A Second Parcel of Objections Answered, Treatise · Letter 1
A second Parcel of OBIECTIONS Against the taking of the ENGAGEMENT ANSWERED.
Or the doubts which som godlie Ministers in som neighbor Counties entertained upon that Subject; as they were proposed in several Letters to, and resolved by J. D.
Whereunto is occasionably annexed a discoverie of the weakness of the Plea of the Cheshire and Lancashire Ministers for non-subscribing.
LONDON, Printed by Will. Du. Gard. 1650.
A second Parcel of OBIECTIONS against the taking of the ENGAGEMENT answered; Or, the doubts which som godlie Ministers in som neighbor Counties entertained upon that subject, as they were proposed in several Letters to, and resolved by J. D.
The first Letter.
Reverend Sir!
THe scope of your late writings seem's to bee the giving of satisfaction to such as are scrupulous about the new Engagement: Give mee leav (beeing emboldned thereunto by your ingenious invitation, p. 29. of your Re-prop.) to acquaint you with the thoughts of divers godlie Ministers (whose names you may have if need bee) touching your two last pieces: and to shew you wherein they remain unsatisfied. Only let mee premise thus much, and speak it as in the sight of God; that although my acquaintance hath been but little with you (beeing once only in your companie with Dr. Wells) yet I have alwaie highly honored you in my heart, since I had any knowledg of you; and have often said to my friends, That if I would rest upon anie man's judgment living, (at lest in points of this nature) it should bee upon yours: so deeply was I possessed with the persuasion both of your abilitie and integritie. And for those, whose thoughts I represent to you, I may truly saize of them, they are such as are led into their doubtings by no design, but the design of keeping a good conscience; and that the tie of conscience arising from …gements, whereby they have tied themselvs to God, is the principal (if not onlie) thing that make's them tender this waie. You may therefore pleas to take notice:
1. They think that the less self-confidence, and abounding in our sens, bee used in things of so doubtful a nature, the more agreeable it is to the rule of love, and the more safe will our proceedings bee therein.
2. They think that in your whole discours on this subject, you take that pro concesso (and make it the chief basis and bottom of all your argumentation) namely, That the continuance of King and Lords is inconsistent with Salus Populi; (whereto it's willingly granted other things must give place): but this is the thing altogether in question, as was otherwise determined by the major part of the Commons (when the Hous was full and free) who are our onelie competent judges in things of this nature.
3. They think it a sentence scarcely agreeable to the rule of charitie and Christian compassion, that those who are afraid to engage this waie (though they engage to live quietly, and obeie in lawful things) should have no protection or other benefit of law (as you seem to saie p. 22. of your Considerations) since, wherein is true tenderness of conscience, if it bee not to bee tender in those things wherein wee have to do with God, and that in the most sacred and solemn manner, viz. by Oaths and Covenants.
4. Whereas you saie in your Re-prop. p. 12. that there is no difference at all betwixt the things which the proposers themselvs mention to bee the dutie of Subjects to their superiors, and the subscriptions required by present Autoritie; And yet p. 15.you saie wee mean to declare by our subscriptions our approbation of, our ratifying consent unto, and our obligation towards the present Establishment, (which are the principal things that the proposers scruple at, as appear's Sect. 39; And whereas your self would not have it so much as questioned how far it doth implie an approbation of the present establishment, a ratifying consent thereto, and an obligation to act to the strengthning and promoting of it; and yet by subscribing you declare your approbation of it; they cannot see how these things are clear from contradiction and crossing one another.
5. They account it an hard censure by you, to saie that those whom nothing can satisfie in their doubts, but a clear declaration made either by the Supreme Power, or by themselves, to bee such as have no sinceritie in them, (pag. 20. of your Repropos.) since wee cannot go too clearly and surely to work in acquitting our selvs from the guilt arising from the violation of such oaths and promises as wee have made to God.
6. They think it no less violation of the rule of charitie, for you to saie of the proposers (though altogether unknown to them) That in their Proposals they have covered a State business and politick design with a Ministerial cloak, p. 29. (where there seem's to bee a mixture of som bitterness) then if the proposers should saie of you, that you have put forth your late Papers to pleas a prevailing partie. And if there bee a libertie to censure each other in this sort, whose integritie shall bee left untouched and unviolated?
