A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 10 · Section 14
Sect. 14. To the observation of the Lords day, hearing the present Ministers as the case now is, may be requisite.
Object. 10. But our Ministers are removed, and we know not where to go to hear; would you have us sit at home idle? We cannot so spend the Lords day.
Answ. To which we would humbly offer a few things.
1. That though we are not against any Ordinance of Jesus Christ, yet we are afraid that those poor Souls, that know not how to spend the Lords day without hearing, do too much Idolize that Ordinance of God, and never knew what it was to spend that day with him.
2. You need not sit at home; if you are enquiring after God, and communion with his people, you may soon hear of some one or other of the Assemblies of the Saints, whither you may repair to wait upon the Lord with them.
3. But thirdly, were it, or should it be otherwise; yet better be idle, than do worse; better do nothing, than sin against God, encourage others in their evil deeds, pollute and wound thy own Soul, grieve the Saints, stumble and harden the wicked, and cause them to blaspheme his Name, Sanctuary, and such as dwell therein.
But, 4. There is no necessity of being idle, if thou knowest not where to hear on that day, hast thou no work to do save that?
1. Art sure that God, and Christ, and Eternal Glory, are thy portion and inheritance? Thou walkest in the light of assurance, or thou dost not? If thou dost, is one day in seven too much to spend in the solemn admiration of grace, that ever so vile a creature as thou, should be accounted worthy of such unexpressible kindness and glory? What, O what will Eternity be then? If thou dost not, are not these worthy of thy utmost diligence to get assurance of? What, stand idle, and an interest in God, Christ, and Eternal Glory to make sure of!
2. Art thou sufficiently acquainted with thine own heart? Dost know so much of thy self as thou needest to know? Or judgest thou this to be a work that requires not thy utmost diligence and attendance?
3. Hast thou no sin to be mortified, no want to be supplyed, no grace to be quickned and strengthned in thee?
4, Hast thou as much communion with God as thou desirest? Hast heard as often from him by the tea…hings of the Spirit (the incomparably and infinitely best teacher) as thou dost wish? Or dost think that God will not manifest himself to, and teach in a corner, a poor Soul that's there waiting for him alone, because there be no Assemblies of Saints he knows of, to whom he might joyn himself, and he dares not have Communion with Adulterers? If thou have not fellowship with God thou desirest, and teachings from him (as who hath) stir up thy self to lay hold on God, groan and cry after him, till he hath brought thee into his chambers, and afforded thee richer displayes of his glory.
5. Art thou altogether ready trimmed (without more ado) for the coming and Kingdom of Christ Jesus? what should I mention those important duties of reading the Scriptures, meditation on them, &c. hast thou all this to do, and much more that might be added, and yet nothing to do on the Lords day? set about these things in good earnest, and when thou livest in the light of assurance, without the least doubt or clouding, when thou art sufficiently acquainted with thine own heart, the will and Scriptures of the Lord; when thou hast as much communion with God in retirement, as thou desirest, and teachings from his Spirit; when thou hast no sin to be mortified, nor grace to be quickened and strengthened; when thou art quite ready for the day of Christ, and needest no further fittings, we shall consider what may be further said to this Objection; but till then, it cannot be pleaded, when souls have all this work to do, that they must sit at home idle, if they go not to hear the Preachers of this day. But thus far of the Objections that are by some made against the assertion of the unlawfulness of attending upon the present Ministers of England; which are all of any moment we have yet met with: what of weight is in them, must be left to the judgement of the Christian Reader to determine. We shall add no more but this, that we have spoken our judgement and conscience herein, as in sincerity, in the sight of God: with what meekness, Christian tenderness, and fear of giving any just offence to the truly conscientious, he knows. The sole of our aim in the whole is, That Christ may be glorified in the recovery of any poor lamb, that is turned aside to the flocks of the companions in this cloudy and dark day; that others that have hitherto kept themselves from Idols, might be further established in the will of God, and strengthened to follow Christ in his temptations, that they may inherit that kingdom and glory, prepared for them before the foundation of the world: May we but in the least contribute, by Divine blessing, hereunto whatever becomes of these papers, or however they be by others accounted of, we have our end, and shall rest satisfied.
