The Nonconformists Plea for Peace, Section 16
SECT. XVI.
The Adjuncts and other Matters agreed on, which affright the Nonconformiſts.
I. AS there are ſome ſins far greater, and more terrible to conſcience than others, ſo aggravating Adjuncts oft make them ſuch: And theſe here ſeem very frightful. We are not now charging any others with ſin, nor proving the unlawfulneſs of what we fear, but expreſſing the Matter of Fact agreed on, which doth affright us.
I. Both ſides agree, that it is a great aggravation of ſin to be done by a Miniſter of Chriſt, a perſon conſecrated to holy work, to preach truth and holineſs, and ſerve at the Altar: For our Doctrine will be the leſs regarded, and men will be tempted to follow our bad example, who are bound to be to them patterns of purity and obedience to God: And Chriſtian and Proteſtant Religion is moſt injured by Miniſters ſins.
II. It is agreed that our Miniſtorial ſins, which we do as if they were part of our Office in the publick Aſſemblies, have a ſpecial aggravation differing from mens ſecret perſonal crimes.
III. It is agreed that Lying and Perjury are ſins of ſo heinous a nature, as that they tend to overthrow humane truſt and converſe, and all Societies, and deprive Princes of part of the ſecurity due to them for their lives and Crowns: And that in a Preacher of the Goſpel they are intollerable, tending to tempt the hearers to believe nothing that we ſay.
IV. It is agreed that by aſſertion to abſolve thouſands of perſons known or unknown, and juſtifie them, if they ſhould prove guilty of ſuch a crime, and ſo to draw on our ſelves the guilt of many thouſand perjuries, would be a ſin of as heinous a nature as moſt we can imagine.
V. It is agreed by Proteſtants, that all Oaths, Covenants and Laws, muſt be underſtood according to the plain and uſual ſenſe of the words, unleſs our Rulers otherwiſe expound them, and tell us that they mean ſomewhat elſe.
VI. It is agreed that though Judges muſt determine of the ſence of Laws, ſo far as to decide the caſes that are brought to them; yet none can make an univerſal obligatory expoſition of a Law, to bind the ſubjects conſcience in underſtanding it▪ but the Sovereign and Lawgivers themſelves: Elſe a Judge might become a Legiſlator and fruſtrate the Kings Laws by his expoſitions. If Judgements be the expoſitors and preſervers of Common unwritten Laws which are Cuſtoms, it is becauſe it is the Law-makers or Sovereigns will that it ſhall be ſo.
VII. It is agreed by all Proteſtants that ſtretching the words of Laws, Oaths and Promiſes to meanings quite differing from the Common uſe of the words, without the direction of the Law-makers to to do, and taking ſuch Oaths or Covenants with eqnivocations and mental reſervations on pretence of Charitable interpretation, for our own ends and intereſts, is more ſuitable to Atheiſts than ſincere Chriſtians, and would overthrow humane truſt, and the end of Laws and Princes ſafety, as well as other ſorts of perjury. For inſtance, if one take the ſubſcribed Declarations that [Its unlawful on any pretence whatſoever to take Arms againſt the King and ſo on] and will thus equivocate, as they ſay ſome do; viz. [It is unlawful] that is, againſt the Law of the Land but not againſt Gods Law; [To take Arms againſt the King] that is, as King; but ſaith Sua…ez, and ſuch others, when he is excommunicate by the Pope he is no King; [On any pretence] that is, ſay they, [unjuſt pretence] [by his authority againſt his perſon, and Souldiers] that is, ſay the equivocaters, [Its well ſaid that we may not do it by his Authority, but we may do it by the Law of nature and ſo by Gods Authority whoſe Law that is; [againſt any Commiſſioned by him] that is, ſay they, lawfully commiſſioned, and we are judges when his Commiſſions are unlawful: So [We will not endeavour any alteration of Government in Church or State] that is ſay they, 1. Not of Monarchy, or the King, but we may yet diſturb any of his Officers: 2. Not of the Eſſentials of Epiſcopacy; but we may ſeek to take down their wealth and Lordſhips, and reduce them from Dioceſans to Parochial or Corporation Biſhops: 3. Not by unlawful means; but we take not that to be unlawful which they do. What good will Oaths or Covenants taken with ſuch Latitude or Equivocation do? Do they ſecure any of the ends of Governments? Rulers ſhould abhor ſuch Equivocations and ſtretching Latitudes as theſe.
