Account for Subscribing, Section 4
SECT. IV.
Objections against subscribing the Engagement, satisfactorily answered.
ALthough that which hath been already declared in the true stating of the Account of subscribing the Engagement, and also in the evincing the truth and faithfulnesse of it by the three Reasons which have been hitherto insisted on, is of full sufficiency to give satisfaction to such persons as are cordially inclined to a love of truth and peace; yet notwithstanding because there are some Zealots found (having [therein] a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, Rom. 10. 2.) who at least do think that they do God good service, in refusing to act in that which they are warrantably called unto, (even as Peter the Apostle did, Acts 10. 1…. &c.) and in acting contrary unto the way, which it is meet they should walkin, (as the Apostle Paul somtime thought he ought to do, Act. 26. 9.) It shall not there fore be grievous unto me (and I trust it will not be irksome to the Reader) to adde a few lines more for the further convincing of obstinace gain-sayers, and for the undeceiving of tractable minded persons, who are willing to be instructed in righteousnesse; and this is to be done in answering some Objections made against the Subscribing of the Engagement.
I. Object. The generality of all sorts of persons in London, yes, and throughout the whole land, are disaffected unto this subscribing.
Ans. It is no good argument against it, because it is said that it is generally disaffected; as it were no good argument for it, if it should be said, that it were generally approved, sith it is not simply to the commendation ordiscommendation of a course that it is generally observed, or not observed; for somtimes a righteous way is generally spoken against, see Act. 28. 22. and sometimes a notorious sinfull way is generally cried up with great acclamation; see Act. 19. 34. And yet notwithstanding it is well known, that very many of all sorts in the Land, besides the supreme power requiring it, are well-affected unto it, even reverend Judges, faithfull justices, knowing Lawyers, understanding Souldiers, judicious Preachers, and conscientious religious People, &c.
II. Object. Subscription unto the Engagement is refused not only by malignant Cavaliers and Royal…sts, &c. but also generally by Covenantiers and Presbyterians in London Province, and likewise throughout the Land.
Answ. 1. It were to be wished affectionately, that this Objection might not be declared in Gath, to the rejoycing and exulting of the Canaanite and Perizzite, who do yet dwell in the Land. See Micah. 1. 10. Gen. 13. 7.
2. It doth not simply, nor yet justly at all reflect disgracefully either on the Presbytery, or on the solemn Covenant, that some or many persons who have conformed to Presbytery, and Covenant, do now shew themselves unconformable to the Engagement; sith it is no new thing for many to cleave unto others by flatteries. See Dan. 11. 34. There were false brethren brought into Churches, and amongst the true brethren. See Galat. 2. 4.
3. Albeit the Covenant and the Engagement being both of them rightly understood, can well agree together, (as hath been cleared in the second reason of this account) yea and there is nothing in Presbytery soundeth of any discrepancy; so as neither Presbytery nor Covenant is any way trenched on by engaging; yet notwithstanding, sith Presbytery is of Ecclesiasticall cognizance, and Engagement is unto civill Power; this objection therefore beareth no proportion to the case in hand.
4. Many Ministers and people (through vulgar weaknesse, and too great a degree of time-serving sinister respects) have been apt to Vote and Act after the mind of some eminent ring-leaders to faction (as well as by eminent Reformers unto good waies: See Iosiahs daies) asis to be seen in that preference of Barabbas before Christ, through the perswasion of the chief Priests and Elders, Mat. 37. 20. How many Ministers were there in prelaticall times, who did swear canonically, and subscribe implicitly, who yet did change also implicitly with the times, covenanting against former waies? Thus it was also with many former conforming, and late covenanting people following their guides. Not long since there were very many (who have professed Christs way of Presbytery) who did subscribe Attestations implicitly, both in London Province, in Lancashire, in Shropshire, in Cheshire, and in other Counties, touching severall Opinions, and books, and the Authors of them scarce known unto them in the very titles, much lesse read and weighed by them (I speak what I know of severall of them) but were drawn and perswaded thereunto by a few chief sticklers and promoters in those affairs. Whence it followeth, that it is farre the lesse considerable, that a multitude is pretended unto in the case in hand.
5. It is undoubtedly true, notwithstanding that very many faithfull Pres…erians, and conscientious Covenantiers do subscribe the E…gagement thouoh some others refuse to do it) and … ad…age is to be made of the number of the Presbyteri… … …tiers argumentatively, who subscribe the En… … …t is probable enough that many such may have b… …erly swayed thereunto. An estimate is to be made by the just reason, and not by the great number of those that subscribe the Engagement.
