The Necessity and Use of Heresies, Preface
THE PREFACE.
AMong all the Arguments, which are made uſe of in defence of a rigorous and ſtated Uniformity, againſt the pretenſions and Plea of Chriſtian Liberty, there is none, that is either urged with greater vigour, or that, amongſt unwary and ſuperficial Hearers, carries with it a better appearance of probability, then this, that the Impoſing of ſome few things, ſuppoſed to be Indifferent, is the only way to prevent the entrance, and to ſuppreſs the growth of Hereſies. For as unruly Cattel are kept from ſtraying, by being put into a Pound, or into ſome ſtraight Encloſure, ſo, where there is a certain Form, and fixed Garb of Worſhip, unto which all are compelled to agree; there will in all probability, be no room left, for thoſe ſecret underminings, and clardeſtine Inſinuations, by which, Errour, like undiſcovered fire, is blown up and kindled, and ſpreads it ſelf, to the ruine ſomtimes both of Church and State. And therefore as they tell us, that Conjurers, to keep their evil Spirits from doing miſchief, do draw a Circle about them, and confine them to it; ſo, Magistrates, who are the State-Exorciſts, have no better way to prevent the Deſigns of Factious and light ſpirited men, (who oftentimes cry up Religion, when they mean Rebellion) then to confine all, even Religious Meetings, unto ſuch a Circle and Order, out of which, they may not be ſuffered to move, leſt Conſcience, which ſeems at firſt to ſtart and ſcruple at ſmall things, becomes at length, for want of due Bounds, a Patronage and Plea for the greateſt and moſt irregular Exorbitancies.
That I may take nothing from the strength of this Argument (which may be yet farther improved by conſideration of the great Scandal given in our own time) I will confeſs, that were a State, which profeſſeth to embrace Chriſtian Religion, not ſolely to be guided according to the Rules of that, but left at random, to be governed by thoſe Prudential Motives, and Political Maximes, which the Wiſdom of this World … that the Apoſtle cals earthly, ſenſual and deviliſh is most ready to invent and to faſten upon; there ſeems nothing, at firſt Bluſh, to be ſo contrary to Reaſon of State, as a Toleration of two or more Religions, or the leaſt variation in the Mode and Form of Publick Worſhip; ſince this Diverſity, may eaſily be preſumed to beget Diſſentions and Quarrels, which ariſing at firſt in private Families, like wind that lies concealed in ſecret Caverns, at laſt breaks out into an Earthquake, and, like a mighty Tempeſt, overturnes and bears down all before it.
It is, I believe, upon ſome ſuch fallacious and ill weighed Inducement, as this I mention, that there hath been a kind of Conſpiracy, amongſt all worldly wiſe and ſuperpolitical men, against the ſincere, ſpiritual and unmixed Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, ever ſince the death and murder of him, from whom it received both its Name and Doctrine. For we read that Chriſt ſuffered as a Diſturber of that ſtate, which he came to ſave; and as a Blaſphemous Heretick, in that Church, which he came to teach. Paul, and the reſt of the Apoſtles met with the very ſame entertainment, both for Language and Uſage; and afterwards, for 300 years together, all kind of violence was practiſed againſt the Chriſtians, as State-Incendiaries, and men that were obstinate only in Impious and Seditious Errours. But our Religion loſt moſe by Peace, then by that bloudy and outragious Warfare; all the while the Ship of the True Church rode out at Sea, the Storms it met with, did only toſs but could not overwhelm it; In a Calm, it began to ſink, and never was near periſhing, till it came to Harbour. In ſhort, the Profeſſed Favourers of Chriſtianity, did, by their wellmeant, but ill managed kindneſs, more deſtroy the Church, then all its open and moſt furious Enemies. For when Conſtantine and his Succeſſors, miſtaking quite the Nature of our Religion, did labour to accommodate and attemper it unto their Civil Inter… ſtraight the old Heatheniſh Spirit of Idolatry and Perſecution, did revive, under new Names; and Hereticks, i.e. Diſſenters from the eſtabliſhed Forms then, were as ſeverely handled, as Chriſtians themſelves before. Which courſe was ſo long continued, until Policy and Pomp had quite devoured and eaten out the Purity and Plamneſs of Religion, and made it nothing elſe but a Property, for ambitious Church-men (who in all Ages, have been the greateſt Cryers up of, becauſe the only Gainers by, a Specious Uniformity, of which they are the ſole Managers) to make Attempts upon the Civil Power; which at laſt, they wreſted out of the Emperours hands, and in token of their entire Conqueſt, they depoſed not Princes only, but Scripture & Reaſon, & the Spirit of God himſelf too from their Authority; and ſet up a Political Head of their own, unto whoſe pretended infallible Dictates they enforced all to yield an abſolute, becauſe blind and ignorant Obedience. Thus, under colour of ſuppreſſing Hereſies, the world conſented to enſlave themſelves unto the most damnable, deſtructive and fatal Hereſie, that ever the Sun ſaw; I mean, to Popery; which, by a ſtrange kind of Figure, would paſs for the only Chriſtian Religion, when as it hath in it just nothing of the Spirit, Purity, Knowledge, or Liberty that Chriſt eſtabliſhed. In which ſad condition the greateſt part of the Chriſtian world yet lies, and groans, for the ſpeedy Coming of its Redeemer.
