Reformation not Separation, Text – Title page
REFORMATION no SEPARATION: OR, Zachary Croftons Plea for Communion with the Church of England. In a Letter to a Chriſtian Friend.
Chriſtian Friend,
COnſidering we live in an Age exceeding ſcrupulous, and the actions of a Priſoner are ſubject to Obſervation and Cenſure, without the leaſt enquiry into the reaſons, end and inducements thereof: And well knowing my unhappy ſelf to be a man much miſtaken and miſrepreſented; obnoxious to, and afflicted with the groundleſs calumnies of the wicked, and cenſures of the weak: And being deeply ſenſible of the ſad doom denounced againſt ſuch as adminiſter Offence to any of Chriſts little ones; Mat 18.6.and the great damage and danger of a groundleſs offence, choaking the joy, and curbing the duty of ſuch as take it. … (who have for more then ſix moneths been buried alive) do conceive a duty and neceſſity incumbent upon me, to appear, and (by ſuch utenſils as a cloſe and ſevere impriſonment will afford) to ſpeak for my ſelf, in the cauſe of God and his Church (charged on my weak hands) in reference to an act, which Conſcience doth conſtrain me to purſue; and (or obtained liberty) to attend. In which I diſcern ſome ready to inſult, whileſt others ſoon ſcandalized, beyond what the nature thereof may occaſion, to the one or the other; for God (whom I ſerve in the Spirit) is my witneſs, I would give no offence, neither to the Jew, nor to the Greek, nor to the Church of God.
The caſe is this:
SIr John Robinſon, the Lieutenant of the Tower, did of his own accord (not at that time, though often before, moved to it by or from me) on Fryday the thirteenth inſtant, ſend me word by my Keeper, That I ſhould have liberty to go to Church, and enjoy the Solemn Aſſembly, and Publique Worſhip of God, celebrated within this place (the which on ſecond thoughts he hath remanded;) in the uſe hereof, I muſt of neceſſity attend that Order of Adminiſtration, againſt which I have publiquely witneſſed, as that which is Corrupt and Superſtitious; yet conſcience of duty doth compel me to receive and uſe this liberty (when I can obtain it) as a mercy from God, and favour from men, the which I have often prayed for and deſired. Hereupon I apprehend a clamour is ſent abroad, that Mr. Crofton is preſent at, and attends unto the reading of the Service-Book; in which ſome boaſt beyond meaſure, as having gained a Proſelyte; whileſt others ſtumble, as if I ſtarted from the truth and work of Reformation, and teſtimony which (through Gods grace) I have given thereunto.
My good Friend, you muſt know, this clamour is (as to the fact) as yet falſe, the liberty being not yet obtained, but I confined to my Solitary Sabbaths,; wherein I hope, I can profeſs, I am not alone, becauſe the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is with me: But indeed I muſt confeſs it true in (the fieri) my deſire, intention and endeavour to procure this liberty, ſo ſoon as I can, and my reſolution to attend thoſe corrupt Adminiſtrations, and this diſorderly ſervice of God, until God pleaſe to bring me forth, and make me drink the waters of his Sanctuary in purer Veſſels; and I cannot but proteſt, that the one or the other, inſulting, or offended at my ſo doing, may grieve me, and wound their own ſouls, but cannot ſay they know me, who was ever ſatisfied (and ſo declared my ſelf in my publique Miniſtery) as to this point; or that I adminiſter any cauſe for ſuch inſultation or offence: Yet to the end Gods diſhonor, Religions diſgrace, their own danger by this their ſin, may (if poſſible) be prevented, I thought it my duty to ſignifie to you, and require you (as you have opportunity) to communicate to others, theſe following conſiderations, as Apologetical reaſons, for what I am convinced, is not onelyonly lawful, but a poſitive duty, not without ſin to be omitted, though the critiſim of our times, and my ſpecial caſe, may require an Apology for the ſame.
My long, cloſe, Conſid. 1. Deliberate thoughts, not diſtreſs of condition provoke it.and ſevere durance (much beyond any other Priſoner in this place) or any carnal, ſelf, politique Principle, hath not been the impulſive cauſe of my deſire, or uſe of this liberty, but (as in my other acts, ſubjected to the cenſure of men) pure conſcience of duty towards God and my own ſoul, and the preponderate dictates of my judgement (I hope in ſome meaſure alſo to diſcern duty in difficult times and conditions) in ſenſe whereof, I deſired this liberty the f…rſt day I was committed to this place, and many times ſince; and have often complained of it to God, and ſuch men as came near me, as a defect in the Government of this His Majeſties chiefeſt Priſon in England, that care is not taken, nor liberty allowed, for Chriſtian Priſoners to attend upon the publique Worſhip, and preaching of the Word of God: I have in this reſpect often preferred the Compters, or Newgate (more baſe and deſpicable in vulgar account) before the Tower of London. It cannot I think be ſoberly (I am ſure not charitably) denied, that Chriſtian Priſoners, ought to have Chriſtian liberty and accommodation, in a Chriſtian Kingdom. It is ſuppoſed, a Priſoner bringeth with him into this place, ſome horrid crime, and notorious guilt, by reaſon whereof there is conceived but little between the Priſon and death; therefore the hand of Juſtice which puniſheth the offence, ought in Chriſtian pity to ſeek the ſalvation of the ſoul, and (if poſſible) prevent the Malefactor from dying in, if he muſt dye for his ſin. I have often thought, that if the Heathen indulged Paul a liberty to Preach in Priſon, Chriſtians might and ought much more allow a Preacher liberty to hear the Word preached in Priſon. I hope it will be no offence to minde this Age, that amongſt other evils reflected (by ſuch as roſe up againſt him) on the Government of King Charls the firſt, his late Majeſtie of honorable memory, this was one,Exact Collections, p. 6. and not the leaſt, Men were detained cloſe Priſoners, without the liberty of uſing Books, pen, ink, or paper, denying them all the comforts of life, not permitting their wives to come to them; and for the compleating of that cruelty, depriving them of the neceſſary means of Spiritual conſolation, not ſuffering them to go abroad, to enjoy Gods Ordinances in Gods Houſe, or Gods Miniſters to come to them, to adminiſter comfort to them in their Chambers. Let none therefore dare to cenſure this act as the reſult of a diſtreſſed condition, or baſe compliance by conſtraint of Priſon, againſt the perſwaſions of Conſcience.
Conſid. 2: Solemn publique Worſhip poſitive duty.Communion with the Church viſible, in all acts of ſolemn publique Worſhip, is an eſſential part of the Sanctification of the Sabbath, or Lords day, and poſitive, indiſpenſable duty of every particular ſoul called by the name of God; to be onelyonly Superſeded by a real, inevitable neceſſity, with aſſurance to any, that God will have mercy, and not Sacrifice. This cannot be denyed by any, who obſerve God hath denominated the Sabbath an holy Convocation. Levit. 23.Synagogues were on this ground erected and frequented, in all the Cities of Judah; that the Lord Chriſt,Luke 4 16. Acts 13 13, 14. & 17.2. fulfilling all righteouſneſs, and his Apoſtles in conſcience of duty, made it their cuſtom to go to the Synagogue every Sabbath day; that the Apoſtles and primitive Chriſtians, from the very Aſcenſion of Chriſt,John 20.19, 26. 1 Cor. 16.2. held ſolemn Aſſemblies on the Lords day, the firſt day of the Week, and charged the Saints of their age, and in them all others, not to forſake the Aſſembling of themſelves together, Heb. 10.25.taxing the defect of ſome therein, as the manner of ſome is.
As Solitary Sabbaths are in themſelves, ſo (God knoweth) they have been, and are to me, the ſting of an impriſoned condition: I hope I can ſay, without vanity, as David in his exile,Pſa 42.1, 2, 3. As the Hart panteth for the water Brooks, ſo panteth my ſoul after thee, O God: My ſoul thirſteth for the living God; When ſhall I come and appear before God? when I remember theſe things, I pour out my ſoul in me, for I have gone with the multitude: I went with them to the Houſe of God, with the voyce of joy and gladneſs, with the multitude that kept the holy day. I deny not God to be ſerved, and enjoyed in Solitary Worſhip, Pſal. 84.7.but muſt needs obſerve, in Zion the Saints paſs from ſtrenth to ſtrength, every one appearing before God. Solemn publique Worſhip is Gods chief Ordinance, for the ſupport of his peoples faith; this is denominated, the Beauty of Gods Holineſs: Pſal. 27.4. & 96.9. and 110.3.To this his preſence and power is promiſed, and in it chiefly predicated; attendance on this, is charged as his peoples duty, and diſcharged as their joy: The want of this is the Sacra fames, Spiritual famine,Amos 8 11. under want of which Davids faith was ready to faint, had it not been prevented by a ſpeedy and ſeaſonable ſupply: When I ſought to know this, it was too painful for me, until I went into the Sanctuary, then underſtood I their end, Pſal. 73.16, 17. This therefore is not to be ſlighted, or neglected, or ſuperficially deſired, or uſed; but moſt highly prized, earneſtly deſired, and joyfully imbraced, and not voluntarily declined on every light occaſion, and trivial exception, or friendly perſwaſion; but the grounds muſt be plain, clear, certain, and weighty, ſuch as I may with confidence plead unto my God, as the apology of my abſence of choice, not conſtraint, in which I expect God ſhould have mercy on me, becauſe and for that he cannot have Sacrifice from me, which can be nothing but the reſtraining neceſſity of my condition, or my running into ſin to poſſeſs it.
My good Friend, you ſee my caſe is hard; and what now is my caſe, may ere long be yours, and others of Gods people: You yet enjoy a liberty of worſhipping God, in due and right order, and may drink the Waters of the Sanctuary in clean Veſſels; long may you enjoy it, and if God take pleaſure in me, he will in due time reſtore me to it; but if not, let him do what ſeemeth him good At the preſent I have no choice; if I will attend Gods publique Solemn Worſhip, I muſt do it in this place, and order, or not at all; whileſt I dread to give the leaſt occaſion of inſultation to the wicked, or offence to the weak, my conſcience is under the apprehenſion and aw of a poſitive indiſpenſible duty, which I dare not decline, unleſs on reaſons conſtituting a clear and unavoidable neceſſity: my preſent reſtraint doth indeed acquit me, and carry the guilt (of my abſence from Gods Houſe) from off me to others, I duly endeavouring, by all juſt means, to have the ſame removed; which once effected, what moral bar will lie upon my minde, and in my way, as a formal ſin, which I cannot without guilt break thorow? that is the queſtion I have deſired ſeriouſly to conſult, and by Scripture to reſolve: And on mature thoughts I muſt profeſs I finde not any, which will bear weight in the ballance of the Sanctuary, as that which I ſhall dare to produce before the Lord, when demanded a reaſon of my voluntary abſence; on which he may not pronounce, He was bidden to the feaſt, but would not come, and therefore is not worthy, and hereafter ſhall not: For I muſt profeſs;
Firſt, I never did, could, or yet can deny,1. The Church of England a true Church and I a member. the being of the Chur…h of England (that is, the community of Chriſtians in this Nation, incorporated by Baptiſm, profeſſing the true God and Jeſus Chriſt, and ſubjected to the Word and Sacraments, in the Miniſtery of Chriſts lawful Miniſters (for I never believed any National Priviledge, ſuch as was peculiar to the Jews, or the Hierarchical Order, and collective Conſtitution (which cannot be denied to be a meer humane and ſeparable adjunct, and is neither an equal, nor regular Repreſentation) could or did give that appellation) nor diſown my own relation to it; and muſt therefore ſee ſome good ground for my non-communion with it, and for my choice of Solitary Worſhip of God, rather then fellowſhip in its Solemn publique Worſhip, where and whileſt God affords his preſence, though with a grieved, ſtriving ſpirit, I dare not be abſent, though thereby I might avoid ſome burthen.
It is well known, I am not unacquainted with the Church renouncing, rending, ruining principles of the Anabaptiſts, and old ſeparating Browniſts, nor with the Paganizing practice of the (ſeemingly more ſober and ſerious) Independent, or Congregationaliſt; who ſometimes indeed pretend to own the being of this Church, but (by their Church-gathering, Self-Conſtitution, diſpencing Ordinances by their ſelf-conſecration; profeſſed principle, that in England there is much matter for, but not the form of a Church, and ſo no Church at all, for forma dat eſſentiam; and with the height of confidence (to ſay no more of it) proclaiming themſelves the gathered Churches, contradiſtinct to the Nation, and all Chriſtians in it (as if they onelyonly were the firſt fruits of Achaia, I mean England, an infidel Nation, who had never received the Goſpel, or Chriſt had not been preached among them, and profeſſed by them, nor any of her Inhabitants had been incorporated by Baptiſm, into Chriſts Catholique Body, but were to this day aliens and ſtrangers to the Houſhold of Faith, and Commonwealth of Iſrael) do plainly declare ſo to all rational men (able and willing to diſcern) that the being of a Church in England is by them diſputed, yea, denied: But theſe I never did, nor could approve, and therefore I muſt preſume, none that ever knew me, and my conſtant conteſts, by preaching, writing, and ſuffering under and againſt them, can conceive this to be now any ſcruple to my conſcience, doubt to my ſoul, demur to my duty, or diverſion to my Communion with them, whoſe being a Church of Chriſt, I have ever, and openly aſſerted and defended, and to whom I have ever profeſſed my own relation.
