The Searchers for Schism Searched, Title page – Dedication
THE SEARCHERS for SCHISM SEARCH'D: Or, Their pretended Queſtions for Conſcience ſake, ANSWERED.
Wherein is proved, That thoſe Baptized Congregations under Laying on of Hands, are not guilty of Schiſm in Separating from them.
Shewing, Suppoſition to their threefold Hypotheſis,
1 That their Church Conſtitution is not true.
2 Separation from them proved lawful.
3 The Truth and Authority of the Doctrine about which they Separate, vindicated.
Humbly preſented to all concerned, J. Griffith, a cordial deſirer of the flouriſhing … of the Church in Unity and Peace, with … and Truth; but, Societas in … tantum ab…ſt ab … pl… n…aria con… pariter ….
Prov. 18, 17.
He that is firſt in his own cauſe ſeemeth juſt, but his neighbour cometh and ſearcheth him.
Printed for the Author 1669.
To the Baptized Diſciples not under laying on of Hands, is heartily wiſhed the true knowledge of God, and ſincere Love, with ſubmiſſion to the whole Doctrine of Chriſt, deſired in the way of Truth.
WHen we firſt ſaw your Book, read the Title, and how you pretend your Queſtions are for Conſcience ſake; we thought Silence for ſome time would be the beſt Anſwer, conſidering what hath formerly past between us about the Difference ſtill depending, and the preſent face of things, as they now ſhew themſelves in the world.
But when we came to take a view of your Epiſtle, finding it writ by ſome spirit inraged, rather than one deſirous of ſatisfaction from any ſerious, ſober, conſcientious ſcruple, or doubt, We were invited the more to conſider your Queſtions; and finding them to ſtrike at the root, fill'd with animoſity, taunting and inſulting terms, rather than a ſpirit ſo much as sprinkled with conſcious, candid, and ſerious aims, though you give your ſelves the name, as the obſcure Parents of this (in ſome ſenſe) abortive Child of the Lovers of Truth and Peace, which bespeaks the Babe both conceived and brought forth under the melevolent Aspects of ſome froward contentious (and yet pretended glorious and Chriſtian) deſign.
Your Epiſtle, which as the Midwife that brought the Child into the world, we find uſhers it in with caluminations ſo foul, and of ſuch a ſort, as if it were intended to ſcale Rome's Walls, and bid Defiance to the Man there that uſurps the Keyes of Heaven and Hell.
And withal, that way may be made for its more laudable entrance and progreſs, ſhe no ſooner ſpeaks, but, like Athalia, ſhe cryes Treaſon, treaſon, (the Lord's Prerogative is invaded) when alas, ſhe was the Traytor her ſelf; and then ſhe marcheth on, and proclaims them (ſhe is ſent to with ſo much pretended calmneſs) to be like the Man at Rome, uſurpers of the Keyes of Hell and Death.
But how much the mark is miſſed is evident enough, for who more free and ready to ſtop up the way to Hell, and open the way to Heaven, ſo far as lies in them, by all the abilities they have, and endeavours they can uſe, than they whom you brand with the aforeſaid Uſurpation. Though we would not make the road to Heaven as the fooliſh Woman and clamourous doth the way to her Houſe, ſaying, Stolen waters are ſweet, and bread eaten in ſecret is pleaſant, to her guests.
And though your Babes-Uſher hath got the knack on't to clamour with ſo much ſcurrility, by ſuch oyly lines, perhaps borrowed from ſome other Pen, yet is it an argument of a weak Cauſe rather than otherwiſe, it being uſual, when there is no better weapons to make uſe of ſuch, with this gloſs, The Lords Prerogative is invaded, and what wilt thou do to thy great Name? and the like; when you your ſelves are the invaders of that Royal Prerogative of the Lord's Anointed, by not ſuffering his Princely Authority to be obeyed without controule from you; and ſuch his leige People to whom his Prerogative and Name is more dear than their lives, as ſufficient teſtimony hath been given, and further may through his grace, ſhould he call for it. You ſtudy against wayes of obtractation.
