The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Dedication 2
To my dearly beloved the Inhabitants of the Burrough and Pariſh of Kederminſter in Worceſterſhire.
AS I never deſired any greater preferment in this world, than to have continued in the work of my Miniſtry among you, ſo I once thought my days would have been ended in that deſired ſtation: But we are unmeet to tell God how he ſhall diſpoſe of us; or to foreknow what changes he intends to make. Though you are low in the world, and have not the Riches which cauſe mens eſtimation with the moſt, I ſee no probability that we ſhould have been ſeparated till death, could I but have obtained leave to preach for nothing.
But being forbidden to preach the Goſpel in that Dioceſs, I muſt thankfully take the liberty which ſhall anywhere elſe be vouchſafed me: And while I may enjoy it, I take it not for my duty to be over querulous, though the wound that is made by my ſeparation from you be very deep. And though to ſtrangers it will ſeem probable that ſuch ſeverity had never been exerciſed againſt me, but for ſome heynous crime, yet to you that have known me, I ſhall need to ſay but little in my defence. The great crime which is openly charged on me, and for which I am thought unworthy to preach the Goſpel, (even where there is no other to preach) is a matter that you are unacquainted with, and therefore, as you have heard me publikely accuſed of it, I am bound to render you ſuch an account as is neceſſary to your juſt information and ſatisfaction.
It pleaſed the Kings Majeſty, (in the proſecution of his moſt Chriſtian reſolution, of uniting his differing ſubjects by the way of mutual approaches and abatements) to grant a Commiſſion to twelve Biſhops and nine aſſiſtants on the one ſide, and to one Biſhop and eleven other Divines and nine aſſiſtants on the other ſide, to treat about ſuch alterations of the Liturgie, as are neceſſary to the ſatisfying of tender conſciences, and to the reſtoring of unity and peace. My experiences in a former Treaty (for Reconciliation in matter of Diſcipline) made me intreat thoſe to whom the nomination on the one ſide was committed, to excuſe me from the ſervice which I knew would prove troubleſome to my ſelf, and ungrateful to others; but I could not prevail. (But the Work it ſelf, I very much approved, as to be done by fitter and more acceptable perſons.) Being commanded by the Kings Commiſſion, I took it to be my duty to be faithful, and to plead for ſuch Alterations as I knew were neceſſary to the aſſigned ends; thinking it to be treachery to his Majeſty that entruſted us, and to the Church and cauſe for which we were entruſted, if under pretence of making ſuch Alterations as were neceſſary to the two forementioned ends, I ſhould have ſilently yielded to have [No Alterations] or [next to none.] In the concluſion (when the chief work was done by writing) a Committee of each part, was appointed to manage a Diſputation in preſence (by writing alſo.) Therein thoſe of the other part formed an Argument, whoſe Major propoſition was to this ſenſe (for I have no copy) [Whatſoever book enjoyneth nothing but what is of it ſelf lawful, and by lawful authority, enjoyneth nothing that is ſinful:] We denyed this propoſition; and at laſt gave divers Reaſons of our denyal; among which one was that [It may be unlawful by Accident, and therefore ſinful] You now know my crime; It is my concurring with learned, reverend Brethren, to give this Reaſon of our denyal of a propoſition: Yet they are not forbidden to preach for it, (and I hope ſhall not be;) but only I. You have publikely heard, from a mouth that ſhould ſpeak nothing but the words of Charity, Truth, and Soberneſs, (eſpecially there) that this was [a desperate ſhift that men at the laſt extremity are forced to] and inferring [that then neither God nor man can enjoyn without ſin.] In City and Country this ſoundeth forth to my reproach. I ſhould take it for an act of clemency to have been ſmitten profeſſedly for nothing, and that it might not have been thought neceſſary to afflict me by a defamation, that ſo I might ſeem juſtly afflicted by a prohibition to preach the Goſpel. But indeed is there in theſe words of ours ſo great a crime? Though we doubted not but they knew that our Aſſertion made not Every evil accident, to be ſuch as made an Impoſition unlawful, yet we expreſt this by word to them at that time, for fear of being miſreported: and I told it to the Right Reverend Biſhop when he forbad me to preach, and gave