Prophane members deſtroy not the Church.That theſe men urge, That many members in the Church of England, are rude and prophane in their Converſation, with their mouthes confeſſing, but in works denying God, and are not therefore fit matter for a Church, I do well know, and to my grief and ſhame do know to be true, and viſible, but to my comfort do know to be an Objection of no weight; for our queſtion is, concerning Communion with, not the Conſtitution of a Church: That ſuch matter ſhould not at firſt Conſtitution have been taken in, and having grown up, ought to have been cut off, and caſt out, I can and do yield, and conſent; but that the diſorder, defection and prophaneneſs of the members, or what is more, the Angels and Miniſters, hath reſolved the Church into a non-entity, and neceſſitated non-communion, (ſave in a new Conſtitution and Church gathering) I cannot believe, becauſe I finde nothing more plainer in Nature, then for a degenerate Vine, to retain the name and nature of a Vine, when it bringeth forth little ſave ſowre Grapes;Mat. 3.9. nor is any thing more clearer in Scripture, then for the children of the Devil, Matth 3 9. John 8.44.to have Abrahaem to their father, and be the children of God, and Covenant of Graco, by viſible adminiſtration: or for diſorderly Chriſtians in Corinth, to be called, and owned as Saints and Believers, a man covetous, a fornicator, and adulterer, an idolater,1 Cor. 5.11. Rev. 3.1. a drunkard, to be called a brother; Sardis having a name to live, but being dead, is declared one of the golden Candleſticks, among which Chriſt walketh; and when Paul wrote to Titus, the Chriſtians in Crete were abominable, diſobedient, and to every good work reprobate, Titus 1, 13, 16. yet was Titus charged to rebuke them ſharply, not to diſown them, or decline communion with them, or to gather the fit matter, and orderly Chriſtians among them into a new Church form; nor are any among them adviſed, or directed ſo to do; a Ram, and a Goat cannot be denied to be of Chriſts flock on earth, though they may be turned on his left hand, at the day of judgment; Correction, and caſting out is the priviledge of a Church member; and ſuppoſeth its capacity in their object, though an inceſtuous perſon: the prophaneneſſe of the members of this Church may and muſt provoke my brotherly admonition, miniſterial reprehenſion, and the Churches Cenſures againſt them, but will never warrant my non-communion with them, or voluntary abſence from Gods ſolemn publick worſhip celebrated among them; becauſe it doth not ipſo facto, by any due order, or divine direction; diſcharge their relation to Chriſts Catholick viſible body, ſo long as God knoweth them as his Spouſe, and people, (though deſerving) having not received from him a Bill of Divorce; I may be burdened to ſee their lewdneſſe and lightneſſe, but muſt not forſake the Bride-chamber, nor his worſhip therein celebrated: without all doubt, the capacity of thoſe within the Church (though diſorderly, and as ſuch to be judged) is vaſtly different from Turks, Jews, and Pagans, and thoſe without the Church; who refuſe to profeſſe the true God, and Chriſt, or obedience to them; the one being ſubjected to Gods special pastoral, paternal care; in the caſe of their very diſorder and aberrations; whileſt the other only enjoy Gods common providence as do other creatures, the works of his hands.
What hath been urged to nullifie this Church from (what this kind of men will needs ſuppoſe to be) the form thereof,Parochial diſtribution convenient and good. viz. that they are by Parochial conſtitution, and Chriſt never ordained Pariſhes, hath been often, and abundantly anſwered, by many, and among others, I have already fully ſpoken to it in my Bethſhemiſh clouded, and ſhall therefore now only ſay, Parochial diſtribution is no constitution, nor any eſſential form of the Church; ſo as that bare ſimple habitation within ſuch bounds, ſhould ipſo facto, without further capacity, or qualification make men Church members; or their removal, or non-reſidence within this or that Pariſh, (as do Merchants and Mariners) ſhould diſcharge their relation to the Church: but it is a Political order, and convenient diſtribution of the Church Catholick viſible; to particular Aſsemblies; for the due and more eaſie Celebration of Gods publick worſhip; the Lord Jeſus founded his Church Catholick, and univerſal, into which Baptiſm is the Ordinance of Catholick inciſion, and imitation; and excommunication is the Ordinance of Catholick exciſion, and diſcharge; but nature, and the neceſſity of order doth divide it into particular Aſſemblies, according to humane diſcretion: and no order can more conveniently circumſcribe particular ſocieties of the Church, than vicinity, and cohabitation; This the holy Ghoſt doth plainly digitate, by denominating the firſt plants of Chriſtianity,Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Epheſus, and the like. by the places where they were planted, not by the firſt planters, or after Paſtors: blaming it as a Schiſm in the Church, to ſay, I am of Paul, I of Apollo, and I of Cephas; and indeed this diſtribution doth much facilitate the inſpection of the Paſtor, or brethren, beyond what the Covenant conſtitution of Congregationaliſts is capable of; whereby ſome living in York are members of a Church in London. Parochial Diviſion then being the benefit of the Church, and members thereof in Chriſtian Cities, Countries, and Nations, it is ſo far from blame and avoidance, that it is to be commended, and approved by men of prudence, and order, and can never neceſſitate, or warrant any mans non-communion with the Chriſtian Aſſemblies thus diſtributed, and conveniently aſſembled.
Unto ſuch as ſtumble themſelves, and would have others ſo to do, at Communion with the Church of England, becauſe they do not know that it was rightly gathered, Englands Church was rightly conſtituted at the firſt.and conſtituted at the firſt; I ſhall briefly ſay, Hiſtory, (the beſt evidence of an ancient Act,) doth aſſure us that the Goſpel was firſt preached, and Chriſtianity was firſt planted in our Iſlands by the Apoſtles, or Apoſtolical men, which (no doubt) did with all care, rightly lay here the right foundation of Gods Church, and if we may (as in caſes of this nature, we muſt) judge (a poſterior) the certainty of the root, by the extent, and quality of the branches; the foundation by the Dimenſions and duration of the Fabrick; can any man reading the Engliſh Stories of the eminent Martyrs of Chriſtianity found in this Church, in all ages, ſince the times of the Apoſtles unto this day, and not conclude the Church was at firſt rightly planted, and founded? theſe men ſhall do well to reſolve the old queſtion ever put by the Non-conformiſts to the Browniſts (theſe mens progenitors) if they be begotten to God, in what Church, and by what Ordinances were they converted? was it not the Church of England? we (whom they to ſerve their deſigne, will own as Saints, and declare fit matter for a Church.) muſt profeſſe our ſelves ſprouts from this plant; their Charity is not ſure ſo irrational, as to believe men may gather Gr…pes of Thorns, or Figgs of Thiſtles, for if ſo, their gathering Churches will be found needleſſe, whileſt Saints grow in Infidel ſoils, and Gods houſe exiſteth without the laying any foundation.
Theſe men ſhall do well to conſider,Knowledge of a Church it firſt conſtitution not neceſſary. whether the knowledge of the mode and order of firſt planting and gathering the Church, be neceſſary to every member related to it. In England we finde ſocieties profeſſing the true God, and Chriſt; baptized into his name, worſhipping him by his own Ordinances; this is the forme of a Church; and doth ſuppoſe and imply a Root and Foundation, by which it is animated and preſerved; But muſt we needs know how it was at the firſt laid, or planted? though by length of time it is worn out of ſight, and over-grown with earth and weeds? are we bound to renounce the Vine, and run out of the houſe, unleſſe we pluck up the root, and raze the foundation to ſatiſfie our ſelves herein? if ſo, God help the illiterate ſouls, and weak capacities not capable to conceive, or well underſtand the ſame; is Chriſts Church planted for an age only? that every ſucceeding generation muſt tranſplant? gathering of Churches did indeed begin the Acts of the Apoſtles; muſt it needs be continued to the end of the Revelation? to the coming of the Lord to judgment? I finde not Paul in his joyning himſelf to the Church, nor Priſcilla and Aquila in their travels, and communion with different Churches, make any demurre on this enquiry; and I dare not think the holy Ghoſt would have concealed from us a point of ſo great importance.
My good friend; upon the whole of this Objection, I muſt let you know that my ſerious and deliberate thoughts do diſſent from the Concluſions concerning the matter and form of a Church, ſtated by the ſelf-conſecrated Officers of the hundred and twenty ſelf-conſtituted gathered Churches, which of late years met at the Savoy: but aſſent unto the determination of Mr. Cotton in his advice to the brethren of old England at the cloſe of his way of the Churches in New-England, (viz.) The work is not to make them Churches, which were none before; (for the Gospel having been preached in England by Apoſtles, or Apoſtolical men, they were without doubt rightly planted) but to reduce them to the Primitive purity they had in their firſt conſtitution.
And (here my friend,) I muſt deſire the Independents will not be offended, that I propoſe them as the preſent prime promoters of the nonentity of the Church of England, by way of barre to Communion with her, and a principle of ſeparation from her: for that (notwithſtanding their contrary profeſſions of what they cannot ſoberly, charitably, and rationally deny) their common ſuggeſtion in England, is fit matter, but not the form, (which is the eſſe) of the Church; their Savoy concluſions, and paganizing Church-gathering practice, do loudly proclaim them the off-ſpring of the Browniſts, and poſterity of the rigid Separatiſts, ever withſtood by the ſober, and ſerious Non-Conformiſts, ſince Englands Reformation: and in this point the ſummum genus, of thoſe ſeveral, ſpecifical, ſelf-conſtituted Sects, which have confounded our Church; the odium of whoſe Schiſm from it, defended by Rebellion, Schiſm, and horrid Treaſon is at this day moſt ſadly (though falſly) reflected on the moſt loyal, ſober, ſerious, reforming, non-conforming Presbyterians; to the weakning their hands, and retarding, yea diverting their progreſſe in an humble, argumentative, and patient purſuit of Chriſts Ordinances, and due authority of Chriſts Officers, to be reſtored, and exerciſed in the Church of England; by me ever owned, and now lamented, but not to be deſerted.
Such as fancie the Church of England was loſt in the deluge of Popery and Antichriſtianiſm, Englands Church loſt not its being in Popery.may by their own obſervation correct the ſame; and be conſtrained to confeſſe, there is in this reſpect no more cauſe of ſtumble as to the entity of this Church, then was as to the being of the Jews, when overſpread with Idolatry, in their many defections from God; for in Englands worſt times they may finde a perſecuted Elias, a John Wickliffe, with many other moſt eminent branches, bringing forth the Cluſters of Goſpel Grapes, to the bleeding out their very lives, beſides Obadiah's fifties hidden in Caves, by the violence of perſecution; certainly the Root muſt abide, or how, or whence could theſe branches ſpring? Yea, the winter ſtorms of Popery paſſing away, and the floods of Antichriſtianiſm aſſwaging, though not dryed up, and the chief weeds of ſuperſtition being plucked up, though ſome remain; how hath this Church revived, flouriſhed, and ſent out many moſt eminent and pious branches, without any new plantation? Yea, conveyed unto themſelves (who queſtion her being) the truth of Grace, and Faith in Chriſt Jeſus, if ever they receiv'd it? I bleſſe God I have learned to diſcern between the ſubject, and its ſeparable adjuncts though never ſo vile, and do believe the Church to be Chriſts Church, though vitiated and defiled with Idolatrous administrations; all, nor indeed any defection is an actual divorce; if adulterous Judah, Jet. 3.on a ſummons to repentance, do return, and put away her abominations, ſhe loſeth not her relation to God; nor doth the high places continued under his reformation, make God or his people to forſake her; the Temple of God abides his, when given to be trodden under the feet of the Gentiles: yea, when the Antichriſt the man of ſin, ſitteth therein; this notion may poſſibly ſound better to ſome eares from New-England, than from the Tower of London; let it therefore be thence receiv'd; If Antichriſt muſt ſit in the Temple of God, and the Courts of the Temple be given to the Antichriſtiaen Gentiles for a certain time to tread under foot, then there was a true Church ſtate where he ſate, and whileſt he ſate there, and it was the true meaſured Temple, whoſe Courts he did tread under fo t, nor can there be Antichriſt, unleſſe there be the Temple of God and Courts thereof, where he is; and if ever Antichrist ſate in England, then there was the Temple of God there; before he ſate in it, and whileſt he ſate in it, as was alſo in other reformed Churches, the Temple or Church is the ſubject wherein he muſt ſit; the Antichriſtian ſeat is not the ſubject, nor conſtituteth it, but is an accident vitiating the ſubject, and ſeparable from it; the removing therefore of Antichriſtianity, doth not deſtroy the ſubject, or make it ceaſe to be; but changeth it into the better ſtate, in which it was before thus accidentally vitiated: this is the aſſertion of Mr. Phillips of Water-town in New England.
