An Answer to Two Treatises of John Can, Chapter 1 · Section 8
SECTION 8.
CAN. STAY againſt. Sect. 5. Pag. 74. 75.
If to heare in a falſe Church, bee any lawfull ordinary meanes of edification, which Chriſt the onelyonly Teacher of his Church hath appointed, then it is ſet downe by the Apoſtle in Eph. 4 11, 12, 13. The reaſon is, becauſe Paul there mentioneth all miniſteriall meanes for the perfect and compleat building of the Church, from the firſt to the laſt. And if Chriſt, who in thoſe last dayes ſpeakes evidently by his Goſpell and Spirit, Id. Sect. 12. p. 117had judged it fit, that his children ſhould goe unto falſe Churches, hee would certainely have made knowne the ſame unto them.
ANSWER.
The Apoſtle in the place alledged deſcribes what officers Chriſt hath given to; and doth approve in his Church, for the miniſterie of the word and diſpenſation of the heavenly myſteries, The Papiſts alledg this Text of the Apoſtle to prove that in the Church there hath ever bin a viſible ſucceſſion of Paſtors or Teachers. See Rhem: annot. in Eph. 4 13 And the Anſvver vvhichwhich is returned to them by our Divines vvill ſerve in this caſe. See Fulk anſvver to the Rhem Ibid. Car…w. Ibid. Cameron Myroth. in Eph. 4.11. Non ſequitur tamen inde Paſtores istos fuiſſe ejuſmodi qui oves conduxerint in ea paſ cua quibus cicuta & aconitum naſcatur, ſatis eſt ut duxerint in ea paſcua, quibus etſi inſit virus, tamen in eſt unde oves paſcantur.and intimateth alſo how they ſhould be qualified and behave themſelves in the execution of their Office. But the Apoſtle ſaith not, that the Church hath, or ſhall evermore injoy ſuch officers, both for ſubſtance of their office, qualification of gifts and manner of diſpenſation, as are there commended: Nor yet that the Church is onelyonly to heare ſuch as be rightly qualified, and doe faithfully execute their office.
It derogates nothing from the glory of Chriſts wiſdome and faithfulneſſe in providing for the full and perfect inſtruction of the Church, that ſuch Paſtors be ſometimes wanting and cannot bee had: for he never promiſed to provide otherwiſe for them in all ages of the Church, but told them of the ſcarcitie which might come before, and in wiſdome ſaw i…to be moſt for his owne glory. Chriſt never laid this charge upon the faithfull to ſeparate from thoſe teachers, which preached truely the doctrine of ſalvation, if any exception could bee taken againſt their calling qualification, manner of life or execution of their office. The Paſtors of the Church ſhould be wiſe, vigilant, holy, examples to the flock both in doctrine and converſation, not ſeeking their owne but, that which is Jeſus Chriſts; And after they be choſen, they ſhould execute their office with al diligence: But if they be careleſſe, covetous, pompous, intangling themſelves in things of this world, ſcandalous, yet if they preach Chriſt, and be not, or cannot be removed, the faithfull are bound to heare them. The Primitive Biſhops and Martyrs, were neither Paſtors nor Doctors according to every circumſtance, which your will require in a Paſtor or Teacher, but the faithfull in thoſe times held communion with, and heard them as they preached Chriſt and him crucified, and that by the commandement and approbation of Chriſt Himſelfe, what was of God, they were obliged to ſubmit unto, wiſely diſtinguiſhing it from that which is annexed of man.
In the Officers of the Church, two things are to bee conſidered.
1. The ſubſtance of their calling, which is to ſeed the flock of God.
2. Their qualification for this office, their care in execution, and other acceſſories which may be added of man. If for ſubſtance of office their calling be of God, wee are bound to hold communion with them, though in the qualification, execution and other adhering circumſtances, ſome things bee amiſſe, which it is not in our power to redreſſe. This our Saviour Chriſt hath expreſſely taught and made knowne unto u…, both by his Doctrine and example, as hath beene ſhewed already.
Hereunto this one thing may be added, that many Paſtors and teachers in the Church of England be called, qualified and doe carry themſelves in their charges and places according to the direction of IESVS CHRIST the chiefe ſhepheard of his ſheepe, and other for ſubſtance of Miniſtery are Paſtors and Teachers.
CAN Stay Sect. 6. pag 79.
