A Defense of the Principles of Love, Part 2 · Exception 25
EXCEPT. XXV. Answered. 1. Brother, you do ill to intimate either of these Untruths. 1. Either that there is no such thing as [an ignorant sort of Preachers, more valued for their affectionate tone and fervour, Of the loud voice of the Preacher, and a sound judgement.than abler judicious men;] When as the whole Christian World knoweth that there are many such Preachers both among the several sects, (and of our selves, there are or have been some) and in the publick Assemblies; and among all Christian Churches where there is preaching through the World: And the worlds experience puts it past doubt, that the generality of the vulgar, unlearned and injudicious sort of men, do value a man by his tone and voice more than for the judgement and excellency of his matter, if not put off by such advantage. Brother, you and I are both known persons; Though I look not to mention my self without your imputation of pride, I will venture, while I put my self on the side which you say I reproach, to tell you, that I was once commonly taken to have as affectionate a tone of speech as ever you were, at the least: And I ever found that Matter and Affection together took best: But that warm Affection and fervent utterance, with common and little matter, took more with the far greater part, than far more excellent matter delivered, with less fervour of affection. I have said as much against cold preaching as ever you have done at least: And I am as much against it as ever: And I am my self much helped in profiting by an affectionate delivery. But, Brother, I take it for no pride to think that I have had more experience of mens cases than you have had; (If you have had no more Pastoral Charge than I suppose, and came but out of the University when I was ready to be turned off from mine.) And I must tell you that I have been oft sorry to see how the people have been moved (in Army and Countreys) to value a Quaker, a Seeker, an Antinomian, an Anabaptist, a Socinian that preach'd down the God-head of Christ; (And among the Orthodox, such ignorant ones as you know I am acquainted with;) meerly for the tone and fervency of their delivery. Scarce any thing hath more infected the injudicious with errour.
2. Or if you deny not that such a thing there is, then it is yet worse in you to feign this empty loudness, or affected fervency, to be the Preaching which God owneth to the Conversion of souls, Comparatively. This is to reproach the work of Preaching and Conversion, so ill do you avoid what you injuriously impute to others, when you cry out▪ [What could Parker, &c. have spoken more reproachfully, &c. Sure you thought I had spoken against fervent preaching it self, or else you would not have talk'd as you do? Here also (after some mention of my Pride and Folly) you adde two more gross Untruths. 1. That what I spake of individual persons without respect to any party, Conformists, non-Conformists, or Separatists, and instanced in many of my own acquaintance, some of which now Conform, yea are zealous Conformists, who were the ferventest loudest Preachers that ever I knew in all my life: [If I will not tell you who they are, (alas man, did you never know such) you must think it concerns all that are at this day engaged in a Gospel separation.] Answ. Had you said [We will think so] it might18 Untruth. have been true: But, 1. I had made no mention at all of separation in the whole Direction, nor intended any more than I expressed; But only meant to direct people to avoid that error in the choice of Teachers, which prepareth them for any seduction and division. 2. I had largely spoken there for affectionate Preaching. 3. I am not acquainted with very many such as in England have been known by the name of Separatists, that go no further; But those few that I do know, I take to be colder, duller Preachers, than those that are called Presbyterians byfar, for the most part of them; so far was I from meaning them; But Quakers, and Fifth-Monarchy men, and some Anabaptists I know, and many revilers of the Ministry I have known, in Armies and Countreys that were just such as I describe. 2. It is an untruth that you had19 Untruth. no pretence of Reason for (that I can think of) that I [have left off the Lords work, and instead of helping it forwards with you, am weakening your hands, and disgracing the builders.] If you mean that I preach not in the Pulpit, no more do you: If you meanWhether I have left off the Lords work. that I have not a separated Church, I never had one (on your principles at least:) If you mean that I preach not in London, 1. I cannot if I would. 2. I never had any PastoralNote how ordinarily Christ himself and his Apostles avoided persecution by removing. Charge, nor place in London, but preach'd one year up and down for others, and another year took but a voluntary Lecture. 3. London I was forced eight years ago to forsake for my health and life. 4. Gods work is not only in London. 5. I have no call thither, nor any people related to me as a Pastor there. 6. There are very many worthy men there that want both employment and maintenance, whom I will not injure. Are not all these reasons enough? But if you think otherwise, 7. Are not all the Preachers in England forsakers of Gods work that preach not in London? 8. I think you preached not for many years, when you lay so long in prison: Did you then forsake Gods work?
But I must confess, Brother, I have alwaies been too slothful and unprofitable a servant, and still am: Yet I can say, that I know no other employment that I have, and that I spend no more time in other things than necessities of life require; I play away none, and I idle away but little; and preaching, were it oftner, is a small part of my work, and that will be proved to be the Lords work, which you think is against him, (as all have done that ever I wrote against almost.) And I love you much the better for being zealous for that which you do but think is the Lords work; But I am past doubt that it will prove at last, that such doctrines, passions, and practices as yours, will be the weakeners and hinderers of the builders.