Reformation not Separation, Title page – To the reader
REFORMATION NOT SEPARATION: OR, Mr. CROFTON'S Plea for Communion with the CHURCH, under thoſe Corruptions, and by that diſorderly Miniſtration to which he cannot Conform, nor by it Adminiſter.
IN A LETTER, Written JƲLY 20. 1661.
In, and from the TOWER of LONDON, to R. S. To ſatisfie the Weak, and ſilence the Wicked, who inſulted in, or were offended at his endeavoured (and clamorouſly reported as obtained) attendance on Gods PUBLICK WORSHIP in that Place, during his Confinement.
NOW PUBLISHED, To ſilence Cenſures and Calumnies, ſatisfie ſuch who would walk uprightly in this houre of Temptation.
By the ſaid R. S. to whom it was written.
Unto which, is added the Copy of another LETTER, Written on the ſame Occaſion and Subject.
Printed in the YEAR, M.DC.LXII.
TO THE READER.
READER,
IT is more than a Year, ſince it was clamoured, Mr. CROFTON goeth to the Church, and heareth Common-Prayer in the Tower of LONDON: Whereupon he was not little Cenſured by ſome, whoſe Profeſſion of Religion, and Relation to him, required much more Charity.
Mr. CROFTON did then write unto me this enſuing LETTER, with Advice to Communicate the ſame, for the Satisfaction of the Weak, who ſtumbled (to their own wounding) and Silencing of the Wicked, who inſulted, to the Grief of him and Gods Church.
In Obſervation of this Inſtruction, I did (to ſave the labour of the Pen, and make this Paper more profitable to the Church) put it into the Preſs; where ſome good Friends did ſeize, and for preſent ſtiſle it; chooſing rather to Communicate the written Copy as they could.
This Copy was imparted to many Chriſtian Friends and Miniſters, who ſeemed to be in this matter otherwiſe perſwaded; in ſpecial, Thoſe of the Congregational way, who ſeemed moſt concerned in the ſame; theſe were all requeſted to Correct Mr. CROFTON'S Errour, and Rectifie his Judgment; but none would, or did undertake the work, though aſſured he had an hearing Ear: Horreſco referens; though he hath been moſt bitterly Cenſured, he never received any, the leaſt Admonition concerning this matter, one excepted; a Copy whereof, with his Anſwer thereunto, being come to my hands, I have preſumed to annex unto this LETTER.
I preſume (without Mr. CROFTON'S knowledge)
Firſt, To make theſe Papers publick, to evidence the little Cauſe men have to repreſent Mr. CROFTON'S Non-conforming Communion, to be a Defection from the Cauſe of Reformation, and Reſult of his Temptation.
Secondly, To let men ſee on what Grounds Mr. CROFTON hath ſatisfied himſelf in his ſolitary Eſtate, when he could neither Confer with Men and Books; that ſo if they appear weak, ſome ſerious man, may by word or letter (whilſt the Preſs will not be allowed to ſpeak) help him to Conviction; I cannot but determine it unchriſtian, to condemn without Fraternal Correption, or an Eſſay for Conviction; thoſe Cenſures do reflect with Violence on the Cenſurers, which are retorted with a what doth your arguing reprove?
Thirdly, To help others to diſcover that Point of Piety which is proper for their places and capacities, under the preſent Providences of God in, and towards his Church in theſe Nations.
What lately was Mr. CROFTON'S Caſe, is now our own; we muſt either withdraw from the Prayers and Publick Worſhip of God in this Church, or attend it by this diſguiſed Miniſterial Mode and Order; and with Grief I ſpeak it, we are in the dark, and we are left in the dark, our Prophets are gone, who ſhould tell us, and before their going have not told us, how in this Caſe Chriſtianity doth require us to carry: Some general Cautions we indeed received in their laſt Councels, but no clear Directions in reference to the ſpecial Caſe and Condition into which we are reſol…ed: I well know, moſt Presbyterian Divines to be in Judgment the ſame with Mr. CROFTON; but their Prudence doth prohibit the Publication thereof to us, or at leaſt in a particular Specification of our preſent Condition.
I will not ſay, Mr. CROFTON by his Act or Apology, appeareth any very wiſe Pilate, I leave thoſe to whom it doth belong, to judge his skill in the Compaſs; but I cannot but ſay, he ſeemeth to be moſt Simply Faithful, in fufilling his Miniſtry, propoſing himſelf a pattern, and perſwading his friends and people to walk in the Exactneſs of Truth againſt all Extreams, though his worldly and carnal Intereſt lieth on either hand, and might eaſily induce him to advance, or at leaſt by his ſilence to abett the ſame. I cannot but obſerve this is not the firſt time Mr. CROFTON hath divided from the Policies of them who could not diſown his Principles, or Scripturally determine againſt his Practice: And truly I wiſh men may conſider, whether the Serpent do not out-ſtretch and over-reach the Dove, in thoſe Policies which make Religion (unto its reproach) a matter of Faction; and ſtudy to ſave, and recover Reformation, by the appearance of a Bulky Party, for Separation? I cannot but let thee know, I am thus far clear of Mr. CROFTON'S mind, Unwarrantable Non-communion may not be allowed, no not for a day, though to ſaving Reformation; for we may not do Evil, that Good may come thereof; and I cannot be perſwaded, I am disbanded from Chriſts Army, ſo ſoon as I am ſuperſeded to my Conduct; I muſt march under his Banner, when I may not be permitted to march at the Head of a Company: And ſure I am, it is more eaſie to fall into either Extream, than to walk between both uprightly, according to the Truth of the Goſpel.
Reader; I will stay thee no longer, only know, That this Seaſon of Publication of this LETTER, is by me choſen, or rather conſtrained by the over-prudent Superſedeas before mentioned, and ſilence our over-general Cautions of our pious Miniſters in this Caſe, and houre of Temptation which is come upon us.
If any Miniſter be hereby provoked to beat out the Truth, which muſt guide the Churches Practice: If any Chriſtian do hereby receive Direction to diſpel his Doubts, and ſteer his Converſation: Or if any raſhly cenſorious Saint be hereby convinced of their uncharitable, unchriſtian Cenſures, and bitter words; by which they have wounded themſelves, and grieved him whom God hath ſmitten, be hereby convinced of their fault, ſo as to give Glory to God, and with Jobs Comforters, confeſs their Guilts, I have obtained mine End, and hope it ſhall not much diſpleaſe my Paſtor, on whom, I confeſs, I have herein too much preſumed.
I am thine in Union with the Church, And Simplicity of the Goſpel. R. S. Sept. 1. 1662.