Necessity of Correspondency in Spiritual Matters, Consideration 2 – Consideration 3
Of the ſecond.
If wee looke upon the Churches, and conſider, as wee ought, ſeriouſly the lamentable eſtate wherein they are, the cauſes thereof, and the iſſue which is likely to follow, if God doth not prevent the ſame, it will evidently appeare, that a mutuall and brotherly Correſpondency for maintaining of truth and peace is moſt abſolutely neceſſary to be ſpeedily ſettled, for publike edification of that which is already decayed, and of carefull preſervation of that which is yet entire, from inevitable ruines in time to come▪ And to make this cleare, the Churches ſhould be conſidered, as they ſtand in relation one to another within themſelves, and as they relate their common adverſaries, who watch over them for their deſtruction.
In reſpect of themſelves, as they ſtand within themſelves, their caſe is fearfull and deplorable: for it is moſt evident, that they are not onelyonly ſtrangers one to another, and care little or nothing one for another in any Spirituall publike waies, which is a great breach of charity and holy communion, for which they have deſerved, and deſerve ſtill the judgements which are come, and will (if prevention be not uſed) further come upon them; but they are at variances in great & weighty matters, and by their variances and diſputes, they are become full of partialities, of ſidings, and of oppoſitions one againſt another, ſo that ſome of them have ſtudied the overthrow of others, which is a miſerable and deplorable caſe, when it falleth out amongſt brethren, and chiefly then, when God and his Goſpel is ſo highly diſhonoured thereby, as by theſe controverſies of Proteſtants it doth appeare he is; for what is more miſerable, then that men ſhould become as it were mad to devoure one another, and that every one ſhould eate the fleſh of his owne arme, Manaſſeh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manaſſeh, and theſe two againſt Judah? and what is more deplorable, then to ſee all the excellencie of Jacob turned to a reproach and by-word amongſt the profane adverſaries of truth and godlineſſe? and the whole fruit of the glorious profeſſion of the Goſpel of peace, to become the bitterneſſe of gall and wormwood to thoſe that ſhould reap ſweet comforts and ſalvation thereby? is not this moſt miſerable and deplorable? and yet this is the very caſe of Proteſtant Churches within themſelves: for they ſnatch on the right hand, and are ſtill hungry of one anothers fleſh; and eate on the left hand, and are not ſatisfied.
Now if this evill be not remedied, it is moſt apparent, that they will at laſt deſtroy one another: For, A Kingdome divided within it ſelfe cannot ſtand. But to find a remedy hereunto, there is no poſſibility, except ſome courſe of amiable Correſpondency (which ſhould be ſettled ſpeedily amongſt them) be uſed for the healing of preſent breaches, whereby they teare their owne bowells in pieces, and for the prevention of future cauſes of diviſions and diſtractions amongſt themſelves.
The healing of preſent breaches can be but three waies intended.
The firſt is, by labouring to ſuppreſſe injurious, notorious, and publike ſcandals, raiſed againſt one another, which pre-poſſeſſe the minds of parties, and inflame them to vindicate practices more and more.
The ſecond is, by diſpoſing their minds towards reconcileable intentions; which may bee done by rectifying their miſtakes concerning each other, by ſetting them in a right way of writing, and treating of Theologicall matters without paſſion and prejudice, and by ſuggeſting unto them impartiall waies of proceeding, whereby a full reconcilement of differences, and the unity of the Spirit may bee by Gods grace obtained in due time.
The third is, by procuring a Synod of Proteſtants, wherein their Brotherly love and reconcilement may bee ſettled by a firme league of duties to be intended for their inward mutuall edification in future times, and for their joynt outward propagating of the Goſpell unto all that are ignorant thereof.
Theſe three waies of healing breaches, as they are moſt neceſſary, ſo they cannot poſſibly be intended without a ſpeedy ſettlement of Correſpondency and entertaining of Intelligence by ſome, that may make their addreſſe, and have acceſſe unto all parties to worke theſe matters upon them by waies void of all exception and partiality: and therefore a ſettled Correſpondency for mutuall Intelligence, in reſpect of theſe things, is abſolutely neceſſary. And if it be not intended, but ſlighted and hindered, certainly the guilt of the ruine of Proteſtant Churches will fall heavie upon thoſe, who give occaſion to ſtop the entercourſe of ſuch a Correſpondency.
The prevention of future diviſions and diſtractions is neceſſary to bee thought upon; not onelyonly becauſe naturally our inbred corruption doth beget in all humane ſocieties, but chiefly in thoſe which concerne Religion, the ſeedes of ſtrife, by reaſon of the pride, the ignorance, and the paſſion of ſelfe-ſeeking conceits of ſome which trouble all; but alſo, becauſe theſe breaches and diviſions will continually grow worſe and worſe, and come to the extremity of imbitterment: ſo that they will be paſt curing in ſhort time, if no courſe bee taken to ſtop them ſpeedily. Now it is moſt evident, that no courſe can be taken, except a ſettled entercourſe of Intelligence betwixt the leading men of the Churches be brought to paſſe; and this cannot be brought to paſſe, without the upholding of a Correſpondencie: And therefore a Correſpondencie is moſt abſolutely neceſſary to be ſpeedily ſettled.