England was Chriſts Church before the Antichriſtian deluge, under the power of Popery; and ſince it was purged out, and ſo ſhe at this day (notwithſtanding her backſliding) doth abide; God provoked hath not yet removed his Candleſtick, or given her a bill of divorce, as he juſtly may, and I fear yet will, if I then deny Communion with ſuch of her aſſemblies, I have a liberty to attend and frequent, and make my appeal to God on the account of her non-entity; with a Lord ſhe was not, or I know her not to be the Church and Spouſe, my heart would condemn me in the guilt of a notorious lye, groundleſſe, and uncharitable Cenſure, and ſo make my wilful ſolitary devotion, exceeding ſad, becauſe exceeding ſinful.
Secondly, I hitherto could not, nor yet can,2. Englands corruptions no ſufficient bar to Communion. conceive the corruptions of the Church of England to be a ſufficient ground, or warrantable barre to my non-Communion with her ſolemn aſſemblies in her publick worſhip.
I do not ſay that Separation in all Caſes is unlawful, Separation from the world and Babylon allowed.I well know Chriſtians are called out of, and ſeparated from the world, in their firſt acceſſion to the Church of Chriſt; but this is not our Caſe, who (do as is before noted) own the Church of England as reſolved into that capacity: I know alſo ſeparation from Babylon the ſeat of Antichriſt is a duty, directed and charged by the Lord, on all his people; and unto this alſo the Church of England doth profeſſe,Englands corruptions paralleld with Iſraels and others, and cannot be denied to have attained, and therefore ſtands diſtinct from the one, under the Epithite (Reformed) as well as from the other by the Appellation (Church): ſo as t…at I dare not deeme England the world, or Babylon, (thoſe objects of a ſerious, ſacred ſeparation, and non-communion) to both which ſhe is found contradiſtinct.
That there are in the Church of England (eſpecially in her preſent relapſed eſtate) many and groſſe corruptions, grievous to the Spirit of God and his people, calling for the zealous admonitions, and moſt faithful rebukes of his Miniſters; is alas! too too legible, and apparent, to be denied by any; yet, (when I conſult the Scriptures) I cannot but finde as great (yea if poſſible) greater corruptions in thoſe whom God, and his people owned as his Church, and Spouſe; and yet ſeparation, or voluntary non-communion, was never practiſed, adviſed, or indulged, but the contrary thereunto.
Will any object unto us the prophaneneſſe of the Miniſters, Prophaneneſſe of Miniſters & miniſtration.rudeneſse and diſorder of the miniſtration of Gods worſhip, we yeild it is too viſibly true; but more vile adminiſtrators, or irregular adminiſtrations cannot be, than were the ſons of Eli in their ſervice; who made the people to loath the offerings of the Lord, and were rebuked, and deſcribed by Samuel, in 1 Sam. 2.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Now the ſons of Eli were ſons of Belial, they knew not the Lord, and the Prieſts cuſtome with the people was this, when any man offered Sacrifice, the Prieſts ſervant came while the fleſh was in ſeething, with a fleſh-hook in his hand, and he ſtruck it into the pan, or kettle, or Caldron, or pot; all that the fleſh-hook brought up, the Prieſt took for himſelf, ſo they did in Shilo unto all the Iſraelites that came thither, alſo before they burned the far, the Prieſts ſervant came and ſaid to the man that ſacrificed, give me fleſh for to roſt for the Prieſt, for he will not have ſodden fleſh of thee, but raw; and if any man ſaid unto them, let them not faile to burn the fat preſently, and then take as much as thy ſoul deſireth, then he would anſwer him, nay, but thou ſhalt give it me now, and if not, I will take it by force wherefore (by this horrid diſorder defended by violence) the ſin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord, and in verſe 22. it is reported that Eli's ſons lay with the women that aſſembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation: O horrid uncleanneſſe, moſt heaven-daring villany! yet I find not that any God-fearing-Iſraelite forſook the Sanctuary, or durſt forbear their Sacrifice; nor did Samuel (who reproved, and denounced Gods judgment againſt this prophaneneſſe) ever adviſe, or direct the ſame: the Scribes and Phariſees in the dayes of our Saviour, ſaid, but did not; laid heavie burdens on the people, Matth. 23.which themſelves would not touch with one of their fingers; they under pretence of long prayers, devoured widows houſes, they would neither enter into heaven themſelves, nor ſuffer ſuch as would; yet the Lord himſelf who reproved them, heard them, and charged his Diſciples to hear them, becauſe they ſate in Moſes ſeat; Let it be obſerved and remembred, the Authority may, but the quality of the Miniſter doth not adde to, or abſtract from the entity, or efficacy of Gods Ordinances,1 Cor. 9.27. he may preach to my ſalvation, who is himſelf a caſtaway.
Do any object the preaching falſe doctrine; Corruption in Doctrine and Worſhip.publick reading the Apocripha as part of Gods Word; innovations in worſhip, polluting Gods Ordinances, or injuſtice in diſcipline; I ſhall neither deny, nor excuſe the ſame: only ſay as the Apoſtle Peter to the Church in his dayes, there were falſe Prophets among the people, even as there are falſe Teachers among you; the true Prophets of God in Iſrael, 2 Pet. 2.1.were ordinarily confronted by the falſe; there wanted not an Hannaniah, to break the Yokes of Jeremiah; nor a proud Paſhur to put him in the Stocks, in the Gate of Benjamin, when he only declared Gods mind, warned of Gods approaching judgments, and withſtood the perjurious breach of the Oath of God, which was upon the King, and Kingdom; nor is any thing more plain, than Iſraels ſetting their poſts, by Gods poſts; their Altars by Gods Altars; Ezek. 8.6.43.8.ſetting up in Gods houſe the very Image of Jealouſie, inſomuch that Gods Prophets were ordinarily invective; and vehemently reproving in their Miniſtery; and indeed extraordinarily raiſed up to that very end! yet we find (not in all their Cals to Repentance) one Caution againſt Communion with the Church, or Call unto ſ…paration: Mark 8.15.7.3.In the dayes of our Saviour, the Jews were ſo corrupt in their doctrine, that he Cautioned his Diſciples to beware of the leaven of the Phariſees, they made the Word of God of none effect, by their traditions of the Elders; they enervated the Law by moſt ſtrait and falſe interpretations thereof; In worſhip they innovated, and with great ſeverity impoſed, their own Inventions, Phariſaical Rites, and Superſtitions: they prophaned the Temple, and made Gods houſe a Den of Thieves; and in their Diſcipline they made acts of Neceſſity, Charity and piety, cenſurable unto a caſting out of the Synagogues; againſt all which the whole Miniſtery of the Lord Jeſus was highly invective, and ſeverely rebuking, yet he neither diſowned them as a Church, denyed communion with them, all his time on earth; or directed any of his Diſciples ſo to do, ſo long as God continued his preſence and Ordinances to and among them: but on the contrary pleaded for them (as the very fountain of Salvation) in oppoſition to the Samaritans, You worſhip you know not what, but we know what we worſhip, for ſalvation is of the Jews: he ſent his cleanſed Lepers to ſhew themſelves to the Prieſts,John 4.22. and offer according to the Law of Moſes; confined his Miniſtry and Apoſtles to them, till after the vaile of the Temple was rent, in token of the expiration of their worſhip and departure of God; accounting them children, and all others dogs; and charged the Diſciples to hear them who ſate in Moſes ſeat; under all their God-provoking Church annihilating corruptions, he neither practiſed or preſcribed a non-communion or ſeparation; 1 John 2.6.And in all extreams, I deſire to make him my pattern, and walk as he walked, who never went aſtray.
Do any ſtumble at the prophaneneſſe of the members, and the neglect of corrective diſcipline, rudeneſſe and irreverence in the uſe of Gods Ordinances, Prophadeſs of members, and diſorder in Miniſtration.confuſed method, and the diſorder of popular acclamations in publick prayer, and other acts of worſhip; I wiſh I could ſay theſe ſtones lay not in their way, or that they were in my power to remove them; but I think they run on a much greater Rock, who run out of Gods Church, or from ſolemn publick worſhip becauſe thereof: for the Church at Corinth was greatly corrupt, and provoked the ſeverity of Apoſtolical reprehenſion; and that once and again;1 Cor. 5.1, 2.10.21.11.20.21.14.26. 2 Cos. 12.20, 21 there being amongſt them inceſt not to be named among the Gentiles, and an heaven-daring oſtentation in it, inſtead of correction of it; a participation with the table of Divels, by their attendance on the Idol-feaſts of the Infidels; a rude and deboist drunken Communion at the Lords Supper, intermingled and confounded with the Love-feaſts: intollerable diſorder in their publick Aſsemblie, all ſpeaking at one and the ſame moment, their very women not keeping ſilence; and that in different matters and tongues, every one had his Pſalm, his Prayer, his Revelation, his Propheſie, his gift of Tongues, (in all which reſpects they were more confuſed than our popular acclamations) and conſtrained the Apoſtles to check them, by the nature of God, as a God of order, and not of confuſion; in all theſe the Apoſtle adviſed, and endeavoured with all authority a Reformation, but not ſeparation, or non-communion, nor tranſplantation into a new gathered Church; I cannot imagine he would make Schiſm from the Church, 1 Cor. 3.4.a ſigne of a spiritual, who judged Schiſm in the Church an evidence of a carnal mind.
Do men complain (as they have cauſe) that ſome Roman Rites, and order was retained, Rom. Rites.when this Church was reformed; let them conſider many pious Kings of Judah, have their reforming governments ſtained with a but the high places were not taken away, but the people went thither to worſhip: yet I finde not that any God-fearing Iſraelite, who loathed thoſe Reliques of Idolatry, ever barred themſelves becauſe thereof, from Gods Altar and worſhip.
My very ſoul is grieved to conſider Englands back-ſliding, Backſliding & LukewarmneſsIndulgence of erronious Doctors and doctrines, formality and lukewarmneſse in Religion; yet when I obſerve that Epheſus who loſt her firſt love, Pergamus indulging the doctrine of Balaam, and the Nicolaitans, Thyatira ſuffering the woman Jezabel, who called her ſelf a propheteſse to teach, and to deceive Gods people; Sardis having a name to live, but being dead, and Laodicea, Englands Counterpart, ſo lukewarm that no good is ſpoken of her; by all which theſe Aſian Churches were ruſted, and therefore reproved by the Lord, yet not rejected; but repreſented to the world as the Starres he held in his right hand, and golden Candleſticks among which he walked; I dare not diſown her relation to God; diſclaim mine own relation to her, nor voluntarily decline communion with her.
Corruptions are not all alike.My good friend, all corruptions in Gods Church and worſhip, are diſpleaſing to God, and diſtaſtful to his people imbracing the ſimplicity of the Goſpel; but all corruptions are not alike in operation, quality, and extent, nor of a like influence on Gods Church and worſhip: conſider therefore ſome corruptions are ſubſtantial, and intrinſecal, vitiating the very ſubject, and ſo univerſally spread through the worſhip of God, that it cannot be uſed without ſin; others are circumſtantial and extrinſecal to the ſame, vain, needleſſe appendants, ſuperadded by mans will, but which notwithſtanding Gods Ordinances remain entire, and exactly his, and may be uſed without participation in the affixed corruption.
