A Sigh for Peace, Title page – Dedication
A Sigh for Peace; OR The Cauſe of Diviſion Diſcovered. WHEREIN The great Goſpel Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, and the Doctrine of Prayer with Impoſition of hands, as the way ordained of God to ſeek for it; Is aſſerted and vindicated, as the Intereſt and Duty of Chriſts Diſciples in general. In Anſwer to a Book Intituled A Search for Schiſm.
By Tho. Grantham, a Servant of Chriſt.
Gal. 5. 7, 8, 9.
Ye did run well, who did hinder you that you ſhould not obey the truth? This perſwaſion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I have confidence in you, through the Lord, that you will be none otherwiſe minded; but he that troubleth you ſhall bear his burthen whoſoever he be. Wherefore love the Truth and Peace,
Zech. 8. 19.
Printed for the Author, 1671.
The Epiſtle Dedicatory.
To the Church of Chriſt in London, with the General Aſſembly of Meſſengers, Elders, and Brethren, occaſionally meeting together to conſider of the Affairs of the Churches of Chriſt. Salutation, &c.
Brethren,
WHen I conſider how much it is your deſire, and the deſire of the Churches in general, that brotherly concord, peace and truth, might poſſeſs the room of all our diviſions, in affection, judgment, and practiſe; and particularly in the fourth principle of Christianity. And how many Prayers are daily made to God for ſo great a Bleſſing; And that hopeful way we lately ſeem'd to be in, to lay hold of the thing which hath been ſo long deſired: And therewithal that moſt unhappy obſtruction of our hopes (as ye know) ariſing from one who ſhould rather have been a reſtorer of the antient path which many have forſaken, and ſo a healer of the breach which hath been made, by its being neglected: Who being in reputation for Wiſdome, having therewithal great opportunity (and I am perſwaded really intended) to do the Church of Chriſt much good; Even then, by a little ſolly following his own Councels (doubtleſs through Satans malice, who envied our good) hath made himſelf and his enterpriſes obnoxious, and our wound more grievous.
I ſay, when I conſidered theſe things, I could not paſs them over without a Sigh, (even this which here I preſent unto you) ſaying in my heart, Why hath the Lord done this? Which was no ſooner conceived, but I was immediately ſatisfied, that the Lord was jealous for his holy way, which had been gr…ſly prophaned by an hypocritical conformity thereunto. And true for ever is that word, Hoſea 14. ult. All the wayes of the Lord are right, and the Juſt ſhall walk therein; But the Tranſgreſſor ſhall fall therein. And certainly, as our Brethrens reſuſing to ſeek the Lord after the due order at the firſt, ſo this prodigious hypocriſie at the laſt, may too truly be called *The breach of the Church.Perrez Eccleſia at this day.
Thou Lord art righteous, thou knoweſt the Hearts of the children of men, and haſt diſcovered the hidden things thereof, and haſt pleaded the cauſe of thy precious (though much abuſed) Truth. Even ſo Lord let our iniquities be ever corrected, but yet in mercy forgive us our Treſpaſſes.
But what ſhall we ſay, ſhall we now no more go about this dreadfull work, to bring the Ark (the fourth principle of Chriſtianity I mean) to its proper place in the Churches? or rather ſome irregular Churches to their due reverence unto it.
If it ſeem good in the eyes of the Lord, let his ſervants ſtill convene to conſider of this matter, perhaps we ſhall find grace in his ſight; for there is hope that we ſhall one underſtand another, and with one conſent ſeek and ſerve the Lord God of our Fore-Fathers.
And this I am the more induced to believe or hope for, from, not only the great deſire which I yet find to be alive in the hearts of Chriſtians generally, that peace in this matter might be upon Iſrael. But alſo from the great forwardneſs which I found in the Searchers themſelves to conſent unto certain Propoſals for Peace; the firſt of which is this, That it be granted and profeſſed on all ſides by the formerly divided parties, That that laying on of Hands, Heb. 6. 2. is one of the Principles of Chriſts Doctrine, and a part of the foundation.
This Propoſition being conſidered, it may appear that there wants but a ſtep (as it were) to unity in the truth it ſelf, and ſo to a laſting Peace one with another. And methinks it ſhould be no impoſſible thing, for us to agree about the particular ſervice intended, Heb. 6. 2. (unleſs a ſpirit of perverſneſs be mingled amongſt us) Towards the clearing of which difficulty, ſomething is ſaid in the ſequel, which I deſire may be conſidered.
Why the Searchers ſhould ſo much declaim againſt you, as if you unchurched all Church…s but your ſelves, I can ſee no reaſon, having never underſtood, that you did at any time by any agreement, deliver ſuch a Doctrine. Nor is it ſo much your buſineſs to meddle with unchurching any body, as to keep your ſelves from corruption in Doctrine and Manners.
Indeed the point of Communion with thoſe who reject or oppoſe your Faith and practice in the caſe depending, hath been much debated, and reſolved in the Negative (èſpecially touching the Table of the Lord) but this is ſo far from being an Argument, that you deny them to be Churches of Christ, that it plainly Argues you own them for ſuch; but yet ſuch, as for their rejecting or oppoſing ſome truth of God, are therefore uncapable of preſent communion with thoſe that religiouſly obſerve the truth by them rejected and oppoſed. For if you deem them to be no Churches at all, what need any debate be had, Whether it be orderly or ſafe to communicate with them at the Lords Table?
Now, that perſons may be allowed the Appellation of Chriſtians (and ſo of the Church of Chriſt) and yet (as the matter may be circumſtanced concerning them) ought to be held at ſome distance in reſpect of preſent Communion, with other Chriſtians, or Churches, implies no abſurdity, but is rather very neceſſary, I hope the enſuing diſcourſe will demonſtrate.
Something alſo I have ſaid in vindication of the Meſſengers Office (which I perceive to be much queſtioned by ſome) I confeſs my ſelf nothing ſo fit a perſon to plead this cauſe as ſome other. However, if that which I have done may give occaſion to any other to do more, or more effectually, in this point, I ſhall think my pains well beſtowed. I commit all that I have ſaid to the bleſſing of God, and the Conſideration of his Churches.
Your Brother and Servant, Tho. Grantham.