The Interest of England in the Protestant Cause, Part 4
Of the Engagement of the State.
HItherto I have reflected upon the reaſons which ſhould induce the Godly profeſſors in theſe Nations to intend the duty of Holy Communion and Correſpondency amongſt themſelves and with their neighbours, for the manifeſtation of the Truth of the holy profeſſion and the maintaining of Chriſt's Kingdom un animouſly in this our Generation; now it remaineth to ſhew how farr they are engaged beyond others in this work, and that the State it ſelf as Chriſtian is not free from this engagement, but ought to mind it and advance the work in a leading way; for if it hath been made out convincingly both upon ſpiritual and rational grounds, that not only for the advancement of Chriſt's Kingdom in the world, but alſo for the outward ſafety and preſervation of the Churches which from within are undermined and from without are aſſaulted, a Religious Correſpondency is abſolutely neceſſary for them. Then an enquiry may be, and ought alſo to be made further, of two things.
Firſt to whom the procurement of this Correſpondency doth chieflly belong.
Secondly, how it may be procured and maintained amongſt the Churches, and to anſwer in general terms theſe Queſtions I conceive we may ſay thus.
That the procurement of this Correſpondency, doth chiefly belong to thoſe who ſtand moſt in need thereof for their own welfare and ſafety, and who have moſt eminently engaged themſelves to undertake the procurement of it. And that the way to procure it amongſt the Churches,Phil 2.4. Heb. 10.24. can bee none other but a Chriſtian endeavour to live and converſe with other profeſſors in the Communion of Saints, which is not to look to our own things alone, but that every one ſhould look alſo to the things of others; and in the conſideration of others, to provoke them unto love, and to good works of a common concernment.
Thus much in general: but then to anſwer the firſt Query in particular; I conceive it may be truly ſaid;
That the Godly Party living in this Common-wealth, doth ſtand in more need of this Correſpondency for the welfare of their Cauſe, and for their own ſafety, then any o her Churches do; and that the ſame Party, together with the State, hath more eminently engaged it ſelf towards God and men, to undertake the procurement of this Correſpondency, then any other State or Churches have done. And to make out both theſe aſſertions to bee truths, I ſhall briefly offer theſe conſiderations,
Firſt in reſpect of the need which they ſtand of it; it is in my apprehenſion thus.
The Godly Party of this Nation with the State hath been led forth in a peculiar way of acting againſt the world, and againſt Antichriſt, which others have not been acquainted withall.
This acting hath ſet them in oppoſition, not onelyonly to the world and Antichriſt, in a more direct way then others, but alſo put them at a diſtance from their Brethren themſelves; who partly by reaſon of their weakneſs, partly for want of that information which we ſhould have given them; partly becauſe they have been prepoſſeſſed with falſe and injurious informations againſt us, & have been for the moſt part ſo offended at us, that they have ſcrupled very much, and many ſtill ſcruple to own us as Brethren, and look upon us rather as Apoſtates from the Cauſe, and ſeparate from all Relation towards other Proteſtants in their eſteem we are a new thing, ſtart up and ſtanding alone by our ſelves. Now to bee in ſuch a condition, ſeems to be for us very unſate, for if our enemies be able without any controule, to repreſent us unto the world, and to the Profeſſors of the Goſpel, as giddy and unſettled men, fit only to diſtribute and not build any thing; and if we take no thought how to vindicate our Cauſe from falſe aſperſions towards our Brethren, and towards men of impartial judgment: the Cauſe of Chriſtian and civil liberty which we have undertaken and maintained hitherto, cannot proſper, but muſt needs at laſt miſcarry in our hands. For the proſperity of the Cauſe, is nothing elſe but the gaining of Godly mens affections at home and abroad to it: and if we make no Application to our Godly Brethren and neighbours, to ſet them right, and inform them of the truth of our Cauſe and proceedings, and to intereſt them to Correſpond with us upon a Goſpel account; how can our proceedings be ſucceſſefull? how can our Cauſe be juſtified? and how can we promiſe ſafety to our ſelvs, when our profeſſed enemies, together with our miſled neighbours, ſhall jointly conſpire and riſe up againſt us? I know, and am confident that the cauſe will proſper in God's hand, and that he will carry