Some corruptions incident to Gods Church and worſhip, I ſay are ſubſtantial and intrinſecal, (not ariſing out of Gods Ordinance as the genuine product, and effect thereof, but) entring into the very body of the Church and ſubſtance of Gods worſhip, Corruptions ſubſtantial and intrinſecal.as a Spider into wine, or venemous Worme into an Apple; ſo as to vitiate the ſubject, (that it cannot be uſed with ſafety) and nulliſie the very Ordinances of God, that it altereth their very nature to the loſſe of their efficacie, and tranſmit certain deſtruction to ſuch as ſit under the ſame; yea, which is done either by changing the matter, and retaining the eſsential conſtitutive form, as by a ſolemne regular cutting off a Dogs head, or offering ſwines blood, inſtead of a Lamb, or a Kid; a baptizing (as ſome have done) by fire i…ſtead of water: or retaining the matter, but changing the eſſential forme, as did Jeroboam, and the Samaritans worſhipping the true God, by the very Sacrifices, and in the very order himſelf appointed; but before ſelf-deviſed Symbols, Calves to the one, and the Dove to the other, in a ſelf-appointed place, Dan and Berſheba to the one, Mount Gerizim to the other; and by ſelf-conſecrated Prieſts, the loweſt of the people, and ſo departing from the Temple in Jeruſalem, Gods Ark in it, and the Tribe of Levi: all which were eſſentiall to the form of divine worſhip: and thus did the Corinthians eating and drinking at the Idol Sacrifices, which the Apoſtle ſeverely corrected, with a (ye cannot par…ake of the Table of the Lord, and the table of Devils, ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord, and the cup of Devils;) and by pointing them unto the eſſential form of the Sacrament, the Cup of bleſſing, which we bleſſe, is it not the Communion of the blood of Chriſt? and the Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the body of Chriſt? Of this nature is Baptiſm,1 Cor. 10.16. by a Midwife, or any other private hand, though with water, and in the name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt; or by water and a lawful Miniſter, but in the name of God the Father of all things, and Truth the Mother of all things; as I have read ſome have done.
Corruptions extrinſecal, Corruptions extrinſecal and circumſtantial.and c'rcumſtantial are Ordinances ſuperadded unto, and ſo concomitant with, or converſant about Gods Ordinances; but enter not into, nor do vitiate their ſubject: the which (theſe notwithſtanding) doth exiſt in matter, and eſſential form, perfect and entire; capable of due operation, in their own courſe and nature; as ſtinking fiſh doth nouriſh; or water pudled, or in an unclean veſſel, doth quench the thirſt; and theſe are either ſome matter ſuperadded, (not intermingled with, or deſtructive to Gods Ordinances, ſuch as were the high places, poſts by Gods posts, threſholds by his threſholds, Altar by his Altar in Iſrael, unto the very Image of Jealouſie ſet up in Gods houſe, which yet remained his, and as ſuch was continued, preſerved and acknowledged. The Lord Jeſus found the Temple his Fathers houſe of Prayer, though made a Den of theeves; and ſuch is our Croſſe in Baptiſm, though ſeemingly ſacramental, yet diſtinct from Gods imitating Seal of the Covenant; and ſuch is a Roman linnen vesture in miniſtration of Gods worſhip by a lawfull Miniſter; or ſome corrupt, rude and unſutable miniſterial method and order, (which is the veſſel, and only inſtrument of conveiance though unclean) of adminiſtration: ſuch was the violent, and unfitting ſnatching of the Prieſts part of the Sacrifice, by the ſons of Eli, the confuſed acclamations of the Church of Corinth, ſpeaking all at once, different matters, in different tongues; and our impoſed method, diſorderly method of publick Prayer, by Verſicles, Reſponds, abruptions, abreviations and popular acclamations, with artificial ſinging by boyes, and baſe fellows thereunto appointed: under all which Gods Ordinances abide a ſubject compleat, truly, and formerly exiſtent, and distinct from theſe ſuperadded corruptions; operative unto ſalvation; and therefore may not be declined, or diſowned.
Corruptions intrinſecal, are indeed ſuch as do not only warrant, but neceſſitate non-communion, yea ſeparation of the higheſt nature, as a duty indiſpenſable: In ſence hereof all thoſe in Iſrael who feared God, and ſet their hearts to ſeek the Lord, prayed for, and (according to divine directions) departed from Dan, and Berſheba, forſook the ſolemn Aſſemblies Jeroboam had conſtituted, and followed the Tribe of Levi, Gods only Miniſters, unto Jeruſalem, Gods only place of publick ſolemn worſhip; and our Saviour reſolved the woman of Samaria her enquiry concerning the place of worſhip, with a (ye know not what ye worſhip; for ſalvation is of the Jews: This is the very ground of the Reformed Churches departure, and non-communion with Rome; who though ſhe be (by original conſtitution) the Temple of God, is become the very ſeat of Antichriſt; and by the ſame ſo vitiated that her Miniſtrations are the cup of abomination by which ſhe hath made the Nations drunk, having (by her interceſſions of, and to Saints, the Popes infallibility, divine power and properties, and by her expiatory Sacrifices) diſowned, and nullified (as much as in her lieth) Chriſts mediatory offices: and (by dividing the elements, deſtroying the outward ſigne, eſſential to a Sacrament, and on a fancied tranſubſtanciation, turning it into a Sacrifice for quick and dead) nullified Chriſts Ordinances: and (by many other intrinſecal evils) poyſoned Gods whole worſhip, and rendred it directly deſtructive to ſalvation; and is therefore preſented to us under the Appellation Babylon, in the very abſtract; ſpiritual Sodom, and Egypt; and ſo the object of our departure, adviſed, with (a leſt ye partake of her ſins: which were and are ſo univerſally diffuſed, and hath ſo farre vitiated the ſubject, that a guilt will be contracted by meer Communion.
Corruptions extrinſecal may,Extrinſecal corruptions warrant no ſeparation. and muſt grieve the ſpirits of Gods people; occaſion their loud complaints, his Miniſters moſt zealous reproofs, and the ſtud…ous endeavours of all, to prevent and remove them; becauſe ſcandals to the Church, prejudicial (though not directly deſtructive, to ſalvation) diſhonourable to Religion, and the God (whoſe prerogative it is to preſcribe every pin, and the very ſnuffers to be uſed in his Houſe,1 King 11.3….) and is therefore highly displeaſing to God; provoking him to rend a Kingdom from the houſe of David, to loath, and at leaſt to leave his holy place, and remove his Candlestick from ſuch as will not fear him in the ſimplicity of his own institutions; without the vain and needleſſe Appendants of their own inventions: But yet theſe cannot warrant ſeparation or voluntary non-communion, becauſe the Church abideth related to God as his Spouſe; his worſhip and Ordinances remain for matter and eſſential form entire, and exactly his own; notwithſtanding the concomitancy of ſome ſuper-added matter; or the unfit miniſterial method, and order by which they are diſpenſed; and Gods preſence is to them continued, (though with a grieved, ſtriving ſpirit, threatning his departure) and thereby we are under a poſſibility of ſalvation; (though engaged to more care and induſtry) this was the caſe of the Prophets, our Saviour and his Diſciples, the Church of the Jews, and Primitive Chriſtians, under the many parallel (yea tranſcending to ours,) corruptions, before mentioned, without any preſcript, or practice, of Separation, or Non-Communion.
Chriſtian Friend, it is too evident, That many and great Corruptions are to our ſin, and ſhame retained; The Caſe of England under corruption.and to the aggravation thereof (with an high hand, and defiance of the God of Jealouſie) returned (after a Solemn and Sacred Expulſion) into our Church; but yet they are extrinſecal, and not of the ſubſtance of Gods Worſhip, which for Matter, and eſſential Form, remaineth entire, and properly his own: (though not ſo acceptable) under, as well as without them; and will not therefore warrant my Separation, or Non-Communion, ſo far as to lie at Home, or loyter in the Churchyard, until the Common-Prayer (whereby God is truly, though not orderly, invocated, and worſhipped; wherein I (as a Member of that Church) am interested, and unto which, as it is Publick Solemn Prayer (though in an unſutable Method) my Amen is an indiſpenſable Duty) being ended.
The Administrations of Gods Worſhip among us, are indeed nauſeous, and unhealthful, but not void, or venemous; our waters are bitter, and pudled, but not poyſonous; our Paſtures are trodden down, and the proud of the Flock do puſh us with Horn, Ezek. 34.18, 19, 20, 21.and with Hoof; but we are not yet driven out of Christs Fold, not dare not we ſay our Paſture is quite taken from us: To be plain, Under all our Corruptions, we muſt not, we cannot, we dare not deny the Matter, and eſsential Form of Gods Ordinances and Worſhip, is continued to us; though ſome ſuperſtitious Rites are unto them annexed, which are apparent Appendants, redundant to, and ſeparable from, and not vitiating, deſtructive, or annihilating to their Subject; and are therefore pretended and profeſſed (by the Canons appropriated to this Church) to be Acts of Order and Ornament, rather than of Worſhip, and Adoration to God; and they are ſuch wherein the people are generally paſſive, not active. Baptiſm is fully and formally Gods Ordinance, though the Croſs be needleſly, and ſuperſtitiouſly added thereunto; and the Parent (by virtue of whoſe intereſt in Gods Covenant, the Child receiveth the Seal) is unjuſtly excluded; and a deputation of Godfathers and Godmothers, is groundleſly impoſed: The Word of God is not excluded, though now and then, a piece of Apocripha is unwarrantably read in the publick Aſſembly; nor doth it ceaſe to be the Word of God, becauſe it is unfitly mangled into parts and parcels, urduly fixed unto places, unreaſonably appropriated unto dayes and times, Surplices and canting quiering, ſinging boys and men.and publiſhed in unſeemly veſtures and voyces. I confeſs their Common-Prayer is my burden, by reaſon of its defects and diſorder, and the rudeneſs of the Miniſterial Method. I ſtand convinced, it ought to be altered; yea, ab liſhed,See the Epiſtle to the Liturgical conſiderato… conſidered. by reaſon of its Symetry to the Romiſh Maſs, ſuperſtitious Order, and unſutableneſs to Solemn Publick Prayer; yet I muſt confeſs, I find in it no Matter to which (on a charitable interpretation) a ſober ſerious Chriſtian may not ſay, nay, can deny his (Amen:) And though I diſtaſte the Miniſteri…l M…thod, I cannot diſown in it the eſſential Form of Prayer; (viz.) A calling upon God in the Name of Chriſt. That Set-Forms of Prayer are uſed, is an Act and Argument of weakneſs; that they are impoſed on Gods Church and Miniſters, is an Act (I cannot acquit) of wickedneſs: And that this defective diſorderly Form, is retained, yea, by forc… returned into the Church of England; I fear will be found an Act and Argument of wilfulneſs againſt Gods mind; yet neither the one, nor the other, maketh it ceaſe to be Publick Solemn Pray r; nor do I ſee on what ground I can deny, or refuſe my (Amen) to what is prayed for, becauſe I know there are many things wanting to the Church, which are not, not indeed can be by this Form expreſſed; or not joining deſires to God with (and as a Member of) his Church, becauſe they are rudely and unfittingly expreſſed; whil'ſt the irregularity of that common Order, is no Bar to Gods acceptance of my more regular (Amen) thereunto given.
Departure from Babylon, is the indiſpenſable Duty, and will be the property of all, whoſe names are written in the Lambs Book of Life; but the Object muſt be Babylon in the very abſtract; Setting the mark of the Beaſt on them who partake with her, Rev. 13.8, 17, 4, 13, 8.bearing in her hand the Cup of Abomination, and ſo appearing to be formal spiritual Aegypt an… Sodom: I cannot believe every or any Society retaining ſome B… … …ſtures, and Orders, with a proteſted and apparent receſſion from Babylon, can be the Object thereof; and the laſt of theſe, is the capacity of Englands Church: Certainly the Temple of the Lord is not to be diſowned, or renounced, becauſe it hath been ſometime trodden down by the Antichristian Gentiles, and vitiated by the ſeat of the Beaſt; when theſe are expelled, though the dirt of their tramplings, and ſtink of their ſeſſion remain behind them: My good friend, let it be ſeriouſly reſolved, is there no difference between Iſrael and Judah? Rome, and a reformed Church? a profeſſed ſacrifiſing Prieſt, and a Miniſter of the Gospel, fondly affecting and retaining that Appellation? between a calling on the only true God, in the name of Chriſt, though in a defective, rude, confuſed, and unfitting order, and praying unto Saints and dumb Idols? between the diſorderly adminiſtration of the worſhip, for matter and form, Gods own appointment, and the Ordinance nullifying adminiſtration in an unknown tongue, to which the hearers cannot ſay Amen? and abſtraction, or alteration of the Elements beyond, yea contrary to Gods preſcription, or what the poſſibility of nature, and entity of the ordinance will admit? between Sacraments with ſome unwarrantable ſuperſtitious Appendants, and a Sacrifice expiatory for the quick and dead? muſt we depart from Iſrael, returned from Egypt and Babylon? though retaining the ſavour, ſome of the Manners and Cuſtoms, and an hankering mind to go back unto thoſe accurſed places? I pray God keep England (in her now retrograde motion) from going back to Rome, then (through his Grace) I ſhall not dare to renounce her Communion, though my ſoul mourn for her corruption: for ſo long as we enjoy in her the very matter, and eſſential form of Gods worſhip, and Ordinances, though in an humane, unfit, corrupt miniſterial method and order, with ſome vaine and needleſſe appendants of humane invention; we are not without confidence of Gods preſence, and a poſſibility of ſalvation; and we therefore are without a ſufficient ground for ſeparation, or non-communion.