But how eaſie a matter is it for men to pretend to Conſcience in their own Caſe, and with the ſame Pen, bespatter the Conſciences of others with foul inormities of meer pretences under that cloak, as if they made bates, and pretended Conſcience; but let the ſober inspect this new-born Babe, and they will ſee make-bate writ in the face of him, though it hath Conſcience for its Name, and is ſirnamed a Lover of Truth and Peace; and do but trace it in its proceedings, and let but its conception be calculated, and they will find it both conceived and brought forth to that end, it being furniſhed with Confidence ſufficient to paſs it without ſuspition of being tardy of any ſuch thing as make-bate, while it can talk of Peace and Unity among Brethren, and pretend to more than ordinary zeal to it; and that it may go abroad without jealouſie of the contrary, all that ſtands in its way, muſt be rendred as maintainers of Notions, catch'd up and charged upon Conſcience, without regard had to the intereſt of Religion, yea, and renting and running away from all that agree not with them, when there is nothing leſs intended by you, than to run diviſions among us that are united in that thing under debate.
And for the more effectual accompliſhment of this deſign, we muſt alſo be rendred as ſuch that take upon them to judge all that come not up to the ſame dimenſions with us, not to have God, nor to have communion with God, when our judgment in that caſe is, Thoſe that tranſgreſs and abide not in the Doctrine of Chriſt, have not God as his Church hath; not that thereby you or any man is judged by us, to have, or not to have God: And as for you, we have before given our Teſtimony, that we can, and do love you for the Truths ſake you own, ſo far as you have gone, or ſo far as you do own the Truth; but we cannot, nay we dare not love you with the love of Brethren in the true and right order of the Gospel. See Gods Oracle, and Chriſts Doctrine, page 94. then have you no cauſe to render us, as judging all but our ſelves in no ſenſe to have God, nor communion with God.
And if you have better Arguments to prove your in ereſt in Chriſt than laying on of Hands, we have no cauſe to grieve at it, but to rejoyce; and can with all our hearts wiſh you have; for laying on of Hands can be none for you, (and it will be well if it be none againſt you) who have ſo long oppoſed it with ſo much bitterneſs, as you have done, and and ſtill do. But be we eſteemed your Friends or your Enemies, for ſaying, you are not a Church rightly Conſtituted, and ſo have not God as his Church; we muſt ſtill ſay it, until our Judgments and Conſciences be otherwiſe perſwaded by his Word; and if you will not believe what we ſay, we muſt leave it to the revelation of the righteous Judgment of the Lord, who will then make the deciſion of that, and alſo of your uncharitable judgment of us, That if we could execute all (as you ſay) we condemn, then who ſhall be ſaved? you had as well ſaid, none; though thanks be to God we have our teſtimony on high, how much we have laboured and travelled for the Salvation of Souls; nor have you any cauſe to ſay, The Devil may have a Writ of Eaſe from any Judgment or Practice of ours; for, to the praiſe of God we ſpeak it, we have been by him made Inſtruments to turn men from Darkneſs to Light, and from the power of Satan to God, and not a few: but if any do give the Devil a Writ of Eaſe, and bring Prey to the Den of that great Devourer, it is more like to be you that ſeek to keep men from the Truth, and that leave no ſtone unturned, to draw them that are in it, to the like diſ-eſteem you your ſelves have of it: And indeed, before you had charged others with Church-dividing, you ſhould firſt prove your ſelves to be a true Conſtituted Church, and then cry out against the Ignorance and Pride of thoſe that Separated from you; but while that beam is in your eye, how can you diſcern aright the moat in anothers? for as the Devil can dance at diſcord, ſo he can dance at concord, in confuſion and diſorder; when Unity is kept in Iniquity and Error, nothing can pleaſe the Father of Lyes better, promote his intereſt, enlarge his kingdom, and give a more ſecure Writ of Eaſe than that will; and therefore, if he be no better furniſhed, than where Unity is kept with Truth, and Unity in Iniquity, and Error is avoided, he may go look for Men and Arms where he can find them; for where Unity and Truth are together, and Truth and Unity are individuals, he will find none: And what will lay the Church more open to ruine and ſpoyle, than Unity in Error and Sin? and who, that is a Chriſtian, can rejoyce in ſuch Trophies? the Devil ſhall gain by ſuch victories, yet will Church-diviſions do much, and cauſe her Enemies to triumph; let them take it to themſelves that are guilty thereof: Men in ſuch caſes most times miſs the mark, and lay not the ſaddle on the right horſe, but ſatisfie and pleaſe themſelves by charging others with that they want proof of, that ſo the Plea for themſelves may the better paſs for Not guilty, by crying up lawful Separation to be Church-Renting, and a wounding Chriſts Body. And who will ſooner reflect the want of Knowledge, and Pride, than ſuch who are proud, knowing nothing, but doting about Queſtions? 1 Tim 6.3, 4.
