The Nonconformists Plea for Peace, Title page – Table of contents
THE NONCONFORMISTS PLEA for PEACE: OR An Account of their Judgment. In certain things in which they are miſunderſtood: written to reconcile and pacifie ſuch as by miſtaking them hinder Love and Concord.
Exhort. in the Liturgy before the Communion.
If any of you be—an hinderer, or ſlanderer of God's Word,—or be in malice or envy,—Repent of your ſins, or elſe come not to the holy Table, leſt after the taking of that Sacrament, the Devil enter into you as he did into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to deſtruction both of body and ſoul.
By RICHARD BAXTER.
LONDON, Printed for Beni. Alſop at the Angel and Bible over againſt the Stocks-Market. 1679.
To the Reverend Conforming Clergy.
Reverend Fathers and Brethren,
IT is now ſeventeen years ſince neer two thouſand Miniſters of Chriſt were by Law forbidden the exerciſe of their Office, unleſs they did conform to Subſcriptions, Covenants, Declarations and Practices, which we durſt not do, becauſe we feared God: Foreſeeing what this would do to the deſtroying of Love and Concord, and of mens ſou…s, weakning the Land, encouraging Popery, Hereſie and Schiſm, we did our beſt betime by Reaſon, & ſubmiſſive petitioning the Biſhops, to have prevented it; but in vain: We never made one motion for Presbytery, or againſt Liturgies, nor to abate any of the Biſhops Wealth, or Honour, nor any thing as to Church-Government, but Arch Biſhop Uſhers Model of the Primitive way: And we thankfully accepted of much leſs, expreſt in His Majeſties Gracious Declaration about Eccleſiaſtical Affairs▪ which, we hoped, would have ended all our diſcords. The Reaſons of the Great Change, and New Impoſitions, it is God, and not we, that muſt have an account of from the Convocation, &c. and of the conſequents. Since then, as we foreſaw, contrary intereſts have increaſed contrariety: The Laws againſt our Preaching to more than four, the Penalties of forty pound a Sermon, and long impriſonment in common Gaols, and driving us five miles from Corporations, and places where we lately preacht, and the reaſons given are not unknown to you: Many Books are written, and Sermons preached, earneſtly preſſing Magiſtrates to execute theſe Laws againſt us: And though, when demanded, we gave in a Catalogue of divers things in the old Impoſitions, which we under…ook to prove to be great ſins; and in our Petition for Peace, proteſted that nothing but avoiding ſin ſhould hinder our Conformity, and we had never call or leave to give our reaſons againſt the New Conformity; I my ſelf have been reported to my Superiours, to be one that confeſſeth the Lawfulneſs of all, ſave the renouncing of a rebellious Covenant: And while the Law and Canons impriſon, and excommunicate us ipſo fact…, if we do but give the reaſons of our Nonconformity; and I have offered to Reverend Biſhops and others, to beg leave to do it on my knees, and nothing more grieved me, than that I might not ſo endeavour to ſave men from the damning ſins of Hating, falſe accuſing, and ruining their Brethren, and ſacrilegious hindering the Preaching of Gods Word; yet have I been called on to tell them what it is that we would have, and told that our Superiours judge us not ſincere, but meer factious Schiſmaticks, that will neither Conform, nor tell them why we do not▪ Vehement Letters of accuſation are ſent me: Many Books charge us with heinous Schiſm, even as wilfully done againſt our conſciences: Yea that Covetouſneſs and Pride, and not Conſcience, cauſe our Nonconformity; that we are the worſt men alive, and unfit for humane ſociety, &c. while we are made their ſcorn, and many want bread, and many of us preach