Conſid. 3d. Communion is no bar, but a help to reformation.Thirdly, let it be conſidered Communion with the Church, under many, and great corruptions, is not inconſiſtent with zeal, care, and conteſt for reformation thereof: the deſigns of Hell may agree in the end, but diſagree in the means; but it is not ſo with the determinations of Heaven; the Devil may ſuggeſt and provoke the correction of ſin, by ſin; or make zeal to purity a ſpurre to ſeparation, and the ſhiprack of vertue to, and in the Church; 1 Cor. 11.13, 14.15.he can make the white Witch heale, what the black doth hurt; by him one Conjurer doth bleſse, what another doth curſe; the Angel of light doth often expel, and lay the Angel of darkneſſe; but yet they be both evil Angels; he ſticks not at, nor ſtirreth againſt Piety, or Religion, provided it be but ſinful; he is content men go in a via lactea & ſacra, to the place of woe; and ſteere by Conſcience (if erronious) to their own condemnation: but it is not thus with God, and the dictates of his holy Spirit; all his commands are competible; his Graces concatenated; 2 Pet. 1.5, c. 7.All the duties of a Chriſtian are to be diſcharged without interfering, interruption, or deſtruction by one another; he alloweth not one ſinful ſtep in the way of ſalvation, though paved with never ſo fair a pretence of ſanctity; if therefore his people ſtumble thereinto, they muſt return and go back, if they will go to heaven; no one duty, at any time damps zeal unto another; they may be deſparata, but never are oppoſita, different, but not contrariant one to another, the diſcords in true Religion do ever conſtitute the cleareſt harmony, all extreams are equally odious unto the God of order; exceſſes finde no more acceptance with him, than defects in Religion; be not righteous overmuch is a divine dictate (though many times unduly,Eccl. 7.16, 17. and unjuſtly pleaded by men) as well as be not over-much wicked, Gods Iſrael may not turn to the right or left hand, Deut. 5.32.17.20.18.14.departing from the way of his Statutes: the true Chriſtian muſt walk in all well-pleaſing, in every good word, and work, and hate every evil way: Col. 1.10.It hath been a ſcandalous Blaſphemy (from its very firſt being) of Chriſtianity, to ſay or ſuppoſe it doth direct its ſubjects to do evil, that good may come thereby: ſincere Saints are ever acted by the Spirit of peace, and love, to ſeeke and zealouſly purſue, the purity of Gods worſhip in union with his Church; Rom. 3.8, Reformation a duty.zeal, care, and conteſts, for Reformation of Gods Church, and worſhip, ſubjected to the leaſt corruption, can never be denied to be the indiſpenſable duty of every Chriſtian: It is true, theſe are to be expreſſed and acted by all law…ul, and only lawful means, 1 Chro. 13.9.10, 11.according to every mans place and capacity; the moſt dreadful ſhakings of Gods Arke, will not warrant Uzza to ſtep out of his place to ſtay it; nor will the greateſt ſanctity in Iſrael, Numb 16.authorize Chora to uſurp the Prieſthood: It is not a more poor apology, than baſe, for the rebellion of Dathan, and Abyram, that all the Lords people are holy; the God of holineſſe needs not, nor will he endure the help of our iniquities: theſe Cautions obſerved, endeavours for reformation can be by none omitted, or faintly purſued, without an inevitable contracting upon themſelves the guilt of thoſe corruptions, which remain upon Gods Church and ſervice; for no rule (in reference to humane ſociety) is in Morality, or Divinity more true than this error, cui non reſiſtitur approbatur, veritas non quae non defenditur opprimitur, negligere quippe cum poſſis deturbare perverſos, nihil aliud eſt quam fovere, nec caret ſcrupulo ſocietatis occultae qui manifeſto ſacinori cum potest deſinit obviare. Er…r not reſiſted, is allowed, for ſilence gives conſent; Truth not defended, is oppreſſed, for, Cowardize giveth falſhood the Conqueſt, to neglect when we can do it, to diſturb the wicked, is to cheriſh them, for concealment and indulgence is the guard of their deſigne, nor can he want a ſuſpition of ſecret conſpiracy, who can, but will not hinder iniquity; for ſuch Connivance is an act and argument of affection: … Sam. 2.let it be remembred old Elies ſin, by which he fell under the ſeverity of Gods wrath, was his not reforming the abominations of his ſons; The Reforming Government of many pious Kings of Judah, are blotted, with a but the high places (which the Temple reſtoted and frequented ſeemed not worth the heeding) were not taken away: Iſrael is charged with the prophaneneſſe of Gods Sanctuary,Ezek. 44.7.8. by reaſon of the uncorrected neglect of the Keepers thereof, and the non-reſiſtance of falſe Prophets, is aggravated with a (the Prophets prop…cy lies in my name, Jer. 5.31.and the people love to have it ſo;) It is a matter of admiration to a God of jealouſie, that his Church and …ſhip ſhould be overſpread with corruption, without the …king, and expoſtulations of an Advocate for him;Iſa. 59.16. the … ſa… it, and it diſpleaſed him, that there was no judgment; and he ſaw that there was no man, and he wondred that there was no Interceſſor; 1 Cor 5.the guilt of the inceſtuous perſon is by the neglect of diſcipline, charged on the Church of Corinth; and the ſuffering the woman Jezabel, Rev. 2.20.is the evil imputed to the Church of Thyatira: the light of nature, and Scripture leadeth every one in his place and capacity to reform corruption, and chargeth it on their conſcience, as a poſitive duty.
To damp zeal, or barre endeavours for reformation, and to blame, and violently ſilence Miniſterial rebukes, and argumentation, or popular petitions, ſupplications, mournings and murmurations, under and againſt the corruptions of Gods Church and worſhip, is irrational, and irreligious; and the defence thereof by this plea (viz.) theſe corruptions are confeſſedly conſiſtent with ſalvation; and ſuch which notwithſtanding the moſt ſerious and zealous reprovers do not, and profeſſe they dare not ſeparate from, or deny communion with the Church; is no other than helliſh divinity, and Bedlam Reaſon, beſt confuted by their wives rebukes of the Queene of S uts preparing her miſtriſs ſack poſsets in the common w…ſhbowles (not to mention a veſſel of more baſe imployment) or preſenting to the table his dainty Cates in a diſ… licked by the dog, and wiped with her diſh-clout; the which though it be unhandſome, and unwholſome, is not poyſonous, and ſo directly deſtructive, as to drive them the houſe or table; ſo as to begge or ſtarve, rather than to eate or keep good fellowſhip: ſuch as ſhall thus do, muſt needs proclaim themſelves ignorant of the reproving invective Miniſtery of the Prophets, and Apoſtles; yea, of the Lord himſelf, when and whilſt they lived in Communion with the Church of the Jewes; the laſt of whom whipt the money-changers out of the Temple, when and becauſe he acknowledged it, his Fathers houſe of Prayer; Joh. 2.16.inſenſible of the ſad and ſevere judgments of God on Eli and his ſons for their uncorrected diſorder, which made Gods people loath the ſacrifices of the Lord, when they did not, nor durſt leave his Sanctuary; and on Solomon for building high places,1 Kings 11.31. though conſiſtent with the Temple of the Lord;Ezek. 43.8. and on Iſrael for building their poſts beſides his poſts, their Altars beſides his Altars, and ſetting up the Image of jealouſie in the Houſe of the Lord, which yet was not forſaken by him or his people: and unaffected with the nature and holineſs of God, who will have holineſſe written on all the veſſels of the Sanctuary, and the very bridles of the horſes;Zack. 14.20. and will have all things in his ſervice done decently and in order, 1 Cor. 14.33.40.becauſe he is a God of order, and not of confuſion; when Corruption in Gods Church and worſhip can be denied to be ſin, I will allow and adviſe Gods Miniſters to be ſilent; and when they grow ſubſtantiall, and vitiate their ſubject, I will allow and adviſe the Members of the Church to ſeparate, but till then I dare not give my conſent, or Countenance unto the one, or the other.
Reformation and Seperation (whereof voluntary non Communion is the privative part,Seperation no act of Reformation, but obſtructive thereto. and the firſt formal act) though (by the groundleſs Calumny of the enemies to the one, occaſioned by the raſh inconſiderate zeal of the other) they are confounded, are in themſelves vaſtly different, and indeed inconſiſtent, and deſtructive each to other; as much as is the Cleanſing, and caſting away a veſsel; purging, and parting from an houſe, this is duty, but that is horrid iniquity; ſchiſmes in the Church are dangerous, and diſgraceful, but ſchiſmes from the Church, is thereunto deſtructive and damnable to the ſubjects thereof; the purity of Gods Worſhip muſt be purſued in unity with the Church; and Communion is implied in all endeavours for Reformation; deſertion doth declare deſtruction, not repair of the houſe is deſired, and deſigned; which of us leave our houſes becauſe not ſo convenient, handſome or healthful as is deſired? or forſake our food becauſe of a ſlovenly Cook or Carver? the Scripture doth detect much corruption in Gods Church, and the zeal of many unto the Reformation thereof, provoking and purſuing it unto death, or very deep diſtreſſe, without the leaſt direction unto, or allowance of ſeparation or non-communion; but with a moſt plain and clear charge and direction to the contrary; Chriſts Apoſtles, (as moſt zealous Reformers) did often, and openly, and with much authority rebuke and reſiſt the diſorder of the Churches, and corrupt adminiſtration of Gods worſhip, yet were ſo farre from approving or adviſing ſeparation, that they have branded the ſubjects thereof, with theſe and the like odious epithites, they were not of us, John 2.19. Jude 19. Heb 10.25.and therefore went out from us, theſe are they who ſeparate themſelves, ſenſual, having not the ſpirit, and taxeth the voluntary non-communicants with a defect, forſake not the aſſembling of your ſelves as the manner of ſome is. I cannot without trembling conſider, the circumciſed Sects in the Church of Coloſſe, are charged to have left the head, Coll 2.19.by leaving the body, in which all the joynts are knit together to the nouriſhment of the whole; I cannot but aſſent to that maxim as moſt true, ex Eccleſia nulla ſalus, the Church is Gods Arke of ſalvation, out of which none but mad men will leap, or leave it, on pretence of purging it, or putting out of it unclean birds and beaſts: in this caſe of conteſt for Reformation, and communion with the Church under many and great corruptions; I muſt ſay as our Saviour of the leſſer, and more weighty matters of the Law,Luke. 11.42. theſe things ye ought to have done, and not leave the other undone; for Superſtition and Separation are extreams equally odious, and ominous to Reformation; is it not obvious to every wiſe obſerver, that the Devil and wicked men, do make the one the advantage of the other; and caſt the odium, and direct the force of each (as the turn cometh, and opportunity ſerveth) againſt ſuch who (ſteering by Scripture Compaſſe) deſire (according to their capacity) to guide Gods Church, and themſelves in her, between theſe two dangerous Rocks into the Haven of reſt and holineſſe.