it on, and preſerve the Inſtruments thereof, who follow him in his way; but I do not ſee any ground to believe that he wil do it without the ordinary Goſpel-means of propagating the Truth, & of maintaining the Communion of Saints. If then he doth intend to preſerve us, and to make uſe of us any further in this his work, I am very confident that he will ſet us in the way whereunto he hath promiſed to give a bleſſing, which is the way of brotherly love; in a Religious Correſpondency towards the reſt of the Churches profeſſing his name in the Truth. By how much then our undertakings are more reſolute and deſtructive to the courſe of the world, by ſo much they are the more difficult to be carried on; and therefore we ſtand the more in need of the help and concurrence of the Godly, every where to carry it on with us to a good iſſue. And by how much our preſent leaders in the cauſe are leſs intereſſed in the Godly Party a broad; by ſo much if they deſire to provide in God's way for the ſucceſs of the Cauſe, and for their own ſafety therein: they ſhould the more apply themſelves to advance a Goſpel-intereſt towards all the profeſſors thereof; and maintain with them to this effect, a Religious Correſpondency therein. For as a man that is in a fight, doth not make uſe of any one of his members alone; but all the members of his body are ſet in a poſture to concur, and ſupply mutuall ſtrength as ſtanding in need of each others help: ſo in this conflict of the body of Chriſt againſt the powers of the World, and the ſubtilty of Antichriſt; as all the Churches are aimed at and aſſaulted, ſo they ſtand in need of one anothers help; and that part of the body which is moſt violently aſſaulted, ſtandeth moſt in need of the aſſiſtance of the reſt for its ſafety. Now it is without all doubt, that the Godly Party of this Nation, is moſt in the eye of the enemie; and when the univerſall breach (which is near at hand) between Proteſtants and Papiſts ſhall be made, it will be moſt violently put at; therefore it doth ſtand moſt in need of help, and is bound for its own ſafety in a Goſpel-way to endeavour to receive it.
But the matter of danger wherein we are more then others, is not the onelyonly reaſon which doth oblige us to procure this Correſpondency more then others; but the engagement which lies upon the Godly Party and the State it ſelf of this Nation more eminently then upon others to procure it, is another obligation binding us thereunto.
This Engagement is eminently apparent in three Declarations of the State.
Firſt, in the Remonſtrance of the State of the Kingdome, publiſhed by the Parliament, Anno, 1641.
Secondly, in the Nationall League and Covenant of both Kingdoms.
Thirdly and laſtly, in the Declaration of the Parliament publiſhed the 12 of July, in the year 1653.
In the Remonſtrance of the State of the Kingdome, at the latter end thereof, the Clauſe obliging the Godly Party which then did manage Publick affairs, to mind a Correſpondency towards forraign Proteſtants, is expreſſed in theſe words.
We will labour by all offices of friendſhip, to unite the Forraign Churches with us in the ſame Cauſe; and to ſeek their Libertie, Safety, and Proſperity, as bound thereunto by Charity to them, and by wiſedome for our own good: for by this means our own ſtrength ſhall be increaſed, and by a mutuall concurrence to the ſame common end, we ſhall be able to procure the good of the whole body of the Proteſtant Profeſſion.
This is as ſolemne a promiſe, fully and expreſly obliging them to ſeek this Concurrence and Correſpondency, as can in ſo few words be expreſſed.
In the National League and Covenant, the laſt words thereof engage alſo deeply thoſe that did ſwear it, to deſire affectionately as in the preſence of God, and conſequently when opportunity ſhould be to endeavour ſincerely this.
That the ſucceſs of our proceedings, may be deliverance and ſafety to all God's people, and an encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches groaning under, and in danger of the yoke of Antichriſtian Tyranny, to join with us in the ſame or like Aſſociation and Covenant to the Glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Chrict, and the peace and Tranquility of Chriſtian Kingdoms and Common wealths.
This profeſſion being made in preſence of God, with a hand lifted up unto Heaven by the Godly Party of both Nations, as it is conſcionably to be minded; ſo it cannot reach the End for which it is made, to give an encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches, to aſſert jointly with us their Goſpel-Liberty, except we endeavour to maintain a Religious Correſpondency with them.