And how many men might ſilently go to their Graves without noiſe, had they not ſecured their Names, and in ſome kind their Reputation, by ſuch doting ways, and contendings againſt Truth, by branding others with the infamous character of Church-breaking? And while they do this, kindle a Fire to themſelves, and then delight in the ſparks thereof; withal reflecting the guilt of it on others, being ambitious that none are ſo holy, humble, and wiſe as they: and beſides, think it their duty to ſacrifice in the flame of their own fire, all their abilities and parts, to promote their intended deſigns; not ſtanding much upon it, if to help forward the Work they venture to adde a little Hypocriſie, that with fair words and feigned ſpeeches, they might the better deceive the hearts of the ſimple: And that by ſtigmatizing others with the name of fooliſh Builders, and unskilful Phyſitians, you (like Abſalom) might get in place your ſelves; and while you pity the ſtate of others in this defect, crave the work your ſelves, as Builders, and the Cure, as Phyſitians; who yet have not attained the skill to lay a foundation. And if your skill to cure, be …o better than to build; there's but ſmall hopes for them that imploy you, but to be deſtroyed by your Building, and to die by your Practice.
And moſt ſure it is, that this will be the iſſue, if ſuch unskilful Builders and Phyſicians be courted as they have been by ſome, to lend their aſſistance and advice; whoſe pride and intereſt is ſuch, that will not ſuffer them to be controul'd in their work, ſince their hearts are ſo ſtout, and their conceits of themſelves are ſo high, that they will not indure that ſhould be amended, which they have unskilfully built. What will then an agreement to joyn with you, to build, & to cure (though ſtiled happy) prove, but little better than deſtruction, and a languiſhing under an incurable diſeaſe, whoſe Reputation will not admit of any Regulation, that have ſo long made oppoſition against the true Rules of ſure and ſafe Building? And then how ſhall they become Truths Proſelytes, that have rejected it ſo long, without aſſuming the guilt of what they ſtand charged with, which may expoſe them to reject Conviction, rather than loſe their Credit and Reputation? For which they must ſay, we make cauſleſs Separation, hating them, and caſting them out, when none they charge are guilty of the one, nor of the other, as the Anſwers to your Queſtions will inform you; which we preſent to your ſerious Conſideration; believing that Peace is the bleſſing of the moſt High, when Truth and Purity joyn hands with it. And O how happy a thing, and deſirable, is ſuch a Peace and Unity! And how much longed for! But ah! when will it once be? How can this ſo deſirable a thing be hoped for, while Truth and You ſtand at a diſtance? Your ſubjection to Chriſt, in owning and obeying that ſacred Appointment of his, which you have made ſuch oppoſition againſt, may heal the Breach, by which you will be baptized into one Body with us; and ſo you and we may grow up together a Temple and holy Habitation of God through the Spirit.
J. G.
The Searchers for Schiſm ſearched.
MEeting with a ſmall Book called A Search for Schiſm, and finding with what ſpecious and glorious pretences it comes forth, and how reproachfully, yea and falſly the Authors thereof do repreſent thoſe diſſenting from them; leſt they ſhould inſult yet more, and trample upon that ſacred Truth they contend againſt and oppoſe, We therefore thought it neceſſary that their Queſtions ſhould be anſwered.
Queſt. 1.
Whether a Congregation of people, that have confeſſed their ſins, and profeſſed their Faith in Chriſt for the pardon of them, and thereupon are baptized; reſolving by Gods aſſistance further to believe, do, and ſuffer what they ſhall from time to time underſtand to be according to the Will of God; We demand whether a people ſo qualified and congregated, ought not to be esteemed a Church of Chriſt, and Members in particular? 1 Cor. 12.13.