for nothing, ſave the ſpiritual benefits and rewards. And thoſe of us that have bread, know of ſo many that have families, and nothing but alms to maintain them, that we are glad to give them all that our neceſſities can ſpare: And we ſuppoſe our accuſers would not think that if they choſe beggery and ſcorn, or lived only on mens charity, it would prove them to be covetous or proud. I have read the Books of Biſhop Morley, Mr. S…ileman, Mr. Fulwood, Mr. Durel, Mr. Fowlis, Mr. Falkener, Mr. Nanfen, Dr. Borem…, Dr. Parker, Dr. Tomkins, the Friendly Debate, Dr. Aſhton, Mr. Hollingworth, Dr. Good, Mr. Hinkley, the Counterminer, Mr. L'Eſtrange, Mr. Long, and many more. And as my fleſh is no more in love with poverty and ſcorn than yours, nor was I more uncapable of ſuch a lot as yours; ſo I here teſtifie that no man is more inexcuſable than I, that have dwelt ſo long in pain, ſo neer the grave, if I have been ſo mad as to ſilence my ſelf, and choſe a Gaol among malefactors (where I have lain) and bitter accuſations and proſecutions, for any thing of this world that I could hope for, or for any thing leſs than my ſalvation. And either I am an utter ſtranger to my ſelf, or elſe I was willing to know the Truth: and Liberty and Wealth is liker to be a byas, than that which the Law decreeth againſt us. But if I be ſo unhappy as to be uncapable of underſtanding the lawfulneſs of all that is made neceſſary to the Miniſtry, you ſhould better think of it before you beg the ruine of all that are as ignorant as I▪ Had you told us how to come to your meaſure of knowledge, we would thank you: When I askt Biſhop Morley ſuch a queſtion, he adviſed me to read Bilſon and Hooker, where I found more than I approved for reſiſting or reſtraining Kings: and had long before read them and Saravia, Biſhop Downam, Spalatenſis, Petavius, Sancta Clara, Dr. Hammond, and abundance more for Prelacy, &c. He is not worthy the name of a man that would not know that truth, which maketh both for his temporal and eternal welfare
Under theſe accuſations my conſcience urged me to acquaint the accuſing Clergy with our Caſe, believing it be uncharitable to impute all their falſe report to Malignity, or Diaboliſm, but that it was STRANGENESS to our Caſe, while wrath and croſs intereſt kept them from hearing us: But my prudent friends perſwaded me ſilently to leave all to God, aſſuring me it would but more exaſperate, till they called us themſelves to ſpeak. Twice we were ſince invited to a Tryal for Concord, and both times came to an Agreement with the moderate and eminent Perſons that we treated with: But it was buried in privacy; and ſtill we are called on, to give the reaſons of our Diſſent.
Having long forborn for fear of offending them that require it, at laſt I have here adventured, not ſo far as to urge the Caſe, but only to ſtate it, and tell you barely what it is that I dare not do: If I find that you can bear this, if I have leave from God and man, I ſhall venture on more, and give you my reaſons: This unarmed Account is eaſily trampled on. I doubt not but it will meet with ſuch uſage as I have had already: But I muſt ſay, that if ſuch as the Counterminer will ſay that to fear ſuch ſin as I have here named, by one that is not willing to be damned, is Treaſon, Rebellion, Schiſm, Faction, Pride, Obſtinacy; this will not paſs with me for convincing Argument, on which I may venture my ſalvation. Jul Scaliger exercit. tells us, that in France our Bicott, the Learned Schoolman, was envied by another for his Auditors in Philoſophy, and his crafty adverſary told the King, that Bicott was a Peripatetick, and Ariſtotle was againſt Monarchy: There needed no more, and Bicott was caſt down.