In the Declaration of the Parliament of the year 1653. the addreſs is made in expreſs terms: To all God's people as well in Neighbour Nations as in this, the profeſſions are more zealous and a…ge to this effect, then any of the former. For they declare a great expectation of the breaking forth of the Kingdom of Chriſt in all the earth, they manifeſt their faith and hope to this effect: That God will not ſuffer his people here to deal falſely with him in his Cauſe, till he hath accompliſhed his great work, and brought about his great ends: And thereupon they make an earneſt prayer, that God would unite their hearts to himſelf, that they may be one amongſt themſelves, and with all the people of God, who are members of the Body of Chriſt; and that they may bee fitted and uſed as Inſtruments in the hand of God for a more full and clear revealing of the Lord Jeſus, and a right promulgation of the bleſſed Goſpel, and the true intereſt of his Kingdom, and the advance thereof, that oppreſſing yoaks may be broken, and all burthens removed; that his Tabernacle may be fully raiſed up, and his Temple built by his Spirit, that all his people may have one lip, one heart, one conſent, one ſhoulder to bow down and worſhip him; that the envy of Judah and Ephraim may be taken away, that they may be one in one fold with one Shepherd; that the Swords and Speares may bee turned into plough ſhares and pruning hooks, and the earth filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea.
Now where ſuch profeſſion are ſo ſolemnly and ſo largely in a publick way addreſſed unto God, and all his people in this and in Neighbour Nations, and made in a manner the chief matter which was aimed at in that Nationall Aſſembly of the States in Parliament; what can be conceived more obliging towards the undertaking of the work? If therefore we ſhould put forth no endeavours to perform this Duty, whereof wee acknowledge our ſelves ſo fully convicted, by ſo many Profeſſions, and Vows, and Prayers, and Declarations; will it not be a guilt lying ſo much the heavier upon us in the day of our accounts, by how much the more we have engaged our ſelves unto it. Certainly God will not be mocked; and if after ſo many Proteſtations in times of diſtreſſe, and Deliverances ſince obtained, and Succeſſes given in to inable us to perform our Vows and Engagements; we ſhould undertake nothing towards the diſcharge of this duty, which lyeth ſo eminently upon us, our guilt will ſuddenly overtake us, and the puniſhment thereof, if not prevented by ſome attempts ſutable to our Engagements, will be fearfull and ſevere.
Therefore that it may bee prevented, the ſecond Query ſhould be laid to heart, viz. How a Religious Corroſpondency may be procured and maintained between the Godly Party of this Nation, and the Forraign Proteſtants.
But to Anſwer this Second Query before any reſolution appear, that the Duty of Correſpondency will be intended, ſeemeth ſuperfluous if not prepoſterous; it will then bee ſeaſonable to ſpeak of this thing when ſome ſhall be deputed to take the matter into conſideration and undertake the management thereof.
In the mean time let me take God and all that are Godly in theſe Nations to witneſs, that I have herein not been wanting to my duty, but have diſcharged my conſcience in faithfullneſs to the Churches and to the State of theſe Nations, concerning this great concernment, if others who ought to mind it without partiality no leſs ſeriouſly then I do diſcharge not their Duty in their places, when called upon, and when the opportunity doth require their concurrence, the fault will lye ſo much the more heavily upon them, by how much they have been more earneſtly preſſed to mind their Duty: Nor can any pretence be alledged why it ſhould not be done at this time without any delay, Is it not now ſeaſonable, yea neceſſary, that we ſhould lay the animoſities and intereſts of parties aſide, to imbrace a Goſpell-Intereſt? and is the Goſpell-Intereſt any thing elſe, then that all who have received the Truth which is after Godlineſs, ſhould own one another in that whereunto they have attained? and walking by the ſame Rules mind the ſame thing? which is the end of the Cammandement to ſerve one another through love, out of a pure heart, out of a good Conſcience and out of Faith unfeigned. Why may we not all declare that whereunto we have attained? are we not bound to give an account of the Faith and hope that is in us? ſhould we not cauſe our light to ſhine, that others may ſee it, and glorifie our Father which is in heaven? what ſhould then hinder a concurrence amongſt us, to advance the Profeſſion of our unity in Fundamentalls, and in the Rules of mutuall edification? Verily I am not able to conceive any thing except