If to heare Antichriſtian Miniſters bee to ſerve God in and by an Ordinance; If in preaching the truths of the Goſpel in a falſe Church no Idolatry bee done, then may a man vvorſhip God in a vvay of his ovvne deviſing blameleſſe. Id. §. 5. page 77.way or inſtitution deviſed by Idolaters and with Idolaters, then it is unlawfull. But the firſt is true, Therefore the ſecond. The propoſition is undeniable by the Treatiſers owne confeſsion (you ſhould have ſaid the aſſumption, for if the Treatiſers words prove ought, they muſt be applyed thereunto. As for the propoſition they ſpeake not to it at all. But forwardneſſe here and in many other places hath made you forget your tearmes of Art) He that heares the Miniſters of the Biſhops ſending, and of the Pariſhes ſent to, he heares (in the ſenſe of the Scripturs) falſe Prophets. Id page 81. Such as hearken to Antichriſts Miniſters do therein approve of Antichriſts unlavvfull povver over the falſe Church and the Divels donation, or his putting of that povver into his eldeſt ſon… h…nd, Id. §. 6. p. 84.But it is not lawfull to heare falſe Prophets. The Major is proved clearly in defenc… of our twelfth objection. The Minor is certaine by theſe reaſons. 1. The hearing of falſe Prophets is forbidden in the word of God, &c.
ANSWER.
You buſie your ſelfe to weave the Spiders web, which is good for little, long in weaving, but ſoone ſwept downe. Our Miniſters be not Antichriſtian Miniſters, nor falſe Prophets, (in the Scriptures ſenſe) becauſe they preach the whole counſell of God in all points neceſſary to ſalvation, and rightly diſpenſe the ſeales of the Covenant, by authoritie derived from Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord and King o… his Church, the great Shepheard of his Sheep. At leaſt they are ſet apart to this office, which was never deemed Antichriſtian in the Church of Chriſt.
But if we take theſe words (Antichriſtian Miniſters, and falſe Prophets, in your ſenſe, for you uſe them in a peculiar dialect) then it is not only lawfull but neceſſary to heare ſuch as you call Antichriſtian Miniſters. For it is commanded in the word, and acceptable ſervice unto God, the meanes to build up the Church: It is to hold communion with God, to reverence his name, to lay hold upon Chriſt and lodge him in our boſome: It ſheweth that a man is one of Chriſts ſheep, becauſe hee heareth his voice, and a member of his ſheepfold, the ſervant of the moſt high God: it manifeſteth love and zeale to God, and is ordinarily bleſſed to the ſoul and conſcience of the dutifull hearer. And in that which you alledge to the contrary, you miſalledge Scripture, ſpeak evill of the truth, revile the heritage of the Lord, and grievouſly wound your owne conſcience.
The religion profeſſed, and worſhip performed in our aſſemblies is true, not only in reſpect of the object, but of nature, uſe and end, and whatſoever circumſtances are neceſſarilie required to lawfull worſhip. And the falſe Prophets mentioned in Scripture are of one ſort, yours of an other, even the true Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt.
But let us turne over to the twelvth objection, to heare the cleare proofe of that which here you affirme, for thither you ſend us.CAN Stay §. 12. p. 116, 117.
The Treatiſer (as you call him) propounding this objection of yours, that the Scriptures of the old and new Teſtament, warne Gods people of falſe prophets, which the Miniſters of that Church are, having an unlawfull calling, maketh anſwer, 1 By denying that the Scriptures warn men ſimply not to hear falſe Prophets, i.e. any falſe prophet whatſoever. And then propounds a diſtinction of fals Prophets; that ſome fals Prophets were in the Church of God, and theſe might be heard, as they had place in the Church, till they were orderly repreſſed, or at leaſt diſcovered; others were not in the Church, but ſimply without, and theſe were not to be heard. This is the plaine and direct anſwer of the Treatiſer, as every man may perceive, that is not groſly ignorant, or wilfully blind. But ſee how you jeſt and dally with it unconſcionably when you had nothing to anſwer. 1. You ſay he peremptorily denyeth the whole objection, and ſo conſequently affirmes, that all falſe Prophets may be heard. But what new Logicke is this, whereby we may learne to draw ſuch conſequences. In former times it hath beene thought reaſonable to deny an univerſall negative or affirmative propoſition, when they hold not true in all Individuals. No falſe prophet is to be heard. This propoſition may juſtly be benyed, if any falſe Prophet may be heard, though all might not. 2 You adde preſently and with the ſame breath, He unſaith what hee ſaid before. But this is a palpable and groſſe calumny: For he ſaid not, that all falſe Prophets might be heard by all, nor denyeth what hee granted at the firſt, that ſome may be heard: but plainly implyeth a diſtinction of falſe Prophets, which I can hardly thinke you did not perceive, though you be pleaſed ſo to pervert his words.
If there appeare any deep and inextricable riddle in the words, you may fitly apply to your ſelfe, what in this very place you report of Marcus Antonius's ſouldiers, who unawares fell upon an hearb that greatly diſtempered their heads. You tell us, Id pag. 116.The Treatiſer ſince he lighted upon his Gourd, he is not like himſelfe in his other writings: and I can eaſily believe it, for in his other writings for ſeparation he is inſolent, cenſorious, ſcornfull and ſlighty: In this mild, Chriſtian, and for the moſt part more ſubſtantiall.
