The Church Wounded and Rent by a Spirit of Division, Title page – Preface
The Church wounded and rent By a Spirit of Diviſion, Held forth In a short account of ſome ſad differences hath been of late in the Church of Scotland, with the occaſion, grounds, and too evident product therof whoſe wounds are bleeding to this day.
Togither with ſome vindication of the truth, and principles of our Church in this preſent ſtate of things from unjuſt revilings and reproach; And a few words in the cloſe with reſpect to what are the greateſt concerns of Chriſtians exerciſe and duty in theſe times.
Heb. 10: 23.
Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wavering: (for he is faithfull that promiſed.)
Philip. 3. 16.
Nevertheleſs, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the ſame rule, let us mind the ſame thing.
Philip. 2. 2.
Let nothing be done through ſtrife, or vain glory, but in Lowlineſs of mind let each eſteem other beter then themſelves.
James 3. 16.
For where invying and ſtrife is, there is confuſion, and every evil work.
1 Theſſal. …
Now we exhort you, Brethren, warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weak, be patient toward all men.
Printed M.DC.LXXXI.
THE PREFACE.
IT will be acknowledged by all, who have any ſerious impreſſion of the truth, on their ſpirits, what ſore, and trying times, we are now fallen in, and how deplorably ſad the preſent ſtate of religion is almoſt every where; yea what need ſeems for our being awake with ſome deeper apprehenſions, of what may be coming, and of ſo many preſages, that this night, is not yet at the darkeſt, but one of the ſoreſt conflicts which the reformed Churches have hitherto mett with, may be on a very near approach: of which one remarkably ſad, and moſt threatning preſage, is now too obvious in this late aſtonishing rent, and breach, hath been in the Church of Scotland, ſo impetuouſly driven and fomented by ſome there, to the furtheſt ſcandal, and reproach of the truth, and giving the adverſary, ſuch occaſion to blaſphem; Thus hath there been ſo ſore woundings of religion, and the holy ſpirit of God greatly provoked, and greived thereby. I confeſſe ſuch a tryal would have been litle either feared, or apprehended in a time, when ſo hot a furnace hath been ſet up amongſt us, and that the Church had ſmarted, and been ſo ſore brunt, with the offence, which followed upon former breakings; yea when it is ſo joyntly acknowledged, how much the honour of Chriſt the ſpreading of the Goſpel, and edificatione of the Church, is concerned, and in the higheſt meaſure prejugded herein; this is a ſad ſubject, which should call each to that ſerious inquiry, and tryal of their own work, and frame of ſpirit, in ſuch a day, as may lead in to peace, and aſſurance of heart, before the Lord in this mater; and to be ſeriouſly affected with what we have ſeen following thereon (yea might have been feared, with the firſt breaking up of this ſtrange rent) of the ſpirit of error, and deluſion, in the Holy righteouſneſs of God, now with ſuch prevalence over ſome, whoſe work had been, to put the Church in a flame and unſetle others, as they can find no ground where to fix themſelves, but are like to shake looſe all principles, and run that length as is incompatible, not only with Christian but humane ſociety. Some few things, with reſpect thereto I would premit now in the entry, to be conſidered.
