Sacrilegious Desertion of the Holy Ministry Rebuked, Chapter 9 – Chapter 10
CHAP. IX.
Of Inconvenience from our preſent Conformity.
Sect. 1.
HE next confeſſeth that [most of us have hitherto held ſome meaſure of Communion with the Church of England] And now [if we depart and fall quite away] (when we purpoſe to go no further from them, but rather come nearer if they will give us leave) then ſaith he [You will publiſh to the World, that your complyance with us before the Toleration, was not out of ſenſe of Duty, or love of Peace and Unity, or any other good end; but meerly out of ſlaviſh fear of Puniſhment, &c.]
Anſw. 1. We will not reflect by recrimination, becauſe we would not provoke you more than needs.
2. As far as I can promiſe, we will judge of you no worſe than we have done, nor deny any Communion with you which we have uſed, and can uſe without neglecting our own work. As I conſtantly joyn in my Pariſh-Church in Liturgy and Sacraments, ſo I hope to do while I live (if I live under as honeſt a Miniſter,) at due times. But what if I had leave without Conformity to preach in the next Pariſh-Church? I cannot then be in yours at the ſame time. He that preacheth not, may hear you conſtantly: But he that may preach himſelf, muſt not ceaſe his Miniſtry, to be ſtill one of your Flock. We long ago publiſhed our Judgments, that It is a ſin not to joyn with a leſs-worthy Miniſter, and a leſs-orderly Mode of Worſhip, when we can have no better; And that it is a ſin to tye our ſelves ordinarily to ſuch when we may have better lawfully, that is (conſideratis conſiderandis) upon terms whereon it will not do more hurt than good. You ſee then on what terms we may vary our practices, without the crimes recited by you. If now when we are preaching our ſelves, you will ſay that we are departing from you, (becauſe we cannot be in two places at once), and then come on with all theſe Calumnies, we take but this to be your meaning;
1. To tell us that you think we ſo value the honour of our Names and Reputations with you, as that you can make us falſe to our Callings, rather than be cenſured by you.
2. That you have alwayes a Quiver full of ſuch Arrows provided, and reſolve, that if we will not give over our Miniſtry, and be ruled by you, you will make as many as you can believe, that we never had ſenſe of Duty, love of Peace or Unity, or any good end, but meer ſlaviſh fear. So men, it's like, would ſay of Chriſt, when ſometimes he preached openly, and ſometimes departed from mens fury into the Wilderneſs or obſcure places; Or of Paul that was let down by the Wall in a basket, and when he departed from the Jews Synagogues which he had before frequented; or thoſe that fled from one City to another. It is a duty to preach when I can, and no duty when I cannot: And if others make the [can] and the [cannot,] is it I or they that change my practice? But if you teach men ſuch apparently cauſleſs Cenſures and Reproaches, you may have many Diſciples, but not very good ones. And ſome will thus paraphraſe your words, [If the King will not let us perſecute them for preaching, we are reſolved we will ſlander them, and make men believe (on how hard terms ſoever they ſerve Christ) that they do it all but as cowardly ſelf-ſeeking Knaves.] What abundance have called me Rogue of late years, that never knew me, or ſpake one word to me before, or heard one from me! As to the reſt [That we proclaim our cowardiſe, or a love of licentiouſneſs, or put on liberty for a cloak of maliciouſneſs] it all ſignifieth but what you have a liſt to ſay, and calls to us to long for the judgment-day of Chriſt, but yet to look well to the integrity of our hearts, and try our way before we go it.
CHAP. X.
Whether our Miniſtry by diviſions will let in Popery.
Sect. 1. I Love this Author much the better, becauſe he ſpeaks againſt diviſions, and becauſe he ſeemeth willing to draw thoſe men towards him, whom others drive from them, and becauſe he ſeemeth careful of our Proteſtant Intereſt, and deſirous of ſome kind of unity to that end. But, alas, have we ſo many years ago beſought his party with all humble petition and importunity, and diſputed it with them; that they would have pitty on the conſciences of thouſands fearing God, that they would have mercy on the thouſands of ignorant ſouls that need all our Teaching; that they would not caſt out ſo conſiderable a part of the Proteſtant Miniſtry that ſhould hinder Popery, and would not neceſſitate unavoidably thoſe diviſions, which by weakning the Proteſtants, would do the Papiſts work; and under the ſad denial of our petitions, muſt we now hear that (the Pope ſhall come on the Puritans back?) That word [ſhall] we have bin long hearing and feeling. To be Maſters of the Game is a great advantage for the diſpoſal of other mens reputations in this World, a little while; but in the next, the ſport is ſpoiled.
Sect. 2. And really, Will Popery come in ever the more for our Preaching? (do you think we ſhall Preach for it?) or ever the leſs, if we renounce our Miniſtry? Why then will not your ſilence too prevent it; and ſo we may all be ſilent le…t we preach in Popery.
Sect. 3. But it is Diviſions that will do it. No doubt of it, if it ever be done. Come and impartially debate the caſe with us, Who have bin the great cauſes of Proteſtants diviſions, Conformiſts or Non-Conformiſts? But I am aſhamed to ſay that it needeth a debate. But O that you would yet repent of what is paſt, inſtead of reproaching thoſe that you have afflicted; And for the time to come, if we hav… not unity and peace, for my own part I can ſay, it ſhall be your doing, and wilful doing, to refuſe it.