it be a leaven of jealouſie; and the animoſities, which the divided parties aſwell for State Intereſts, as other outward concernments, have fomented amongſt themſelves hitherto; Now the Lord perſwade us to give up our deſires to him, and teach us to drown all prejudices in his love, by ſubordinating all our private concernments unto the great concerment of the Kingdom of Chriſt which is Righteouſneſs, Peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt, for he that ſerveth Chriſt in theſe things (ſaith the Apoſtle) is acceptable to God and approved of men:Rom. 14, 18, 19 therefore (ſaith he) Let us follow the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another. I believe that all who are Godly in all the parties are grieved to ſee the viciouſneſs of the times, and indeed who cannot but lament to find that the deliverance, and the liberty which the Lord hath miraculouſly beſtowed upon us to the end we ſhould ſerve him, according to our Vows and Promiſes made in the time of our diſtreſs; are now turned into Licenciouſneſs, ſo that no where is ſo much exceſs of Riot and Wantonneſs, with Pride and Coveteouſneſs, with oppreſſion and deceitfulneſs, as here in England; where nevertheleſs the Goſpell is more purely and more powerfully preached then in any other Proteſtant Churches of Europe; it is true that the members of the ſeverall Congregations are not guilty of this,, becauſe their overſeers look after them, and they are lyable to cenſure if they misbehave themſelvs: but theſe members of Congregations make not up the Body of the Nation, and the diſſolute unrulineſs of the common ſort, and of all that will exempt themſelvs from being under any Diſcipline is without reſtraint by reaſon of the ſcandals of the diviſions and diſtances whereinto profeſſors are fallen. So that their want of unity in upholding the ways of Godlineſs, hath opened a door to all diſoluteneſs to break out upon the face of the Nation; and it may be truly ſaid but not without grief, that if any one abſtain but from giving Scandal on the Lord's day, he may be in all other things as ungodly and profane as he will: Now to remedy the exorbitancy of the diſorderly walking of thoſe that belong to no Congregation; for whoſe ſake the name of God, and the holy profeſſion is evill ſpoken of amongſt the adverſaries; were it not expedient that the Godly of all parties, ſhould agree at leaſt in this amongſt themſelves, to recommend the care of reforming ſuch abuſes unto the civill outhority; for ſeeing ſuch as belong to no Congregation, but live as Atheiſts in the World, fall under the inſpection of thoſe whom God hath intruſted with the Government of State, it would be very ſutable, to the zeal of thoſe that are Godly wiſe, to intreat jointly the authority which God hath eſtabliſhed over all the publick concernments of the Nation, to Regulate the converſation of ſuch as walk without any controule in all manner of Laſcivioneſs and diſorderlineſs, and who knows but that the concurrence of all parties in this deſire, might by God's bleſſing give an overture to concur and correſpond in other matters alſo relating to his Kingdom to remove other ſcandals which break forth amongſt the Profeſſors themſelves; which I hope the Lord wil grant for his name ſake, & therefore ſhal not ceaſe to pray that the God of our ſalvation who hath been wonderfull in Counſel and excellent in working for us, who hath pluckt us as a brand out of the fire and turned the Counſells of our enemies and Achitophels into fooliſhneſs, who hath cauſed light always to ſhine out of the dark clouds which have covered us, who hath brought us by his Almighty arms as upon Eagles wings unto this ſettlement wherein we are, and who hath done all this not for our ſakes but for his own Holy name ſake that it might not be profaned amongſt the Heathen; I ſay my prayer is and ſhall be that this God of our mercies, would pardon all our unthankfulneſs for the bleſſings beſtowed upon us; and that notwithſtanding our unworthineſs he would graciouſly perfect the work of Reformation begun, which ſticks ſo much upon our hands, for he it is alone who can work all our works in us and for us; he it is who alſo will do it. O Lord our God are not thy gifts and graces without Repentance? art not thou the ſame from Everlaſting to Everlaſting and changeſt not? haſt thou not in our deepeſt backſliding when we were even returning into Egypt and when our leaders cauſed us to erre, reſcued us out of their hands, and ſet us in a large place as at this day? and wilt thou do all this to no other purpoſe but to deſtroy us? Shall the dead whom thou doſt caſt off in thy wrath praiſe thee? and when thou haſt brought us to the door of a ſaving Reformation and given us a deſire to