As you deale, with your Treatiſer, to ſcorne what you cannot anſwer, ſo you doe with others in this very argument, and that much more abſurdlie, Maſter Br. in maintenance of the Miniſterie of the Church of England, The unreaſonab. of ſeparation, p. 2, 3, 4, 7.as it is eſtabliſhed by Law, diſtinguiſheth betweene the ſubſtance of the Miniſterie, and the execution thereof, the eſſentiall parts of the Miniſtery, and ſome accidentall circumſtances adhering unto them by man. For ſubſtance (ſaith he) the preſent Miniſterie of our Church aſſemblies, is the very Miniſterie which Chriſt hath ſet in his Church, howſoever it may in ſome particular parts of the execution happily bee defective in ſome places. The ordinarie miniſterie of our Church, is the ordinarie and perpetuall Miniſterie given by Chriſt to his Church, Id pag. 10.and ſuch as the Princes of the earth are bound by Gods law to protect and maintaine. And if there be any corruption in and about the ſame which they ought to aboliſh, it is accidental or perſonall, Page 8.and not eſſentiall to deſtroy the true nature of the miniſterie of God. And though it ſhould be granted that our people ſtand under ſome kinde of obſervances and offices, which in their own nature and firſt originall are in ſome kind Antichriſtian, yet ſuch a manner of ſtanding cannot be ſaid to overthrow, though it ſomewhat ſtaine the Miniſtery of Chriſt. Thus is the ſubſtance of the anſwer throughout the booke. CAN Neceſ. of Separ. p. 216, 217.But how doe you confute or take away this diſtinction, or weaken the force of this anſwer? That you doe not once aſſay by Scripture or ſound reaſon, but you cry out of ſhifts and trifling, and contradictions, beggerly I ſay…s, or ifs, baſe maintenance of the vileſt abominations, and juſtification of corruptions generally condemned, by the ſame carnall and corrupt reaſons which the Prelates uſe to doe: That it ſerves to ſtrengthen the hands of the wicked, Id. pag. 220.grieve the hearts of the righteous, and to diſcover his owne vile halting, and double dealing. The dumb dogs, caterpillars and idle bellies, never had a better proctor than this man to pleade for their unlawfull ſtanding, For he ſaith, The Magiſtrate is bound to protect their Miniſterie. But how can wee believe him, ſeeing the Nonconformiſts teach otherwiſe? The reſt of your anſwer is of the ſame marke, which for ſhame I will not ſtand to confute. You ſay, any one may ſee by his worke, Page 22….that he meant not to tye his conſcience ſhort, but would make a little bold with it or the preſent, and ſo he might fetch over a ſure blow upon us, He cared not though with every ſtroke hee made wounds through the ſides of his brethren. But if you be able, bring forth one ſentence, wherein the indifferent may ſee, that hee hath made bold with his conſcience, or made the leaſt wound in the ſide of any brother, wherein he hath contradicted himſelfe or the nonconformiſts, juſtified any abomination, pleaded for any corruption, or ſpoken one word in defence of dumbe dogs, caterpillars or idle bellies. And if you cannot do this, let the indifferent judge, whether you have not offered violence to your conſcience, and made bold to wound your ſoule, that you might defame the Miniſterie of the Goſpell, and ſlander the gifts of God in his ſervants. This practice is Antichriſtian, borrowed from the vileſt bondſlaves of that man of ſinne, if not from Satan himſelfe. But I will not defend the Treatiſers opinion, nor trouble my ſelfe further to examine your anſwer to Maſter Br. That which I am to enquire into is, How you prove all the Miniſters of the Church of England, in reſpect of their office and ſtanding, to be falſe Prophets, or Antichriſtian, If ought can be found to this purpoſe, bare words excepted.
CAN Stay ſect. 12 pag. 119, 120.
If an unlawfull outward calling make an unlawfull Minister, then it makes a falſe Prophet. For according to the Scriptures, it is all one thing, only expreſſed in divers terms, &c. We know no meane betweene true Prophets and falſe, for whoſoever is not a true Prophet is a falſe Prophet, Id. p. 121.and whoſoever is a falſe Prophet, cannot be a true Prophet of God. He that is of God is a true Prophet, he that is of the Devill is a falſe Prophet; neither doth the deliverie and utterance of ſome truths, make him a true Prophet, for then the Devill ſhould be a true Prophet, who ſometimes ſpeakes the truth, albeit to a ſiniſter end. Balaam was a very witch, a wizard, a falſe Prophet, a true ſorcerer, famous, or rather infamous for his Divelliſh magick, which he practiſed among the wicked idolatrous nation. So Atterſol and many others ſo too, as Junius, Simpſon, Ferus, Canutus, and before them Origen, Greg. Nazianzene, Baſil.
ANSWER.