III. Object. Some of the good old Non-conformists, do refuse to subscribe the Engagement.
Answ. 1. And some of the old Non-conformists, who conscientiously refused to subscribe some of the Articles, canonically requiring subscription to them, (but then refused not to subscribe according to the Law of the Land, provided in such case; See Eliz. 1…. 12.) even those non-subscribers can with good conscience subscribe the Engagement.
2. It must needs be acknowledged, that the good old Non-conformists (who as Iudah in evill times, ruled with God, and were saithfull amongst the Saints, when Ephraim compassed him about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. See Hos. 11. 12.) are men subject to passions and error, as well as others, Humanum est errare, Let God be true, and every man a lier, &c. See Rom. 3. 4. It is a known and lamented case, how temptation prevailed too much with sundry professed Non-conformists in thetimes of Episcopacy, occasioning them to shrink and give in, either through fear of men, or love of the world, or for serving the times, after they had some waies professed otherwise: yea, and this no doubt came to passe through divine permission for their humbling, and that they might better know what was in their own hearts, it was in this case with them, as it had been with some faithfull servants of God, who were duely affected to Presbyteriall and Synodicall principles, and yet by occasion sometime fa…ed to walk evenly therein, viz. The Apostle Peter at Antioch withdrew himself from the Gentiles, (howbeit the Synodicall decree was otherwise, Acts 15. 1. &c. and as David Dickson interpreteth in case in hand, on Galat. 2. 11.) yea, and other Jews dissembled likewise, insomuch as Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But the Apostle Paul adhering to the Synodical dec… …stood Peter, Galat. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14. yea, and the Apostle Peter … …erward making mention by occasion of the Apostle Paul …leth him beloved brother Paul, and commendeth his wise and faithfull d…portment. See 2 Pet. 3. 15, 16. So well could the blessed Apostles act and submit, and agree in Presbyterian waies, according to …ripture, when they were themselves. Oh that we could duly observe and become advertised hereby, who approved our selves conscientious Non-conformists under Prelaticall tryalls. But to return to the answer more nearly after this short digression; Let it be taken notice, that albeit some weaknesses do break ont from some old Nonconformists, yet it concerneth them, as well as those who hitherto escape such temptations, to set our selves to walk by Scripture Rule, to be sober and watchfull in all things, for the approving the goodnesse of our consciences, willing in all things to live honestly. See Heb. 13. 18.
IIII. Object. A Presbyterian Minister, and ancient Non-conformist, being now grown aged above sixty year, howbeit through the grace of God, he approved himself in the whole course of his Ministery hitherto, not only in holding fast the forme of sound words in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, but also in withstanding Prelaticall subscription, and superstitious conformity, unto suspension, and exile, &c. yet now through infirmity of age may fail, and so consent to subscribe the Engagement.
Answ. 1. It is both possible and probable, and sure also, (through the grace and faithfulnesse of him that hath promised) that those who are planted in the house of God, shal stil bring forth fruit in old age, Psa. …2. 13, 14. as having by reason of use, their senses exercised to discern both good and evill. See Heb. 5. 14. Let wisdome, be justified of her children, and praised likewise for free grace; yea and for confidence therein.
2. Albeit, God sometimes taketh away the understanding of the aged, Iob …2. 20. so as they do not alway understand judgement, Iob 32. 9. yet sometimes it may come to passe, that aged ones may have naturall vigor and parts for going out, and coming in in their callings, as well as they had, when they were younger, Iosh. 14. 11. Yea, …nd ordinarily it is an argument for chalenging respect unto what is said or done, when it cometh from the aged. The Apostle Paul in pleading a matter with Philemon, useth this argument to perswade the rather, because even Paul the aged did move therein, Philem 9. ver.
3. In the year 1614. an aged Minister of an hoary head, and silver hairs (M. Tilecoat by name of B. M.) and myself then a young man, did both of us together receive a sentence of suspension from the exercise of our Ministery, for our refusing Hierarchicall subscription and conformity to Ceremonies, declared against us by the then Chancellor of Chester, (under, which we remained for a time) who added to that our suffering, his mocking and jeering of us, that the one of us was very aged, and the other very young, as if therefore our witnesse-bearing to the truth of the Gospell were lesse to be regarded. And yet that which the Chancellor uttered reproachfully, became unto me for confirmation and incouragement, having the good and grave old Father to be exemplary; as others of good note in Cheshire did then also judge it well might be usefull to me; whatever now some do prejudicially conceit of the aged.
4. It is the lesse marvell, that some do detract from the authority of the aged and hoar-headed, whenas the same persons are also self-willed and presumptuous in despising and speaking evill of Government and Supreme Power, (2 Pet. 2. 10.) whereas yet notwithstanding, God hath revealed in his word that it ought to be otherwise. See Levit. 19. 32. Rom. 13. 7.