1. Firſt what light, doe thus break forth, out of the very bowels of ſuch confuſion, both for conviction, and confirming of us in the truth; if we be but ſerious obſerves of the work of the Lord in this day; and I would yet hope may tend to put ſome Deeper impreſſion of theſe things on this generation, when as with one audible voice from heaven, ſo much hath occurred, to ſeal our inſtruction herein. 1. That none thus ſo eaſily adventure, after what we have ſeen on ſuch a publick rent, and breach of the Church as this, and to hazard on a precipice, and rock▪ on which ſo many hath dashed, and been broke, and where the loſing of communion in love, hath not long wanted a ſad breach in the unity of faith. 2. That there may be now more fear, and dread, of managing differences in judgment within the Church, with that bitterneſs, and paſſion, as hath too viſibly been of late, to ſtumble, and beget wrath, more then conviction; or to make ane offering of ſuch strange fire; the truth and cauſe of God can be promot only by theſe meanes, and that ſpirit, which he doeth himſelf require. 3. That Profeſſors of the truth, be more deeply preſſed about the ground work, and for a ſolid founding on the great fundation-truths, and principles of religion, when this ſad want may be ſo viſibly now read, on all our diſtempers, and make us yet fear where ſome great pretences, to religion may end. Here is one of the ſadeſt judgments of the time, much Ignorance of the truth, and rule of the Goſpel; with a louſe and unſtable mind, tho with greateſt confidence otherwiſe, amongſt too many under a Profeſſion of godlineſs this day; through which the tempter hath gotten ſuch advantage, yea on ſome whoſe affection and tenderneſs of ſpirit, I dar not queſtion, but thought they could not run too far at a diſtance from what they judged wrong, not fearing a deſtroying ſnare on the other hand, and that corruption of the mind by error, is no leſſe mortall then in the life and practice; yea which is too ſadly obvious leſs hope of a cure, where ſuch a leproſy is once broke forth in the head. 4. And have we not now ſeen, for our furtheſt conviction herein, that none lift up themſelves above that which is meet, upon the repute, and credit of their profeſſion; before him who is no reſpecter of perſons, and reſiſteth the proud, to ſo ſever a ſmiting, and thruſting down of their Brethren, and fellow-ſervants, as hath too obviouſly been in theſe late differences; and without that ſuteable fear, and dread, leiſt theſe whom they gave ſo ſore a thruſt to, under the warrant o… ſome opprobrious deſignation, be ſuch, whom Jeſus Chriſt will own, and finds his ſervants, and meſſengers, thus lye a bleeding under that wound. 5. I would hope alſo, that ſuch a witneſs of the jealouſy, and diſpleaſure of the Lord, againſt deſpyſers and revilers of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, may have more weight on the conſcience of many after this; when with ſo diſcernable and awfull a voice, this I humbly judge, hath been ſpoke and may be applyed, to all ſuch who profeſſe the truth, and the generations yet to come, to fear, and dread, to give thus the authority of the Son of God, the ſupreme head of his Church, ſo publick ane affront in the Miniſtry of his ſervants, as this party hath of late done, in our Church; or riſe up in ſuch a conſpiracy againe; and no pretences when tryed at that bar of the ſcriptures of truth can poſſibly bear out. 6. And ſhould not this clear the ſpotleſs way of the Lord, and ſeall our inſtruction from what we have ſeen; that when no anſwerable fruit is to ſuch a ſeaſon of the meanes of the Goſpel, as hes been of late, nor ane embracing the truth in its ſimplicity, and with deſyre after the ſincere milk of the word, as might have been hoped for; but a ſeeking more after new and ſtrange doctrine, and to follow theſe things which tended not to edify; that ſo ſad and dark ane ecclipſe ſhould follow; Tho I hope ſome bleſſed fruit of theſe times paſt, ſhall be yet found and abide with many. O that after this a more fervent, and ſerious reſpect to the ordinances of Chriſt, might yet revive in our Land, and a keeping cloſe by this appointed way, not only to beget, but to confirme, feed, and make the ſaints perfect, Epheſ. 4: 12. I hope ſuch as under theſe meanes hath known a neir, and ſenſible fellowſhip with Jeſus Christ, with that ineffably ſweet and fragant ſavour of his name; and that ſurely he feeds his people there; cannot at ſo eaſy a rate be taken off theſe breasts, as too many of late hath been. It is ſure the more true growth, and livly the work of grace, is on the ſoul, the more felt need, and deſyre will be then after the ordinances of Chriſt; and it may be feared beſides all we have ſeen, if ſo ſad a falling off from thoſe, be ſtill owned as to reject the meſſage of truth, from ſuch known, godly, and eminently qualified Miniſters of Chriſt, to his Church, upon that pretence of the late indulgence, leiſt they loſe even what they had once attained, when thus out of the way of the Lord, and from under his promiſe for protection, and being keeped, from the prevalence of that ſpirit of error, and deluſion, which by the very ſame entry hath now got ſuch viſible power on others. I nothing doubt but many hath beene ingadged herein without fear or apprenſion of ſuch hazard, and as judging it duty; and that ſome whoſe appearance this way hath had moſt weight and credit with others, their heart would have trembled, at what hath beene now ſeen to follow thereupon, whilſt the tendencie and product of ſuch things hath out-rune ſo much their intent; but it ſhould be mater of grief to all what ground we have thus loſt, and what the great adverſary of the Church hath gained, to prejudge the intereſt of the Goſpel.
