Sacrilegious Desertion of the Holy Ministry Rebuked, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
The Queſtioniſts ſtating of his Queſtion conſidered.
Sect. 1. HAving diſclaimed the Approving and Cenſuring His Majeſties Declaration, he queſtioneth [Whether it be adviſeable, eſpecially for the Presbyterians, either in Conſcience or Prudence, to take advantage from His Majeſties Declaration, to deny or rebate their Communion with the Parochial Congregations, and to gather themſelves into diſtinct and ſeparate Churches.
Sect. 2. Here note, 1. That the Epiſcopal, or Eraſtian Nonconformiſts, have none of his eſpecial advice. 2. That he ſeemeth to ſpeak to none in London or elſewhere who denied their Communion with the Pariſh-Churches before; but only to thoſe that would take advantage ſo to do from His Majeſties Declaration. 3. That he calleth them not Parochial Churches, but Congregations. 4. That he joyneth two queſtions into one, which therefore muſt be diſtinctly anſwered.
Sect. 3. My Anſwer is, 1. It is not adviſeable for any Nonconformiſts, who before held the Pariſh Congregations to be true Churches, and their communion lawful, and uſed to communicate with them, to change theſe principles, nor to renounce, or totally forbear ſuch communion. 2. But it is adviſeable for them, when they are caſt out of the Pariſh-Miniſtry, and forbidden to Preach in the Pariſh-Temples, but have leave to exerciſe their Miniſtry elſewhere, accordingly elſewhere to exerciſe it; either in ſtated, or occaſional Aſſemblies, that ſhall be parts or no parts of the Pariſh-Congregations, as the variety of places and caſes ſhall require, which Aſſemblies ſhall be diſtinct and ſeparate from the ſaid Periſh-Congregations, either as Chappels be, or (ſomewhere) as one Pariſh-Congregation is ſeparate from another, being not one, nor in one place, if you will call that ſeparation. But this but for a time, with Profeſſion of great unwillingneſs, and of a deſire to return into the Parochial Miniſtery, as ſoon as you can procure them leave: But reſolving not to be Idle, Cruel, Sacrilegious, and Perfidious till then, but to live with all godly conformable Miniſters, with Chriſtian Love, and Peace, and Concord, if it be poſſible, and you will give them leave.
Sect. 4. When you ſay [They cannot but underſtand the Declaration to be a very ſtrict Prohibition of all ſuch private Meetings as the Law ſtiles Conventicles] you know not whoſe underſtandings you talk of. 1. We know not, that the Law doth not call our Houſe-Meetings, now tolerated (though the door be open) Conventicles: If not, it had been well for us, if you would have proved it ſooner. 2. And if you are ſure that the Law calleth none of the Papiſts tolerated private Meetings, Conventicles, we knew not ſo much: And why ſhould you feign us to be as wiſe as your ſelf.
Sect. 5. As to your three wayes, I anſwer …ou;
1. I believe the Presbyterians will joyn with the Independents, not as a Sect (as you call them) but in all that they think good and warrantable.
2. That they will exerciſe their Miniſtery, as they are by Covenant engaged, for Chriſt and mens Souls, and will bear with you, if you call that [ſetting up for themſelves] (hoping yet that you ſet not up wholly for your ſelves that ſpeak ſo.)
3. And they will worſhip God with the Sect of the Dioceſan Prelatiſts in the Pariſh-Churches alſo, as far as will ſtand with the due exerciſe of their proper Miniſtery: But will not promiſe you to give over Preaching to become your conſtant Auditors or Diſciples.
Sect. 6. You underſtand neither the Men that you talk of, nor their Cauſe: they take not the Independents Aſſemblies to be [the Tents of Enemies;] they leave terms of Enmity among Brethren, to thoſe that have enmity in their hearts. Nor do they [tamely deliver up the Cauſe.] The moſt Nonconformable Miniſters of my acquaintance, whoſe judgment I ever asked of that matter, do ſeem to think as I my ſelf do, that the Epiſcopal, Pretbyterians, Independents, and Eraſtians, have each of them ſome Truth and Good which above the reſt they do defend; and each of them ſome ſpecial miſtake, where they err above the reſt: And if we could know it, we would take the Beſt from among them all, and leave the worſt: And not maintain Church-quarrels, under pretenſe, that we muſt not flie to the Enemy, and give up the Cauſe.