V. Object. It is doubted that an insnaring danger may lurk in the promise declared of being faithfull to the Common-wealth, forasmuch as the sense of the word faithful may peradventure be strained afterwards to intangle the subscriber.
Ans. 1. One would scarcely have thought that any man of common capacity to understand English, much lesse that any knowing Christian, and least of all that any Minister of the Gospell, could have had such a scruple; sith neither it's notation, nor the obvious use of the word, as it is either in the Scripture (which is full of it) or as it is in ordinary speech and acception amongst men, can give any rise for such a groundlesse scrupulous fancy.
2. A doting about strifes of words produceth no profit, but strife, envy, railings, evill surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, even to the subverting of the hearers; see 1 Tim. 6. 4, 5. & 2 Tim. 2. 14. let therfore the godly wise Christians and Ministers, avoid such questions about words clear in themselves, studying to shew themselves approved unto God, &c. 2 Tim. 2. 15.
3. Let such wordy Questionists remember that the pious and prudent contrivers of the Directory for the publike Worship of God throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, established by our Parliament, in that part of it which directeth about the solemnization of Marriage, they thought it meet that the persons to be married together should promise mutually to be faithfull unto one another: In the Directory for the Ordination of Ministers, it is Ordered, that such as shall be ordained, do declare a promise of faithfulnesse, as well as of other duties, in the exercise of their Ministery. I do hence demand, whether persons to be married, or Ministers to be ordained, should, the one sort of them scruple the accomplishment of their marriage, or the other sort scruple their Ordination, because of the Engagement to be faithfull in their relative conditions? and whether they should surcease rather therefrom upon a phantasticall conceit, that the sense of the word faithfull may be strained to some insnaring afterwards? I conclude therefore, that as in Domestical and Ecclesiastical relations there is a requisitenesse of promising to be true and faithful, so it ought to be likewise in the relation in the Common-wealth, that there be an Engagement of faithfulnesse thereunto: If any man be otherwise minded touching being faithfull in the mentioned relations in Family, Church and Commonwealth, surely he seemeth to give ground of just jealousie, that he meaneth not fairly; that I say no more.
VI. Object. There was a liberty granted and directed by Order of Parliament, that Preachers in giving of the Covenant should explain it, and accordingly the Preacher explained it in such sense, as he apprehends stands not with his freedome of conscience to subscribe the Engagement.
Ans. 1. The liberty allowed and directed unto Preachers for explaining the Covenant, ought to be understood of such explaining it, as stood with the just and genuine sense of it, as all rationall men will easily acknowledge: If any Preachers took a liberty otherwise, they did abuse their liberty; yea, it was a collusion and imposture in the Preacher whoever he was, to put a sense thereon of his owne not agreeing thereto, frustrating what in him lay, the end of the Covenant and the taking of it.
2. They that thus object, do not speak out what the sense of the Preacher was that he gave of the Covenant inconsistent with the Engagement, so as it cannot be expected that a full and satisfactory answer should be made thereto; his sense being in the dark, may be reputed an act of darknesse, albeit confused and uncertain speech be of it in the streets at noon day.
3. This Objection giveth occasion to suspect that some persons (yea, some who pretend for Presbytery, but are loosly minded thereunto, sith such do thus object) do make an advantage to put the Covenant to their own sense, to free themselves thereby from the sacred bonds of it in its own sense and meaning.
4. Let such Objecters be pleased for the undeceiving themselves and their adherents, plainly and punctually (in their own consciences and conferences with their Associates) answer these demands without any tergiversation, for arguing their sincerity towards God and towards men about the Covenant.
1. Whether the Covenant was not obligatory in its due sense and meaning in every article of it, as well as in some branches of some of the Articles more specially affected?
2. Whether there were not some main things primarily, and other things subserviently covenanted? And what those maine things, and what the subservient things were? that thus truth and faithfulnesse may be discerned hereabouts.
3. Whether the chief ends of the Covenant were not Reformation, and defence of Religion, and the safety of the People?
4. Whether the honour and happinesse of the King was absolutely covenanted, albeit he should remain obstinate in his tyranny, and in other unnaturall capitall crimes, unto which God had appointed temporall death?
5. Whether the grand Priviledge of Parliament, unto which others are subservient, be not, that above forty members of the House of Commons acting freely in the House, doe continue the being of the House of Parliament? And consequently, whether by vertue of the Covenant such House of Commons ought not to be acknowledged the Parliamentary supreme Power?
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Paget, Account for Subscribing (1650)