Whileſt poor deſpicable I in our late years, in my place and Calling, withſtood our Church-waſting ſeparation, many profeſſing piety, and purſuing purity in Gods Houſe and Ordinances, were (prejudiced (unto an high and open perſecution of me) by their own fancy that I aſserted and advanced the ſuperſtitions and diſorders of our Church; by the return whereof God hath convinced them of their raſhneſſe, and conſtrained them to correct their miſtake of his unworthy reproached ſervant: and now God (bleſſed be his name) having animated me with zeal for perfect, and compleat Reformation, and acted me in my place and ſphere (as a Miniſter of the Goſpel) to debate the obligations thereunto, beyond my mean abilities, or the logical reply of the adverſaries thereof; (who bear away the victory by a thou lieſt Bellarmine; and have confuted me argumento baculino, enforced by the ſevere moderation of authority; incenſed by the ſuggeſtion of Treaſon and Sedition ſecretly whiſpered, and generally charged againſt me, whoſe loyalty is moſt legible by both active and paſſive characters) and who have in all the writings which bear my name, declared my abhorrency of Sedition and popular tumults,) and having bleſſed me with an heart, and opportunity to withſtand and witneſſe againſt the deluge of Superſtition and Corruptions, which breaking over, and bearing down ſacred banks, doth (to our ſ… and ſhame) again overflow our Church and Nation; how many do now dream I will indulge, and embrace Separation; or at leaſt by my voluntary non-communion (the firſt act thereof) give ſome countenance unto it? as if between theſe there were no medium; but that the corruption of the one, muſt neceſſarily generate the other, give me therefore leave to tell you, and by you to tell others (in me concerned) I cannot but withſtand the one, with abhorrency of the other; and keep my diſtance from ſeparation, whilſt I deſire and endeavour, to ſtave off Superſtition; leſt I Shipwrack my ſelf, or others, on either rock;Superſtition and ſeparation ſtrengthen each other. I have obſerved, and our Church hath experienced the ſame, that as Superſtition, Corruptions and diſorder in Gods houſe and worſhip do (and therefore call for the zeal and rebukes of Gods Miniſters, and carefull Remedy by his Majeſties Prelates, by him entruſted with the Eccleſiaſticall good of his Subjects) very much harden men of ſtrong affections, and weak Judgements to ſeparate, furniſhing them with a clamourous accuſation, who diſcerne not the proper and genuine cauſe of their ſinfull Shiſme, but readily father,1 Cor. 3.3, 4. Gal. 5.19.20.21. (what the Apoſtle hath determined to be) the brat of their own luſt, on any thing which beareth relation thereunto; though but a remote, and accidentall occaſion thereof: ſo non communion and ſeparation, is the grand Removal, and moſt Plain ruin to reformation, that ever could be deviſed: Subverting the houſe on pretence and inſtead of ſweeping it; as if an houſe forſaken, and pulled aſunder (one running away with a poſt, another with a beam, to patch up their own ſelf-founded fabricks) were ever like to be purged, and preſerved from uncleaneſs and diſorder: (my good friend) take notice of this; God determined, and his people deſerved the deſtruction of the ten tribes of Iſrael, before thoſe who feared God fled from among them, or forſooke them. Babylon is fallen, ſhe is fallen, was the voice uttered by the Angel, before, Come ye out of her my people was ſounded to the Saints which follow the Lamb; Conſervation is the end of burdenſome Communion, Ier. 13.2.7and carefull Reformation; but diſſolution is the moſt certain ſequell of deſertion; It is Gods and muſh be his peoples laſt work to depart from and forſake his Sanctuary; he ſtayes long with a grieved ſtriving Spirit: and ſtands on the very threſhold, with a wooing expoſtulation, Be thou inſtructed O Jeruſalem, Ier. 6.8.leaſt my Soul depart from thee, and I make thee deſolate: (the very iſſue of departure) let it be ſeriouſly reſolved: did not Corah in his ſeparating from the Camp of Iſrael, gathering a Congregation out of the Congregation: and the Circumciſed Sectaries among the primitive Chriſtians, ſtrike at the foundations, and ſeek to ſubvert the very ſocieties from whence they ſeparated? and do not the practices, and ſome principles of the ſemi-ſeparating (as they would be deemed) ſelfe conſtituting Independents of our age, determine a non-entity; by the non-formality of a Church in England, and ra…e the very foundation thereof, and ſo condemn the very generation of the juſt, who have lived and dyed members thereof, yea Martyrs to the truths of …eſus Chriſt, againſt Papall, as well as Pagan power and errors? The Anabaptiſts in Germany have not been more odious, and obſtructive to Luthers reformation; then the Church gathering ſeparatiſts of all Sects have been retarding unto a retrogradation of that in England: in that the odium of their ſchiſms ſeconded with ſeditien, and centred in Rebellion, un o Regicide, with the confuſion and ſubverſion of our Church and Kingdom, is (moſt ſadly and ſhamefully, though unjuſtly) imputed to all, who with humble and peaceable ſpirits, deſ…e and endeavour the caſting out corruption and diſorder, from Gods houſe and ordinances; and reflectes on the work of reformation it ſelfe, as if their proper genuine and natural parent.
The reformation of the Church is a duty incumbent on every man and member thereof;Reformation muſt be by lawfull means onelyonly it muſt be purſued in their places and capacities, by juſt and lawful means without ſchiſm from, (or if poſſible) in the Church, or ſedition in the Common-wealth, both which my ſoul ever did abhor as diſgraceful to Religion, diſhonourable to God, and deſtructive to Reformation: I never did, nor yet can allow, or adviſe other means of reformation then Miniſterial admonition to the Church, Logical diſpute, and Theological argumentation, and redaurgtion among equals; humble propoſal, petition, and ſupplication to ſuperiors with a patient, and ſubmiſſe attendance on their pleaſure and on God acting the ſame; ſuch as receive Kings as nurſing Fathers to the Church, will rejoyce in them as Chriſtians; much more as profeſſedly reformed; and with all peaceable ſubmiſſion, embrace ſuch degrees of Reformation of the extrinſecall order, and miniſterial method of Gods worſhip (enjoying the ſubſtance in the eſſential form thereof) as they will allow, untill God encline their hearts to allow what himſelfe expecteth, and his people deſire: ſoberly purſuing the bene eſſe, with joy in the eſſe of Religion, and in communion with the Church, waiting on the truth of Gods ordinances, quietly attending their Superiors for purity and regularity of diſpenſation; I find not that the men fearing God in Iudah, did tumultuouſly tumble down the high places, nor turn away from Gods Temple becauſe of them; yet their ſtanding was the ſtain of Government to their reforming Kings, to flye out of Gods houſe, or in the face of Gods Vicegerents, becauſe his own appointments are adminiſtred by inſtruments in order to his ſervice unſuitable, and to us offenſive, is a frowardneſs which God cannot nor will not admit, or indulge in any of his children. Miniſterial reproofs and admonitions, and vulgar mournings and murmurations, are loud alarums to God and the conſciences of men, and ſtrong enforcements of Reformation: preces & Iacrymae ever were and ſtill are the onelyonly weapons of the truly Godly,Our ſtate and time calleth for an higher degree of Reformation. under and againſt the oppoſitions of juſt authority, and lawful Princes, ſuch as God hath in his mercy, and by his miraculous providence reſtored to our Church and Nation. I am afflicted by, and aſhamed of the ſlow progreſs, and ſhameful retrogradation of Englands Reformation, under and againſt publike, national, ſolemn, ſacred bonds (whoſe obligation will abide before God, and conſcience, though the affirmations thereof may be interdicted by men) If Calvini in his days could ſay, (If Godly Religion had flouriſhed in England till that day (the time of Queen Mary her Raign) there ought to have been an order of ſervice better corrected, Epiſtle to the Ch. at Frankfordand many things quitte taken away. Can we without grief conſider our Church hath enjoyed true Religion more then eighty years ſince that time: and yet we ignorantly continue, and violently contend for that order of ſervice, as if aſhamed to give place unto better things: yet, I dare not deny her to be a reformed Church, or as ſuch, decline Communion with her: in, and for whom the Lord hath emminently appeared: and out of whom he hath gratiouſly purged all things venentous and deſtructive (though ſome things nauſeous, and distaſtfull, were continued, and are returned into her) having defended her againſt the Spaniſh Ari…ado, and Popiſh Conſpiracy by Gunpowder, and other agitations, and attempts of Papall power and Antichriſtian rage; with an Almighty hand and outſtretched Arme. I do beleive the infancy of Reformation might rejoice in, and grow up under that order of divine ſervice which the adult eſtate thereof ought to caſt off, as puerile and unſutable: Firſt degrees were matter of Comfort, though not of Content to ſuch who ſeek the ſimplicity of the Goſpell: remaining dreggs ought to be diſcharged, and I doubt not God will (notwithſtanding mens averſneſs, and oppoſition) in due time effect it: In the mean time, i ſee no reaſon, to refuſe to drink becauſe my waters are pudled or preſented in an unclean Veſſel, and I can come by no purer: remaining degrees of Reformation muſt be ſo purified, that thoſe obtained, may not appear to be diſowned or deſpiſed: though our order of Divine Service be a Roman dregge of ſome dangerous diſtaſtfull influence, yet it is not Popery; ſhall we not bleſſe God, and rejoyce in England as brought out of Babylon, though ſome Babyloniſh Veſtures, Rites, and Orders, which ought to be abandoned, are yet retained? I conceive them ingratefull for the purity obtained, who run out of Gods, houſe, for the Corruptions continued, and obtruded: I cannot but repute them over forward, who ſhall refuſe the Substantials of true Religion, and Chriſts Inſtitutions, becauſe of ſome rude Rough Appendants: ſhall we not acknowledge Gods mercy in affording us, and humbly uſe the truth of Gods word becauſe tranſmitted unto us with ſome humane traditions? and the ſubſtance of his own worſhip celebrated in a diſorderly way, and method, with ſome fooliſh Appendants, of mens inventions? (My good friend) my zeal, care and conteſts for Reformation of this poor Church, have coſt me dear: yet (if God ſuffer the Charge to riſe as h…g…, as did that of my nameſake by the unkindneſs of King Joaſh) not one mite too dear: I bleſſe God however my paſſions worke, I ſee no cauſe to repent my bargain: I pray God glorifie himſelf, and edifie his people by my bonds; onelyonly I muſt profeſſe to all that fear God, I ſee no ſufficient cauſe to ſatisfie my Conſcience, or to plead before my God, on which to refuſe Communion with her, and attendance on Gods ſolemn publique worſhip under her rude Miniſterial method; for that duty is not warantably ſuperſeded by the iniquity of another man; my ſufferings, nor other mens ſin, (under which I mourn, becauſe I cannot mend it) muſt not turn me out of Gods way, to the right or left hand; ſuperſtition, and ſeparation, muſt be ſhunned as Rocks equally dangerous to Gods Church and worſhip: the prophaneſſe of this and its Subjects muſt not drive me: nor the pretended purity and piety of the other, and its Subjects allure or draw me unto the poſitive evil of ſeparation, or privative evil of voluntary non-Communion; I pray and hope God will keep me upright under, and againſt all temptations, from falling into the extreams of our unhappy age and Church; and yet give me to ſee the purity of his worſhip in Union and Communion with his Church here on earth; or poſſeſſe me with his undefiled, unſtained glory in Heaven; for from the one I dare not depart untill I arrive at the other; leaſt by ſhipwarck I ſhould be deprived of both.
