A Dissuasive from the Errors of the time, Preface
The PREFACE.
WHile the fire of War continues to ſcorch every one of theſe miſerable Dominions,The firſt and chief Mean to extinguiſh the flames of our War, is the waters of the heart poured out in prayers to God. it is the duty of all compaſſionate Countrey-men to contribute the uttermoſt of their beſt endeavours for the extinguiſhing of theſe unhappie Flames, before the remainder of all our Churches and States be burnt down to aſhes.
Too much Oil already hath dropped from many unhallowed Pens; the times now do paſſionately call for Waters; and them, the more cold and clear, the better, for quenching the thirſt of this devouring Beaſt. Vinegar and Gall, though in the largeſt meaſures, whole rivers of Blood will not allay, but augment the heat of a Civil War; The moſt hopeful Peace-makers, from whoſe intermedling the greateſt ſucceſſe is to be expected, are they whoſe veſſels are filled moſt plentifully with tears, to be poured out before the Throne of God.
The fire which this day prevails againſt us, which burns up not the fleſh onelyonly, but the very bones of our Kingdoms, is from above: it is the Lord who burns againſt Iacob like a flaming fire which devours round about. Lam. 2.3.When the ſcorching heat of the Sun dries up the moiſture from the graſſe and corn, there is no remedy for the languiſhing fields, till the vapours aſcend from below, and thicken in a cloud; then incontinent the burning beams are intercepted, the ſhowres deſcend from above to refreſh and renew the withered face of the parched ground. The moſt ſeaſonable exerciſe of al who love the peace of Ieruſalem, is to fill the air with the exhalations of their Spirits, with the perfumes ariſing from the kindled Incenſe of their Prayers; much of theſe holy vapours will hardly make up one cloud; wherefore many hearts would daily be breathing up together ſome ſtore of that heavenly ſmoke. However for a time all our endeavours may ſeem to be quite evaniſhed, and when we have gone out to behold much ofter then ſeven times, there may appear to our eye not ſo much as the ſmalleſt beginning of the leaſt cloud; yet when the period of Gods appointed ſeaſon is come, when the three yeers and ſix moneths are paſt over and gone, there will certainly ariſe a cloud which, however at firſt very ſmall, and no broader then a hand, yet will quickly become ſo big as to fill the heavens with voices, and ſend down to the wearied earth ſuch plenty of rain as could be wiſhed.
Reformation after mourning, is the ſecond ſtep to a ſolid peace.But to the end the waters of our Prayers may be the more acceptable in the ſight of our Prince of Peace, who alone diſpenſes at his pleaſure to perſons and Nations that very deſirable and much longed-for bleſſing of quietneſſe, we muſt cleanſe our hands of thoſe crimes which have drawn down from the Throne of Juſtice that plague of War which ſo much this day doth vex and well-neer undo us: If once our ways did pleaſe the Lord, he would quickly make our enemies to be at peace with us. Prov. 16.7. Pſal. 81.15If Iſrael did walk in his ways, their enemies ſhould ſoon be ſubdued, and the hand of God ſo far turned againſt their adverſaries, that they ſhould ſubmit themſelves without further oppoſition.2 King. 9.22. But what peace can be expected, ſo long as the Whoredom and Witchcraft, the Idolatry and Oppreſſion of Iezebel, the crying Crimes of many in the Land, yet unrepented for, doth offend the holy eye of the great Diſpenſer of Peace and War? A Reformation after mourning, is the ſecond ſtep to a ſolid Pacification. Long may we petition both God and men for peace in vain; long may we article and treat for that end without any ſucceſſe, unleſſe a reall Reformation remove from the ſight of God the perſonal abominations, the State-tranſgreſſions, and the Church-impieties of our Lands.
The corruption of the Church is the fountain of our preſent Miſery.The Crimes of perſons are grievous, but thoſe of a State are more. The corruption of a member is not ſo grievous as of the whole Body; and the deformity of the Body Political, is not ſo unpleaſant to the eye of God as of the Church: this is the Body, this is the Bride of Chriſt; nothing ſo much provokes the paſſion of a loving Husband, as the polluting of his Spouſe. Church-grievances were the firſt and main cauſes of our preſent Troubles; the righting of theſe, will open the door of our firſt hope of deliverance.
Whoſo will obſerve either the ſpring or progreſſe of our preſent Woes in all the three Kingdoms, will finde that the open Oppreſſion and ſecret Undermining of the Common-wealth, by the craft and tyranny of the malignant Faction, did highly provoke the wrath of God, and was a great occaſion of all this D…ſcord which hath broke out among men: Yet it is evident, that the p…incipal cauſe which hath kindled the Jealouſie of God, and enflamed the ſpirits of men to ſhake off and break in pieces thoſe Yokes of Civil Slavery, which ingenuous necks were no more able to bear, was the conſtuprating of the Church, the bringing in upon her by violence, and daily multiplying of Errours, Superſtitions, Idolatries, and other Spiritual Burdens.
