The Reformed Pastor, Chapter 4 · Section 1

The Reformed Pastor · Chapter 4 · Section 1

p. 137SECT. I. Uſe.

REverend and dear Brethren, our buſineſs here this day is to humble our ſouls before the Lord for our former negligence, eſpecially of Catechizing and perſonal inſtructing thoſe committed to our charge; and to deſire Gods aſſiſtance of us in our undertaken employment for the time to come. Indeed we can ſcarce expect the later without the former. If God will help us in our future duty and amendment, he will ſure humble us firſt for our former ſin. He that hath not ſo much ſenſe of his faults as unfeignedly to lament them, will hardly have ſo much more as may move him to reform them. The ſorrow of Repentance p. 138may go without the change of heart and life; becauſe a Paſsion may be eaſier wrought then a true converſion: but the change cannot go without ſome good meaſure of the ſorrow. Indeed we may juſtly here begin our Confeſſions; It is too common with us to expect that from our people, which we do little or nothing in our ſelves. What pains take we to humble them, while our ſelves are unhumbled? How hard do we ſqueeze them by all our expoſtulations, convictions, and aggravations, to wring out of them a few penitent tears, (and all too little) when our own eyes are dry, and our hearts too ſtrange to true remorſe and we give them an example of hard-heartedneſs, while we are endeavouring by our words to mollifie and melt them. O if we did but ſtudy half as much to affect and amend our own hearts, as we do our hearers, it would not be with many of us as it is! Its a great deal too little that we do for their humiliation; but I fear its much leſs that ſome of us do for our own. Too many do ſomewhat for other mens ſouls, while they ſeem to forget that they have any of their own to regard. They ſo carry the matter, as if their part of the work lay in calling for Repentance, and the hearers in Repenting: theirs in ſpeaking tears and ſorrow, and other-mens-only in weeping and ſorrowing; theirs in preaching duty, and the hearers in performing it; theirs in crying down ſin, and the peoples in forſakeing it.

But we find that the Guides of the Church in Scripture did confeſs their own ſins as well as the ſins of the people, and did begin to them in tears for their own and the peoples ſins. Ezra confeſſeth the p. 139ſins of the Prieſts as well as of the people, weeping and caſting himſelf down before the houſe of God, Ezr. 9. 6, 7, 10. and 10. 1. So did the Levites, Neh. 9. 32, 33, 34. Daniel confeſſed his own ſin as well as the peoples, Dan. 9. 20. And God calleth ſuch to it as well as others, Joel 2. 15, 16, 17. When the faſt is ſummoned, the people gathered, the Congregation ſanctified, the Elders aſſembled, the Prieſts the Miniſters of the Lord are called to begin to them in weeping, and calling upon God for mercy. I think if we conſider well of the Duties already opened, and withal how we have done them; of the Rule and of our unanſwerableneſs thereto, we need not demurr upon the queſtion, nor put it to a queſtion, Whether we have cauſe of humiliation? I muſt needs ſay, though I judge my ſelf in ſaying it, that he that readeth but this one Exhortation of Paul in Acts 20. and compareth his life with it, is too ſtupid and hard-hearted, if he do not melt in the ſenſe of his neglects, and be not laid in the duſt before God, and forced to bewail his great omiſsions, and to flye for refuge to the blood of Chriſt, and to his pardoning grace. I am confident, Brethren, that none of you do in judgement approve of the Libertine Doctrine, that cryeth down the neceſsity of Confeſsion, Contrition and true humiliation, yea and in order to the pardon of ſin! Is it not pitty then that our Hearts are not more Orthodox as well as our heads? But I ſee our leſſon is but half learnt when we know it, and can ſay it: When the underſtanding hath learned it, there is more ado to teach it our Wills and Affections, our eyes, our tongues and hands. It is a ſad thing that ſo many of us do uſe to preach p. 140our hearers aſleep: but its ſadder if we have ſtudyed and preacht our ſelves aſleep, and have talkt ſo long againſt hardneſs of heart, till our own grow hardned, under the noiſe of our own reproofs. Though the head only have eyes, and ears, and ſmell, and taſte, the heart ſhould have life, and feeling and motion as well as the head.

And that you may ſee that it is not a cauſeleſs ſorrow that God calleth us to. I ſhall take it to be my duty to call to remembrance our mainfold ſins, or thoſe that are moſt obvious, and ſet them this day in order before God and our own faces, that God may caſt them behind his back: and to deal plainly and faithfully in a free confeſsion; that he who is faithful and juſt may forgive them; and to judge our ſelves that we be not judged of the Lord. Wherein I ſuppoſe I have your free and hearty conſent, and that you will be ſo far from being offended with the diſgrace of your perſons and of others in this office, that you will readily ſubſcribe the charge, and be humble ſelf-accuſers; and ſo far am I from juſtifying my ſelf by the accuſation of others, that I do unfeignedly put my name with the firſt in the bill. For how can a wretched ſinner of ſo great tranſgreſſions, preſume to juſtifie himſelf with God? Or how can he plead Guiltleſs, whoſe conſcience hath ſo much to ſay againſt him? If I caſt ſhame upon the Miniſtery, it is not on the office, but on our perſons, by opening that ſin which is our ſhame: The glory of our high imployment doth not communicate any glory to our ſin; nor will afford it the ſmalleſt covering for its nakedneſs. For ſin is a reproach to any people, or perſons, Prov. 14. 34. And it is my ſelf as well as others p. 141on whom I muſt lay the ſhame. And if this may not be done, What do we here to day? Our buſineſs is to take ſhame to our ſelves, and to give God the glory, and faithfully to open our ſins that he may cover them, and to make our ſelves bare by confeſſion, as we have done by tranſgreſsion, that we may have the white rayment which cloatheth none but the penitent; For be they Paſtors or people, it is only he that confeſſeth and forſaketh his ſins, that ſhall have mercy, when he that hardeneth his heart ſhall fal into miſchief, Pro. 28. 13.