VIII. It is agreed on both ſides, that if we might go on this ſuppoſition, that our Rulers can require nothing that is unjuſt or impious, or againſt the Law or Common good or their own intereſt, and therefore that no expoſition is to be put on their Laws or Impoſitions which is of any ſuch importance, by this rule any oath or Covenant or promiſe in the world which Governours ſhall impoſe upon us, may be taken: For we muſt put a good ſenſe upon them all: And the ſenſe is the Oath or Covenant.
IX. It is commonly agreed that a man may not deliberately tell one lie to ſave his life, or his Miniſterial liberty: And that if any one only of all the things impoſed on us be a ſin, it is the duty of all the Miniſters of England rather to ſuffer any thing, or to dye than to Commit it. And that if it be one mans duty to be ſilent in ſuch a caſe, it would be the duty of all the Miniſters in the Land, if the things be ſin.
X. And all are agreed that to ſilence all the Miniſters of the Nation, is a thing that God hath not given any man authority to do, becauſe of the neceſſity of their Miniſtry; and conſequently not to ſilence any neceſſary Miniſtry at all.
XI. It is agreed that Satan would fain corrupt States and Churches with the moſt heinous ſins, to expoſe them to Gods judgements and the enemies ſcorn: And that common Perjury or Perfidiouſneſs is one of thoſe greateſt ſins: And that as the Belief of the Truth is the beginning of Chriſtianity, ſo Satan is a Lyer and the father of Lies: And he that thinketh that Satan is endeavouring to ſtigmatiz… Perſons, Churches or Kingdomes with his brand of PER ſhould the more carefully avoid the receiving of that mark.
XII. It is agreed that God hath within theſe fourteen years excerciſed very grievous Chaſtiſements on Cities and Corporations, by ſuch a Plague (on London and many Corporations) and ſuch fires on London, Southwark and many Corporations) and ſuch increaſe of Poverty, (though we have more liberty at Sea and Land for trade, than almoſt any Nation neer us) as that the like hath not been known in our forefathers daies: And that if this ſhould be the Voice of Chriſt, as a reproof of our perfidiouſneſs, and perjuries, ſaying (except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh,) it would leave the impenitent without all juſt excuſe.
XIII. It is agreed by us all, that God will not hold him guiltleſs who taketh his name in vain; eſpecially by perjury or falſe Vows or Covenants; And that for Oaths (broken) the Land may mourn: And that he is the grand enemy of Church or Kingdomes, who would by ſuch ſin bring them under the judgments of God: And, as Achan, bring in an accurſed thing.
XIV. None can deny that it is better to cheriſh honeſty and conſcience, eſpecially about Oaths and Covenants which ſecure Converſe and the lives of Princes, than to teach men to ſtretch Conſcience in ſuch matters; and to make every ſeared Conſcience capable of the holy Miniſtry, preferment and honour; and a fear of ſuch ſin, to be the way to ſilence and ruine.
XV. we agree that when Jeſuites and other Papiſts have contracted the ſhame of equivocation and perfidiouſneſs, Proteſtants ſhould not partake with them, and take the ſhame on their religion,
XVI. It is agreed that when the Scots Covenant is ſo greatly decryed, and the violation of the Oaths of Allegiance and other Oaths and Covenants was found neceſſary to the killing of the King, and other late confuſions and iniquities, we ſhould not after ſuch warning either inſnare men in unneceſſary Oaths & Covenants, nor harden ſuch men againſt Repentance, by doing any ſuch thing our ſelves, much leſs by commanding it.
XVII We are agreed that to commit a ſin by paſſion or ſudden ſurprize, is not ſo wicked as to do it on deliberation: Nor is the doing it only ſo bad, as undertaking to juſtifie it, and encourage others to do the like.
XVIII. We are agreed that God is jealous about holy things, and that wilful corrupting his Church, worſhip or diſcipline, to the diſgrace of religion and encouragement of wickedneſs is a heinous ſin: Eſpecially to Approve ſuch things.
