The Kingdom of God Among Men, Tract 1 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
The observing of a due latitude in Religion, makes for the security and increase thereof.
CHristianity is not to be extended to such a latitude, as to take in Hereticks, … Idolaters, or real Infidels, because they ar… named Christians; nor is it shut up in severe… Parties distinguished by certain Doctrin… Rites and Platforms, which the tyranny … ancient Tradition, National custom, Politic… Interest, or passionate zeal hath exalted: but it incompasseth all those that hold Christ the Head in the unity of Faith and Life. Wherefore the constitution of the Church must be set as much as may be for the incompassing of all true Christians, which indeed makes for its most fixed and ample state. And the taking of a narrower compass, is a fundamental error …n its Policy, and will always hinder its stability and increase.
The true state of the Church (as of any other Society) lies in the universality, or the …hole Body, and not in any divided or sub…ivided parts thereof. Accordingly, its true …nterest leads not to the things that make for the exalting of this or that Party, but to those common and great concernments that uphold and increase the whole Body. And it is but just and equal to accomodate the publick Order, to the satisfaction of all Parties, not in what their several designs and humors crave, (which is impossible) but in what they all may justly challenge by their Christian liberty, and which is possible; namely, that their consciencies may not be perplexed and …rdened with things unnecessary, how high… soever magnified by some one Party.
They that seek Worldly wealth and glory … a Church state, think it as good to yield … all, as to relinguish any thing of their …nstitutions. For although they know that moderation might make for a general Peace, and for the lasting good of a Christian People, yet they foresee that by removing offences, and reforming abuses, they should open a door to men of such principles, as may subvert the foundations of their building. Therefore they think it safer to immure themselves by institutions sutable to their own estate, and to adhere to them unalterably. According to this reason in the Council of Trent, the Pope gave his Legates instruction so to proceed, that the Lutherans might despair o… Peace, without a total submission. For h… regarded not their return upon such term… as would diminish the Authority and Revenue of his Court, or weaken any of th… foundations of Papal Power. Such a Party value all men, whether they draw nearer t… them, or keep further from them, as they stand affected to the interest which they maintain. But true Religion stands upon another bottom, and pursues other ends, to wit, Holiness and Peace, and that without partiality and without hypocrisie. It hath no privat… carnal Interest to uphold, and therefore need not such carnal devices for its own securit… and advantage. By comprehensiveness loseth nothing, because it seeks not gre… things upon Earth, nor serves the designs of an… Faction; and as it loseth nothing hereby, s… it gaineth much, both in amplitude and st… bility.
In Church affairs, those things are to be held fast which Christ our Lawgiver hath by his unalterable Rule determined, and made necessary to the building up of his Church, such as are the Spiritual Ordinances and Officers of his institution. But things of meer human determination are not unalterable, and the alteration thereof in a season that requires it, doth no whit weaken Religion, or darken the glory of it. And doubtless they ought not to be more regarded, than integrity of life, and Ministerial ability and industry, for the Churches Edification in Faith and Holiness. The exercises of Christian meekness and charity in such things, is far more glorious to the Church, than a forc'd uniformity; and that constraining rigor which doth but debase mens judgments into servility, and teaching them to strain their consciences, …ends to make them less Conscientious and Religious. Besides, the said moderation in those matters, wherein uniformity of apprehensions is unnecessary and imposible, will keep the Church in a better consistency, and deliver it from those contests and breaches wich may end …n its dissipation. But what glory or safety …s there in a publick Order that is, and ever will be made the subject of controversie, more than the Rule of Unity?
The hinderance of the most important things of Christs Kingdom, is a mischief that always follows the promoting of narrow principles, and partial interests in Religion, Whereof these instances among many others may be noted, The obstructing of the liberty of publick Ministerial Service, to be given to Ministers that lie under restraint, lest some that accept it not should be weakened in their severed Interest; Also the opposing of a publick order of Catechizing the People in the uncontroverted principles of Religion, lest the petty Liberties of a Party in their severed way should be impaired. But the concerns of any particular Party are set behind the common Interest of Christianity, by a true Catholick Spirit which is ready to joyn hand in hand with any that seek the increase of Faith and Godliness, in the unquestionable means thereof. And no detriment can accrew by concurring even with men of adverse principles, in setting on foot those things received in common, that have a sure tendency to advance true Religion: of which sort, are all good means of introducing knowledge and civil conversation among a People rude and ignorant.
The fixing of Divine right upon matters of meer prudence, and the damning of things indifferent for unlawfull, is an error of evil consequence. It causlesly breaks a People into Parties, and excites them to subvert their opposites, and the opposition seems unchangeable. Hereby publick affairs are discomposed, the cause of Religion is imbroiled, and the propagation thereof obstructed; and perhaps at length, after tedious contests, either both Parties being weary of endless strife, sit down in silence; or the weaker being vanquished, is crush'd, or yields with shame and loss. Into the snare of this Error, men are brought by narrowness of judgment, or strength of fancy, or hurry of prejudice, driving from one extream to another, to which may be added the private Interests of leading men. Wherefore we should take care that we lay no bonds upon our selves, in those things wherein neither the Law of nature, nor any positive Law of God hath bound us up.
Furthermore, it doth not stand with the settlement or inlargement of any Church Interest, to enter into such Religious bonds, as must needs conflict, not only with the opposition of perpetual adversaries, but also with the dissentings and dissatisfactions of friends considerable for number and quality; in as much as they are too narrow for the common Interest, and biass too strongly to a Party of one persuasion. For which cause their pre…alence is not lasting, but by usual and easie changes, their weakness is discovered.
To tie a People to certain little rules and methods in Church Discipline, that are ge…erally displeasing; as the necessary terms of …hurch Priviledges, when the ends of Discipline may be as well obtained without them, is at the best but the vanity of a needless trouble, in doing that with much ado, which might be done with less; and it may occasion an incurable breach, and the rejection of the whole Form of Government.
Narrow and uncertain boundaries of Church Communion, and arbitrary and rigid rules of admission, are contrary to that ample and fixed Church state, which is necessary to uphold and propagate true Religion. The Faith of Christ hath been propagated and perpetuated in large Kingdoms and Nations, by incompassing under its external Rule and Order, the multitude that made profession, though they might fa… short of the New Birth, and those things tha… accompany Salvation: And it doth not roo… or spread in any sort considerable in a Region, where the order of admission is set by the rigid and narrow principles of a small Party, and the general multitude lies open as wa… ground for any to invade or occupy. The strength and security of the Protestant Reformation, came by the taking in of Kingdom… and whole Dominions within its compas…. The external Kingdom of God must needs be much wider than the internal. It is like the draw Net that gathered Fishes good and bad, and like a Corn Field, wherein Whea… and Tares grow together till the Harvest. Moreover, the increase of professed Christian makes way for the increase of regenerate Christians and Converts to the power of Godliness, are generally made out of the mass of People, of an Orthodox profession: and few of them are turned immediately from Infidelity, Popery, or any Heresie.