In reſpect of their adverſaries which watch over them for their deſtruction, their caſe is very dangerous, and exceedingly to be feared. There be two ſorts of common adverſaries: ſome are crept in from without amongſt them, who make it their worke to foment their diviſions, and caſt in bones amongſt them to keep them at perpetuall variance; as is moſt cleare by dolefull experience both in Germany and elſewhere. And others ſtand without, laying new plots, if the old ſhould faile, and maintaining the old ones ſo long as they can poſſibly, by all manner of Emiſſaries and Practices, and with much coſt of Bribery and Correſpondencie, whereof a little Volume could be written, if need were, but becauſe this is no leſſe evident to all that have eyes in their head, then the Sunne is at noon-day, I ſhall not need to enlarge my ſelfe; chiefly, ſeeing already ſomething hath bin written of this matter not long agoe: and ſeeing by daily experience the Practices and Plots from without are diſcovered more and more, with an evident ſequele and coherence which they have towards another.
Now, ſeeing the Papiſts, though many waies amongſt themſelves divided, yet, as common adverſaries to Proteſtants, concurre and joyne fully with indefatigable paines and diligence, both to undermine the fundamentall Conſtitutions of the Churches inwardly, and to aſſault them outwardly to diſturbe their peace; and both waies to worke out correſpondently, not without great coſt and expences, their moſt dangerous plots and attempts, which infallibly will bring Proteſtancie to ruine, if no common courſe be thought upon, and concurrently followed to prevent the ſame. Now no ſuch courſe can poſſibly be taken and followed by way of concurrence, without a ſettlement of ſome Correſpondencie to that effect betwixt the Churches: Therefore this ſettlement of a Correſpondencie is abſolutely neceſſary. For if we know, that the enemies of the Churches, and of the Goſpel take a common courſe to oppoſe the ſame, & yet take no thought of any cōmon courſe, to maintaine both theſe in ſafety againſt their devices, it is evident, that they will work their ends, and that wee wittingly and willingly ſuffer our ſelves to be overthrowne, and the Goſpel to be extinguiſhed. If then theſe ends and machinations of theirs be knowne to any Proteſtants, who ſtudy not to reſiſt the ſame, it is apparent, that ſuch are guilty not onelyonly of their owne bloud, and of the bloud of their Brethren in all the Churches; but alſo of the detriments which may befall unto the profeſſion of the Goſpel. From all which evils that I may approve my ſelfe free, and be found guiltleſſe in the preſence of God, I have thought good thus to beare witneſſe of theſe things, that I may procure, ſo farre as in me lyeth, the neceſſary and onelyonly remedy of imminent dangers, and that it may not be neglected any longer, if poſſibly it may be uſed.
Of the third.
It will be altogether needleſſe to make in this place any deſcription of the weakneſſe and tottering eſtate of Proteſtant Princes and Common-wealths, to ſhew in what caſe they are by reaſon of theſe troubles; but it will ſuffice in a word or two to point at the true cauſes of their miſeries, and the lamentable iſſue, which in all humane appearance will follow thereupon, if no prevention bee uſed. The true cauſes then of the weake eſtate are none other, but their inward diviſions, chiefly for matters of Religion, which have in matters of State not onelyonly diſtracted continually their actions, ſo that, by reaſon of jealouſies concerning Religion, they never could joyne in Councells together for mutuall preſervation; but alſo this hath made ſome of them to help forward their neighbours overthrow: For, ſeeing all the commotions of States in this age are originally ſprung from the differences of Proteſtants and Papiſts in Religion; and ſeeing the onelyonly aime of the Pope and of his Agents is, and hath been, to root out the Heretikes, that he may reduce all againe to himſelfe, by ſettling Eccleſiaſticall affaires according to his owne Lawes (to which nothing is ſo oppoſite, as the profeſſion of the Goſpel) therefore hee hath uſed all meanes and waies to trouble the Proteſtant States, and hath brought theſe warres upon them to weaken their ſtrength, and make them and the profeſſion of the Goſpel to become contemptible: for, perceiving that the flouriſhing Eſtate of Proteſtants did ſpread the light of the Goſpel exceedingly abroad; and that by that light, as well the groſſe errours of his Doctrine, and ignorance of his dumb Idoll Clergy, as the Tyranny and Superſtitiouſneſſe of his Eccleſiaſticall Antichriſtian Government was diſcovered more and more, and in the end would be brought to nought: therefore, to keep his Throne and Kingdome from falling, hee hath ſet his wit and ſtrength aworke to make diviſions, and encreaſe ſtrife amongſt Proteſtants, by flattering ſome, perſecuting others; and finding them ſufficiently of themſelves diſpoſed and enclined thereunto, hee hath brought his ends ſo farre about, both in Germany and elſewhere, partly by the Lions waies, and partly by the Foxes; that if the ſeeds of Eccleſiaſticall diviſions, which give him all his advantages, be not taken away, there will never be any poſſibility of preventing a totall deſolation of theſe Churches and States. Now theſe ſeeds of diviſion cannot poſſibly be removed without ſome Correſpondency, tending to ſettle Proteſtants in a joynt courſe of profeſſing the Goſpel, for the better propagating thereof unto Gods glory, and for their mutuall preſervation againſt theſe his violent and ſubtle attempts: And therefore in this reſpect alſo a courſe of Correſpondency ſhould be maintained conſtantly, and countenanced by civill authority, for a concurrence in Spirituall matters betwixt the godly Divines of the Proteſtant Churches, that the truth, wherein all agree, may be confirmed and ſupported by Authority to laſt unto future ages; and the differences, which cauſe their inward diſtractions, may be reconciled, ſo farre as poſſibly can be done by print, or publike amiable treaties, whereunto the ſettlement of a Correſpondency, and ſome agency amongſt them to this effect is abſolutely neceſſary.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Dury, Necessity of Correspondency in Spiritual Matters (1642)