Inquiry into the Nature of Evangelical Churches, Polemic
An Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Book of the Unreasonableness of Separation, in Defence of the Vindication of Non-Conformists from the Guilt of Schisme.
THE Preceding Discourse was written for the most part, before the publishing of the Treatise of the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet, Entituled the Ʋnreasonableness of Separation. Yet was it not so without a Prospect, at least a probable Conjecture, that something of the same kind and tendency with the Doctors Book, would be published in Defence of the Cause which he had undertaken. And I was not without hopes, that the whole of it might have been both finished and communicated unto publick view, before any thing farther were attempted against our Cause, whereby many Mistakes might have been prevented. For, as I was willing, yea very desirous if it were the Will of God, that I might see before my departure out of this World, the Cause of Conformity, as things are now stated between us and the Church of England, pleaded with Judgment, Moderation, and Learning, with the best of those Arguments whereby our Principles or Practises are opposed; so considering on what hand that work was now like to fall, I thought, si pergania dextra, &c. and am of the same Mind still. But my expectation being frustrate, of representing our whole Cause truly stated, for the Prevention of Mistakes, by the coming out of this Book against all sorts of Nonconformists, I thought it convenient to publish this first Part of what I had designed, and to annex unto it the ensuing Defence of the Vindication of Non-conformists, from the charge of Schisme. For although I do know that there is nothing material in the whole Book of the Ʋnreasonableness of Sepaeration, but what is obviated or answered before hand, in the preceeding Discourse; so as that the Principles and Demonstrations of them contained therein may easily be applyed unto all the Reasonings, Exceptions, and Pleas, in and of that Book, to render them useless unto the End designed, which is to reinforce a charge of Schisme against us; Yet I think it necessary to shew how unsuccessful, from the disadvantage of his Cause, the Doctor hath been in his laborious endeavour to stigmatize all Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England, with the odious name of Schismaticks. I have therefore altered nothing of what I had projected, either as to Matter or Method in this first Part of the Discourse designed on the whole Subject of Church Affairs. For as I have not found either Cause or Reason from any thing in the Doctors Book to make the least change in what I had writt…n, so my principal Design being the Instruction and confirmation of them, who have no other Interest in these things, but only to know and perform their own Duty, I was not willing to give them the trouble of perpetual diversions from the Matter in hand, which all Controversial Writings are Subject unto. Wherefore having premised some general Considerations of things insisted on by the Dr. of no great Influence into the Cause in hand, and vindicated one Principle, a supposition whereof we rely upon, namely, the Declension of the Churches in the Ages after the Apostles, especially after the End of the second Century, from the Primitive Institution of their State, Rule, and Order, in the Preface; I shall now proceed to consider and examine distinctly what is opposed unto the Defence of our Innocency as unto the Guilt of Schisme. But some things must be premised hereunto. As,
1. I shall not depart from the state of the Question as laid down by our selves on our part, as unto our Judgement of Parochial Churches, and our Refraining from Communion with them. Great Pains is taken to prove the several sorts of Dissenters to be departed farther from the Church of England then they will themselves allow, and on such Principles as are disavowed by them. But no Disputations can force our Assent unto what we know to be contrary unto our Principles and Perswasions.
2. We do allow those Parochial Assemblies, which have a settled unblamable Ministry among them, to be true Churches, so far as they can pretend themselves so to be; Churches, whose Original is from occasional Cohabitation within Precincts limited by the Law of the Land; Churches, without Church-Power to choose or ordain their Officers, to provide for their own Continuation, to admit or exclude Members, or to reform at any time what is amiss among them; Churches, which are in all things under the Rule of those who are set over them, by vertue of Civil Constitutions, forraign unto them, not submitted willingly unto by them, and such for the most part as whose Offices and Power, have not the least countenance given unto them from the Scripture or the Practice of the Primitive Churches; Such as are Chancellours, Commissaries, Officials, and the like; Churches in which for the most part through a total Neglect in Evangelical Discipline, there is a great Degeneracy from the exercise of Brotherly Love, and the Holiness of Christian Profession; whatever can be ascribed unto such Churches, we willingly allow unto them.
3. We do and shall abide by this Principle, that communion in Faith and Love, with the Administration of the same Sacraments, is sufficient to preserve all Christians from the Guilt of Schisme, although they cannot communicate together in some Rites and Rules of Worship and Order. As we will not admit of any presumed Notions of Schisme, and inferences from them, nor allow that any thing belongs thereunto, which is not contrary to Gospel Love, Rules and Precepts, in the Observance of Christs Institutions; so we affirm and shall maintain that men abiding in the Principles of Communion mentioned, walking peaceably among themselves, refraining Communion with others, peaceably, wherein they dissent from them, ready to joyn with other Churches in the same Confession of Faith, and in the Defence of it, and to concur with them in promoting all the real ends of Christian Religion, not judging the Church state of others, so as to renounce all Communion with them, as condemning them to be no Churches; continuing in the occasional exercise of all Duties of Love towards them and their Members, are unduely charged with with the Guilt of Schisme, to the disadvantage of the Common Interest of the Protestant Religion amongst us.
4. Whereas there are two parts of the Charge against us, the one for refraining from total communion with Parochial Assemblies, which what it is, and wherein it doth consist, hath been before declared; the other for gathering ourselves into another Church Order in particular Congregations as the Reasons and Grounds of the things themselves are distinct, so must they have a distinct consideration, and be examined distinctly and apart.
These things being premised, I shall proceed to examine what the Reverend Doctor hath further offered, against our former Vindication of the Non-conformists from the charge of Schisme, and I desire the Reader to take notice, that we delight not in these contentions, that we desire nothing but mutual Love and Forbearance; but we are compelled by all Rules of Scripture and natural Equity, to abide in this Defence of ourselves. For whereas we are charged with a Crime, and that aggravated as one of the most heynous that men can incur the Guilt of in this World, and to justifie men in severities against us; being not in the least convinced in our Consciences of any Accessions thereunto, or of any Guilt on the account of it, I suppose the Doctor himself will not think it reasonable that we should altogether neglect the Protection of our own Innocency.