This having been the ſucceſs and iſſue of Uniformity, and this being its natural Tendency, I wiſh all ſerious and diſpaſſionate Chriſtians would conſider, that, though Hereſies are to be bewailed, and ſo far as we lawfully can, ſuppreſſed too, yet we muſt do Bonum bene. We muſt not remedy an Inconvenience, with bringing in a Miſchief; nor deviſe expedients of a ſtrict and violent Uniformity, which as God in his Word hath no where warranted, ſo, we may find by the ſucceſs of it among the Papiſts and others, that he hath not bleſſed. Since by this means, quite contrary to Gods Command, many Millions of Soules are forced to ſit down under a wretched and irreparable Ignorance; their overcareful Guides, for fear it ſeems, leſt they ſhould loſe their way to Heaven, having with a great deal of Caution, taken their Candle from them.
How unfit I am to be, ſo much as inſtrumental, in pulling off the Vaile from before mens eyes, I deſire to be alwaies ſenſible: yet having already ventured upon this Controverſie, I have here once more tried to rectiſie mens mistakes; & laboured to take away the ſtrength of that Objection againſt due Chriſtian Liberty, from the many Hereſies, which thereby are occaſioned. In this ſhort Treatiſe therefore, I have endeavoured to manifeſt, that, in the Church of Chriſt, there muſt be Hereſies. And while we obſerve that diligence and care in our ſelves, together with that equity and moderation towards others, which our Religion doth require from us, it is as impoſſible to avoid Diverſity of Opinions (which among angry men, will certainly enough be nick-named Hereſies) as it would be to place our ſelves in the midſt of Sun-ſhine, and not ſee Variety of Colours. Mens Judgments, eſpecially if they give themſelves any Latitude of Enquiry, are as various as their Complexions; ſo that to preſcribe one certain Form to all, and thereby to force men to act outwardly, what inwardly they do not aſſent to, is like Painting the Face with an infectious and Venomous Juice, or giving a Nauſeous Potion unto a Nice and Dainty Palat, whereby we ſhall offend God, as much as men; who at the last day, will not thank any, for other mens conſtrained, involuntary, and therefore falſe and hypocritical Devotion.
Having ſaid thus much, I now take my leave of this controverſie; not as if I thought, that more could not be written, but becauſe I am no longer in a free capacity to do it: Since I cannot write now in ſo unconcerned a manner as I did before. For having lately been deprived of my juſt Right, in a Freehold I had at Ch. Church, for no reaſon at all, that I know of, unleſs for the impartial and unbyaſsed Diſcovery of my Judgment about Indifferent, or rather Doubtful Things in Religious Worſhip: It will but wrong the cauſe; ſhould I proſecute it any further; ſince it may be interpreted now, that I write like a Party; and that, not Conſcience, but Diſcontent doth excite me to it. Unleſs therefore I am called out to defend what I have already written, I ſhall for the future forbear; and manifeſt by my carriage, that though for the preſent, I cannot ſubmit, yet, I thank God, I can ſuffer in ſilence.
Drury Lane. Jan. 10. 1661. EDWARD BAGSHAW.