Sect. 7. O the confidence of this Adviſer in his own underſtanding; that dare ſay [That he is ſure that the Presbyterians have no reaſon to engage in a way of publick Worſhip contradiſtinct to our Parochial Congregations.]
1. That is contradiſtinct which is not oppoſite, or adverſe, but either co-ordinate (as one Pariſh to another) or ſubordinate (as a Chappel).
2. And what man! Is a Vow and Dedication to Preach the Goſpel, no reaſon to Preach it elſewhere, when its forbidden us in your Aſſemblies? Is the alienation of Conſecrated perſons no Sacriledge? Is the notorious need of many hundred thouſand Souls no reaſon? Is the exerciſing of a Worſhip and Diſcipline more agreeable to Gods Word than yours (we are ready to give you the proof when we have leave,) no reaſon? Is the relieving of many godly Chriſtians, who are caſt out of your communion, becauſe they dare not Conform, no reaſon? Had we had leave to have conted the ſilly reaſonings of Mr. Fulwood and ſome ſuch other Pamphleteers, produced againſt the Nonconformists, we had long ago ſhewed you cauſe to repreſs ſuch ſelf eſteem, which dare ſay [I am ſure they bave no reaſon].
Sect. 8. And this man that is ſure they have no reaſon for it, could inſtance in no greater than the Objection, that It will ſeem an undervaluing their liberty, and ingratitude to the King.
1. We have no reaſon to be ungrateful to the King, nor to undervalue our Liberty.
2. But did that move the London Miniſters and others, to Preach all this while, before the Declaration.
3. When you have proved that Greater Hurt than Good, will follow our Preaching and Ministry; and when you have proved that though all the Papists in England, do uſe the liberty of the Toleration in the Declaration, yet the Nonconformists muſt not, but ſilently leave our ſufficient Conformists to do all the work againſt Ignorance, Infidelity, Popery, and Senſuality themſelves; I ſay, when you have proved this well, you may again bleſs the people with our ſilence, and perſwade us to ſilence our ſelves, when you cannot do it otherwiſe.
Sect. 9. But he ſaith (p. 6.) Their ingenuity and gratitude to God and the King will be better expreſſed by their Conformity, and Loyal obedience to the known Laws, than by the uſe of the Liberty permitted to the contrary.
Anſw. He knoweth that we muſt not give him our Reaſons againſt Conformity. He cannot but know that many that Conform nor, in all the matters of Subſcriptions, Declarations, Oathes, Diſcipline, &c. (not medling with other mens Conſciences,) do think it would be in them a compoſition of ſuch hainous crimes, as they do forbear to name them, for fear of ſeeming to be accuſers of others, and to be unpeaceable: And if he think that ſuch toys, as Mr. Fulwoods, Mr. Stilemans, and Mr. Hinkleys, &c. ſhould ſatisfie them, he thinks contemptibly of their underſtandings. And he that by ſuch poor temptations as thoſe, will yield to what their Conſciences fear, can ſcarce tell what he may not yield to before he dieth. Let him procure us leave, but to publiſh ours Reaſons against Conformity, and then let him tell us that we were better Conform, when he hath anſwered them. It's eaſie to talk when none muſt confute him, and to brave it againſt one whoſe tongue is tyed.
Sect. 10. His next Suppoſition is, that the matter of this Liberty is evil. I am glad it is not evil for the Conformists to Preach and Worſhip God, leſt it would have been lawful to none at all. We are glad that Chriſt is Preached, even by them that do it contentiouſly, in envy and ſtrife, to add to our Afflictions and Bonds: But we will not our ſelves give over Preaching, Praying, nor the reſt of the Christian Religion, becauſe ſuch men can call it evil. He that ſaith our Preaching is evil, may tempt men to think that the Goſpel which we Preach is evil, or that Infidelity, Atheiſm, Senſuality, and Wickedneſs which we Preach againſt is good or harmleſs. Is it good in you, and evil in us to Preach the ſame Goſpel? If you turn to them that Calumniate us of Preaching Errour, or Sedition, the Law is open, our Writings and Doctrine are eaſily tryed: If we ſay evil, bear witneſs of the evil: If not, take heed of calling it evil, Iſa: 5. 20.