And I think it will not be amiſs if in the beginning of our Confeſsion we look behind us, and imitate Daniel and other ſervants of God who confeſſed the ſins of their fore-fathers and predeceſſors. For indeed my own Judgement is ſo far from denying Original ſin, even the imputed part, with the antient oppoſers of it, or thoſe of the new Edition, that it doth not ſo much excuſe me from the Guilt of my later progenitors offences, as moſt other mens do ſeem to excuſe them. Let us fetch up then the core of our ſhame, and go to the bottom, and trace the behaviour of the Minſters of the Goſpel from the daies of Chriſt till now, and ſee how far they have been from innocency.

When Chriſt had choſen him but twelve Apoſtles, who kept neer his perſon, that they might be acquainted with his Doctrine, Life and Miracles: yet how ignorant did they long remain, not knowing ſo much as that he muſt dye and be a ſacrifice for the ſins of the world, and be buried and riſe again, and aſcend into glory, nor what was the nature of his ſpiritual Kingdom? ſo that it puts us hard to it to imagine how p. 142men ſo ignorant could be in a ſtate of grace; but that we know that thoſe points were after of abſolute neceſſity to ſalvation, that were not ſo then. **If any one about the time of Moſes, offering ſacrifice according to the Law, were not inſtructed in the Doctrine of the death of our Redeemer, but only believed that God through the means which be knoweth to be moſt agreeable and convenient, will forgive us ou… treſpaſſes, it were inſh…ſs to go about to exclude ſuch a man from ſalvation. Pet. Molinaeus de Tradition. c. 19 p. 251, 252.How oft doth Chriſt teach them publikely and apart? Mark 4. 34. and rebuke them for their unbelief and hardneſs of heart: And yet after all this, ſo ſtrange were theſe great myſteries of Redemption to them, and theſe (now) Articles of our Creed, that Peter himſelf diſſwadeth Chriſt from ſuffering and goeth ſo far in contradicting his gracious thoughts for our Redmption, that he is called Satan, and tantum non excommunicate. And no wonder; for if his counſel had been taken, the world had been loſt for ever. And as there was a Iudas among them, ſo the twelve are before Chriſts face contending for ſuperiority; ſo early did that Pride begin to work in the beſt, which afterwards prevailed ſo far in others, as to bring the Church ſo low as we have ſeen. What ſhould we ſay of their joynt forſaking Chriſt of their failings even after the powrings out of the Spirit! of the diſſention and ſeparation between Paul and Barnabas; how ſtrange Peter made of the calling of the Gentiles; of his complyance with the Jews to the endangering the liberties of the Gentiles, Gal. 2. Of the diſſimulation of Barnabas; and the common diſſertion of Paul in his ſuffering: When he had found one Timothy, p. 143he ſaith, he had no man like-minded, that would naturally care for their eſtate; for all ſeek their own, and not the things of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 2. 20, 21. A ſad charge of ſelf-ſeeking in that glory of the Church for faith and purity. And what charges are againſt moſt of the Angels of the ſeven Aſian Churches is expreſſed, Rev. 2. and 3. And its likely that Archippus: was not the only man that had need to be warned to look to his Miniſtery. Col. 4. 17. Nor Demas the only man that forſook a perſecuted partner, and turned after the things of the world! Nor Diotrephes the only man that loved to have the prehemine noe, and made quarrels, and dealt unjuſtly and unmercifully in the Church upon that account.