Fourthly, Let it be conſidered, Conſi. 4th.Scandall is an argument of no ſtrength, when pleaded to ſuperſede or condemn a poſitive duty; Jobs friends,offence no argument, in this caſe. (like miſerable Comforters) were no little Scandalized, that he would not from his Croſſe condemne himſelf as wicked; nor brand himſelf with Hippocriſy in his paſt piety, to which they laboured to compell him, by a right Theological, rather then Logical argument. (though not fully aſſerted) they that plow iniquity, & ſo we wickedneſs, reap the ſame;Iob. 27.4.5.26.19.42.7. ſorrow is the fruit of ſin; yet Job well knowing the Proſperity of the wicked, and that God trieth the righteous, would not let go his integrity; Nor to juſtifie them, would he let his lips condemn himſelf, but made his appeal to God his witneſs on high, and record which is above; who interpoſing to moderate the Queſtion,Mark. 2.23. ad fin…m. diſcovered their fallacy and determined they had not Spoken of him the thing which was right, as did his ſervant Job; The Jewes were offended that the Diſciples plucked the ears of Corn on the Sabbath day (appointed of God for reſt) and that our Saviour on that day healed: yet our Saviour mattered not their offence as of any weight, but juſtified the facts by the poſitive duty of preſerving mans natural life;Luke 13.15.16.17. If the Circumſtantials of the firſt Table muſt give way to the Subſtantials of the Second table of the Law; and if obedience to humane, muſt give place to Divine command, and authority; much more muſt the offence of a brother, Act. 5 29.vail to obedience to the will of God: In pleaſing men, God muſt not be diſpleaſed: every man muſt therefore pleaſe his neighbour for his good to edification. but to pleaſe a brother by omiſſion of poſitive duty (which is formal,Rom. 15.2. fearfull iniquity) is (by ſinfull ſtrengthning his prophaneſs,Scandal is not to be ſlighted. or Error) aedificare in Gehennam, to edifie both to Hell, from which the Lord deliver me. Scandal is indeed an argument of more weight (when duly and fitly pleaded) then to be ſlighted or ſuperſicialy evaded: not to offend a weak brother, Rom. 15.1.is charged as a duty: we who are ſtrong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to pleaſe our ſelves! Its good not to eate or drink, nor do any thing whereby thy brother is ſtumbled, Rom. 14.21.offended or made weak, are Divine directions and Goſpell rules: fearfull is the ſin of a Willfull Scandal, for that it is nor onelyonly a ſnare by which a Brother is entangled, and laid on the rack of a Scrupulous conſcience, and tortured betwen his own doubts, and the contrary practice of the pious profeſſing obedience to Gods will, But alſo a ſtumbling-ſtone, occaſioning to him certain ſin; by either acting under his own doubts and againſt his own apprehenſions induced by the bare enſample of another, or by uncharitable cenſureing his brother, in what is to him lawfull, and without his own liberty and power to do, or not to do it; this is therefore repreſented to be the deſtruction of the work of God: Rom 4.20againſt this ſign our Saviour hath denounced a moſt ſad doom, Whoſoever ſhall offend one of theſe litle ones, it were better for him a milſtone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in tthe depth of the Sea: the dread hereof hath ſeized on my ſpirit, in my preſent ſtate and Caſe, that though it become lawfull,Mat. 18.8. could I without ſin withdraw from publique ſolemn worſhip, in an unfitting order, I would on ſence of Scandal do it, Scandall is of force, and fitly pleaded to ſuperſede or condemn an action in it ſelf indifferent, and ſo within a mans own power to do, or not to do it;ſcandal is of force in things indiffrent. for or againſt which the conſcience may be awed by a ſeemingly religious reaſon; ſuch was the obſerving, or not obſerving a day, the eating or not eating of ſome kind of meates, or meates offered unto Idols, and the like things, which in the Primitive Churches, and times of Chriſtianity, the Apoſtles (during the honourable obſequies of the expired law, which h…d ſometimes, and yet ſeemed, to charge them as duty, or forbid them as iniquity) determined indifferent, and directed Scandall of the weak as the caſting graine in the aequilibrious minde of a man (ſatisfyed in conſcience) as to the doing, or not doing the ſame; thereby guiding us in all things and caſes of the like nature; for the indifinite Univerſal, Eat, drink, Rom. 14.or any thing that may Scandalize, offend, or weaken a brother, adviſed in Rom. 14.21. muſt be reſtrained to this ſpecies, and things of this kind: For what is poſitively forbidden, or commanded, muſt not at any mans pleaſure be done, or left undone: ſimple ſcandal hath no ſtrength. To plead we are offended, and not produce a reaſon, at leaſt ſeemingly religious, is a moſt ſimple plea:1 Pet. …. Jeſus Chriſt is a ſtone of ſtumbling and a Rock of offence to many; and yet he muſt be preached and profeſſed unto bonds, and death it ſelf. Such as in my caſe pretend ſcandal and offence, I muſt adviſe and intreat to reflect their thoughts, and take heed they do not miſtake the caſe, and miſtake the queſtion, and thereby take offence, where none is given: I confeſs the miniſterial order and method of publique worſhip and prayer, is purely humane, within the power of the Miniſters thereof, and ſo indifferent, and ought not to be preſcribed or impoſed; when it is as in our common divine ſervice rude, confuſed, and diſorderly, its no leſs Scandalous to the ſerious Godly, then was the adminiſtration of the Sons of Eli, or confuſed acclamations of the Church at Cerinth; and ſuch on which if I out of choice, at liberty to enjoy a more ſerious and regular order, (according to the Kings gracious Indulgence granted in his Royal declaration concerning Eccleſiaſtical affairs,) ſhould attend, I could not but give offence to ſuch as ſeek the Simplicity of the Goſpell; and ſeem to them to allow, what I have concluded ought to be aboliſhed, and to build again what I have endeavoured to deſtroy: for extirpation of every thing which is evil (though but extrinſecall, and in the miniſterial method of Gods ordinances) being the extent of zeale, and duty of every member of the Church to be endeavoured in his place and calling, (though however not under a ſpecial, ſolemn, ſacred obligation thereunto,) non-attendance on that order unto, and by embracing of more regular adminiſtration of the ſame ordinances in Communion with the ſame Church, is the leaſt Act I could do to the enforecing that end; I cannot beleive the pious Iſraelites would have brought their Sacrifices unto the Sons of Eli (whoſe order made them loath the offerings of the Lord, which they durſt not with-hold) if they had enjoyed other Prieſts who would have offered more conformly to divine appointment. But my friend, this is not my caſe or Queſtion, but whether ſolemn publique Worſhip, which is my poſitive duty unto the ſanctification of the Lords day and as I am a member of Chriſts Catholick viſible Church, and cannot by reaſon of my confinement be enjoyed without my attendance, on that Irregular unſuitable method, and confuſed order: may be warrantably ſuperſed…d, and omitted on this ground and reaſon, my preſence at ſuch adminiſtrations is offenſive to ſome weake Brethren zealouſly affected to the ſimplicity of the Goſpell, were theſe corruptions abſtracted from, or oppoſed unto Gods worſhip, there were to me no caſe of Conſcience, but they are confounded with it, as the unclean veſſel, or ill favoured carving with my food whereby I live) and therein I muſt profeſs it ſatisfieth not my conſcience, nor ſeemeth to me to be of weight, that I muſt offer my ſacrifice, though by the loathſom order of Elies ſons, or go to the Temple, though my way lye by the high places, or aſſemble and ſend up my prayer in Gods Sanctuary, though the Image of jealouſie be ſet up in it, cannot be ſoberly denied; nor ought any to be thereat offended; and I muſt needs reſolve in the affirmative, for the ſuperadded vanities do not void Gods ordinance: nor will defect and diſorder, (with which my private capacity is not charged) diſcharge my poſitive duty; I am not inſenſible that ſome will be ready to read my allowance of the ſame, in my attendance on it, unto the hardning of themſelves in ſin, or hindring themſelves in duty, concluding, Communion in the ordinances is a conſent unto the order: to ſuch I muſt ſay at their peril be it; this ſcandall is taken not given; this inference is more than the promiſes allow: the Communion of the Prophets, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, with the Churches in their time under their many and great corruptions, was not, nor logically could be interpreted, to be an argument of countenance, and approbation of them, or abatement of the zeale againſt them; nor did they thereby contraction themſelves the guilt thereof; the ſpider which diffuſed in wine, doth vitiate its ſubject and make it deſtructive by the very act of Communion, doth ſpread his dirty webbs all over the Vine, and we ear the grapes thereof, without the leaſt of doubt, or danger: the Cities that ſuffer by all unfit matter in their publike miniſtrations, attend the good inſtructions, and aſſent unto the due propoſals, petitions, or demands, rudely uttered by their Recorder: nor think they themſelves concerned in the broken, blunt, abrupt ſtyle, or confuſed indigeſted method of his diſcourſe: the extrinſecal adjuncts, and miniſterial method of Gods ordinances, is charged on the Miniſters, not members of Gods Church: it may indeed add grief or pleaſure to the people, but voyds not the matter of Gods worſhip, or leaveth any guilt on them, who thereby receive, and celebrate it, but do not approve the ſame: the ſpider may indeed ſuck poyſon of the grape, and wicked men may make my duty an occaſion of their iniquity: but neither the one nor the other giveth thereto any proper caſualty: events, accidentalls are no arguments againſt my duty: theſe are not more damnable to them, who infer them, then they would be to me: if I by reaſons thereof decline my duty: my own ſorrow, nor other mens ſin, muſt never ſtave me off from poſitive duty: theſe ſtumbling ſtones and ſcandalous inferences, do, and will ever lye in my way to Heaven: yea to my natural life: Chriſts ſheep muſt drink, and may be hurt by pudled waters: witho…t participation in the polluting pudling guilt only chargeable on the Paſtors, and proud of the flock, none can be offended that I worſhip God,Ezek. 44. in the ſolemn publike worſhip of his people: nor can without wounding their own ſoul be offended that I do it in this order, (to me diſtaſtful not to Gods worſhip deſtructive) untill my liberty doth manifeſt it to be an act of choice, not of chance: if any hence infer and enforce a perſecuting conſtraint, and ſay theſe men may be compelled to that form of ſervice they will not chooſe. I ſhall grant it: but adviſe ſuch to ſit down and conſider how this will ſound in Gods cares: or how themſelves will like it to be confined to unclean veſſels, and order, becauſe they can but will not chuſe in ſuch to eat their meat; The offence of any who are Godly will be my trouble, and their ſin: but the omiſſion of duty though but for a day will be my tranſgreſſion, as I dare not admit that, as a reaſon of this, and muſt adviſe it be not pleaded.
Fifthly. Let it be conſidered in ſteering this courſe,Conſid. 5. This practice is not w…hout preſident. uſing this liberty, and holding Communion with this very Church, under theſe very corruptions, and by attendance on this very order of ſervice, and ſolemn publike worſhip: I am not without the caution and conduct of the ſober, godly, learned promoters, and purſuers of a perfect and compleat reformation: the reformed Churches beyond the Seas and in Scotland obtained higher degrees of reformation, and more purity of ordinances, then did England (for power and dominion the chiefeſt reformed Church) yet theſe never did diſown, or decline Communion with her, nor adviſe any her Members thereunto, yet they did often rebuke and complain of her lukewarm haeſitation in the degrees of reformation obtained, and retention of thoſe corruptions which ought to have been expelled among our ſelves: Tindall, Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, Farrar, Whitaker, Cartwright, Baines, Sibbs, Preſton, Rogers, Geree, Mr. Iohn Ball, Langley, Hind, Nicholls, with many others, the non-conformiſts of Lincoln, Devon, and Cornwall) beſides thoſe of our preſent age, and yet contemporary with us) all eminent Divines, and Holy men groaning under theſe retained corruptions, praying for, perſwading, and preſſing after (unto many and great ſufferings) a progreſs in reformation, (unto the pure primitive plaines and ſimplicity of Chriſts own inſtitution) yet lived unto their laſt breath in conſtant Communion with our Church, attending Gods ordinances under theſe very diſorders and irregularities: and did in many things adminiſter according to the form then & now impoſed, and did diſ…aſt the non-communion of ſuch who loytered out the time of publike prayer, becauſe preſcribed and confuſed: and by preſs and pulpit pleaded againſt the ſeparations of Brown, Barrow, Iohnſon, Canne, and their ſeparating followers, and adherents, or non-communicating abettors; as inferring that from the Engliſh Liturgy, which it would not allow; theſe good men with zeal reproved the many Superſtitions continued: but ſtill denied them to be any ſufficient ground for Separation: from which they ever kept the greater diſtance, as ſubverting the very foundation of the Church: and have plainly trodden this tract, in which we muſt travel, purſuing the purity of worſhip in Union and Communion with the Church.
I ſhall not fear to profeſſe, theſe good men are the patterns to me propoſed, (next to the prophets, our Lord Jeſus, and the Apoſtles) and cautionary boigh… for the guidance of my zeal for the perfection of Reformation, againſt and paſt the dangerous extreams of Sup…ſtitions, diſorderly adminiſtrations of Gods ordinances, and Churchrendring religion, ſubverting ſeparation, nor am I herein ſenſible that our caſe (becauſe our capacity is ſo) is different from theirs: onelyonly I wiſh it to be obſerved, the difference is graduall not Real, it lieth on the meaſure and mode, not in matter and Subſtance: they were bound to endeavour an extirpation of the ſame evil but not by ſo ſtrong an obligation: They were in the infancy, we are in the adult eſtate of Reformation, and muſt therefore eſteem the puerilia, which were their pleaſure our ſhame: The nature and quality of the Corruptions, with the neceſſity of their expulſion were by them under diſpute, it has been determined, and that by an Authority (ſometime reputed juſt) and (whatever it will do in politiques) will in point of conſcience yet abide a diſpute as to its lawfulneſs: they were entangled in the ſnares of education, and under the inſenſible yoakes of unſeaſonable ſubſcriptions of approbation of, and promiſe to adminiſtration by this rude order and confuſed method: whereby the conſcience was awed, and the credit of Religion engaged them (by a burdenſome groaning ſpirit) to bear what they did not ſee how they could regularly be releaſed from: from all which we are free, and moſt ſtrictly tyed by contrary obligations: but neither they nor we might out of our places and Capacities attempt a Reformation by any ſedition in the Republique, or ſinfull Schiſme from the Church: Non-communion is no more warantable to us under the ſtrongeſt bonds to reformation then it was unto them without them: becauſe it is an evil in it ſelf: The nature of the (retained, returned) corruptions were the ſame to them, they are to us, but to neither a juſtifiable reaſon for Non-communion: The adminiſtration of theſe good men in, and by this corrupt order, I can better, excuſe, then juſtifie, or intimate: I beleive extirpation to have been their duty as it is mine: and I ſee not how I may act, (though I as a private member may and muſt attend, aſſent and give my (Amen) unto right matter, in that order and method with thoſe corrupt Appendants I am bound to extripate: (Abſtinence from action being the leaſt, and firſt act of extirpation) in which the private Chriſtian is paſſive, purely paſſive, neceſſarily paſſive becauſe he cannot enjoy or attend Gods worſhip in this indiſpenceable duty of holy convocation without it: I beleive the miniſterial method of publique worſhip: to have been ſubject to their Judgement, and within their power as Miniſters of the Goſpell and Stewards of the miſteries of God himſelfe, full and formall Judges of the m…de and order of diſpenſation (not belonging to or charged on the private members, and objects thereof as to me: In both which reſpects (beſides that ſpecial capacity, in which I conclude all the Miniſters of our Church now ſtand by that ſpecial obligation which the tranſactions of providence in our unhappy times brought u on us, and our poſterities, and ſucceſſors: I have elſe where profeſſed (and muſt ſtill profeſs it, as the reſult of my moſt ſerious and deliberate thoughts) I can keep Communion under that form of worſhip, Epiſtle to Conſiderator co… d…res.whereby I cannot adminiſter and heartily ſay Amen to the Maſter of thoſe petitions which are put up in an order ſo confuſed prepoſterous, and indigeſted, that it ſeems to me to be ſo much below the gravity of the Church, whoſe mouth I muſt be, the ſeniouſneſs of the office whereby I miniſter, the ſanctity of the duty I am to perform, and the ſacred nature of the object to whom they are preſented, that I dare not ſtand between God and his people with the ſame; I preſume no man will or can deny my capacity as a Miniſter, to differ from the capacity of a private Member, and barr me againſt, or bind me unto, what the capacity of a private member of the Church doth not barr againſt or bind unto: non-adminiſtration may ſubject me to a ſuſpence of my Miniſtry, when non communion cannot be warranted nor excuſed; the reſtraint of that muſt not run me upon the ſin of this: I muſt (with the pious Iſraelite) leave my ſacrifice before the Lord (though with my ſouls abhorrency of the prophane prepoſterous order of adminiſtration) when I dare not with violence ſnatch the fat of the ſacrifice, and act according to the method of the ſons of Eli: I muſt not leap out of Chriſts fold, nor leave his paſtures, when trodden down by others, becauſe I dare not preſent his ſheep with puddled waters: in the one I am paſſive by other mens ſin, in the other my action maketh the ſin mine own: Gods ſubſtantial worſhip muſt not be ſlighted or refuſed, becauſe the ſinful order of men attend it: Strait is the gate, narrow is the way which leadeth to life: whilſt I flie from the ſin of my Miniſtry, I may be, and muſt take heed I be not ſplit by flying into the ſin of a Member of the Church: that guilt may be charged on me in the collective body, which I muſt be innocent of in my perſonal capacity; where the Conſtitutions of men include, the righteous judgement of God will diſtinguiſh and diſcriminate;Ezek. 9.4. all particulars are included in an univerſal defection, but do not periſh by it: God will not forget to mark his mourners under Iſraels abominations in his worſhip,Numb. 14 which they could not mend nor avoid: his Joſhua's and Caleb's, who follow him fully, ſhall nonfall ſhort of the land of promiſe,Confid. 6. though all Iſrael fall in the wilderneſs.