I reply, this objection I find made not onelyonly by some of the common sort of professors, but also particulaly by Mr. Crofton, and made by him as an argument, wherefore he did, and ought to joyn in hearing and praying in publick on the Lords day, notwithstanding the defects in the ministerial mode and method of the publick Ministers, the worship of God substantially existing in matter and essential form in their Ministration, and the Lords day being to be observed in publick as well as private, where, and when the Ordinances cannot be enjoyed in a purer manner. His second in the book intituled, Jerubbaal justified, doth reduce his plea to this Syllogism. Communion with the Church visible in Gods solemn publick worship, is an essential part of the sanctification of the Sabbath, and indispensable duty. But communion with the English Church, in the worship by her celebrated, is communion with the Church visible in Gods solemn worship. Ergo, Communion with the English Church (having no opportunity with any other) in the worship of her celebrated, is to me an essential part of the sanctification of the Sabbath, and indispensable duty. This Syllogism is defended in that Book, to which I refer the Reader, and consider the objection as here it is urged and answered. The objection proceeds upon suppositions of the Separatists, or Independents, in the number of whom he is to be accounted, as appears by his wordes in this Chapter, in answer to the 7th. objection, where he saith, Learned Ainsworth, Cotton, &c. have been and are of the same apprehension with us in this matter. Now in Mr. Cottons way of the Churches of Christ in New England, it is put into the definition of a visible Church, that they are a number that may meet every Lords day for all Ordinances, and in the Declaration of the Elders and Messengers of the Congregational Churches at the Savoy, Oct. 12. 1658. ch. 22. art. 8. The Sabbath is then kept holy to the Lord, when men are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. Among these art. 5. The reading of the Scriptures, preaching and hearing of the word of God are reckoned, and art. 6. God is to be worshipped as in private families daily, and in secret each one by himself, so more solemnly in the publick assemblies, which are not carelesly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calleth thereunto. Upon which, and other suppositions, it concerns every tender conscience, which receiveth these principles, to consider how they can acquit themselves from not observing the Lords day in publick assemblies, where God is invocated in the name of Christ, and the word of God truly taught, especially in such places where they may enjoy these performed by the present Ministers, and are deprived of their former Ministers and communion, and cannot of themselves discharge these duties.
That which this Authour answers, doth not solve the doubt: That such persons conceive they cannot spend the Lords day without hearing, is not out of any Idolizing the Ordinances of God; but from those grounds which are by the declaration afore named, and the generality of zealous Preacher, pressed upon Christians, That it is one duty of sanctifying the Lords day, not onelyonly to abstain from labour, which makes onelyonly Sabbatum asinorum, a Sabbath that beasts have as well as men; nor onelyonly to exercise themselves in reading and prayer at home, for that is every days duty; but also to frequent the publick assemblies where God is worshipped, which this Authour conceives injoyned, Heb. 10.25. and is gathered from Exod. 20.8. Acts 20.7. Revel. 1.10. 1 Cor. 16.1.2. John 20.19.26. That many persons cannot in many places find such assemblies of the Saints, as this Authour means, is a thing out of doubt with me. Were publick hearing a sin, I confess it were better to do nothing than do that: But that is not yet proved, and I think it fit to acquaint the Reader, That Mr. Norton of New England, in that Answer to Apollonius his questions, which is commended by Mr. Cotton, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Philip Nye, and Mr. Sidrach Simpson, ch. 13. doth thus determine, Such things being observed as are to be observed, it may be lawful to use forms of prayers, administrations of Sacraments, &c. prescribed in the Church, neither are the Churches which use them guilty of superstition, will-worship, and violating the second Commandment; yea, it is lawful to embrace communion with them, where such forms in the publick worship are in use: neither doth it lie as a duty on a believer, that he separate and disjoyn himself from such a Church, unless he would partake in the superstitious worship of Images. Communion with a Church, quâ utitur, as it useth worship of it self unlawful, is unlawful; communion with a Church quae utitur, which useth it, to wit, in other lawful worship, is lawful; and separation from it, is unlawfull.