And even while the Churches were frying in the flames, yet did the Pride and diſſentions even of godly Paſtors do more then the fire of perſecution could do to turn al to aſhes. How ſad a ſtory is it that Policrates with all the Eaſtern Churches ſhould be arrogantly excommunicated by Victor with his Romans, upon no higher a crime then miſ-chooſing of Eaſterday (which our Brittains alſo long after were guilty of) who would think that ſo great weakneſs, and preſumptuous uſurpation, and uncharitable cruelty, and Schiſmatical zeal, could have befalen the Paſtors of the Church in the ſtrongeſt temptations of proſperity? much leſs in the midſt of Heatheniſh perſecutions! What toyes and trifles did the antient Reverend Fathers of the Church trouble their heads about, and peſter the Church with, and what uſeleſs ſtuff are many of their Canons compoſed of? Yet theſe were the great matter and work of many of p. 144their famous conſultations. How quickly did they ſeem to forget the perfection of holy Scripture, the non-neceſsity and burdenſomneſs of ceremonious impoſitions; And by taking upon them an unneceſſary and unjuſt kind of Juriſdiction, they made the Church ſo much more work then ever Chriſt made it, and ſo clogged Religion with humane devices, that the Chriſtian world hath groaned under it ever ſince, and been almoſt brought to ruine by it; and the Reverence of their perſons hath put ſo much Reputation on the crime, and cuſtom hath ſo taught it to plead praeſcription, that when the …acerated languid Churches will be delivered from the ſad effects of their preſumption, God only knoweth. It would make an impartial Reader wonder that peruſeth their Canons and the Hiſtory of the Church, that ever men of piety, and charity, and ſobriety, could be drawn to perplex and tear in pieces the Churches by ſuch a multitude of vanities, and needleſs determinations (…o ſay no worſe.) And that the Preachers of the Goſpel of peace, which ſo enjoyneth humility, unity and love, ſhould ever be drawn to ſuch a height of p…ide, as to think themſelves meet to make ſo many Laws for the whole Church of Chriſt, and to bind all their Brethren through the world to the obedience of their dictates, and practice of their hiſtorical inſnaring Ceremonies; and that upon the penalties of being accounted no leſs then damned Hereticks or Schiſmaticks. Though Paul had told them betime that he was afraid of them, leſt as the Serpent deceived Eve, ſo they ſhould be deceived and drawn from the ſimplic…ty that was in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11. 3. Yet quickly was this Caution forgotten, and the p. 145thing that Paul feared ſoon befell them, and in ſtead of the ſimplicity of Doctrine, they vexed the Churches with curious controverſies; and inſtead of the ſimplicity of Diſci…line and Government, they corrupted the Church with Pompe and Tyran…ie, and varieties of new orders and rules of Religions; and inſtead of the ſimplicity of worſhip, they ſet up ſuch a train of their own inventions, of which the Church had no neceſſity, that the Biſhops were become the Maſters of Ceremonies, who ſhould have been the faithful and humble obſervers of the pure Laws and Ordinances of Chriſt. Though their Councils were uſual for the Churches Communion had they been rightly ordered, yet ſo unhappily did they manage them for the moſt part, that Greg. N…zianzene purpoſed to come at them no more, as having never ſeen any that did not more harm then good; And ſo bold and buſie were they in additions and innovations, even in making new …reeds, that Hilary ſadly complains of it, not ſparing the Council of N…ce it ſelf (though their Creed were allowable) becauſe they taught others the way, and ſet the reſt a work. And Luther ſheweth us at large in his …ook de Conciliis, what thoughts he had of thoſe Aſſembli…s. Three lamentable vices did the Prelates of the Church then commonly abound in, Pride the root; Contention, and Vain impoſitions and inventions, the fruits. No charity that is not blind can hide this guilt. We had never elſe had the Chriſtian world ſo plagued with their quarrels about ſuperiority, and vain Traditions, after ſuch warnings, and leſſons and examples as Chriſt had g…ven his own Apoſtles. When once the fa…our of a Chriſt…an Prince did p. 146ſhine upon the Churches, what ſelf-exaltation and contention of the Prelates did enſue? So that if they had not been reſtrained and kept in quiet by the Emperor, how ſoon would they have made a ſadder havock then they did? perhaps in their firſt General Council it ſelf. And though that Council had a good occaſion, even to ſuppreſs the Arrian hereſie, yet had not Conſtantine committed their mutual accuſations to the flames, and ſhamed them from their contendings, it had not had ſo good an end. And yet as good as it was, Luther ſaith, p. 226. de Concil. Ariana haereſis jocus fuit ante Nicenum Concilium, praeilla confuſione quam ipſi poſt Concilium excitaverunt. Anguſtines ſad complaint of the loading of the Church with ceremonies, and comparing them to Judaiſm, is commonly known. Of which ſee Luthers Comment. ib. p. 55, 56. And ſo ſtrange did it ſeem to Luther that the learned Prelates of thoſe bitter times ſhould ſo ſcold circa naenia & nugas, about preheminence and ceremonies, and things of nought, that he is again and again taken up in admiring it. Read that Treatiſe throughout.

Is it not ſad to think of the heat of an Epiphanius and Theophilus Alexand. againſt Chryſoſtom, and of Chryſoſtome againſt them! Of Hierom againſt Ruffinus, Chryſoſtom, and many others; and if Auſtin had not been more peaceable then he, one of them muſt have been an Heretick, or Schiſmatick at leaſt. How many more ſuch ſad examples have we!

And for their damnatory Sentences, they were more preſumptuous then their Laws; Few men could ſtand in anothers way, or fall out, but one of p. 147them muſt be an Heretick before they had made an end. Small differences were named damnable Hereſies. Though they had enough among them that were ſuch indeed, (whereof ſome of the Clergy were almoſt alwaies the cauſes and fomenters) yet did they ſo multiply them by their imputation, that their Catalogues ſwelled beyond the credit of charity. And he that had the higheſt reputation, was uſually ſafeſt from the blot, and had power to make others hereticks almoſt at his pleaſure; and if a man had once got the vote and fame, it was dangerous gainſaying him. Had Vigilantius or Jovinian had Hieroms name, ſome of their hereſies might poſſibly have been articles of faith.

And as they were dangerouſly forward on one ſide to make every ſmall miſtake a Hereſie, and cauſe diviſions in the Church by their unjuſt condemnations; ſo many on the other hand were as forward to provoke them, by novelties or falſe conceits, eſpecially about the Trinity, and the perſon and natures of Chriſt; So that unquiet ſpirits knew not when or where to reſt: And multitudes of them did turn cheaters and deluders of the vulgar, by pretending to Miracles, and Revelations, and Viſions, and drawing the people deeper into ſuperſtition by ſuch means, (as Bonafacius Moguntinus wrote to Pope Zachary about the hypocritical Saint Aldebert.) And in that age eſpecially when few learned men (as Eraſmus complaineth) did eſcape the ſuſpition of hereſie, and he that was a Mathematician was counted a Magitian, it had been more wit to have ſilenced ſome unneceſſary verities, then to have angred impatient ignorance. Virgilius might have talkt more p. 148of the world above us, and let the world below us alone, rather then to force the learned Pope Zacbary to ſay to his brother Boniface of Mentz: De perverſa & iniqua doctrina, quam contra Deum & animam ſuam locutus eſt; (a high crime) ſi clar ficatum fuerit it a eum confiteri, quod alius mundus & alii homines ſub terras ſint, hunc accito Concilio, ab eccleſia pelle ſacerdotii honore privatum. vid. Uſher. ſyllog. Hibernic. Epiſtel. pag. 49, 50. But to mention the twentieth part of the Proud uſurpations, innovations, impoſitions and ſentences of thoſe following times, eſpecially among the Romaniſts, is fitter for large volumns then a curſary Lamentation of the Churches ſins. I will not meddle with the Errors, and cruel blood ſhed of the Popiſh Clergy of late, againſt the Waldenſes, and Proteſtants; nor yet with the ſad condition of the reſt of the Clergy through the Chriſtian world, in Aethiopia, Muſcovia, Grece, &c. For you will think that this is leſs to us that do diſclaim them: But let us come neerer our ſelves, and we ſhall find yet matter of further lamentation. And I will purpoſely ſay nothing of any of the ſins of our forrain Reformers, nor meddle with any of thoſe ſad contentions, which have brought the Reformed Churches into two ſuch exaſperated partys, Lutherans and Calviniſts, (as they are commonly called) and hindred their reconciliation and fruſtrated all means that have been uſed to that end till this day, to the exceeding ſhame of the Paſtors of theſe Churches, and the publiſhing of our darkneſs, Pride, and ſelfiſhneſs to all the world. But my preſent buſineſs lyeth only at home, and that only with the Reformed Paſtors of our Churches. For though through the p. 149great mercy of God, they are far from the Papal cruelty which made bone-fires of their Brethren better then themſelves throughout the Land, and as far from the worſt of their Errors and falſe worſhip; yet have we been ſo far from innocency, that all poſterity is bound to lament the miſcarriages of their predeceſſors.

