you had done me but common justice, you would have noted, that in my scheme in the end, the second Proposition of the way of Love which I plead for is in these words; [Love your neighbours as your selves: Receive those that Christ receiveth; and that hold the necessaries of Communion, be they Episcopal, Presbyterian, Independants, Anabaptists, Arminians, Calvinists, &c. so they be not proved heretical or wicked.] Judge now of your Truth and Charity by these evidences.