this as a reaſon: And I muſt confeſs I am ſtill guilty of ſo much weakneſs, as to be confident that ſome things not evil of themſelves, may have Accidents ſo evil, as may make it a ſin to him that ſhall command them. Is this opinion inconſiſtent with all Government? Yea I muſt confeſs my ſelf guilty of ſo much greater weakneſs, as that I thought I ſhould never have found a man on earth, that had the ordinary reaſon of a man, that had made queſtion of it; yea I ſhall ſay more then that which hath offended, viz. that whenever the commanding or forbidding of a thing indifferent is like to occaſion more hurt than good, and this may be foreſeen, the commanding or forbidding it is a ſin. But yet this is not the Aſſertion that I am chargeable with, but that [ſome Accidents there may be that may make the Impoſition ſinful;] If I may ask it without accuſing others, how would my crime have been denominated if I had ſaid the contrary? Should I not have been judged unmeet to live in any Governed ſociety? It is not unlawful of it ſelf to command out a Navy to Sea: But if it were foreſeen that they would fall into the enemies hands, or were like to periſh by any accident, and the neceſſity of ſending them were ſmall, or none, it were a ſin to ſend them. It is not of it ſelf unlawful to ſell poyſon, or to give a knife to another, or to bid another do it: but if it were foreſeen that they will be uſed to poyſon or kill the buyer, it is unlawful; and I think the Law would make him believe it that were guilty▪ It is not of it ſelf unlawful to light a candle or ſet fire on a ſtraw; But if it may be foreknown, that by anothers negligence or wilfulneſs, it is like to ſet fire on the City, or to give fire to a train and ſtore of Gunpowder, that is under the Parliament houſe, when the King and Parliament are there: I crave the Biſhops pardon, for believing that it were ſinfull to do it, or command it: Yea or not to hinder it (in any ſuch caſe,) when Qui non vetat peccare cum poteſt, jubet. Yea though going to Gods publike worſhip be of it ſelf ſo far from being a ſin, as that it is a duty, yet I think it is a ſin to command it to all in time of a raging peſtilence, or when they ſhould be defending the City againſt the aſſault of an enemy. It may rather be then a duty to prohibite it. I think Paul ſpake not any thing inconſiſtent with the Government of God or man, when he bid both the Rulers and people of the Church, not to deſtroy him with their meat for whom Chriſt dyed: and when he ſaith that he hath not his Power to deſtruction, but to Edification. Yea there are Evil Accidents of a thing not evil of it ſelf, that are cauſed by the Commander: and it is my opinion that they may prove his commad unlawful.
But what need I uſe any other Inſtances then that which was the matter of our diſpute? Suppoſe it never ſo lawful of it ſelf to kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, if it be impoſed by a penalty that is incomparably beyond the proportion of the offence, that penalty is an Accident of the command, and maketh it by accident ſinful in the Commander: If a Prince ſhould have Subjects ſo weak as that all of them thought it a ſin againſt the example of Chriſt, and the Canons of the general Councils, and many hundred years practice of the Church to kneel in the act of Receiving on the Lords days, if he ſhould make a Law that all ſhould be put to death that would not kneel, when he foreknew that their conſciences would command them all, or moſt of them, to die rather than obey, would any man deny this command to be unlawful by this accident? Whether the penalty of ejecting Miniſters that dare not put away all that kneel, and of caſting out all the people that ſcruple it, from the Church, be too great for ſuch a circumſtance, (and ſo in the reſt,) and whether this, with the lamentable ſtate of many congregations, and the diviſions that will follow, being all foreſeen, do prove the Impoſitions unlawful which were then in queſtion, is a caſe that I had then a clearer call to ſpeak to, then I have now. Only I may ſay that the ejection of the ſervants of Chriſt from the Communion of his Church, and of his faithful Miniſters from their ſacred work, when too many Congregations have none but inſufficient or ſcandalous teachers, or no preaching Miniſters at all, will appear a matter of very great moment, in the day of our Accounts, and ſuch as ſhould not be done upon any but a Neceſſary cauſe, where the benefit is greater then this hurt (and all the reſt) amounts to.