7. They acknowledg that to bee very true, which you speak p. 21. and that even good men are too subject to admit of self-mixtures in their best actions. But they see no reason to think that your self should bee so strong as not to bee at som times subject to the like weakness: If you bee, then you know it is the dutie of the strong to bear with the infirmities of the weak: and the propertie of love, rather to cover and conceal them, then to laie them open to their shame, when so manie are readie to rejoice in it.
To conclude, they are much afraid that the late writings on this subject, have not a little exasperated the higher Powers, and heightned the heat of their indignation against manie that are truly godlie (both Ministers and People that are tender this waie) by increasing unjust jealousies in their minds towards them, and making things appear in a wors shape then needed, and so have made the gap greater and breach wider, which had far more need to have been closed and cured. It is conceived, that you can very hardly prove those things which you suggest against the proposers, and therefore (as your self saie) in doubtful things love should judg the best: And therefore it had been a far better office both of love to your brethren, yea, and of fidelitie to Superiors, rather to have cast on water, then to have added fewel to the flame: autoritie beeing alwaies apt enough to take high offence at such, who in all things agree not with it.
Sir, you cannot but know that the generalitie of the Church of Scotland have the same sense of this new Engagement with those that scruple it in England: whose judgment is not to bee sleighted. Neither is there reason for anie to bee carried on with such confidence in the mainteining of it, as to censure those who are doubtful. You cannot but know that in doubtful things, by reason of the diversitie of apprehensions, there will bee likewise a differing latitude in men's consciences (even in the consciences of such as are truly pious and most sincerely conscientious) so as those things which will satisfie one, will not satisfie another that desire's satisfaction (as it hath been heretofore between the non-conformists and conformists, (though both godlie) and is still between the Independents and Presbyterians) so that in publick subscriptions it hath been thought needful things should bee as clear as the morning light. That therefore such who desire a clear satisfaction in such a business as this, that is involved with such difficulties, and perplexed with so manie oaths and pre-engagements, should bee censured for unsinceritie; is thought verie little agreeing with the rule of love and equitie.
It is therefore in all earnestness and loving humilitie desired of you, that you would laie no more load on such who already are even sinking under the burden of manie doubts and perplexities, nor give anie occasion to the hand of Autoritie to lie heavier upon them then heretofore; but rather that you would bestow som of your strength in dealing with Superiors as well as inferiors: and that in these respects:
1. Becaus it is in their power (by not pressing) to eas manie that want power to eas themselvs by untying the knots that pinch them: and it is no small charitie, to yield eas to a tired, troubled conscience.
2. It will bee their safetie and prosperitie not to laie heavie burdens on the consciences of such as desire to keep a good conscience: such as have alwaie been their fastest friends, and constant intercessors at the Throne of Grace. A blow from a friend is far more grievous, then what come's from an enemie.
3. It will bee very agreeable to those manie promises and professions they have made to the whole Kingdom, touching their great care to use tender consciences tenderly. When the Prelatical yoke was broken, there was great hopes wee should have been troubled with no more yokes of the like nature.
4. It's conceived, that now you have a price in your hands, (by reason you have ingratiated your self with the higher Powers by the manie good offices you have don for them) you have opportunitie likewise to do som good offices for God's people, which they desire you maie have a heart to improve.
Blessed is hee that considereth or judgeth wisely of the poor (as the Geneva translation read's it) Psal. 41. 1. You know who those poor ones are, even such as manie are, who are now strugling in their thoughts about the lawfulness of this now Engagement, and not able to finde out a satisfying resolution.
Thus I have been bold to commend the thoughts of my friends, together with my own thoughts, unto you, which I hope you will accept with that christian candor and meekness, which heretofore hath shined forth in all your carriages. If it pleas you to vouchsafe anie answer, though but in three lines, I shall take it as a true testimonie of your great humilitie and integritie. Thus desiring our good God still to make you a happie reconciler and peacemaker, I resign you to his merciemercy.
Yours in all christian love and service. This ninth of Febr. 1649.