enter into it, wilt thou ſuffer it to be ſhut upon us? wilt thou ſuffer the enemy after ſo many glorious manifeſtations of thy preſence at laſt to ſay where is now their God? where is he in whom they have truſted? Truly we have truſted in thee, and ſtill we have none in Heaven but thee and in earth we deſire none beſides thee; there is none elſe to be truſted into: for beſides thee there is no Saviour, nor refuge in time of trouble. But we like Jeſurun are grown fat, and have kicked; we have forſaken the Rock of our ſalvation, we have rebelled and vexed thy Holy Spirit, we have forgotten our Vows, we have turned thy grace into wantonneſs the liberty obtained into licentiouſneſs, the Goſpel of Peace into contenciouſneſs; the Truth into formality, and the unity of the Spirit into diviſion and ſingularity: Therefore the Intereſt of thy Kingdom, which is our only ſtrength and glory hath been lightly eſteemed and neglected; ſelf intereſts have been followed; and from thence the fruit of our own animoſities, ſtrife and envies have overtaken us. What ſhall wee ſay O Lord our ſins do teſtifie againſt us; wee are aſhamed to look up unto heaven and our confuſion doth cover us; if thou hadſt not beſtowed the richeſt of thy graces upon us, or if we were ignorant of our duty, our guilt would not be ſo heavy, but herein is our ſin exceeding ſinfull, that we do talk of thy Counſell and will, more then all the world beſides, and yet do little or leſs then any to fulfill it; for hitherto all have ſought their own, and few or none the thing, of Jeſus Chriſt; fewer do ſeek him for his own ſake only, yet be hath ſought us, and that for our ſake even then when we were his enemies. O the depth and hight of thy love! What ſhall we render, what can wee return to thee again? Shall wee not love thee ſtill, ſhal we not relye upon thy mercy: ſeeing wee know that there is mercy with thee that thou mayſt bee feared? O then let not our hearts be hardned any more from thy fear, but let us now draw neer unto thee, upon the account of Jeſus Chriſt who hath loved us and waſhed us in his own blood, let us find acceſs at the throne of Grace, to receive not only mercifull forgiveneſs for what is paſt, but ſupply of preſent help in this time of our need.
Help us to a true Goſpell frame and ſettlement within our ſelves, through love to thee, to thy Truth and to each other without partiality.
Help us to advance thy Kingdom in the Communion of Saints towards all thy Churches abroad, whoſe outward ſafety is wrapp'd up in our Peace and ſettlement.
Help us to mind the oppreſſed for the Truth's ſake, being willing as thou ſhalt enable us to bear their burdens.
Help us to mind thy ancient people the ſeed of Abraham thy friend, and the remnant of the Gentiles till the fulneſs thereof come in.
Help us to oppoſe effectually all Tyrannicall and impoſing powers and practiſes of Antichriſtian ſubtilty, by the lifting up and maintaining of the Standard of Chriſtian liberty and Truth according to the Goſpell. and to theſe effects.
Let the Spirit of wiſedom and counſell, of ſtrength and courage, of all virtue and grace in the fear of thy name; reſt upon the head and heart of him whom thou haſt ſet over theſe Nations to govern them in Righteouſneſs.
Let the ſame Spirit dwell and preſide in the great counſell of theſe Nations, that they may with one ſhoulder unanimouſly concur to heal our breaches, to join unto thee, to ſettle a laſting Reformation of all our diſorders in Judicatures, of all publick ſcandals amongſt profeſſors; of all defects and corruptions of Piety and Learning in the Seminaries thereof, whether in the Univerſities or in inferiour Schools of common education.
Let the Magiſtrates in all places be found faithfull to their truſt and the Miniſters of thy Word be as thine own mouth to thy people and ſhining lights before them in the beauty of Holineſs.
Let the Armies by Sea and Land ſight always under thy Banner, and being faithfull unto thee and thy Cauſe for the relief of the oppreſſed, go thou before them as their Captain with thy preſence, and let thy Glory bee their reward.
And laſtly, let all the people of theſe three Nations from Dan to Berſheba be owned by thee as thy people: and enjoying thy Ordinances in the Purity thereof, the unclean Spirit and thoſe that uſe a rough garment to deceive the ſimple, may be caſt out; and Peace and Truth many continue with us ſo long as the Sun and the Moon ſhall laſt. Grant according to the riches of thy grace theſe and all other things ſubſervient thereunto for the ſake and in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt thy Son and our Saviour to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoſt be given all praiſe and glory for ever and ever, Amen.
FINIS.