As for Balaam, whether he were a Witch, Wizard or Magician, it is not materiall to the point in hand. If the Treatiſer did put that inſtance amiſſe, it will not follow, that you have truly proved the Miniſters of the Church of England to be falſe Prophets, or ſoundly confuted what hee anſwered for himſelfe. And if the Treatiſers friends be of your diſpoſition, you may ſoone heare from them that you have anſwered nothing, for you have brought the ſayings and opinions of men, but reaſon out of the Scripture you have alledged none to prove him ſimply a Witch and a falſe Prophet. And if the opinions and ſayings of men will ſerve the turne, there bee ſome that have thought Balaam to be a Prophet of God, Tertul. cont. Marc. lib. 4. Numb 22.19. & 2….7. Ioſh. 13.22. Sept. foreign, Trem. & Iun, Divinum, id eſt qui divinat.and that for reaſons not to be diſregarded. Tertullian amongſt others, thought Balaam to be a true Prophet, and ſuch a Prophet, as ſhould be numbred among the ſervants of God, becauſe he profeſſeth that he would aske counſell of God, and that he would ſpeake nothing but what God ſhould ſay unto him. And he doth not only ſay ſo, but indeed he propoundeth thoſe things which he had received of God, and which conſent with truth and pietie. In Scripture he is called a Diviner, which word is ſometimes uſed in a good ſenſe, to note one that doth propheſie true things, or wiſely and truly divine things to come. Prov. 16.10. Sept. foreign In. Sagac. Piſc. Divinatio, i.e. quaſi divina…io, hoc eſt ſogatitas, qualis eſt divinantium. Mercer. in Prov. 16.10. Iſaia. 3.3. Iun. Sagacem Piſc. Heb. Divinatorem, ſed hic accipitur in bonam par…em. Sept. foreign Conjectorem. Hieron, ariolum. Dovvay. Southſayer, Moller. foreign eſt, qu…d hoc loco in bonampartem accipitur. Car. in Prov. 16.10. & quidem frequentiſſimè in Scriptura uſu patur in malam partem, pro his qui artibus Diabo…i…is abdita rimantur: ſed aliquando etiam, ut Iſa 13. & Ezek. 13.6. uſurpatur in bonam partem, pro his qui aliquid a…cani proponunt, quod legitimè, vel revelatione divinâ, vel ſolerti mveſtigatione aſſequuti ſunt.Divination or a wiſe ſentence is in the lips of Kings. The Judge and the Prophet, the Diviner, and the old Man.
The Prophets divine for ſilver: Mic. 3.11. Sept. foreign. Num. 27.7. Sept. foreign. Vulg. precium divinationis. 2 Per. 2.15. Numb 23.27. See Rainold. cenſur. praelect. 201 B. Hieron. alibi nullam illustriorem de advent… Domini extare prophetiam dicit ſci. quam Bileami. Qui & inter quaestiones Chriſtianorum hanc fuiſſe docet, cur Balaam tam manifeſta de Chriſto praedixiſſet. Quem & ipſe ad Iob 32. de cognitione Abrahan ifu…ſſe docet. D. Heinſ. ex…rcit. ſacr. in Mat. 2.which is ſpoken of the Prophets in Judah. Nevertheleſſe, ſeeing he is called a Diviner, as they are ſaid to take divinations in their hands, ſcil. the wages of iniquitie, and as there is no divination againſt Iſrael, that is, magicall incantations cannot availe againſt Jſrael, whom God doth protect with his preſence, I doe rather ſubſcribe to them, who conceive that he was a Witch or Wizard, than the prophet of God.
Neither doth the deliverie and utterance of ſome truth make a true prophet, for the Heathen Witches and Wizards, nay the Divel himſelfe hath ſpoken ſome truth, that he might the better deceive. But as the poſſeſſion of all ſupernaturall truth neceſſarie to ſalvation is proper to the Church: ſo to preach the whole counſell of God unto his people, is the ſpeciall badge of a true Prophet, and the fruit whereby hee is knowne. Marke this well, for (to uſe your owne phraſe) it ſheweth all your anſwer to be coecum inſomnium, a vain dream and nothing elſe. It is the note of a falſe Prophet to run when God doth not ſend him. But can it be ſhewed, that ever Miniſter did teach the whole counſell of God unto his flocke, …er. 14.14. & 23.21 & 27.15. Vnreaſonabl. of ſeparation. p. 6. Though it be no new thing that the Miniſters of Antichriſt ſhould in divers things bring the truth with them; yet this is a new thing and never heard of before, That the Miniſters of Antichriſt ſhould teach the whole truth of Ieſus Chriſt for the ſubſtance therof, That they ſhould oppoſe directly and zealouſly againſt the maine and fundamentall doctrines of Antichriſt, &c. … 42.19.who was not ſent of God? The places cited make it evident, that they whom God did not ſend, they taught falſe things in his name: as they run when he ſent them not, ſo they propheſied when he ſpake not unto them. In ſome caſes it is true the Church for a time may bee without Miniſters, as when the paſtor is taken away by death, or the Church diſperſed by perſecution, or the people negligent to procure teachers, and the like. But ordinarily the Church is not deſtitute of true Miniſters, nor is there a true miniſterie to be found but in the Church. And therefore ſeeing the ſocietie profeſſing the true faith intirely, and holding the communion of Saints, is the true Church: the Miniſters teaching ſound doctrine in thoſe ſocieties, and maintaining the unitie of the Spirit, muſt of neceſſitie be true Miniſters.
