A Sigh for Peace, Prefatory letter
To the Authors of the BOOK, Intituled A Search for Schiſm.
Brethren,
WHen we conſider how God is able to effect good things for his people by contrary wayes, even by turning the unkindneſs of Brethren into means of preſervation to the family, Gen. 50. 20. we are made even againſt hope to believe in hope, that the product of your doings in your Search (and the Epiſtle prefixed) may be good, although its procedure in reſpect of its chief Patriot, was certainly from a mind filled with perturbation, and (its to be feared) with no ſmall emulation againſt ſome, for no other cauſe, then for their confidence and conſtancy in that, which by the Viſion of Truth, is made known for the good of the Church. For how is it credible that a pure fountain (or mind filled with Love and Peace) ſhould ever ſend forth ſuch dreadful ſtreams of ſlanders againſt the Church of God, as can hardly be paralelled in any Author? As if the Congregations of Chriſtians under impoſition of hands, were invaders and uſurpers of the Lords peculiar Prerogative, ſuch as would irrevocably throw their fellow ſervants into Hell and death: Such as lock heaven-gate againſt the ſtricteſt piety of a diſſenting Brother, and open it wide to thoſe that are defective in Morals. Such as heat the Furnace ſeven times for thoſe which bow not to their dictates: Such as make Conſcience a make bate: Such as kindle flames in Gods Houſe by Fire taken from the Altar, and bring the fatteſt Oblations to maintain that fire of Contention: Such as will rather fire the houſe of God, than dye without doing ſomewhat, which may perpetuate their names: yea ſuch as are Sathans …urveyers to bring prey to his den. And (to make the meaſure run over and over) ſuch as, if they could execute all that they condemn, few or none could be ſaved!
It is true, after all this, and much more of the ſame nature, you ſtroke us on the head, and tell us, though you thus ſpeak, yet you are perſwaded better things of …he moſt of us; a narrow Plaiſter for ſo great a wound, being no more then muſt …e ſaid (if Charity bear any ſway) of the manifold Sects which now profeſs Chriſtianity, among whom there are many … who according to their Light) are pious, peaceable, and ſerious.
But alas, who will believe that many among us are good Chriſtians, if it be true, that one part of our Churches conſiſt of ſuch as are notoriouſly known to be ſuch as you have Characterized?
But what ſhall we ſay, ſhall we render railing for railing? God forbid! for we are taught of God to overcome evil with good; nor will we revenge our ſelves by recriminations. And as we are confident that our innocency will in theſe things greatly plead againſt you; ſo we truſt there are no ſuch impieties, and execrable doers among you, if this your Search have not tinctured you.
The Lord knoweth, and Iſrael ſhall know, that if we knew any ſuch evil workers in our Congregations, they ſhould either reform or go to their place, and if you know any ſuch, you might have done well to have ſingled them out, that we might have known them by name, and not have thus ſold us into the hands of Scorners, to be a deriſion to the fooliſh, Prov. 12. 18. There is that ſpeaketh like the piercings of a Sword, but the tongue of the wiſe is health.
Nor do we doubt but that many of you are meerly enſnared in the publication of your Epiſtle, and it is ſtrange you ſhould imply his pen in this matter, whom you knew to be too much entangled in the folly of his own wayes (at that time) to be truly ſerviceable to God and his People, whatever he hath been in time paſt.
What is here written, now offers it ſelf to your conſideration, as a thing compelled from us at this time, by your high provocation, well knowing it to be more ſuitable to the time, and the ſtate of the Church in general, to be ſtudying for terms of reconciliation, then Arguments for Diſputation; and therefore we could wiſh that Chriſtians would not thus put one another to buſineſs, ſeeing they do bear (and are like to bear) in their body the Marks of the Lord Jeſus, according to that ſaying, Gal. 6. 17.
Nor was it needful to ſet down your demands in this our Anſwer, partly for that the ſubſtance may be underſtood by what we have ſaid, and partly for that you have made your Book ſo publick, as that it is (as it were) in every Brothers hand, who therefore when he ſees this Anſwer, may compare it with your Search, for his own ſatisfaction.
Your Brother, Tho. Grantham.