The Banders Disbanded, Part 2
Secondly from the Scandallousnes of this Bond, I may Reason thus.
A Bond that is justly scandallous or gives just ground of scandall or stumbling (not that the ground of Scandall can be just & warantable i. e, that any ground of Scandall can justify the Scandall or warant any person to stumble; but that such a Bond as this doth give just ground to repute the giving of it a reall Scandall, and that whi…h hes a reall and direct tendency to stumble & offend) ought not to be given or allowed to be given: But this Bond for Mini…ters peaceable living (as it is now required) is such: Therefore it ought not to be given or allowed. That this B…nd is Scandallous, & that upon many accounts, may appear.
1 It is scandallous to give such a Bond as puts a tash & disgrace upon the Ministers of the Gospell: But …ha… this is such a Bond, I prove: 1, A Bond that imports & (tacitely at least yet really) praesupposes the faithfull Ministers of the Gosp…ll to have been formerly turbulent, unpeaceable or rebellious, puts a disgrace upon the Ministers of the Gospell: But this Bond is such, as is clear from the words of the proclamation, viz. But to the end that none whom we may justly Suspect shall under the colour of this favour CONTINUE to preach Rebellion &c. For it is certain that Bonds of this nature, especially these imposed by Superiours upon their In…eriours, or Rulers upon their Subjects, doe presuppose that these of whom the said Bonds are required, have either been formerly guilty of… or else have a propensity to doe the contrare of what is required of them by these Bonds: Therefore &c. 2. That Bond which imports & presupposes the Ministers to be either incapable or unworthy to bind immediatly for their own peaceable behaviour, or that they will make no Conscience of their duty (such as to live peaceably) except others of more Credite & Respect bind for them, or that even others their binding for them is not sufficient to keep them in order except for ane aw-band they oblige themselves also to present them, & that under a great penalty, such a B…nd I say putts a great stain & disgrace upon the Ministers of the Gospell: But such is this Bond now required: Ergo very scandallous. But
2. It is scandallous to give a Bond that not only puts disgrace upon the Ministers but also tends natively to bring the Ministry under Contemp? That this is such a Bond is evident, Because it is scarse imaginable That such a mans Ministry (who hes ingadged in this Bond) can have any weight, authority or respect with the people under his Charge so long as he is look't upon as ane Infamous Offender or Malefactor, & one who is neither a good Subject nor a good Christian; not a good Subject, because as he hath been given to rebellious Courses formerly, so he is still ready to break out into the same dis-orders (for both these doth this Bond import, as above) except he be chained up by another man's binding for his peaceable behaviour, who hes (as it were) the rope f…stened about the Ministers neck, That so soon as in the least he trespasses, he may be ready to be drawn forth, if it were even to a gibbet: nor is he look't upon as a good Christian, either by the more tender & zeallous, because he ha…h purchased externall Liberty to exercise his Ministry in so foull & unwarantable a way; or by others, because he makes no Conscience of his duty (to live peaceably) except he be either bribed or over-awed thereto. What esteem then of, or reverence to such a Man's Ministry can the people have, or what au…hority & weight can such a Ministers reproving of sin or scandall in others (& particularly these under his own oversight) have, while he is by them looked upon to be such a Man as we have now described.
3. It is scandallous to give such a Bond as thereby the Cautioner appeares to the Imposers as a man who hath no scruple of Conscience to deliver up his Minister to be persecuted (and who can tell how deep it may draw with him?) when called so to doe: But this Bond is such Therefore scandallous; for though the termes (to pre…ent the Minister or pay the penalty) were never so formally alternative, yet seeing the Cautioner at his bonding doth not expressely d…clare to the Imposer which of the two Alternatives he chuses, or that he chuses not that which binds him to deliver up the Minister (which is the more sinfull & scandallous) the Imposer hes just ground to judge that it is more probable the Cautioner will rather deliver up the Minister when called thereto, then that he will be so lavish of his mony as to venture so great a summe for not presenting him: for as one said very pertinently (speaking of this subject) when one temptation prevails with him (viz. the Ca…tioner) to bind for the Minister, another may persuade him to lead him to the Gibbet.