But every unlawfull Miniſter (ſay you) is a falſe Prophet, for theſe two are all one. This is ſpoken ambiguouſly and muſt be diſtinguiſhed before any direct judgement can bee paſſed upon it? What then doe you underſtand by unlawfull Miniſter? Is he an unlawfull Miniſter who is not approved of God, deſigned by Chriſt, qualified as he ought, choſen orderly, but out of favour, partialitie, faction or ſchiſme? Or is he an unlawfull Miniſter, who teacheth corruptly, ſeeketh not that which was loſt, bindeth not up that which was broken, puts not the weake into his boſome, grieveth the godly, ſtrengtheneth the hands of the wicked and walketh prophanely? Is he an unlawfull Miniſter who being a ſecret heretike, CAN Neceſſ. of Separation, page. 237. If one bee ordained a Paſtor, according to Chriſts inſtitution, hee hath certainly lawfull miniſterie, howſoever things ſhall afterward fall out, ye… though hee ſhould ſing Maſſe and Mattens as hee ſpeaketh. But hee asketh, if any, that is in his wits will ſay ſo? yes, and prove it alſo: and if hee himſelfe had not wanted ſome wit in this point, he would not thus have confounded one thing ſo abſur…ly with another, for as a perſon may bee a ſervant or ſubject truly and fully, and yet doe afterwards the actions of thieves, rebels, traitors: ſo a man may take a true Miniſterie by ordination, and yet in his life and doctrine doe wickedly, and …ſerve juſtly to be depoſed.is choſen and ordained by the communitie where hee is to adminiſter, without due tryall and examination, or being raſhly and unadviſedly elected, doth after neglect his dutie altogether, teach perverſe things, adminiſter coruptly, ſing Maſſe and Mattens? If none of theſe be unlawfull Miniſters in your eſteeme, it will be no loſſe to us, if we grant the propoſition: for we may boldly affirme, if you ſearch our Miniſterie with a candle and lanthorn, it will bee found true and of God. If you take a falſe prophet and unlawfull Miniſter in that ſtrict ſenſe as to exclude all the former, there is not one Miniſter a member of our Church, that can be a falſe Prophet. If you take all theſe for unlawfull miniſters, then all unlawfull Miniſters are not falſe prophets in your account. Or elſe, it is lawfull to hold communion with ſome falſe prophets, which you peremptorily would ſeeme to deny.
The want of an outward calling, you ſay, makes a man an unlawfull miniſter: and ſo you might ſay, Ier. 2.8. Ter. de praeſcript. adverſ. Haeret. c. 36. Vnde autem extran…i & inimici Apoſto…i… haeretici, niſi…ex diverſitate doctrinae, quam unuſquiſque de ſuo arbitrio, adverſus Apoſtolos, aut protulit aut recepit.doth the want of right qualification and conſcionable diſcharge of his duty, for God hath threatned both the one and the other, that they ſhall be no prieſts unto him; both the one and the other are idols in phraſe of Scripture. But he can not be a miniſter in a ſocietie of Chriſtians, profeſſing the true and intire faith, and enjoying the bleſſing of the Sacraments, who is utterly deſtitute of an outward calling. In ſome Churches the calling is more compleat and exact than in others, and at ſome times things have beene more orderly handled than at others: but in all Churches there is an outward calling, and effectuall to the truth of the miniſterie.
Long ſince it was objected againſt the Nonconformiſts, that they ſay, the Goſpell is not truly preached in England, becauſe there is no lawfull calling to the miniſterie, whereunto they have returned this anſwer: We do not ſay, that there is no lawfull, or no ordinarie calling in England: for we doe not deny, but that he may be lawfully called, which is not ordinarily, as Luther, Melancthon, Zuinglius: and there bee places in England, where the Miniſters are called by their pariſhes, in ſuch ſort as the examples of Scripture doe ſhew to have been done before the Elderſhip and government of the Church was eſtabliſhed. T.C. repl. 1. anſw. to the exhor. p. 3.I know not any that ſaith, the Goſpell is not truly preached in England, and by thoſe that are not of the ſame judgement, that the admonition to the Parliament is of.
CAN. Neceſſ. of Separ. pag. 55.