Is it not a very ſad Hiſtory of the troubles at Frankford, to read that ſo many godly learned men that had forſaken all for the Reformed profeſſion, and were Exiles in a forraign Land, even in a City where they had but borrowed the liberty of one Church ſhould even then fall in pieces among themſelves, and that about a Liturgy and Ceremonies, ſo far as to make a diviſion; and after many plottings and counter-plottings, and underminings of one another, one part of them muſt leave the City, and go ſeek another for their liberty! What had not thoſe few Exiles that left their native Country, lands and friends, and all for the Goſpel, that fled ſo far for the liberty of Gods worſhip, and had as great advantage as moſt men in the world to be ſenſible of the excellency of Reformation and liberty, had theſe I ſay no more Chriſtian love and tenderneſs, no more eſteem of what they ſuffered for, then to fall out with one another, and almoſt fall upon one another, for ſuch things as theſe! Would not ſuffering abate their pride and paſſions, and cloſe their hearts, nor yet make them ſo far patient as to tolerate each other in ſo ſmall a difference: Even when their deareſt friends and fellow-ſervants were frying in the flames at home, and the priſons filled with them, and they had daily news of one after another that was p. 150made a ſacrifice to the fury of the Papiſts, could they yet proceed in their own diſſentions, and that to ſuch a height! O what is man! and the beſt of men! Yea before this, in King Edwards daies, what rigor was uſed againſt Biſhop Hooper about ſuch Ceremonies! But the priſon abated Biſhop Ridleys uncharitableneſs, and they then learned more charity when they were going to the flames.

From Frankford the ſad diviſion at the death of Queen Mary was tranſported into England; and the ſeeds that were ſown or began to ſpring up in the Exiled Congregation, did too plentifully fructifie in the Land of their proſperity. No ſooner doth the Sun ſhine upon them, but contentious ſpirits begin to ſwarm; and the priſon doors are no ſooner open, and their bolts knockt off, but they continue the ſuppreſſing of their Brethren, as if they had been turned looſe as fighting Cocks to fall upon one another, and to work for Satan when they had ſuffered for Chriſt. The party that was for Prelacy and Ceremonies, prevailed for the countenance of the ſtate, and quickly got the ſtaff into their hands, and many of their Brethren under their feet: and ſo contrived the buſineſs that there was no quiet ſtation to be had in the Miniſtery, for thoſe that would not be of their mind and way. And many of them endeavoured to have a brand of ignominy ſet upon their names, who deſired the Diſcipline and order of other reformed Churches; That all might be accounted Schiſmaticks that would not be ruled by them even in Ceremonies. The contrary-minded alſo were ſome of them too intemperate, and impatient, and unpeaceable; and ſome few of them turned to flat ſeparation, p. 151and flew in the faces of the Prelates with reviling: For their ſakes many wiſe and peaceable men were the worſe uſed; and they that were got into the Chair, began to play the ſcorners and the perſecutors: and thought meet to impoſe upon them all the nick-name of Puritans, as knowing how much names of reproach and ſcorn could do with the vulgar for the furthering of their cauſe; ſome of theſe Puritans (as now they had named them) were impriſoned, and ſome put to death, and ſome dyed in and by impriſonment: They are all made uncapable of being Preachers of the Goſpel in England, till they would change their minds, and ſubſcribe to the lawfulneſs of Prelacy, and the Liturgy and Ceremonies, and uſe theſe accordingly when they uſe their Miniſtery. O how much did many good men rejoyce that the Lord had viſited their native Countrey with deliverance, and the light of the glorious Goſpel of his Son? How much did they long to lay out themſelves for the ſaving of their dear Countreymen, and to improve the preſent freedom for the moſt effectual propagation of the Truth? When alas their own friends, ſome of their fellow-ſufferers animated and aſſiſted by many temporizers, did ſuddenly diſappoint their hopes and ſhut them out of the Vineyard of the Lord, and would ſuffer none to labour in it, but themſelves and theirs. Alas that perſecution ſhould be ſo ſoon forgotten! and that they ſhould have no more ſenſe of the cruelty of the Papiſts, to have moved them to ſome more tenderneſs of the conſciences and liberties of their Bretheren. That they had no more compaſsion on the Church of Chriſt, then to deprive it of the labours p. 152of ſo many choice and worthy men; and that at ſuch a time of neceſſity. When Popiſh Prieſts were newly caſt out, and multitudes of Congregations had no Preachers at all, but ſome ſilly Readers, yet might not theſe men be allowed to Preach. If the Judgements of theſe Prelates were never ſo abſolute for the Divine right of their own government, yet could it not be ſo for the abſolute Neceſsity of the Croſs, Surplice, and every part of the forms in their Liturgy! Had they but countenanced moſt their own party, and ſilenced all that did ſpeak againſt their Government and Ceremonies, and only allowed them to preach the Goſpel without ſubſcription to the lawfulneſs of theſe things, and with a ſilent forbearance of the uſe of the Ceremonies, they might have better ſecured their own power and way, and have exerciſed ſome ſenſe of brotherly love, and compaſsion on the neceſsitous ſtate of the Church, and in all likelyhood might have ſtood ſafe themſelves to this day. A wonderful thing it ſeems to me, that wiſe and good men (for ſuch I doubt not but many of them were) ſhould think it better that many hundred Congregations in England (to ſay nothing of Ireland or Scotland) ſhould be without any preaching at all to the apparent hazard of the damnation of means ſouls (who were ſo deep in Popiſh ignorance before) then that a man ſhould preach to them that durſt not uſe the Croſs or Surplice? were theſe of more worth then ſo many ſouls? It was lawful in the Apoſtles daies to baptize without the Croſs, and to pray, and praiſe God without the Surplice? and why might not the Prelates of England have tolerated that in the Churches neceſſities, at p. 153leaſt as a weakneſs in well-meaning Brethren which the Apoſtolical Churches uſed not at all? What if they were lawful? They that thought ſo might have them. Were they now become more neceſſary then the Preaching of the Goſpel, when in the Apoſtles times they were of no neceſſity or uſe at all? If it were obedience to the Prelates that was neceſſary, they might have required obedience to undoubted and neceſſary things, and they ſhould ſoon have found it. Had they contented themſelves to be as Officers under Chriſt, to ſee to the execution of his Laws, and to meddle at leaſt with no needleſs new Legiſlation, I think few would have queſtioned obedience to them but the ungodly. But it was ſadly contrived to have ſuch Impoſitions on mens conſciences in needleſs or indifferent things, as the moſt tender conſcienc't men were likeſt to diſobey, and as might be ſnares to thoſe that deſired to pleaſe God, (when) the buſineſs of Church Governors ſhould be to promote the obedience of Chriſts-Laws, and to encourage thoſe that are moſt fearful to diſobey them) and to do as the Law makers, Dan. 6. 5. We ſhall not find any occaſion againſt this Daniel, except we find it againſt him concerning the Law of his God.