The Method of our Cure, if ever it prove ſolid,The State cannot be … til the Church be ſ… reformed. muſt lead our Phyſitians to the fountain of our Diſeaſe. All Treaties for accommodating State-differences, will be loſt, if in the firſt place Religion be not provided for, according to the minde of God. If once the Temple were builded, and filled with the cloud, the Difficulties would be ſmall in making up the breaches in the houſe of the Kingdom, and filling it with Peace and Proſperity. So long as the Temple lies deſolate, it is not poſſible to rear up the walls of the City. It were the wiſedom of our great Builders, when they finde themſelves over-toiled in the Fifth yeer of their Work, as they deſire not to have all their by-paſt labours vain and fruitleſſe, at laſt in good earneſt to ſet upon the building of the Church.
Intereſts of private perſons and particular Factions, laid over with the colour of pretended State-reaſons, may procraſtinate days without number, ſetling of Religion: yet if we truſt either ancient or late experience, theſe States-men provide beſt for the welfare of their Countrey, who give to the God of heauen, to his Worſhip and Houſe, the firſt and moſt high place in all their ſtudies and cares.
If we behold either the former, or the later Reformers of the State of Iſrael; if we conſider the practice of Moſes, of David, of Hezekiah, of Zerubbabel, and others, it is evident the Tabernacle, the Ark, the Temple, did firſt and moſt lie at all their hearts. Our Neighbours and Brethren of Scotland, when this our Diſeaſe was upon them, and did preſſe them well-neer to death and ruine, by this method of Phyſick did in a ſhort time regain their full health and ſtrength, in the which they had great appearence to have continued, without any Recidive, unleſſe their pious compaſſion and brotherly attendance upon us in our languiſhing, had made them partakers of theſe evils in our Company which they had clean eſcaped,
The lamentable neglect for ſo long a time of the Churches diſeaſe, makes now the Cure, if not deſperate,Every man muſt help what he can to recover the languiſhing Church from her deſperate Diſeaſe. yet much more difficult then once it was: ſo much the more had every good man need to bring forth the beſt of his wits, at leaſt of his wiſhes, for the encouragement and aſſiſtance of our great Phyſitians, who now, bleſſed be God, with all their care, are buſied, above all things elſe, about the recovery of that languiſhing Patient. The voices of ſome of her more faithful ſervants crying aloud in the ear of all the world of their Miſtris extreme danger, of her approach to the doors of death; this noiſe hath a wakened and given an Alarm to many, that now they run with ſpeed to recover the exparing breath of their dying Mother, not without ſome diſdain and …nd…gnation againſt them by whoſe ſubtil artifices, and more then ordinary induſtry, they have been kept off all this while from ſo much as approaching the ſick bed of the dangerouſly-diſeaſed Spouſe of Chriſt.
And now while ſo many gracious hands are about this noble Patient,The offer of a ſtrange and eaſie remedy of a …ooking-glaſs every one out of their rich ſhops bringing the choiceſt Medicaments they can fall upon; I alſo, out of my poor ſtore, rather from a deſire to teſtifie affection then confidence of any skill in this Art, do offer unto her, as one mean of help, a Looking-glaſſe, wherein if ſhe will be pleaſed but to behold the Symptomes of her Diſeaſe, by this inſpection alone, and clear ſight of her face in this Glaſſe, without any further trouble whether of Potions within, or Applications without, I am hopeful, through the bleſſing of the great Maſter of all lawful Arts, ſhe ſhall be able to ſhake off the principal of thoſe evils which now do moſt afflict her.
That by the eye alone very noiſome Diſeaſes may be conveyed to the body, it is the ancient credulity of ſome. However, dayly experience puts it out of all doubt, that thorow the glaſſe of the eye the ſoul may be infected with the deſperate Diſeaſes of moſt peſtilent paſſions. But that which here is offered, is much more rare and ſingular, by looking in a Glaſſe to cure the worſt Diſeaſes, and to remove from the ſoul the moſt dangerous paſſions by meer contemplation.
The malignity of Errour.To leave Metaphors, my meaning is, that the greateſt hazard of our Church this day, comes from the evil of Errour. This, if the Apoſtle Paul may be truſted,2 Tim. 2.17. … Pet. 2.1, 2, 3, 4 doth eat up the ſoul no leſſe then a Gangrene the body. This, if we will believe the Apoſtle Peter ▪ is a pernicious and damnable evil which brings on ſudden deſtruction. The Authors intention is to ſet down in a Table for the clear view of all▪ the Errors which trouble us.It is a ſin before God no leſſe abominable then thoſe which brought fire on Sodom, the flood on the firſt world, the chains of darkneſſe upon the evil Angels.