The Miniſtery of England, as it is eſtabliſhed by law, doth certainly depend upon the Biſhops calling wholly, and no man… elſe: and if any in the Land ſtand otherwiſe hee cannot properly be ſaid to be a Miniſter of that Church, but rather is a ſchiſmatike from it, Id. p. 57.according to the formall conſtitution of it, &c. The moſt free Pariſh hath but only a liberty to admit of a Minister, before made by the Biſhops, ſo that the people give him not any part, much leſſe the ſubſtance of his calling, Id. p. 61.but a bare permiſſion only to exerciſe by vertue of that calling. But none may heare or have ſpirituall communion with ſuch a Ministerie, Id. p. 213.whoſe calling doth eſſentially depend upon the Biſhops calling. If the miniſterie of the Prelates belong not to any ordinarie aſſemblies, then is the ſame Antichristian, and ſo conſequently is that which is derived from it. And ſo much from their own principles wee have formerly proved. Id. p. 213.The Ministerie begotten by the Prelatesis illegitimate and falſe. I ſay thoſe, which take their offices and callings from them, are baſtardly Miniſters. The Ordination of Prieſts and Deacons by the Prelates is unlawfull and Antichriſtian, and the Miniſtery is falſe, ſo long as they doe retain that falſe calling, which they tooke firſt of the Biſhops, Id. p. 45.they of the Pope, and he from the Divell Whoſoever he be that dealeth with the holy things of God, and worketh upon the conſciences of men, See CAN Stay. §. 6. p. 78.79.by vertue of an Antichristian power, office and calling, him the people of God ought not to receive, or joyne themſelves unto. But all the Parſons, Vicars, Pariſh Prieſts, ſtipendaries, &c. that ſtand over the Church Aſſemblies in England, deale with the holy things of God, and worke upon mens conſciences by vertue of an Antichriſtian power, office and calling.
ANSWER.
VponUpon this one prop lyeth all the weight of your building, whe…em you ſtrangely triumph, as if you had ſtopped the mouth of the Non-conformiſts for ever, that either they muſt goe backe from what they have writen againſt the abuſes of the miniſtery, or confeſſe they have ſaid and unſaid as occaſions have changed, now maintaining that as right, which even now they condemned as falſe and Antichriſtian. And this you preſſe over and over with great confidence and inſolencie. But this ſtay I have plucked out of your hands already, and ſhewed that this exception hath no weight or ſoundneſſe, either from truth or Non-conformiſts principles.
In anſwer to this renewed blaſt of words, I will briefly repeate what hath been proved more at large.Bilſon Chriſtian ſubject part 2. page 296. Biſhops have their Authority to preach and adminiſter the Sacraments, not from the Prince, but from Chriſt Himſelfe, Goe teach all Nations, &c. onelyonly the Prince giveth him publiked libertie, without let o… diſturbance to doe that which Chriſt commandeth. Id. p. 309. The charge which the Preachers and Biſhops of England have over their flocks proceedeth neither from Prince nor Pope, ner dependeth on the will or word of any earthly creature. Chaloner Credo, ſecond par… §. 2. He which conferres Baptiſme and Orders as the principall Donor is Chriſt: the Biſhop or Paſtor confers them only as his inſtrument. Auguſt. contr. Creſcon. l. 4. c 6. per miniſtros d…ſpares Dei mi…us aequ… eſt, quit…n …illorum ſed ejus eſt. CAN. Stay. §. 3. p. 60. Auguſt. in Pſalme 10. Chriſt ſent him that betrayed him: Bilſon Chriſt: ſubject: part. 2. p. 860. The ghoſtly worke is Gods, the bodily ſervice is the Prieſts, wherein Iudas the thiefe, Simon the Sorcerer, &c. may challenge as James, &c.
Firſt, the Miniſters of the Goſpell, derive not their authority or office from the Biſhop, Patron, Presbyterie or people, but immediately from Ieſus Chriſt, whoſe ſervants they are, whoſe words they preach, whoſe Sacraments they adminiſter, whoſe flocke they feed, by whom they are protected, and to whom they muſt give account. If he be an Antichriſtian Miniſter who derives his authoritie from the Claſſis or Biſhop, he is Antichriſtian likewiſe who derives it from the communitie of the faithfull: for neither the one; nor the other can juſtly challenge that authoritie to themſelves.
