The Ancient Christian Religion, Book 3 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Whether the Baptized Churches may not warrantably make use of the Provision which the Law of the Land hath made, towards the relief of the Poor among them. And of burying their Dead in the common Burying-places. Being the Eighth Case of Conscience.
SECT. I.
DId not the Inhumanity of some, the too much Scrupulosity, and perhaps the Superstition of others give occasion, we would not have put these things to the Question, which so fairly carry their own Evidence along with them. The Laws of this Land, and particularly those which concern the Poor, are the just Inheritance of every Free-born Subject: And who knows how soon he may, by various Accidents, be exposed to a state which requires the kindness of the Law in this case, or else his Calamity to be insupportable? Now this Law knows no Man by his being a Paedo-Baptist, or a Baptized Believer of such or such a Parish, but as he is a poor indigent Member of such a Place, and accordingly provides that he perish not; and yet leaves room enough for any to shew particular kindnesses to the Fatherless and Widows, &c. so that when we will we may do them good; as also our Saviour hath required us, Matth. 26. 11. But now that any Christian should be debar'd the benefit of the Law in this case, is altogether irrational; because all acknowledg that we are bound to pay towards the maintainance of the Poor of the Parish where we live, if we be able; and good reason we should do so: But then, even from thence, it's as reasonable that we should receive, when not able to support our selves.
It is true, God hath ordained that his People should be mindful of the Poor; Deacons were ordained to take care of them, fore-seeing, no doubt, that in many Nations small care would be taken for poor Christians; yea, that they should rather be exposed to such Sufferings as should make them poor, even by those that should relieve them, Luke 21. 16, 17. Their Parents, Kinsfolks, and Neighbours, thinking them so unfit to be fed or nourished, as that they would rather betray them to be put to Death: And where this Spirit worketh, there can no relief be expected. Yet,
This taketh not away the Reason and Equity of the thing: and either we must say it is unlawful to provide for the relief of the Poor by humane Laws, or grant it lawful for all that are Poor to receive the courtesie of that Law. And truly our Divisions are too great in things which cannot be avoided, as things stand, till God shall graciously enlighten those that are out of the way; let us not then, in this common Office of Humanity, make more difference than needs must. Now this I speak not as being desirous to lessen the Charity of the Baptized Churches, either towards the Poor among them or others; For they are strictly obliged, as they have opportunity, to do good to all, and especially to the Houshold of Faith. But my Design is, to shew the Injury that is offered to the Poor, to the Law, and to all good Reason; In that the Widows and Fatherless of these that own some Truths of the Gospel, which our Nation hath not yet received, are cast out of their Birth-Priviledges, as if they were not Subjects of this Realm, when yet both the Law, and every Faithful Magistrate stands ready to shew them equal favours with others. If ye fulfil the Royal Law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self, ye do well; but if ye have respect to Persons, ye commit sin, Jam. 2. 8, 9.
SECT. II. Of burying the Dead, &c.
The Burial of the Dead is a Moral Duty, as it is an evidence of Humanity, and yet hath no Form prescribed in the Word of God for the Solemnity to be used on such occasions. That therefore which may most improve the Death of our Friends to our own preparation for Death, and give demonstration of our love to the Deceased, with our hope of his Resurrection, is most useful at such opportunities; be it a word of Exhortation, with solemn Prayer, for the better preparation of our selves for the day of Dissolution, &c. Usually of old Burials were solemnized with Lamentation. Gen. 25. 2. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her; yea, with great Lamentation, as when Stephen was buried, Acts 8. 2. and sometimes with Fasting, 1 Sam. 31. 13.
But for the place of Burial, we find it was at Mens liberty also, some preparing their own Sepulchres in their Gardens: Nor matters it much so the Dead be buried, in what part of the Earth we make restitution of that Earth which we have carried about for a small moment. Yet this I must say, That Births and Burials are material Passages concerning Humane Affairs, and therefore publick notice would be taken of such Changes. And here the Baptized Churches should not be rejected, but some care taken for the keeping in memory the Births and Burials which happen to be among them, for the avoiding of such Controversies as are wont to arise about Matters of Estate, &c.
Nor is it rational to debar them the benefit of the common Burying-Places, sith they do pay all Impositions for the Fencing, and orderly keeping of the said places, as they have frequently been in late Times; yea, so inhumane hath been the usage of some, that they have been taken out of their Graves, drawn upon a Sledg to their own Gates, and there left unburied. Thus did certain of the Inhabitants of Croft *In the County of Lincoln.deal with one Mr. Robert Shalder, a Baptized Believer, Anno 1666. to the eternal infamy of the doers of that cruel Act, whilst his Epitaph lives to keep in memory that sordid Action, viz.
Sleep, pious Shalder, sleep, in thy sequestred Grave;
Christ's Faith thou well didst keep; maugre the fiercest Wave
Which Satan's Storms could raise against thy Faith: And now
In vain he findeth ways his malice still to show.
Thy Saviour had no Grave, but what a Friend did lend;
Enough if th'Servant have like favour at his end;
And now thy Faith Divine, I'le pin upon thy Herse,
Which bright (though brief) doth shine, Heb. 6. first, second verse.
For any to make it unwarrantable for the Baptized Churches to bury their Dead among their Neighbours, though of differing Opinion in Point of Religion, is a gross vanity; and it were as idle, as to say, we may not dwell in one House or City together; nay, much more absurd, for the Dead know nothing, cannot injure one another, but the Living may. T. Tillam of Colchester, an Apostate.This was Tillam's conceit, that prodigious Apostate, who instead of promoting Truth in an amicable way, made it odious in the Eyes of all Men, by the foolish Niceties wherewith he had incumbred it, together with his Jewish Ceremonies.