At this inſtant, when the evil of Errour hath ſpred it ſelf over the whole Body of this diſtracted Church, it ſeems it may prove a remedy not unprofitable to draw together the chief heads of thoſe errours which now are flying abroad; their faces being cleerly deſcribed in one ſhort Table in their true lineaments and native colours, will appear ſo deformed, that many who now are bewitched with them, upon this ſight, may be brought out of all further aff…ction towards them.
This is the end of my preſent work,And that with juſtice & lo… towards all perſons. without the leaſt intention, ſo far as I can underſtand my own meaning, to create any juſt offence or reall hurt to any mans perſon. For, truely, I know not the creature breathing, to whom heartily I do not wiſh Grace, Mercy, and Peace; onelyonly the opinions which for a long time, with all licence, are blown by the Spirit of errour over all the Land, to the diſhonour of God and the indangering of many a mans ſalvation, I wiſh were ſet out in their clear and lively ſhap…s, that they may be ſeen, as truely they are, without any diſguiſe, by the eyes of all, I am much deceived if their bare and unmasked face ſhall be found very pleaſant to ſolid and intelligent minds.
And becauſe it is a matter full of difficulty to ſet down the tenents, eſpecially erroneous, of any men, according to their own contentment; that herein I may do wrong to none, it ſhall be my care in every thing I conceive material and controverted, to ſpeak nothing without Book, but alwayes to bring along my Warrant, to alleadge nothing doubtfull of any man, but what himſelf or ſome other, whoſe Faith is above juſt exception, hath publiſhed before me to the world.
If for all this, my Teſtimony be refuſed, I can but declare, that knowingly I do not miſreport either the words or the ſence of any man; for, I eſteem Truth ſo honourable and ſo beautifull a creature, but falſehood ſo deformed and baſe, that no conſideration (I know) would ſo far overballance my mind as wittingly, to make me entertain the one, with the prejudice of the other. Notwithſtanding, if ſo it ſhould fall out, which is very caſuall to men, much my betters, that through inadvertence I ſhould miſapprehend, and accordingly miſreport any mans judgement, upon the ſmalleſt conviction I purpoſe not onelyonly to retract my miſconceptions, but, for further ſatisfaction, I promiſe to make my retractation no leſſe publike then was my errour.
It is not my purpoſe to take notice of every extravagancy which hath dropped from all the diſtempered brains of the time;OnelyOnly forth is r…ga…n…ng to the Truth. the profit of ſuch a task would not co…ntervaile the Labour: onelyonly I will put down, as it were in one table, ſo many of th…ſe irregular conceits, which now are abroad, as may demonſtrate to any common eye the undeniable footſteps of the Spirit of Errour and Schiſm walking among us, and bringing forth in great plenty the births of his darkneſſe, to the end that ſuch a multitude of Satans Brats, appearing openly in the arms and boſoms of otherwiſe (I ſuppoſe) well-meaning people, the beholders may tremble, and with all carefulneſſe avoid the deep deceipt of that Angel of Light; and the deceived themſelves ſeeing with their eyes what they hugg and dandle, to carry in the face the cleer lineaments of a miſhant Parent, for grief and ſhame that they have been ſo long Nurſing-Fathers to Satans brood, may become the firſt to daſh the brains of theſe curſed Brats againſt the ſtones; or if they needs muſt obſtinately continue fond of that baſtard Generation, they may enjoy what they love, themſelves alone; all well-adviſed men ſtanding alooſe from the danger of ſo miſordered and irrationall affection.
The partition of the enſuing …reatiſe.The principall by-paths, wherein the moſt among us this day do tread, who divert from the high, open, and ſtraight way of the Reformed Churches, may be reduced to ten generall Heads: The Browniſts, or rigid Separatiſts, are the firſt who break off at a ſide: The Independents, their Children, go on with them for a time; but, wearied with the wideneſſe of their Parents wandring, profeſſe to come in again towards the rode way, yet not ſo cloſely, but ſtill they keep a path of their own. How much neerer theſe men profeſſe to draw towards us then their Fathers, ſo much the farther their other Brethren run from us; for, the Anabaptiſts go beyond the Browniſts in wandring; the Antinomians are beyond the Anabaptiſts, and the Seekers beyond them all.
Theſe five lead aſide on our right hand: towards the left there be no fewer crooked Lanes; The Prelatical Faction; the down-right Papiſts; the Arminians; the Socinians; and, who now make as much trouble as any, the Eraſtian-Civilians.