As for them that think that to name the late Wars is a Confutation of Nonconformiſts, as if they knew not that they were raiſed on both ſides by Conformiſts (Heylin in Lauds Life will tell them who.) I now only repeat, [Silence all that had a hand in thoſe Wars (except the Conformiſts) and no more, and I and thouſands will give you thanks:] I plead not for my ſelf: The years are paſt in which I might have better ſerved the Church, had I been thought tolerable. I am almoſt uncapable now of your kindneſs, or of any great hurt that you can do me. A torrent of reproaching ſcornful words may eaſe ſome mens minds, and ſerve ſome mens ends, but will not ſatisfie my conſcience, nor heal the Land. I write not this as accuſing Conformiſts, or the Law-makers, but as anſwering their loud and long accuſations and demands. If telling what I fear, ſeem a telling what others are guilty of, it is a conſequent which I cannot avoid; but to avoid it and ſuch like, have ſeventeen years been herein ſilent. So far am I from deſiring the weakening of the Church, that I had not written this, but to prevent it. Though I with Saint Martin renounce communion with Ithacius and Idacius, I go not ſo far as he in ſeparating from the Synods of Biſhops; nor will I ſeparate from any Chriſtians, further than they ſeparate from Chriſt, or expel me: Church-Order I love; Church Tyranny and Schiſm I love not: I am for more Biſhops, and not for fewer: If Pariſh-Oratories, or Chapels were made Pariſh-Churches, at leaſt in each Corporation antiently called foreign: Yea if the Pariſh-Miniſters might be Paſtors, Epiſcopigregis, and not forced by ſtrangers to excommunicate, abſolve and receive to communion againſt their knowledge and conſciences, nor to profeſs, promiſe or practice ſin againſt God, nor omit their known Miniſterial duty, far be it from me to be againſt Conformity. I doubt not but he that will preſerve Religion here in its due advantages, muſt endeavour to preſerve the Soundneſs, Concord and Honour of the Pariſh-Churches. And as the truly wiſe and honeſt Judge Hale hath ſaid to me, It muſt be a new Act of Uniformity that muſt heal us, if ever we be healed. I am of the mind of old Mr. Dod, who, for the peoples ſake, thanked God that there were ſo many worthy Conformiſts, and for Truth and Conſcience ſake, thanked God that there were ſo many Nonconformiſts. I love and honour the Reverend, ſolid, worthy Preachers which I hear in moſt Churches in London, where I come; and I endeavour to have all others honour them: And though I am by the Canon ipſo facto excommunicate, they ſhall put me out from them before I will depart. But for the Church, and Kingdom, and their Conſciences ſake, I beg of the Clergy, that before they any more render odious thoſe whom they never heard, and urge Rulers to execute the Laws againſt them, that is, to confine, impriſon, excommunicate, ſilence and undo them, they would be ſure what manner of ſpirit they are of; and that this is acceptable to God, and profitable to the Land, or to themſelves, and that which the Churches Experience commendeth. My honeſt friend, whom I once perſwaded from Anabaptiſtry, writing againſt Separation, ſaith, that when he ſaw here…a leg, and there an arm in the way, it was time for him to ſtop. But in Church-hiſtory I have had a ſadder ſight, even the carkaſſes of thouſands, ſtreams of blood, and turnults in the chief Cities and Churches of the world, the Crowns of Emperours & Kings, the loſs of the Eaſtern Empire, the generation of the Papacie, the reproach of Chriſtianity, and that by Clergie-Domination, and Contention, ſtriving who ſhould be Greateſt and ſeem wiſeſt. Some ſay, If we take in a few moderate men like you, what the better are we? Anſ. More than you dream of, are far better than I: I hope few are worſe; Biſhop Morley bid Ab uno diſce omnes: Shall London have no clocks unleſs they will all ſtrike at once? ſhall none be tolerated but the perfect? Are you ſuch your ſelves? Do you differ in nothing? how then ſhall we have Communion with you when we differ in all the things here deſcribed? Pardon me for ſaying, I think that Mr. Tombs hath ſaid more like truth for Anabaptiſtry, the late Hungarian for Polygamy, many for drunkenneſs, ſtealing and lying, in caſes of neceſſity, than ever I yet read for the lawfulneſs of all that I have here deſcribed. And what is it that ſome men cannot copiouſly and confidently talk for? And what wretched Reaſons be they that have hindred Englands unity and peace? And how fully hath Rom. 14. and 15. and our Common intereſt and notorious experience confuted them! I have long wondered what powerful cauſe it is, that with ſuch men and ſo many, could ſo long prevail againſt ſuch evidence and light. If you will not hear, thoſe will whom God will uſe to the healing of his Churches: and bleſſed are the Peacemakers for (though you call them otherwiſe) they ſhall be called the Children of God. I have prefixed the words of ſome as our admonition; and I have written with this a fuller Treatiſe of the only true terms of the Concord of all Chriſtian Churches, and of the falſe terms which they never will unite in, but are the cauſes of Schiſm. I commitall with my ſelf living and dying, to him that is the Lord of the dead and living, and will ſhortly judge us all in righteouſneſs. Come Lord Jeſus; and prepare us for thy Coming.