XIX. We are agreed that to make a deliberate Covenant that I will ſin againſt God, and to ſubſcribe and declare this, is a heinous aggravation of the ſin: e. g. When the high places were kept up in Judea if any had Covenanted to keep them up, and purpoſed to tranſgreſs, the wilfulneſs had been the greatneſs and dangerous ſignification of ſuch ſinning.
XX. We are agreed that Repentance is Gods condition of forgiveneſs; and that for a man to reſolve and Covenant to ſin and to profeſs it openly to all the Church, and that oft times, and ſo to renounce Repentance, is—alas—
XXI. Moſt ſober Chriſtians are agreed that Chriſtians ſhould be united upon the terms which Chriſt himſelf hath made in the baptiſmal Covenant, and in their obedience to his Laws; and that Papall Uſurpations and impoſing of things unneceſſary as neceſſary to Union, Communion or Miniſtration, hath been the great cauſe of Schiſms through the Chriſtian world, for about 1000 years at leaſt: And that they who will ſtill obey ſuch dividing Impoſers, do continue Schiſms in the world by encouraging the cauſes of them.
XXII. We are on both ſides agreed, that it were heinous hypocriſie, and prophaneneſs, if we ſhould make our ſacred Miniſterial work the pretended reaſon for our ſinning, and ſhould ſwear, declare or ſubſcribe that which we take to be falſe, and do that which we take to be ſin, that we may have leave to preach againſt ſin in others; and ſo offer God a Sacrifice of iniquity, and put a beam into our own eye that we may have leave to Preach againſt the mote that is in our brothers eye.
XXIII. We are afraid of making Separatiſts and Anabaptiſts and tempting men to avoid us, as ſcandalous men.
XXIV. We are afraid leſt by ſuch wilful ſin, we ſhould by a carnal intereſt, to defend what we have once done, be tempted to impenitence, and to perſecute the juſt.
XXV. We are agreed that they that will run into willful heinous ſin, as they deſerve to be forſaken of God, ſo they cannot expect ſuch a bleſſing on their Miniſtry, as Conſcionable upright men may do.
XXVI. It is agreed that the ancient Chriſtian Paſters Preached againſt the will of Princes for 300 years; and after that againſt the will of Chriſtian Princes (Conſtartius, Valens, Theodoſius Junior, Vaientinian, &c.) And not only Apoſtles ſaid, that God was to be obeyed rather than men, but ſuch as Timothy who was ordained by man, were charged before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt who will judge the living and dead at his appearing and Kingdom, to preach the Goſpel and be inſtant, in ſeaſon; &c.
XXVII. We are agreed that the Children of Chriſtians, when they grow up, know no more of God, of Heaven, of Chriſt, without teaching, than the Children of Heathens do: And therefore that the opening and applying the Goſpel is needful in England as well as in America.
XXVIII. It is ſo far from ſaving unbelievers or ungodly perſons, that they are the Children of Chriſtians, and in the viſible Church. that it maketh their caſe more miſerable; if not worſe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
XXIX. As of old every ſingle Church had uſually many Presbyters and Deasons with the Biſhop, ſo it is undeniable that many of our Pariſhes have work enough for many Miniſters, and only want of maintenance is pretended for our preſent paucity (with the want of worthy men.)
XXX. It is granted us, that to alienate conſecrated perſons from the holy Miniſtry cauſleſly, is greater Sacriledge than to alienate conſecrated Lands, Goods or Temples, which are but means to the uſe of the ſaid Miniſtry. We are not here accuſing our ſilencers of this heinous Sacriledge: Their Righteous Judge and ours, will quickly paſs the final ſentence: But we dare not, we will not ſacrilegiouſly ſilence and alienate our ſelves, leſt we forſake our Lord, and betray mens ſouls, and be doomed as the ſlothful ſervant that hid his talent, Mat. 25. and bring down more plagues upon the Land: We fear when we read 1 Theſ. 2. 15, 16. the ſigns that wrath was come to the utmoſt on the Jews; even their forbidding men to preach the Goſpel of ſalvation, leſt we ſhould contribute to ſuch a dreadful deſertion of this Land.