4. It is a scandall for Presbyterians to give a Bond that natively tends to the weakening & dividing of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and makes the Bonders ipso jure the true Separatists & Fomentors of Division: But this is such a Bond: Ergo. That the giving of this Bond (or the allowing of it by a publick Vote of Ministers) doth really yea natively tend to the divi…ing & breaking of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland is too palpable by doolfull experience, that it should be den…ed or questioned: Likewise That the Givers & allowers of this Bond are (theri…) the only true Separatists from their dissenting Bretheren, and so the only C…eators of new divisions & fomentors of the former, is manifest from these two: 1. That they did coram Consult and Assembly-wayes Conclude the Lawfulnes of this Bonding yea & some of them did actually accept of the Liberty granted the…eby, and preached therupon, without first hearing & pondering of what dissenting Bretheren had to offer against it. 2 Their Bretheren who dissented from them herin, doe as yet continue in statu quo prius, in the same state & posture they were in before yea & in that same judgment & practice anent this Bond, which our Church was formerly of when most resplendent for Reformation) that is, they preach & hear upon their perill as they have formerly, for refusing to give such homage & subjection to ane Invading Adversary in the matters of God & of his Church, as by this bondadging Bond they wold certainly be obliged to give; wheras the Bonders have fallen upon a new & un…roden path, which is altogether unknown & a by-road to the Reformed Church of Scotland either as to her Principles or practices. And this leads me to the nixt.
5. It is a Scandall for any Minister or Professor of the Church of Scotland to give such a Bond for obtaining externall liberty to Ministers to preach, as never hath been given in any Church (so far as we know) far less in a Reformed Church, and least of all in so pure a Reform…d Church, as Scotland, till now: But this is such a Bond as never (let but one parallel instance be produced to disprove it) was given &c. Ergo. We read I confess in our Church-Records That in the year 1596. there was a Bond imposed by the King & his Councill to be subscribed by every one of …he Ministry, under the pain of losing their stipends; whereby they were to Confess That the King was their soveraign …udge to them & every one of them in all Causes of Sedition & Treason, & other Civill & Criminall matters, & to all their speehes which might import the said Crimes, albeit uttered by any of them in pulpit or any other place &c. Which Bond they joyntly & unanimously refused to subscribe (though otherwise they mostly granted upon the matter what was required of them, as in their Explication of Mr. David Black's Declinature & else where they insinuate) and that for XI Reasons which they gave then against the same, as may be seen in the History.
6. It is a scandallous Bond that is tendered, & when tendered is accepted by the Tenderers as the speciall signe & Test of Mi…isters their now at length succumbing unde… & yeelding up the Cause which hes been so much controver…ed, & so long con…ended for; and so a virtu…ll (at least) Ingadging no more to oppose nor Contend against, but peaceably to rest satisfied with all the past & future overturnings of the work of Reformation, but specially with the manifold Invasions made upon Christ's Prerogative & the Churches Priviledges. Bu… &c. Ergo.
7. To ingadge in a Bond the termes wherof doe not only admitt of, but are commonly taken in a sinful… & scandal…ous sense (suppone that the Ingadger should really not ingadge in that sense) and yet not to declare, that he does not ingadge in that sinfull & scanda…lous sense, is both sinfull & scandallous; for in such Cases (as al…o in most, if no… all Cases of Scandall as such) I conceive that Idem est esse & apparere, as to these to whom the scandall is given: B…t so it is in this busines of the Bond: Ergo exce…ding scandallous. That the termes of this Bond are both lyable to, and also commonly taken in a sinfull & scandallous sen…e (at least by the more tenderly zeal…ous & judicious) in our …ayes, and as matters now stand is undenyable from experience. 2 That the sense of the Imposers is also sinfull & scandallous is manifest from what is already said in Explication of the Bond. And 3 That such as have already ingadged in this Bond, have not as yet declared, to the Imposers at least, that …hey have not or would not ingadge in that sinfull & scandallous sense, is likewise manifest from matter of fact. The like may be said of the Ingadgers not protesting publickely against all or any of the innumerable evills, that are either implyed, exprest in, yea or commonly supposed to be inseparably connected with this bonding. Hence
8. It is scandallous for Presbyterian Ministers to ingadge in a Bond which is commonly suspected by most of the pious, faithfull, tender & judici…us in the Land (yea & by Strangers also & men of other Principles) …o be inconsistent with Presbyterian Principles, and yet not to assert & vindicate either by Word or Write their Presb. Principles (which are exposed to so much Reproach & Igno…iny by such Bondings) or testify against that Usurped power by which they are so much invaded, & from which the imposing of such Bonds doth natively proceed as from their genuine source & fo…ntain; Thus I say to ingadge, is very scandallous: But Presb. Ministers have ingadged in such a Bond, & yet have not &c. Ergo. Yea give me leave to say, How scandallous and reproachfull is it even to the dis-sentient & true hearted Presbyterians in Scotland, not to have either by Word, or Write, entered joyntly, a faithfull… free, positive, publick & plain Protestation (whither in the face of the late Assemblers who voted for the lawfulnes of this Bond, or otherwise) against this anti-presbyterian (to say no worse) and divisive Bond; that so a standing witness might have been preserved & perpetuate to Posterity against this as one of the most gross steps of our defection and that the mouths of many both at home & abroad might be stopt, who stand not to say & hear said That the whole Ministry of Scotland are for the lawfullnes of this Bond, at least few or none avowedl… or publickely against it.