2. I muſt premit this further to be conſidered, that it is not ſo much want of light, as of practice, which is the greateſt let to the Churches cure; and I would humbly offer ſome few, things where both unqueſtionable duty, and the remedy of theſe ſore diſtempers now amongſt us, are joyntly obvious, as we might yet hope to ſee another appearance on the Church, when theſe are in earneſt followed. 1. To keep cloſſe by the ſcripture, with a ſincere humble inquiry for light there, and a more intire reference, to its alone deciſion. It is ſure the conſcience muſt be no rule to us, nor can alter the nature of things, to make that good, which is evill, but muſt have a rule for its ſelve; nor is it further the voice of God, then it is truely inlightened; yea nothing hes beene more threatning to the Church, then the ſtrong impulſes of one erring conſcience; which ſeldome keeps within any bounds. And tho I would deſyre with the furtheſt tenderneſs to ſpeak in this preſent caſe, ſo far as a neceſſare owning of the truth can admit, yet I muſt ſay, it hath beene to me, one of the aſtoniſhing things of this day, How ſuch violence in driving this ſad rent in our Church, and on theſe grounds as hath beene pretended, could ſeek ſhelter under this patrociny, of the Scriptures of truth, or plead its warrant from that bleſſed rule of the Goſpel, which is ſo expreſſe, plaine, and full herein; and what should meane this ſtrange halting, if the Lord be God let us follow him and ſubject wholly to his word, for at that bar only, I hope it is, we deſyre to appear and be tryed: what a ſweet teſtimony will this then be on the ſoul of a dying Chriſtian, that the truth was ſo dear to them, as no preingadgment, nor any intereſt of their ſuppoſed credit, did interpoſe between the authority of his word, and their conſcience, or betwixt their conſcience, and a declaring the ſame to the world both for giving glory to the truth, and the advantage, and edification of others; yea this from ſome of greateſt repute in the Church, hath tended to tranſmit their memorie with a moſt ſweet ſavour, and credit to after times. 2. A ſerious inquiry and tryall by all of their own way with much fear, and jealouſy of themſelves should be a bleſſed ingredient in our cure and relieffe this day, when ſnairs and hazards are ſo thick ſpread: and I think it may be now further convincing, that whatever be the caſe of our Church, ſuch a way and methode, was no ſutable cure, as did viſibly tend to inflame the wound, more then to heal, nor that the wrath of man, worketh the righteouſneſs of God: I hope a ſecond inquiry, and tryal, by any of a ſerious ſpirit, will let them yet clearly ſee, that ſuch pretences they founded on, can never juſtify this late rent, and falling of thus from Church fellowship, where not only they could continue without ſinne, but with much hope of a bleſſing. 3. And doeth not here both the rule of duty and our relieffe in this ſad caſe, convincingly meet, in a ſeeking to overcome evill, and privat injuries with good. It is true this is a ſpecialy pungent tryal and will not want ſome conflict, but I am ſure is found one of the choiſeſt opportunities of a Chriſtians life, for theirafter peace, yea the more wreſtling may thus be upon ſpecial provocations and with ſome peculiar aggravating circumſtances, to reach this bleſſed victory over themſelves, the more comfort and joy will be, upon their after thoughts heirof, and I am ſure thus is greater advantage, for a juſt vindication by Chriſtians of themſelves whilſt preſſed thereto, as this is with leaſt bitterneſs or recrimination followed. 4. It is clear that the ſpirit of God expreſly cals for keeping a diſtance with ſuch things as may tend to engender ſtriffe, and debate in the Church, and not to edifie, as our dutie; and I think it may be too ſeen, how ſad influence this hath had, to break the comfort and edification, of Chriſtian fellowship, where once profeſſors of religion hath beene involved in ſuch a way. There was no ſuch practice, or cuſtome, in theſe firſt pure times of the Church, whilſt the Apoſtles lived, and was ſpecially adverted to then; but if any be contentious we have no ſuch cuſtome in the Churches of God, 1 Cor. 11. 