Sixtly, Let it be conſidered, my communion with this Church under theſe corruptions is not more conſonant unto the example of theſe good men of our Church,Communion under corrup. is conſonant to my own profeſſions. and the carriage of other reformed Churches, then unto my ſelf, who am (and I hope through divine Grace ſhall be) ſemper idem: ever ſince I knew any thing of Religion, and in any meaſure diſcovered the wayes of God and his people, I have grieved for, and conteſted againſt the corruptions of his Church, but avoided, abhorred, and oppoſed ſeparation from, yea a non communion with it, as the much greater evil; though palliated with profeſſions of piety, and pretences of purity, to the ſeduction of the ſimple: ſuch as have ſate under my miniſtery (now clouded by a righteous God) reveiwing their notes, and reflecting their thoughts on what I preached) will find a ſeries of rebukes and admonitions againſt ſeparation and non-communion, though enticed by men ſeemingly the moſt holy, and pretences unto the greateſt purity and ſanctity: In the laſt Sermons that I preached from John 4.22. from our Saviours practiſe and pleading for the Church of the Jews, oppoſed to the Samaritans, I affirmed, Communion with Gods Church under many and great corruptions is not only lawful, but an indiſpenſable duty; the which I amplified by ſhewing the different nature of corruptions, as nouſeous and venomous, prejudicial to health and growth, or directly deſtructive, as intrinſecal and vitiating to the ſubject, or extrinſecal and converſant about the ſame; notwithſtanding which the ſubject remains the ſame, participation in which contracts guilt (as in offering ſacrifice to an Idol) or contracts no guilt to the Communicant (eating in an amicable friendſhip what is offered to an Idol) ſuch as put us out of a poſſibility of ſalvation (the only ground of ſeparation) or are therewith conſiſtent, impoſed by others, and ſo their ſin not ſufficient to b…r our duty: all which were applyed to the Popiſh adminiſtrations, nullifying Chriſts Offices and Ordinances, and ſo neceſſitating ſeparation, polluting by participation: and Englands corruptions grieving God and his people,ſome 8. ſome 7. ſome 4. years now paſt. but preſerving Gods worſhip in the ſubſtantial matter, and eſſential form thereof, and ſo not ſufficient to ſuperſede communion: If you look into the writings which bear my name in the world, you will find ſeparation, becauſe of corruption, condemned by reaſons, beyond what the moſt ſerious Church-gathering Separatiſts ever undertook to anſwer, otherwiſe then by rage and reproach (the dialect of reſtrained luſt in that, as well as in this revolution): Read at your leiſure my Bethſhemeſh clouded: Saints zeal against ſinful Altars: Virtue and value of Baptiſme, written many years ſince, and you will ſee Mr. Crof…ons communion with the Church of England, is not repugnant to his judgement, more then ſeven years ſince declared, and in thoſe very writings lately publiſhed (before and for which men have (by Gods permiſſion) brought my light under a buſhel) you ſhall find my zeal for Reformation conſiſtent to union and communion with the Church; nor did the force of oppoſing corruption drive me (as I might probably have done) to let fall any expreſſions in favour of ſeparation: My logical caſuiſtical Conteſts for Reformation, do very plainly condemn, and proteſt againſt ſchiſme and ſedition as thereunto deſtructive, particularly in my Anal…pſis to Doctor Gaudens Analyſis, my Argument and Anſwer is thus concluded: Whatſoever ſhall be the establiſhment in the Church, though never ſo corrupt, yet whilſt conſiſtent with ſalvation, though it may occaſion to me ſuffering, and a ſuſpence of my Miniſtry by Gods Grace, it ſhall not effect on me, or ſuch on whome I have influence, Schiſme from the Church or a reſistance of his Majeſties juſt Authority; And in my Epiſtle to the Lyturgicall Conſiderator conſidered (in which I urge my apprehended grounds for the alteration, and abolition of the Miniſterial method of ſolemn publique prayer uſed in our Church) with a pro…eſt for Communion under it, though againſt adminiſtration by it. I am ſo much affected to the peace of the Church, that I have of late preached, what (God aſſiſting I am reſolved for to practiſe (viz.) that many, and graet corruptions in Gods worſhip are to be grieved for, and patiently groaned under, before Schiſme be conſented to, or ſeparation be conſulted: Provided nevertheleſſe I be paſſive, not active in them? I can keep Communion under that form of worſhip whereby I cannot adminiſter and heartily ſay Amen to the matter of thoſe petitions which are put up in an order ſo prepoſterous, and indigeſted, that I dare not ſtand between God and his people with the ſame; The liberty that I now purſue; (when obtained and uſed) is no more than a practice commenſing on theſe profeſſions, whereby they are made more legible, not more cenſurable than they were before.
My good friend, Theſe things conſidered, I muſt profeſſe, when ever God ſhall mollifie the hearts of men, into whoſe hands he hath given my preſent liberty; I ſee not any reaſon (that I dare plead before the Lord, or reflect as a barre on my Conſcience) whereupon my ſolitary Sabbaths may be ſweetned, and ſpent with comfort; my paſſage to the publique aſſemblie and worſhip, though in this order, and with theſe appendants which are burdenſome to my ſpirit, ſtanding open; and ſo my abſence being a voluntary act within my own power; If any man profeſſing the fear of God, can produce any, I ſhould be glad, for I fear to be charged with the omiſſion of Gods publique worſhip, celebrated in Chriſt his Church, though with extrinſecal corruption, and in a rude Miniſteriall order, which ought to be reformed; but will not excuſe me, though unforced, by the offence of ſome weak brethren zealouſly affected to the purity of Gods Houſe and Worſhip.
I am not inſenſible, that the Committee of diſcretion, will be no leſſe ready to call me fool, for ſteering this courſe, than they were for my entering the Liſts, in defence, and …o…cement of Reformation, wherein I am deſerted by my more prudent brethren;) for that I hereby ſtrike oſt from that party, on whom my former conteſts did ſeem to … me; But to them I muſt breifly anſwer, I am willing to be wiſe as a ſerpent, and reſolved to keep my inno…n… as a dove, ſo long as theſe do correſpond and agree, I have an heart to lodge them; but if prudence once ob…ate or obſtruct duty, or guide into, o… guard ſin, I fear the ſerpent begins to wind too farre, and getting in the head, will wind in the body, and devour the do…, that ſome who have been objects of my oppoſition (becauſe ſubjects of ſeparation) have in my preſent ſufferings embraced me, and ſhewed kindneſſe to me and mine, (beyond ſome more ſpecially charged with it, as their more particular duty.) I am very ſenſible, and thankfully acknowledge to God and them; and hope they did not thereby deſigne to charme my zeal againſt what I ever cenceived to be ſin, I confeſs it hath been a check to my comforts, to conſider, ſome triumph in me and my ſufferings, becauſe oppoſed to the ſuperſtitions and prophaneſſe, (which they diſlike) who agree not with me in thoſe poſitive truths, which I have aſſerted; and will be turned in their hearts againſt me, when the ſame two-edged-ſword in my weak hand, ſhall be conſtrained to ſtrike their more civil, ſeemingly ſacred luſts; The Uſurer huggs, and hath the Preacher home to dinner, when he preacheth againſt the prodigal profuſal ſpending drunkard; who will hunt and hurry him out of the Pariſh when he ſhall preach againſt uſury: I cannot but tell you a paſſage which here befell me; In my cloſe confinement three perſons, full of ſeeming zeal to piety and purity, ſtumbled into my chamber, and ſaluted me with this ſalutation, we are ſtrangers to you, but in conſcience of our duty are come to viſit you as a ſufferer for Jeſus Chriſt; to which kind and Chriſtian ſalutation I returned a ſhort admonition that we might endeavour to underſtand the truths of the Lord Jeſus, and labour to agree in poſitives, for I feared many rejoyced in my ſufferings as negative, and againſt what is groſſely evil, who would not embrace the truths I did contend for; on which theſe perſons zeal boiled over into this angry Taunt; what I warrant you, you are yet for the Church of England, and your pariſh Churches? to which I could not but Reply by way of advice, not to deny the being of the Church, nor renounce union and Communion with it, becauſe of the corruptions in it; but their zeal brake into rage, and railing, thou Antichriſt, wilt thou yet uphold the Beaſt and Whore of Rome? are you Antichriſt ſtill? with many more invectives and expreſſions of outrage, which provoked me to give them this ſhort farewell, Freinds, reconcile your ſelves to your ſelves, am I a ſufferer for Chriſt, and yet Antichriſt? if you come not to viſit me, come not to vex me; to all diſſenting friends I cannot but by way of thanks for all their kindneſſe, intreate them to ſtudy the truths of God I have aſſerted, and embrace not their force againſt me, but againſt both extreames; for that love will not laſt, which is founded in preſent contradiction, without conſent in poſitives aſſerted; Love the Truth, and me for the Truths ſake, then ſhall ye have the comfort of loving indeed and in truth; It was my hope, and is my prayer, that our retrogradation in Reformation, would have made ſuch who departed from us, to reflect with ſeriouſneſſe (even unto Repentance) the experienced remorce of ſeparating, and Church confuſion, to which Church-gathering hath reſolved us; but if men harden themſelves to uphold their ſin, and ſtrengthen their party, (to the utter ſubverſion of this poor Church) and paganizing this Nation, they muſt give leave to truſt God with their love and kindneſſes, whilſt to my power I reſiſt their luſts; and let them know I cannot be a Martyr of Faction; I hope I can do all things, and ſuffer all things for the truth, and nothing againſt the truth: and muſt all my days purſue Reformation of Gods Ordinances in Union, and Communion with the Church, leaving my ſelf, principles, and practiſes to the judgment of God; knowing it is an eaſie matter for me to be judged and misjudged by men, and yet abide what I am,
A ſervant to God, his Truth, and Church. Z.C. Julij 20. 1661
AN APPENDIX To the foregoing LETTER: IN A LETTER, Written in anſwer to one, ſignifying to Mr. CROFTON, the Offence which was taken at his going to CHURCH, And being preſent at the COMMON-PRAYERS IN THE CHAPPEL IN THE TOWER OF LONDON.