But thus it came to paſs that the enemy of the Church did too much attain his ends: ſuch excellent men as Hilderſham, Brightman, P. Bayn, Parker, Ames, Bradſhaw, Dod, Nicolls, with multitudes more were laid aſide and ſilenced; and multitudes of them that petitioned for liberty in Lincolnſhire, Devonſhire, and other parts, ſuppreſſed; and the Nation in the mean time abounding with groſs p. 154ignorance, was brought by obſerving the countenance of the times, to like their own Readers better then painful Preachers, and to hate and ſcorn the zealous obedience to the Laws of Chriſt, and all diligence for ſalvation, becauſe they obſerved, that thoſe men that were ſuch, were ſo many of them hated and perſecuted by the Rulers, though on the occaſions before mentioned. And here was the foundation of our greateſt miſery laid: While ſome of the Rulers themſelves began to turn their hatred againſt practical godlineſs (which corrupted nature hates in all) and the common people took the hint, and no longer confined the word Puritan to the Non-conformiſts, but applyed it commonly through all parts of the Land, to thoſe that would but ſpeak ſeriouſly of heaven, and tell men of Death and Judgement, and ſpend the Lords day in preparation thereto, and deſire others to do the like; that did but pray in their families, and keep their children and ſervants on the Lords day to learn the way to ſalvation, in ſtead of letting them ſpend it in gaming or revelling; they that did but reprove a ſwearer or a drunkard; theſe were become the Puritans and the Preciſians, and the hated ones of the time; ſo that they became a by-word in all the Towns and Villages in England that ever I knew, or heard of (as to theſe things.) And thus when the Prelates had engaged the vulgar in their cauſe, and partly by themſelves, and partly by them, had ſo far changed their cauſe, as that all ſerious Chriſtians that feared ſin, and were moſt diligent for ſalvation, were preſently engaged among their adverſaries, and they were involved with the reſt, though they did nothing againſt the Government p. 155or Ceremonies, and the moſt ignorant and impious became the friends and agents of the times, and everywhere made the moſt pious and ſedulous Chriſtians a common ſcorn, to the diſhonour of God, and the hardening of the wicked, and diſcouraging of the weak, and filling men with prejudice againſt a godly life, and hindring many thouſands from the way of ſalvation: then did God himſelf appear more evidently as intereſted in the quarrel, and roſe againſt them, and ſhamed them that had let in ſcorn and ſhame upon his waies; And this, even this was the very thing that brought them down.

Beſides this, there was ſcarce ſuch a thing as Church-Government or Diſcipline known in the Land; but only this haraſſing of thoſe that diſſented from them. In all my life I never lived in the Pariſh where one perſon was publikely admoniſhed or brought to publike penitence or excommunicated, though there were never ſo many obſtinate drunkards, whoremongers or vileſt offenders. Only I have known now and then one for getting a baſtard, that went to the Biſhops Court and paid their ſees; and I heard of two or three in all the Countrey (in all my life) that ſtood in a white ſheet an hour in the Church: But the antient Diſcipline of the Church was unknown. And indeed it was made by them impoſſible, when one man that lived at a diſtance from them, and knew not one of many hundreds of the Flock, did take upon him the ſole Juriſdiction (and executed it not by himſelf, but by a lay-Chancellor) excluding the Paſtors of the ſeveral Congregations, who were but to joyn with the Church-wardens and the Apparitors in preſenting men, and bringing them p. 156into their Courts: And an impoſſible task muſt needs be unperformed: And ſo the controverſie as to the letter and outſide was, Who ſhould be the Governors of all the particular Churches? but as to the ſenſe and inſide of it, it was, Whether there ſhould be any effectual Church-Government, or not? Whereupon thoſe that pleaded for Diſcipline, were called by the New name of Diſciplinarians; as if it had been a kind of Hereſie to deſire Diſcipline in the Church.

