The Necessity of Settling some Gospel Government, Title page – Introduction
A DEMONSTRATION Of the Neceſſity of ſettling ſome Goſpel-Government Amongſt the Churches of Chriſt in this NATION; Held forth in an Anſwer to a Querie, whereby Mr. Saltmarſh did once endeavour to hinder the Settlement of all Church-Government in the NATION.
Written in the Year 1646. by Mr. John Dury, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
And now Publiſhed for the preſent Uſe of theſe Times, wherein it may be ſeaſonable to be taken into Conſideration, for the preventing of further Confuſion and Diſorder amongſt the Profeſſors of the Goſpell;
LONDON, Printed for Richard Wodnothe in Leaden-hall-Market, next door to the Golden Hart, 1654.
To the READER.
Chriſtian Reader,
I Have thought good to publiſh at this time, this Anſwer of Mr. Dury's to Mr. Salt-marſh, though written ſome years ago, viz. in the year 1646. becauſe it may be now happily more ſeaſonable, then when he firſt did Penne it. It was not publiſhed then, becauſe ſome other Anſwers were then put forth, which did ſeem to give ſatisfaction to the multitude, though they were not written ſo Ʋnpartially, and with that moderation of Spirit: But ſeeing the times ſeem to be now ripened for ſome kind of Settlement, and the inconveniencie of the Delay, which Mr. Saltmarſh did then plead for, is more fully diſcovered then was then fore-ſeen; hence perhaps it may fall out, that the way of Ʋnprejudicate Orderlineſs, which is here held forth, may be thought worth ſome due Conſideration amongſt the Churches, and by Gods bleſſing may prove ſome help to ſuch as are willing to Aſſociate themſelves without any pretence to Worldly Power to impoſe the ſame upon others, but onelyonly to make uſe amongſt themſelves of Goſpell-Ordinances for mutuall Edification. Mr. Saltmarſh did then ſtumble at the pretence of Power to ſettle the Churches of the Presbyterian Way, with Authority over others, which perhaps might be in the thoughts of ſome Miniſters; but I ſuppoſe it is now evident, that none do any more affect any ſuch Dominion over their Neighbours as he apprehended; yet that there ought to be ſome Orderly Way of Government in the Societies of Saints, which are the Houſe of God, I ſuppoſe will be without all diſpute; and how far that may be ſettled amongſt the Saints, and approved by a State, this Treatiſe will in ſome meaſure I hope manifeſt. And that Mr. Duryes meaning may not be miſtaken, as if he would have the Magiſtrate to impoſe by Humane Authority, the Ordinances of Chriſt, which he counts ſuch, and ſuffer none to have liberty but ſuch as practiſe the Way which he approves: I have added unto this Treatiſe, a Diſcourſe which the Author ſent unto me upon another occaſion to be Communicated unto Captain Coyſh of Worthy Memory, wherein he opens himſelf concerning the Magiſtrates Duty as a Chriſtian in advancing Church-Government as it is Nationall, which perhaps may at this time alſo be more ſeaſonable then formerly it could have been, to worke Peace and Ʋnity amongſt the Profeſſors of the Truth: and that it may worke ſomewhat towards this effect, I offer it unto Thee, and beſeech the Lord to bleſſe it, in whom I reſt ever,
Thy faithfull Friend and Servant, Samuel Hartlib.
Faults eſcaped in Printing.
Page 5. line 5. for a Kingdom, read the Kingdom. p. 3. l. 5. f. happineſs unto, r. happineſs of. p. 21. l. 24. f. 4th. Ch. r. 14th Ch. p. 28. l. 26. f. is to Gods will, r. is according to Gods will. p. 35. l. 20. f. hot, r. not.
An Introduction to Mr. Samuel Hartlib. Shewing the End of Mr. Saltmarſh his Querie, and the Heads of the Anſwer to be given to it.