5. It is duty alſo, for the furtheſt convincing tenderneſs to be uſed by ſuch, who through grace, have beene keeped fixed, for reſtoring of others with the ſpirit of meekneſs, and according to the rule, of ſome putting a difference; great peace ſhould thus follow upon a tender bearing with the frowardneſs, and revilings of any, under theſe ſaddiſtempers, upon this deſigne, and for being thus all things to all; to gaine one from the error of his way, is a greater victory then to gaine a city. I find in the life of bleſſed muſculus, this followed with much ſucceſs in dealing with ſome at Ausburgh, who wer then under a ſad ſad prevalence of the ſpirrit of error, by ſeaking firſt to gaine on their heart & affection and then to deal with their conſcience, which proved at laſt effectual. 6. It is ſure we are now called in this preſent tryal not to be ſecure as to what further growth ſo ſtrange a contagion may have; when the Apoſtle ſheweth a litle leaven leaveneth the wholl lump, 1. Cor. 5, 6. Which as a deſtroying plague, may thus quickly ſpread from one houſe, to a city and thence thrugh the wholl land yea it is known how ſmall the riſe of Quakeriſme was within theſe few years in the Churches of Britaine. Nor are theſe light or ſmall things hath beene now with a ſtrange confidence owned by ſome of that way, or what may be feared of its further prevalence if the Lord doe not graciouſly prevent and rebuke ſuch a ſpirit which hath thus troubled the poor Church. 7. There needs much advertence alſo on the other hand, that there be a continued fear, and no coolneſs, from this ſad extreme, in our watching of the Churches hazard from open adverſaries, and to what aſſault may be yet made to the rights and liberties of the Kingdome of our bleſſed Lord, the alone ſupreme head, and King of his Church; but that thus an equall fear, and jealouſy be keeped up, ſo as the truth loſe no ground upon either hand.
Reader for this preſent publick appearance I ſhall us but a few words it may be eaſy to judge how ſad a part it is in a time when al humours are ſo much aloft, and what may be expected this way if there be not from another airt to ſuport againſt the contradiction of men; but this I muſt ſay I have beene ſtated under circumſtances, and with ſome ſurpriſing call hereto, as I hope, could obviat the moſt sharpe reflections of any who are this day unbayaſed in ſuch a caſe, but I forbear herein to ſpeak more particularly; only as to the occaſion of my moving further upon this ſubject, was from that which is contained in the firſt Section which upon ſome deſyre and aime for a ſerious and ſober communing upon theſe differences in our Church, was directed to ſome few friends; and did choiſe that way by writ, to prevent any erruption might be of heat, as too uſually there is hazard of, in verball reaſoning upon ſuch things; and ſince I found it ſo frequently challenged how any could oppoſe themſelve to what is owned and aſſerted in that Hiſtory of the Indulgence, as that which they judged enough to anſwer al; in ſuch a caſe, I was enforced to touch it a litle, tho in a very few words, whic… I deſigne as far as poſſible, and now in ſuch ane unpleaſing eſſay; yet I humbly judge with that evidence of the truth, as may shew the miſtake and invalidity of theſe grounds, on which ſo ſtrange a ſuperſtructure when ſeriouſly pondered and weighed, hath beene raiſed; Nor have yet found more urged upon the mater by any on this head then what is made uſe of there. It is ſure no times paſt hath beene ever with ſo intire ane onneſſe in judgment as no occaſion of difference did fall out amongſt the truly godly in ſome concerne of the truth; but it is ſad that ſo dreadfull a hazard of occaſioning a breach in the Church this way, is not yet credit upon tryal, until ſome have once tryed it themſelves. My great unfitneſs to move in ſuch a caſe, was juſt ground of fear, beſides much averſion otherwayes to intermedle with ſo ſad, and unpleaſing a ſubject, but being preſſed herein, I hope I may ſay, it was, with a ſerious aim, and inquiry after the truth; and to be confirmed by Scripture-light in a matter of ſuch great publick conteſt; and with ſome deſire to prevent the ſtumblings of many as may now be much feared on theſe amazing and shaking things, that have ſince followed on this breach; for what incongruity may be judged, in the cloſe anent ſome thing practical, and the Churches hazard from Popery, with ſuch a ſubject; I thought was ſo far ſuteable, as I am ſure a greater weight thereof, would be found ane effectuall meane to take off theſe ſad unedifieing debates.
There are ſome conſiderable miſtakes at the preſs both in words, and in the pointing, but I hope are ſuch as the diſcerning Reader can notice, without darkning the ſence, and will pardon.