9. It is scandallous to give a Bond that hes but the appearance of our Ceding from Contending any more for Christ's undoubted Preroga…ives, the Churches intrinsick Priviledges… just freedom of his Ambassadours &c. 2 Hes the appearance of Condemning all our own & ou… Predecessors wrestlings & Contendings fo… these & their peremptory refusing & protesting against all Bonds of this or the like nature. 3 Of dis-couradging the heart & weakening the hands of all such as have hitherto, or are as yet indeavouring to keep a distance from all such Ingadgements as having the appearance of evill. 4 Of hardening & confirming open Adversaries in all their wicked Invasions, particularly their sinfull & sacrilegious Supremacy, and incouraging them by such bondings to advance the same higher & higher as they doe. 5 Of being weary of the Cross of Christ & mistrusting of Gods faithfulnes to deliver from, o… carry us cleanly thorow this dangerous difficulty, as he hes done thorow many of the like natu…e. But 6 more particularly the giving of this Bond hath at least the appearance of (if it be not a down-right) condemning the practice & peremptoriness of some tender & zeallous among the people of late, who by choice… have suffered the most opprobrious of deaths, ere …hey wold so much as Consent, to take a Bond by many degrees more plausible & tolerable then this of the Ministers, and attended also with incomparably stronger Temptations.
10. It is Scandallous (& more specially for Ministers of the Gospell) to ingadge in a Bond, which as imposed is either contrary to, or al…oge…her withou… express Scripturall Qualifications, when the matter therof is enjoyned in the Scripture only with these Qualifications: But by giving of this Bond the Binder ingadgeth in such a Bond: Ergo. That the matter of this Bond (viz to live peaceably) is injoyned in the Scripture alwayes with some annexed qualifications & restrictions is manifest from many Instances, which for brevity I omitt now to cite, but shall touch some of them afterward in answering to Objections. 2 That this Bond is imposed by the Councill & accepted by the Bonders without expresse mention of these scripturall qualifications, is undenyably evident from matter of fact. 3 That the termes therof are commonly now taken & also to be understood in ane Anti-Scripturall or sinfull sense, is already proven.
11. The matter ingadged unto in this Bond is either 1 Clear & Indispensable duty (I say Clear, because he that doubteth is damned, and what soever is not of faith is sin; and Indispensable, because otherwise they shall never prove it to be free of sin, it being attended with so much scandall) in the present Circumstance of affaires: Or 2. it is a clear & manifest sin: Or 3 it is a matter merely Indifferent: Or 4 it hath more appearance of duty then sin: Or 5 more appearance of sin then duty. That it is not the 1, and that it is the 2, is already sufficiently made out. The 3 it cannot be, seeing it is a matter of so much weight and importance to the whole Church of Scotland. And that it is not the 4, but the 5 may appear (beside from what is already said) from this. That the Bonders themselves, and the Allowers therof are more taken up & exercised how to excogitate Defences (or ra…her pre…ences) for clearing this their bonding not to be a sin then to adduce invincible Arguments (which cannot be had) for proving it positively to be a necessary duty, or the refusing therof to be a manifest sin; which shewes plainly that they have a sort of doubting & diffidency in defending this busines, as being some way apprehensive or affraid ne lateat anguis in her…a least there be some thing really sinfull in it (bei…g somuch cryed out against & abhorred of the most Godly, tender & zeallous in the Land) and because it must first appear not to be a sin, before it can appear to be a positive and unquestionable duty, therefore they find themselves more conce…ned, how to take off (if possible) the appearance or visage of sin from it, then to give it the splendor & colour of a clear & indispensable duty. Witnesse this, their Vote for the giving of this Bond, which they thought fittest to expresse in negative termes.
12. I wold in all humility & sobernes inquire… What is the main motive & Impulse that drives these Ministers now to this Bonding; Either it must be the desire they have of externall ease & quietnes, temporall advantage & accommodation, the Courts favour & protection, applause of men, or some such carnall end; Or else their great motive & designe must be the advancement & propagation of the Gospell, and so the edification of the Church. If the former, then they thereby declare themse…ves to be perfect Hirelings & worldlings, which we will be loath to assert of them. If the latter, then it is either the edification & advantage of ou… Church in generall, or of some particular Congregations therin: the former by giveing & observing of this Bond cannot be had, as is already proven in the 8 Arg. of the 1 Head: If the latter, then it is either the good of a few Congregations as conducible to the good of the whole… or as inconsistent therwith: The former cannot be, as is clear from the forecited arg. And the latter ought no… to be, Because (as is already said) no particular advantage ought to interferre with the publick good; Besides, Christ is said to have given …o his Church, Past…rs, Teachers &c. for edifying of the BODY (to witt of his Church) and not for edifying some petty particular members therof only.