Loving Friend,
YOu know you can command the diſcovery of my judgement in all things, which have any reference to the advancement of Truth, and the Counſels of Peace. Therefore although Mr. Saltmarſh his Pamphlet is ſcarce worth the Anſwer, yet I ſhall not leave your deſire unanſwered, ſo far as my poor Talent can be uſeful in this kind, and time will permit. Some ſcrupulous Conſciences (as theſe times are) may be ſtaggered with his Suggeſtions: and there is a Method of Error in that way of ſtarting matters which he has followed, fit to ſeduce and entangle the ignorant, and ſuch as are partially prepoſſeſſed againſt their Brethren; and yet he perhaps himſelfe without any ſet purpoſe may be unawares led into it; for a deceived heart doth turn men aſide, that they cannot deliver their own ſouls. Sure I am he is full of prejudicate thoughts, and by reaſon of the ſame hath loſt his true Aime, and the way of Reſolving his own Querie. For he that makes a Querie, ſhould at leaſt ſeem to make a doubt thereof, and then endeavour either to ſhew, or to ſeek the way how to reſolve it without partiality. But Mr. Saltmarſh ſeems not to intend any ſuch thing; becauſe his whole Diſcourſe is framed onelyonly to raiſe doubts in the weaker, and not to crave the opinion of any, or to receive the reſolution of his Querie from the Wiſer. Perhaps ſome good opinion of his own Sufficiency, (ſure is was no fear of inſufficiency) to determine ſo weighty a matter, hath made him thus forward to perſwade the continuance of our Unſettlement in Government. But I ſuppoſe his ingenuity may be ſuch, that although he made at firſt no doubt of determining his Querie; yet his Determination thereof may be made upon after thoughts doubtfull to himſelf. Therefore I ſhall endeavour as briefly as may be, to let you ſee how a Doubt of this nature ſhould be reſolved.
But before I enter upon this Taske, I would deſire him (if I were acquainted with him) to Anſwer a Queſtion, whereby he would perhaps clear a doubt of mine, touching his Ingenuity in handling this Querie; which when I have done, I ſhall tell you how I purpoſe to proceed in Anſwering it.
My Queſtion is, Wherefore in the place of the Scripture, 2 Cor. 10.8. (quoted in his Title Page) he hath changed the words of the Text, putting in ſtead of Edification, the word Inſtruction? There is no likelihood that this is a fault of the Printer; or if it had been his fault, that it would have been left uncorrected, the words being ſo much different. But every one that readeth Mr. Saltmarſh his Diſcourſe, and taketh notice of his Aime, will eaſily find that the one word is purpoſly put for the other, to foreſtall the mind of the unwarie and ſimple Reader, by whom Quotations are not examined, with a Notion as from the Word of God, which may prepare him to receive without ſcruple that which he intends afterward to inſinuate and deliver. Namely that it is fit the Miniſteriall Charge ſhould be reſtrained by the Civill power onelyonly to Teaching. If this be not his aime, I would pray him to let me know ingenuouſly how the alteration doth come? But if he had this ſubtilty in his Aime, as a man may ſuſpect he had; then I muſt tell him ingenuouſly, that I wonder he durſt do ſo, not onelyonly in a matter of ſuch conſequence, but chiefly in reſpect of the Word of God. I ſay again, I wounder he ſhould dare to do ſo in reſpect of the Charge which the Apoſtle giveth him, To hold faſt the form of ſound words delivered unto him, 2 Tim. 1.13. For if this be his practiſe to alter the ſound words of the Spirit, I would tell him that in ſo doing▪ he doth make his firſt words of his Title Page to be found falſ; wherein he doth pretend the advancement of Truth and Peace. For if he dare preſume to corrupt the Word of God, for the eaſier Introduction of ſome opinion of his own; what Truth can we find to be in him? or what Peace can he expect from any that perceiveth this deceitfull dealing, and how will he anſwer it to God, that ſaith, Add thou not to his Word, leſt he reprove thee, and thou be found a lyar, Prov. 30.6. He that doth alledge the Word falſely, will have no great care to divide it rightly, and apply it truly. I ſpeak this upon a ſuppoſall, which I would have him to take away, by ſhewing how the Word of the Text comes to be Changed. For I rejoyce not in iniquity, but in the Truth as Charity doth command me to do, 1 Cor. 13.6.
Now I will tell you how I purpoſe to proceed in Anſwering his Querie, if God permit.
Firſt, I will reflect upon the Queſtion in it ſelf, as a matter of ſerious Deliberation, which may be conſidered for the advancement of Truth and Peace.
Secondly, I intend to reflect upon the Queſtion, as he doth handle it, to obſerve what Truth is in his Deciſion, and how farre the Way which he doth ſuggeſt, is like to produce Peace.
Thirdly, I will endeavour by Gods Aſſiſtance, to ſughe… a Word of Advice upon the whole Matter, which may be uſefull to prevent the increaſe of Error and ſtrife.