At laſt the heat began to grow greater, and new impoſitions raiſed new adverſaries. When conformable Puritans began to bear the great reproach (there being few of the Non-conformiſts left) Then muſt they alſo be gotten into the Net; Altars muſt be bowed to or towards: All muſt publiſh a Book for dancing and ſports on the Lords day, diſabling the Maſters of Families, & parents (though they had ſmal time on the week-daies, by reaſon of their poverty or labour) to keep in their own children or families from dancing on that day, that they might inſtruct them in the matters of God. If a man as he read a Chapter to his family, had perſwaded them to obſerve and practice it, and with any reaſons urged them thereto, this was called expounding, and was enquired of in their Articles, to be preſented together with Adultery and ſuch like ſins: ſo alſo was he uſed that had no preaching at home, and would go hear a conformable Preacher abroad: So that multitudes have I known exceedingly troubled or undone for ſuch matters as theſe, when not one was much troubled for ſcandalous crimes. Then Lectures were put down, and afternoon Sermons, and expounding p. 157the Catechiſm, or Scripture in the afternoons. And the violence grew ſo great, that many thouſand families left the Land, and many godly, able Miniſters, Conformiſts as well as others, were fain to flie and become Exiles, ſome in one Countrey and ſome in another, and moſt in the remote American parts of the world: Thither went Cotten, Hooker, Davenport, Shephard, Allen, Cobbet, Noyes, Parker, with many another that deſerved a dwelling place in England.

Yet I muſt profeſs I ſhould ſcarce have mentioned any of this, nor taken it for ſo hainous a crime, had it been only cruelty to the perſons of theſe men, though they had dealt much hardlyer with them then they did, and if it had not been greater cruelty to the Church, and if they had but had competent men for their places when they were caſt out. But alas the Churches were peſtered with ſuch wretches as are our ſhame and trouble to this day. Abundance of meer Readers, and drunken profane deboiſt men, were the Miniſters of the Churches; ſo that we have been this many years endeavouring to cleanſe the Church of them, and have not fully effected it to this day. And many that had more plauſible tongues, did make it their chief buſineſs, to bring thoſe that they called Puritans into diſgrace, and to keep the people from being ſuch. So that I muſt needs ſay, that I knew no place in theſe times, where a man might not more ſafely have been drunken every week, (as to their puniſhment) then to have gone to hear a Sermon if he had none at home. For the common people readily took the hint, and increaſed their reproach, as the Rulers did their perſec…tion; p. 158ſo that a man could not in any place of England that I came in, have ſaid to a ſwearer or a drunkard, O do not ſin againſt God, and wound or hazard your own ſoul, but he ſhould have been preſently …ooted at as a Puritan: He could not have ſaid to an ignorant or carele…s neighbour, Remember your everlaſting ſtate: prepare for death and Judgement: or have talked of any Scripture matters to them, but he was preſently jeered as a Puritan or Preciſian: and Scripture it ſelf was become a reproach to him that talked of it, and they would cry out, What! we muſt have talk of Scripture now! you will preach to us! we ſhall have theſe Preachers ordered …re long. So that it was become commonly in England a greater reproach to be a man truly living in the fear of God, then to live in open prophaneſs, and to rail at godlineſs, and daily ſcorn it, which was ſo far from being a matter of danger, that many took it up in expectation of preferment; and the Preachers of the times were well ware that the riſing way was to preach againſt the preciſe Puritans, and not to live preciſely themſelves. And thus both Miniſtery and people grew to that ſad paſs, that it was no wonder if God would bear no longer with the Land.

Even as it was in the Weſtern Churches before the inundation of the Goths and Vandals, as Salvian among others tells us; Indeed I know not a Writer that more fitly painteth out the ſtate of our times; I ſhall therefore borrow ſome of his words to expreſs our caſe, which it ſeems had been then the Churches caſe.

Ipſa Dei Eccleſia quae in omnibus eſſe debet placatrix Dei, quid eſt aliud quam exacerbatrix Dei? aut pr… ter p. 159pauciſſim…s qu…ſdam qui mala fugiunt, quid eſt aliud pene omnis coetus Chriſtianorum quam ſentina vitiorum? Quotum enim quem que invenies in Eccleſia non aut Ebrioſum aut helluonem, aut adulterum, &c.—immo facilius invenias qui totum ſit quam qui nihil: Et quod diximus nihil ni…is forſitan gravis videatur eſſe cenſura; plus multo dicam, facilius invenias reum malorum omnium quam non omnium; facilius majorum criminum quam minorum: id eſt, facilius qui & major a crimina cum minoribus, quam qui minor a tantum ſin… majoribus perpetrarint. In hanc enim morum probroſitatem prope omnis Eccleſiaſtica pl…bs redacta eſt, ut in …uncto populo Chriſtiano genus quodammodo ſanctitatis ſi…, minus eſſe vitioſum. Ita que Eccleſias vel potius templa at que altaria Dei minoris reverentiae quidem habent quam cujuſ…bet minimi ac municipalis judicis domum. Siquidem intra j…nuas non modo illuſtrium poteſtatum, ſed etiam praeſidum & praepoſitorum, non omnes paſſim intrare praeſumunt, niſi quos aut judex vocaverit, aut negotium traxerit, aut ipſa honoris proprii dignitas introire permiſerit: it a …t ſi quiſpiam fu…rit inſolenter ingreſſus, aut caed…tur, aut propellatur aut al… qua verec…diae at que exiſtimationis ſu… labe mulctetur. In templa autem vel potius in altaria atqu… ſacraria Dei paſſim omnes ſordidi ac flagitioſi ſin… ulla penitus reverentia ſacri honor is irrumpunt, non quia non omnes ad exorandum Deum currere debent; ſed quia qui ingreditur ad placandum, non debet egredi ad exacerbandum. Ne que enim ejuſde… offic… eſt indulgentiam poſcere & …r acundiam provocare: Novum ſiquidem monſtrigenus eſt; eadem paene omnes jugiter faciunt, quae feciſſe ſe plangunt: Et qui intrant in Eccleſiaſticam domum, ut mala antiqua defleant, exeunt; & quid dico p. 160excunt? in ipſis pene hoc orationibus ſuis moliuntur. Salv. de Gubern. l. 3. p. 86, 87.