Of all theſe we will thus far conſider, as firſt, in a brief hiſtorick narration, to ſet down their original and preſent condition; Secondly, to name their tenents in particular; Thirdly, to refute from Scripture ſome of their moſt prevalent errours:
Epiſcopacy was the Mother of all our preſent Sects.OnelyOnly in the entry, one ſtumbling block would be put by. It is marvailed by many whence theſe new Monſters of Sects have ariſen: Some ſpare not, from this ground, liberally to blaſphem the Reformation in hand, and to magnifie the Biſhops as if they had kept down, and this did ſet up, the Sects which now praedomin. But, theſe murmurers would do well in their calm and ſober times, to remember that none of the named Sects are births of one day; but all of them were bred and born under the wings of no other Dame then Epiſcopacy: the tyranny and ſuperſtition of this Step-mother, was the ſeed and ſpawn of Browniſme, the great root of the moſt of our Sects; all which were many yeers ago brought forth, however kept within doors ſo long as any Church-Diſciplin was on foot: Now, indeed, every Monſter walks in the ſtreet without controlement, while all Eccleſiaſtick Government is caſt aſleep; this too too long inter-reign and meer Anarchy hath invited every unclean creature to creep out of its cave, and ſhew in publike its miſhapen face to all, who like to behold.
But,Presbytery will be their Grave. if once the Government of Chriſt were ſet up amongſt us, as it is in the reſt of the Reformed Churches, we know not what would impede it, by the Sword of God alone, without any ſecular violence, to baniſh out of the Land theſe Spirits of Errour: in all meekneſſe, humility, and love, by the force of Truth convincing and ſatisfying the minds of the ſeduced.
Epiſcopal Courts were never fitted for the reclaiming of minds; their priſons, their fines, their pillories, their noſe-ſlittings, their ear-cuttings, their check-burnings, did but hold down the flame to break out in ſeaſon with the greater rage.
But,The Presbyteriall way of proceeding. the Reformed Presbytery doth proceed in a ſpiritual Method evidently fitted for the gaining of hearts; they go on with the offending party with all reſpect, and at ſo much leaſure as can be wiſhed, appointing firſt the fitteſt Paſtors and Elders in the bounds, to confer and inſtruct him in private: if this diligence do not prevaile, then they convent him before the Conſiſtory of his Congregation; there by admonitions, inſtructions, r…proofs, and all the means appointed in the Goſpel, they deal with him in all gentleneſſe, from weeks to moneths, from moneths oftentimes to yeers, before they come neer to any cenſure, and if ſo it fall out that his inſuperable obſtinacy …orce them to draw out the terrible Sword, their proceeding here alſo is ſo exceeding leaſurely, and full of ſenſible grief and love to the party, of fear and Religion towards God, that it is a ſingular ra…ty among them to ſee any heart ſo hard as not to be mollified, and yeeld before that ſtroke be given. Excommunications are ſo ſtrange in all the Reformed Churches, that in a whole Province, a man in all his life will ſcarce…e witneſſe to one, and among them who are cut off by that dreadful Sword, very few do fall in the States hand to be troubled with any civil inconvenience.
What England … may expect from Presbyteries and Synods.By this kinde of Government, other Reformed Churches with eaſe have kept themſelves pure and clean of all our Hereſies and Schiſms, not onelyonly Scotland, Switzerland, and divers parts of Germany, but France it ſelf, which to this day was never bleſſed with any aſſiſtance from the ſecular Arm; by this ſpiritual and divine adminicle alone, have kept themſelves ſafe from the irruption of all erroneous Spirits.
I confeſſe that Holland hath been a cage to theſe unclean birds; but the reaſon is evident, the civil State there walking in the corrupt principles of carnal Policy, which cannot be bleſſed with final ſucceſſe, doth imped the exerciſe of Church-Diſcipline in its moſt principal parts; theſe laſt fourty yeers that Land hath not been permitted to enjoy more General Aſſemblies then one, and how great Service that one did towards the purging of the much corrupted Church, and calming the greatly diſturbed State, all their Friends in Europe did ſee and congratulate while their foes did grieve and envy it.
It is not prophecy, but a rational prediction bottomed upon reaſons and multiplied experience; Let England once be countenanced by her ſuperior powers, to enjoy the juſt and neceſſary Liberty of Conſiſtories for Congregations, of Presbyteries for Counties, of Synods for larger Shires, and National Aſſemblies for the whole Land, as Scotland hath long poſſeſſed theſe by the unanimous conſent of King and Parliament, without the leaſt prejudice to the civil State, but to the evident and confeſſed benefit thereof; or as the very Protestants in France, by the conceſſion of a Popiſh State, and King, have enjoyed all theſe four ſpiritual Courts the laſt fourſcore yeers and above; Put theſe holy and divine Inſtruments in the hand of the Church of England, by the bleſſing of God thereupon, the ſore and great evil of ſo many Hereſies and Schiſms, ſhall quicly be cured, which now not onelyonly troubles the Peace and welfare, but hazards the very ſubſiſtance both of Church and Kingdom: without this mean, the State will toile it ſelf in vain about the cure of ſuch ſpiritual diſeaſes.