And to shew how evil the counsel of this Authour is to men to spend the Lord's day in a corner idle at home, rather then go to hear in publick. I think good to subjoyn some words of Mr John Paget in his Preface to the Christian Reader, before his Book, Intituled, An Arrow against the separation of the Brownists. Of the Brownists there are sundry sorts: some separate from the Church of England for corruptions; and yet confess both it and Rome and it also to be a true Church, as the followers of Mr. Johnson, Christian Plea, p. 216, 217. Some renounce the Church of England as a false Church, and yet allow private communion with the godly therein, as Mr. Robinson Justifie. p. 339, 340, 247. and his followers Relig. Com. p. 1. &c. Some renounce all religious communion both publique and private with any Member of that Church whosoever, as Mr. Ainsworth Counterpoy. pag. 197. and such as hearken unto him, being deepest and stiffest in their Schism. The evil of this separation is great.
First, The minds of many are troubled and distracted hereby; even of such as do not separate, but have some liking thereof; especially if it be true which Mr. Robinson writes of them, Relig. comm. preface; to wit, That they seeing it not to be for their purposes that the world should so esteem of them▪ do undoubtedly strain and wring the neck of their consciences and courses, to look the contrary way ▪ &c. What can be more miserable then to have the necks of consciences thus broken by the doctrine of separation?
Secondly, for those that separate, but do not yet joyn unto them, or being joyned▪ do withhold from actual communion, living alone, and hearing the word of God in no Church, as some do; How great is their misery also; Mr. Robinson himself, ibid. p. 36.39. shews it at large, no…ing them to be Idol-members, such as break the commandment of Christ, loose the fruit of his ascension, and fail their own edification and salvation many ways, &c.
Thirdly▪ for those that being enjoyned to them, do also live with them, seeing they have in effect excommunicate themselves from all other Churches of Christ▪ and consequently from the fellowship of Christ Jesus himself, and from the participation of his grace and glory, so far as he reveals the same by dwelling in those Churches: It is therefore no wonder to hear Mr. Johnson treat on Matt. 18. Preface A. 2. complaining of the evils among them, as emulation, debate, and other sins which daily arise and spread themselves to the great dishonour of God, &c.
As for the directions given by this Authour, how to spend at home the Lords day, some of them are such as weak persons; women and novices cannot make use of it, yea, they would be dangerous to them, occasioning them to fall into errours, Enthusiastick conceits, some of them Antinomians count unnecessary, and those that are good; yet by the deprivation of society, and publick teaching, and heavily performed; and they that take such courses, do either very frequently decay in the exercise of godliness, grow barren and liveless in prayer and holy conferences, or turn Seekers, Quakers, Ranters, Censurers, Scoffers, Libertines: However, were they all used, yet they solve not the doubt arising from those principles, which require publick hearing for hallowing the Lords day; which is to be observed not onelyonly for the benefit of our own edification, but also for the glory of God, and testification of our profession; which is not done by private exercise of Religion. And although some persons may more benefit themselves in knowledge by reading at home, yet the example hinders others from the use of the publick Ordinances, whereto we should by our practice encourage them. For these, and other reasons often urged by those, who have been for separation, it is not to be expected that such private exercises should be blessed or accepted of God, when the publick are to be performed. Both certainly should be done in their seasons, not one exclude the other.
I have thus answered all I find in this Authour, and do joyn with him in referring the thing to the Reader, who, if he will not cheat his own soul, must judge impartially, and without prejudice, weighing what is said on both sides. As for my aims and spirit in writing this thing, having found so little equity in mens censures of me about former writings, I can the less trust to any sort of mens good or bad of one or other opinion or judgement of me: My care I hope shall be, to approve my self to God, and to sollicite him by prayers for his blessing upon my labours in this thing: To which I shall add as over-measure, these ensuing Arguments for hearing the present Ministers as now the case is.