Amen.
THE CONTENTS.
1. THE Reaſons of this writing and the ſenſe of the word CHURCH.
2. The various opinions of ſuch as we have to do with.
3. What Churches we hold to be inſtituted of God and what not▪
4. What Princes and Paſtors may do in ſuch matters.
5. What ſeparation and what aſſembling or gathering Churches is unlawful and what lawful.
6. Matters of fact to be known preparatory to our caſe.
7. Matters required of us for Conformity, & firſt of …ay-men.
8. Secondly, Matters impoſed on Miniſters: And I. Of Aſſent, Conſent, Approbation, and Canonical ſubſcription, that nothing is contrary to the Word of God.
II. 9. The ſecond Part of the Matter of Conformity: Reordination.
III. 10. The third Part of the Matter of Conformity; of ſwearing or Covenanting never to endeavour any alteration of Church Government.
VI. 11. The fourth part of the Matter; to declare that neither I nor any other perſon is obliged by the vow to endeavour any ſuch alteration of Church Government.
V. 12. The fifth Part of the Matter; The Declaration and Oath (as not underſtood) of not reſiſting any Commiſſioned.
VI. 13. The ſixth Part of the Matter: To ceaſe preaching and adminiſtring Sacraments till we conform (at leaſt not to preach to more than a family and four perſons.)
VII. 14. The ſeventh Part Conſequential, Not to come within five miles of any City or Corporation which ſendeth Burgeſſes to Parliament, or of any place where we have preached to more than aforeſaid ſince the Act of oblivion.
15. The Adjuncts, and the other Matters agreed on which affright the Nonconformiſts
16. The caſe and practice of the Miniſters ſince they were ſilenced.
Additions occaſioned by Mr. L. Freſh Suit, and ſome others, about National Churches.
THE Queſtion ſtated § 3, &c. Whether we are obliged by or to the Jewiſh National Polity? § 5, &c. or by ſcripture to a National limitation of them?
Whether a National Church-form be lawful, § 30, &c?
Whether it be a prudential deſirable form § 38, &c?
The reſolution of this by a ſhort hiſtory of Prelacie and Councils. § 39, &c.
Obj. From the neceſſity of Appeals, § 40, &c.
Obj. Shall all gather Churches that will. ib.
Obj. The Apoſtles have ſucceſſours. ib.
Q. Whether the King or who is the National Church Head § 41. 42, &c?
A Chriſtian Kingdom what § 43?
Q. Muſt real holyneſs in the judgment of rational Charity be required in all Church members. § 1?
Q. What Covenanting is neceſſary to particular Church relation? § 5, &c. The ſpirit maketh Miniſtrs, how?
I. The Epiſtle of an African Council (in Cyprian Ep. 68. p. 200.) to Felix a Presbyter and the Laity at Legio and Aſturica; and to Laelius the Deacon and the Laity at Emerita, concerning their Biſhops Bafilides and Martial, worthy to be read as to our preſent controverſies.
II. The Letter of Rob. Groſthead, the good Biſhop of Lincoln to Pope Innocent containing the reaſon of his Nonconformity▪ and ſhewing that hindring preaching is the greateſt ſin next Diveliſm and Antichriſtianiſm: Out of Mat. Par… An. 1253. p. 871. 872.
III. An extract from Biſhop Saunderſon de juramento.