A Second Parcel of Objections Answered, Treatise · Letter 4
The fourth Letter.
Reverend Sir!
I Received yours of the 17th of Julie, for which I must acknowledg my self obliged unto you, that you are pleased still to continue your labor of love, and care to give satisfaction to such, as desire it in a loving waie. The end of my answer at this time is to let you know that your Letter and Books came safely to my hands, and to return you manie thanks for both of them, which I have already communicated to som friends, and shall do to others. I will not seek to create you anie more trouble, by raising up anie new scruples, about those things you delivered in your letter, but onelyonly briefly acquaint you with their success, with som that I acquainted with them: Som think, that if what you hold forth about that place, Rom. 13. will hold firm, it will bee a sufficient ground of satisfaction, for yielding obedience to the present powers. Neither doth the engaging to do it much trouble them; if they should oblige themselvs to do it onelyonly in a passive, not in an active waie: but they conciev, that by taking the engagement to bee faithful to the present government, they binde themselvs, not onelyonly to bee subject to them in all lawful things; but to oppose, and resist anie other, to whom (as they in their conscience think) the right of Government doth truly belong, when ever it shall bee claimed.
Secondly, Others that are truly godlie, think, that what you speak about the rule of beeing guided by the major part (that it is not alway the best and safest waie) holds true in rebus moralibus, but not in rebus politicis, els the foundation of all government will bee overthrown; if in such things as are to bee determined by Votes of divers persons, the major part may not carrie it.
Thirdly, They think, that what you saie in answer to the second scruple about judging (namely, that all particular men may take notice by the judgment of discretion, of the proceedings of their superiors, to swaie their resolutions to a rational concurrence, or non-concurrence, in things required of them in their places; these beeing your words make's much for them, for in the judgment of discretion, they conceiv, that the setting up of themselvs to bee the supreme, and sole higher powers of the Nation, and excluding others (to whom a right therein did properly belong, aswel as to themselvs) without the consent of the Kingdom, is not agreeable to the right rule, and therefore they dare not concur with them in doing, or approving of it, (as they shall do, if they take the Engagement) other doubts might bee mentioned, but I will not bee tedious; I finde that the Treatise of the Lancashier-Ministers about the Engagement, seem's to bee of great weight and strength with manie good men, if a cleer answer could bee given, to what therein is most substantial, it would give great satisfaction. I do most freely and feelingly assent to what you saie, and acknowledg that it is God's peculiar work, to make the wilderness of our spiritual estate a pool of waters, and to turn the drie land into waterie springs: to him therefore I desire to look, humbly imploring him, (who is the Father of lights) so to inform our judgments, that wee may bee able to see, and discern the things that differ, and to compose our affections, that wee may both entertein everie truth in love, and embrace one another in love, not giving waie to anie groundless prejudice, which may bee an hindrance of either of these. And go on still (good sir!) to bee the unchangeable, constant, and single-hearted peace-maker, not suffering your self to bee discouraged by anie misapprehensions, that som (though good men) may have of you, for hee that seeth the heart, and tryeth the reins, will in due time recompe…s what ever is don in truth of heart, for preserving of the unitie of the spirit in the bond of peace. Inparticular, bee not wearie (as occasion serv's) in seeking to allaie the heat of indignation, that is stirred up in som in high place, against those that dare not venture upon the Engagement, (though forbearing upon grounds truly conscientious.) Our good God give unto all that fear him, that they may once com, to bee of one heart, and one waie, and all agree in that waie, which is most agreeable to his will and word.
Your most affectionate, and most obliged Brother, and Servant in love. this 16th of August 1650.