Et pag. 180. O miſeriam lacrymabilem. O miſeriam luctuoſam! quam diſſimilis nunc a ſeipſo eſt populus Chriſtian…s, id eſt, ab eo qui fuit quondam!—Ecce in quid reducti ſumus, ut beatam fore Eccleſiam judicemus, ſi vel tantum in ſe boni habeat quantum mali. Nam quomado non beatam arbitremur, ſi mediam plebis partem haberet innoxiam, quam pene totam nunc eſſe plangimus criminoſam—ſuperfluè unius ſcelera deflevimus; aut omnes enim, aut pene omnes flendi at que lugendi ſunt.

Et pag. 195, 196. Omnia amamus; omnia colimus; ſolus nobis in com…aratione omnium Deus vilis eſt? ſiquando enim veniret, (quod ſaepe evenit) ut eodem die & feſtivitas Eccleſiaſtica & ludi publici agantur, quaeſo ab omnium Conſcientia, quis locus majores Chriſtianorum virorum copias haberet? Caveane ludi publici, au atrium Dei? Et templum omnes magis ſectentur, au theatrum? dicta Evangeliorum magis diligant au thymelicorum? verba vitae, an mortis? verba Chriſti, an mimi? Non eſt dubium quin illud magis amemus quod anteponimus.

Too like to theſe here deſcribed were our times grown, through the fault of thoſe that profeſſed themſelves to have the overſight of their ſouls. A moſt ſad thing it was to ſee thoſe men that undertook to guide men in the waies of life, to be the chief means of diſcouraging them; and to hear them make a mock at holineſs, that ſhould have devoted their Doctrine and … thereto. The accuſation may ſeem harſh to thoſe of after-times that knew not this! or that by the Patrons of iniquity are perſwaded of the p. 161contrary. But I ſay as Salvian, l. 6. p. 197. Sed gravis eſt forſitan haec at que iniqua congeſtio. Gravis profecto, ſi falſa.

Yet through the mercy of God, it was not all the Prelates of the Church that thus miſcarried: we have yet ſurviving our Uſher, our Hall, our Morton, learned, godly and peaceable men; whoſe names are as dear to us as any mens alive. And O that it had been the will of God that all had been ſuch! Then had we not been like to have ſeen thoſe daies of blood that we have ſeen: nor thoſe great mutations in Church and ſtate! But ſo far were theſe good men from being able to do the good that they would, that they were maligned for their piety, and ſoundneſs in the faith, and many a time have I heard them deſpiſed as well as others, and ſcorned as Puritans for all they were Prelates.

And yet it were well if all the guilt had lain upon that party! But alas it was not ſo! Thoſe pious and painful Divines that were oppreſſed, and much more that part of the people that joyned with them, were too impatient under their ſuffering! and bent themſelves (ſome of them) more then was meet againſt the perſons of thoſe that they ſuffered by; and too much endeavoured to make the Prelates odious with the people; as perſecutors of the Church of God: and were ready to go too far from them on the other hand; and to think the worſe of ſome things becauſe they commanded them. Doubtleſs had we all ſuffered with more patience, and carried our ſelves with meekneſs and gent eneſs to thoſe that we differed from, and given them ſo much commendation as was their due, and put the beſt conſtructions on p. 162their actions that we could, and covered their infirmities with the moſt charitable interpretations, we might have done more to mollifie their minds; or at leaſt, to have maintained our own innocency. But as there was no room on their part to a motion for peace, or a petition for liberty, in the time of their proſperity; ſo when advantages did ſeem to appear to us of vindicating our liberties, we looked upon them as unreconcileable, and too inconſiderately ruſht on, and were wanting in thoſe peaceable endeavours that were our duty. We did not in our Aſſembly invite them to a free conſultation, that their cauſe might have the fulleſt and faireſt hearing, before it had been condemned. Propoſals that had any tendency to healing and accommodation, had never that entertainment from us that they did deſerve. What moderate Propoſals were made to one party by Biſhop Uſher, which both parties did diſlike! How many pacificatory motions and excellent Treatiſes came from that Heavenly peaceable Biſhop Hall, eſpecially his Peace-maker, his Pax terris, and his Modeſt Offer! But how little did they effect! Certainly ſome of the men were ſo venerable for their admirable learning and piety, that they deſerved to have been heard, and conſulted with too, as wiſe and moſt Judicious men. And Prelacy was not ſo young a plant in the Church, nor had it in former and latter ages, had ſo few or mean perſons to adorn and credit it, but that it well deſerved the faireſt hearing and debate.

But thus have we all ſhewed our frailty, and this is the heed that we have taken to our ſelves and to all the Flock. The Lord open our eyes at laſt, that we p. 163may all fullyer ſee our own miſcarriages; for ſurely they lie as Mountains before us, and all the world about us may ſee them, and yet we will hardly ſee them our ſelves.

A man would think now that if the heart of man be cureable, we ſhould by this time be all brought to the ſenſe of our miſcarriages, and be prepared to a cloſure on any reaſonable terms? Who would think but after all the ſmart of our diviſions, we ſhould long ere this have got together, and prayed, and conſulted our ſelves into peace! But alas there is no ſuch matter done; and few do I find that mind the doing of it. We continue our quarrels as hot as ever: As Salvian ſaith in another caſe, Miſeri jam ſumus: & nec dum nugaces (diſcordes) eſſe ceſſamus. l. 6. p. 20 2. Et pag. 200. Mala inceſſabiliter malis addimus, & peccata peccatis cumulamus: & cum maxima noſtri pars iam perierit, id agimus ut pereamus omnes.—Nos non vicinos noſtros tantum ardere vidimus, ſed ipſi iam ex maxima noſtrorum corporum parte arſimus. Et quid hoc, proh nefas, mali eſt? arſimus, arſimus, & tamen flammas quibus iam arſimus non timemus. Nam quod non ubi que agantur quae prius acta ſunt, miſeriae eſt beneficium, non diſciplinae. Facile hoc probo. Da enim prioris temporis ſtatum, & ſtatim ubi que ſunt quae fuerunt.