Having given you (to whom I owe it) this account of the cauſe for which I am forbidden the exerciſe of my miniſtry in that Countrey, I now direct theſe Sermons to …our hands, that ſeeing I cannot teach you …s I would, I may teach you as I can. And … I much longer enjoy ſuch liberty as this, … will be much above my expectation.
My dearly beloved, ſtand faſt in the …ord; And fear ye not the reproach of men, …ither be afraid of their revilings: For …e moth ſhall eate them up like a garment, …nd the worm ſhall eate them like wool: but …e righteouſneſs of the Lord ſhall be for ever, … his ſalvation from generation to genera…on, Iſa. 51.7, 8. If I have taught you … doctrine of error or impiety, of …ſobedience to your Governors in lawful …ings, of ſchiſm or uncharitableneſs, …learn them all, and renounce them with …nitent deteſtation: But if otherwiſe, …eſeech you mark them which cauſe …viſions and offences, contrary to the doctrine …hich you have learned, and avoid them: … they are ſuch as ſerve not our Lord …ſus Chriſt, but their own b…lly; and by … words and fair ſpeeches deceive the …rts of the ſimple, Rom. 16.17. If any all ſpeak againſt Truth or Godlineſs, member what you have received; and … little any adverſary could ſay, that …er made ſuch aſſaults upon you, while I … with you: and that it is eaſie for any man to talk confidently when no man muſt contradict him. I denyed no man liberty upon equal terms, to have ſaid his worſt againſt any doctrine that ever … taught you. And how they ſucceeded, I need not tell you: your own ſtability tells the world. As you have maintained true Catholiciſm, and never followed any ſect, ſo I beſeech you ſtill maintain the ancient faith, the Love of every member of Chriſt, and commo… charity to all, your Loyalty to your King your peace with all men: And let no… draw you from Catholick Unity to … faction, though the declaiming again… Faction and Schiſm ſhould be the devi… by which they would accompliſh it. A… as the world is nothing, and God is all, … all that are ſincere believers; ſo let … worldly intereſt ſeem regardable to yo… when it ſtands in any oppoſition to Chriſt but account all loſs and dung for him, … 3.8. And if you ſhall hear that I yet ſuf… more than I have done, let it not be yo… diſcouragement or grief; For I doubt … but it will be my crown and joy: I … found no ſmall conſolation, that I … not ſuffered, for ſinful, or for ſmall and in…ferent things: And if my pleading agai… … ejection of the Miniſters of Chriſt, …nd the excommunicating of his member, …r a ceremony, and the diviſions of his …hurch, and the deſtruction of Charity …all be the cauſe of my ſuffering (be it ever ſo great,) it ſhall as much rejoyce …e to be a ſuffering witneſs for CHARI…Y and UNITY, as if I were a Mar…r for the Faith. I participate with Paul … an expectation and hope, that Chriſt ſhall … magnified in my body whether by life or …ath: and as to live will be Chriſt, ſo to … will be gain; Only let your converſation … as it becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt; that …hether I ever ſee you more, or be abſent …till the joyful day) I may hear of your …fairs, that ye ſtand faſt in one spirit, with … mind ſtriving together for the faith of …he Gospel; and in nothing terrified by your …dverſaries, which is to them an evident …ken of perdition, but to you of ſalvation, …nd that of God, if to you it ſhall be given … the behalf of Chriſt, not only to …lieve on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his …ke, Phil. 1.20, 21, 27, 28, 29. But let … injury from inferiors provoke …ou to diſhonour the Governors that God himſelf hath ſet over you. Be meek …nd patient; the Lord is at hand; Honour all men; Love the Brotherhood: Fear God▪ Honour the King: For ſo is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put … ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men, 1 Pet▪ 2.15, 17. It is ſoon enough for you an… me, to be juſtified at the bar of Chriſt (by himſelf that hath undertaken it) againſt all the Calumnies of malicious men. Til… then let it ſeem no greater a matter the… indeed it is, to be ſlandered, vilified or abuſed by the world. Keep cloſe to hi… that never faileth you, and maintain you… integrity, that he may maintain the joy that none can take from you. Farewel … dear brethren, who are my glory and joy the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt his coming (1 Theſ. 2.18, 19.)
Your faithful, though unwo…thy Paſtor, Rich. Baxte… Nov. 11. 1661.