The Biſhop, Colledge Eccleſiaſticall or Church, cannot make a Miniſter formally or vertually, but only as Stewards they put him in office whom Chriſt the King of Saints and head of the Church hath deſigned. Wherein, if Paſtors or people ſhall walke diſorderly, challenging more than of right belongeth unto them, or giving up their right through ſloth, negligence, ignorance or ſecurity: or not attending unto the direction of the great Shepheard of the flocke, ſhall chuſe a man unfit or not well qualified, or ſhall proceed raſhly, tumultuouſly upon miſguided affection, in that weightie buſineſſe; though they incurre juſt blame and reprehenſion, yet that makes not a nullitie of the Miniſtery, or of the Ordinances diſpenſed upon that Election and Ordination. Your ſelfe telleth us, and that from the example of the Scribes and Phariſees, That men being lawfully called to the Miniſtery are to be heard, howſoever in ſome qualifications defective. And if diſorderly proceeding in election, or want of juſt and fit qualification in the perſon elected, do not make the election voyd: how ſhall the meere want of conſent in the people cauſe a nullity in the miniſtration? If the careleſſe or wilfull neglect of adminiſtration and execution of his office cauſe not a nullitie of the choyce, Vnreaſonableneſſe of Separ. p. 56. They may acknowledge a further calling than that of the Prelates & yet not therein renounce the calling received from them, for the Prelates being learned Divines and having approved their gifts, and by words and Letter te ſtimoniall giving liberty to execute the Miniſtery of the Goſpell, they doe not therby thruſt them into a Miniſtery, but leave them, &c An Examin. of D. …. Cen. p. 33.why ſhall the lacke of the peoples ſuffrage, which they voluntarily have given away, or otherwiſe loſt, make the ordinances diſpenſed by him that is choſen to be of none effect?
2. The conſent of the people is not required to make a man ſimply a Miniſter, neither doth Epiſcopall Ordination make a man the Miniſter of this or that people. Therefore it doth not hinder, but a man may bee made Miniſter by the Biſhops according to the conſtitutions of the Church, and a Miniſter of this or that people, by the free choice, approbation and conſent of the faithfull. So in the fourth age of the Church, ſomtimes the people would chuſe a Miniſter, whom they thought meete, and afterward bring him to the Biſhop to be admitted by him, as appeareth in the worke of Chryſoſtome de Sacer: of the chuſing of Baſil, when Iohn Chryſostome himſelfe gave him the ſlip. Sometimes the Biſhop would eſpie a meete man himſelfe, and require the conſent of the people to chuſe, …s it appeareth by Augustine in the election of Eradius to be his ſucceſſor.
3. The Papiſts themſelves who ſtand ſo much upon the neceſſitie of ſucceſſion, and ordination by three Biſhops, according to the conſtitutions of the Church, Bellar. de Eccl. l. 3. c. 10. S. Ad Secundum.are yet forced to acknowledge, That to know that Paſtors are true, there is required neither faith, not lawfull Election, but this onelyonly that they be acknowledged ſuch of the Church, and that they hold the place of Chriſt de facto, though not de jure. And ſeeing you pretend to build upon the Non-conformiſts principles, you may take notice of their profeſſion, which is this. Baptiſme adminiſtred by Popiſh Prieſts is good and ſufficient, and they are to bee accounted for Miniſters, though they bee not good and lawfull Miniſters, but uſurpers and intruders; The like may be ſaid of ſuch as without ordinary calling, An Examin. of D. W. Cen. art. 11 page 14.counterfeite themſelves to be Miniſters, and ſo deceive the Church. In theſe the ſecret conſent of the Church receiving them for Miniſters, untill their wicked uſurpation bee eſpied, may be ſufficient to authorize their miniſtery toward others.
CAN. Neceſſ. of Separ. Page. 234.
If I were not unwilling to give occaſion unto the Biſhops to inſult over theſe men, I could hence manifeſt much bad dealing in them; but I will forbeare for the preſent, and do referre the Reader to their owne principles, which is, Jd. page 239. CAN. Neceſſ. of Separ. p. 221. Are the Princes of the earth bound by Gods Lawes to maintaine the ordinary miniſtery of your Aſſemblies? then have you from time to time ſhamfully mocked and abuſed them, in craving ſo earneſtly for their ayde, to have and place thereof. CAN. Stay. Sect. 1. page 50.that all Eccleſiaſticall officers ought neceſſarily to bee made by the free choyce of the Congregation, wherein they are to administer. And, if they can prove all this, I doe not ſee, but the Controverſie may eaſily be taken up, betweene them and the Biſhops, only then they have juſt cauſe to begge pardon of them, for their pleas againſt their Prelacy, and the maine heavy accuſations, which they have put up both to Princes and Parliaments againſt them.
ANSWER.
Here you play the Rhetorician, and make ſhew what you could doe, but that you will for the preſent take ſome compaſſion upon the Non-conformiſts. Whereunto I will returne no other anſwer, than what you have made to my hand. As for your minſing figure of extenuation, (I could hence manifeſt) I like it not. For you do here none otherwiſe than if a Thiefe, when hee hath ſtript a man out of all that hee hath, would faine yet bee counted mercifull, in that he doth not murder him or binde him, as ſome others have done. Let any indifferent man read your writings, and he will ſay, you have not ſpared your oppoſites, but ſhot at them Arrowes of bitter words, and made them as odious and vile as man can do. But bleſſed is hee that is not offended at the truth for ſuch things. Looke upon your ſelfe in that which you ſay againſt your oppoſites. You referre your ſelfe to their Principles, and they make nothing for you, as it hath beene alreadly ſhewed, and you might ſee your ſelfe, if you did not ſhut your eyes.