The minds of many are as much exaſperated or eſtranged as ever. Three ſorts I meet with, that all are too backward to any accommodation.

1. The violent men of the Prelates ſide, eſpecially thoſe of the new way, who are ſo far from Reconciliation and healing of our breaches, that they labour to perſwade the world that the contrary-minded are p. 164Schiſmaticks, and that all the Miniſters that have not Epiſcopal ordination are no Miniſters, nor any of the Churches that have not Prelates are true Churches, (at leaſt, except it can be proved to be through unavoidable neceſſity.) And they ſay, To agree with ſuch were to ſtrike a Covenant with Schiſm it ſelf.

2. Some on the other ſide ſay, Do you not ſee that except an inconſiderable number, the Prelatical party are all, empty, careleſs, if not ſcandalous ungodly men! Where are almoſt any of them whoſe Communion is deſirable! That ſet themſelves to the winning and ſaving of ſouls, and are ſerious men in the matters of ſalvation, in whom you can perceive a heavenly converſation? Hath God brought down theſe enemies of godlineſs, and perſecutors and depopulaters of his Church, and would you make a league with them again? Do you not ſee that they are as bitter and implacable as ever! and have not ſome of them the faces to juſtifie all the former impoſitions and perſecutions, and draw or continue the guile of it upon their heads? and would make the world believe that they are wrongfully eiected, when ſo many accuſatians in Parliament before the diviſion, ſo many Centuries of horribly ſcandalous ones publiſhed by Mr. White, and ſo many more Centuries that lie on Record under depoſitions in the ſeveral Countyes of the Nation where the Committees eiected them, will be perpetual witneſſes of the quality of theſe men.

3. Others there be that are peaceable men on both ſides, that will not juſtifie the former miſcarriages, nor own the preſent evils of any; but think though there be too much truth in theſe later accuſations, yet the nature of the Difference and the Quality p. 165of ſome of the perſons is ſuch, as deſerveth our deſires and endeavours of Reconciltation. But they think the work to be hopeleſs and impoſſible, and therefore not to be attempted.

And thus our breach is made; but how or when it will be well healed, the Lord knoweth. But this is not all; it behoveth us yet to come neerer home, and enquire into the waies of the preſent approved Godly Miniſters, of what party ſoever; and doubtleſs if we are willing to know our ſelves we may ſoon find that which will lay us very low before the Lord, I ſhall in all have an eye at my own corrupt heart which I am ſo far from Juſtifying in th…s common lamentation, that I take it as my neceſſary duty to caſt the firſt ſtone at my ſelf.

The great ſins that we are guilty of, I ſhall not undertake to enumerate; and therefore my paſſing over any particular is not to be taken as a denyal of it for our Juſtification. But I ſhall take it to be my duty to give inſtance of ſome few, that cry loud for humiliation and ſpeedy Reformation.

Only I muſt needs firſt premiſe this profeſſion; That for all the faults that are now among us, I do not believe that ever England had ſo able and faithful a Miniſtery ſince it was a Nation as it hath at this day: and I fear that few Nations on earth, if any, have the like. Sure I am the change is ſo great within this 12. years, that it is one of the greateſt joyes that ever I had in the world to behold it. O how many Congregations are now plainly and frequently taught, that lived then in great obſcurity? How many able faithful men are there now in a County in compariſon of what were then? How graciouſly p. 166hath God proſpered the ſtudies of many young men, that were little children in the beginning of the late troubles? ſo that now they cloud the moſt of their ſeniors: How many miles would I have gone twenty years ago, and leſs, to have heard one of thoſe ant…ent Reverend Divines, whoſe Congregations are now grown thin, and their parts eſteemed mean by reaſon of the notable improvement of their Juniors? And in particular, how mercifully hath the Lord dealt with this poor Countrey of Worceſterſhire, in raiſing up ſo many of theſe, that credit their ſacred office, and ſelf-denyingly, and freely, zealouſly and unwearyedly do lay out themſelves for the good of ſouls! I bleſs the Lord that hath placed me in ſuch a neighbourhood, where I may have the brotherly fellowſhip of ſo many able, humble, unanimous, peaceable and faithful men. O that the Lord would long continue this admirable mercy to this unworthy Countrey: And I hope I ſhall rejoyce in God while I have a being for the common change in other parts, that I have lived to ſee: That ſo many hundred faithful men are ſo hard at work for the ſaving of ſouls, frementibus licet & frendentibus inimicis; and that more are ſpringing up apace. I know there are ſome men whoſe parts I reverence, who being in point of Government of another mind from them, will be offended at my very mention of this happy alteration: but I muſt profeſs if I were abſolutely Prelatical, if I knew my heart, I could not choſe for all that but rejoyce: What not rejoyce at the proſperity of the Church, becauſe the men do differ in one opinion, about its order! ſhould I ſhut my eyes againſt the mercies of the Lord! The ſouls p. 167of men are not ſo contemptible to me, that I ſhould envy them the bread of life, becauſe it is broken to them by a hand that had not the Prelatical approbation; O that every congregation were thus ſupplyed; but all cannot be done at once. They had a long time to ſettle a corrupted Miniſtery; and when the ignorant and ſcandalous are caſt out, we cannot create abilities in others for the ſupply; we muſt ſtay the time of their preparation and growth; and then if England drive not away the Goſpel by their abuſe, even by their willful unreformedneſs, and hatred of the light, they are like to be the happieſt Nation under heaven. For, as for all the Sects and Hereſies that are creeping in and daily troubling us, I doubt not but the free Goſpel managed by an able ſelf denying Miniſtery, will effectually diſperſe and ſhame them all.

But you may ſay, This is not confeſſing ſin, but applauding thoſe whoſe ſins you pretend to confeſs?

Anſw. It is the due acknowledgement of Gods graces and thankſgiving for his admirable mercies, that I may not ſeem unthankful in Confeſsion, much leſs to cloud or vilifie Gods graces, while I open the frailties that in many do accompany them.