The reaſon which here you bring, is but your owne ſaying, ſaid over many times, and indeed bewrayeth more cunning, CAN. Stay. §. 2. page 55.than reaſon, truth or Conſciene, and (to ſpeake in your phraſe) ſophiſtry than ſincerity.
For in plaine termes this is your forme of arguing; If the Epiſcopall ordination be not a meere nullitie: Vnreaſonabl. of Separ. page 54. I know none having received Ordination from the Prelates, that need deny that they preach partly by vertue of the Miniſtery which they have taken from them. T. C. repl. 1. Ep. By exerciſing unlawfull authority, and by taking unto them partly ſuch things, as belong by no meanes unto the Church, and partly which are common unto them, with the whole Church, or elſe with others the Miniſters and Governours of the ſame.if the miniſterie of the idle, careleſſe, prophane, yea of the learned, godly and painefull, be not a meere Idol, then have the Non-conformiſts juſt cauſe to begge pardon of the Prelates: which hangeth together as a rope of ſand. The miniſtery of the Prieſts, Scribes and Phariſees was true in time of the Old Teſtament, and in the dayes of our Saviour Chriſt: had the Prophets then and our Saviour juſt cauſe to beg pardon, becauſe they accuſed them of ignorance, pride, tyrannie, contempt of the truth, oppreſſions, hypocriſie, as blind guides and ravening Wolves, who ſpoyled and made havocke of the flockes.
The Non-conformiſts never deemed the miniſtery of the Church of England for the ſubſtance and eſſentiall parts therof to be falſe and Idolatrous, nor craved the aide of the Prince and Parliament, to have it quite, or in part, aboliſhed (you have juſt cauſe to begge pardon that ſlander them in this manner) But they complaine of abuſes in the miniſtery, and theſe they deſire might be reformed; That the miniſtery might be more pure and incorrupt. They complaine of the uſurpation of ſome, who challenge that as peculiar to themſelves, which belongeth to their brethren in common; who admit the baſeſt of the people, into the office of the miniſterie; doe that by their ſole pleaſure, which ſhould be done by common Counſell, King Canutus made a Lavv by the Counſell of his ſages at Winchester. That Biſhops be Preachers and Teachers of Gods Law, and carefull followers of good, works. Leg. 26. And that every Chriſtian learne ſo much, that he can the true faith and the true underſtanding therof, namely, the Lords Prayer, and the Creed, or elſe not to have Chriſtian buriall, neither to bee admitted whiles he liveth to the Lords Table, &c. Amb. de dignit, ſacerdot. ca. 3. Quantò prae caeteris gradus Epiſcopalis altior eſt, tanto ſi per negligenti…m dilabadur ruina gravior est Magna ſublimitas magnam debet habere cautelam; CAN. Stay. S. 12. p. 120: Honor grandis, grandiori debet ſolici…udine circumvallors.and diſregard the conſent and approbation of the Church, both in Ordinations and excommunications: and if the miniſtery of the Church of England be true for ſubſtance might they not without blame deſire and crave the reformation of this abuſe? they complaine of the pompous Non-reſidents who feede themſelves and regard not the flocke, ſtrive after preferment and heape up livings, but labour not in the word and doctrine, nor look after the welfare of mens ſoules: they accuſe theſe as the poyſon and bane of the Church, or unfaithfull ſhepheards, who leave the flock to be diſperſed and ſcattered, and yet they will not ſay, their miniſtery is falſe or Idolatrous or a meere nullitie; doe they then ſhamefullly mocke or abuſe the Prince or Parliament, in petitioning, that this groſſe corruption might be reformed! They accuſe the ignorant, careleſſe, prophane Miniſters of neglect of their office, and unworthy any place or ſtanding of honour in the houſe of GOD: have they cauſe to aske pardon of this alſo, if they ſhall, thinke their miniſterie may be effectuall to the faithfull?
A Miniſter lawfully called (ſay you) according to Chriſts inſtitution, is incontinently upon his outward lawfull calling a true Miniſter, let his practices afterward be good or bad. Put caſe then the Church ſhould accuſe ſuch a Miniſter, utterly neglecting his charge, or inclining to ſay Maſſe and Mattens, or looſe and ſcandalous in behaviour, as unworthie his place and office, have they juſt cauſe to crave pardon of him, becauſe they acknowledged him to be a Miniſter, but unworthily? Many abuſes not to be tolerated may cleave to the Miniſtery, when the miniſterie it ſelfe, is not to be caſt off, as altogether ineffectuall.