A Just Defense of Hearing the Sermons, Chapter 7 · Section 17
Sect. 17. The Martyrs are unjustly made Idolaters by this Author.
Obj. 2. But what shall we judge of Latimer, Ridley, Hooper, and many other famous witnesses and martyrs of Christ, who worshipped God after the same way of worship that these do now? Were they also Idolaters? How could they be saved then, when …he Scripture sayes, that no Idolater shall inherit the Kingdom of God, and we do not find that they repented hereof? To this we answer,
1. That the persons instanc'd in, were eminent witnesses of Jesus Christ in their day (whose very names are in our nostrils as sweet perfume) we readily grant, and would be loth to speak one word to abate of that just esteem is due to their names, and testimony for Christ.
2ly. That they are now with Christ, and shall come with him, a…d sit upon Thrones to judge their unjust Judges, in the day app…in…ed thereunto, we have not the least scruple.
But, 3ly. They were but men, encompassed about with many infirmities: That they were guilty of the sin of Idolatry, cannot (from what hath been said herein, its evident) be denied. Y…t,
1. They were, in that day, but just peeping out of the gates of Babylon, beginning to arise, and shake themselves out of the dust of the abominations of the great Whore; and, tis no wonder, if some of the filth of her fornications did cleave to them.
2. They worshipped God in sincerity, according to the light he was pl…sed in that day to communicate; and God accepted of them in Christ, granting to them a general repentance for those iniquities they saw not to be so, or knew not themselves to be guilty of: which is all we shall at present say hereunto. The intelligent Reader knows, that these things are not of any moment, for the invalidating of what hath been offered upon this subject. Thus farr of this Argument, The present Ministers of England are guilty of Idolatry; therefore, tis the duty of Saints, not to hear, but separate from them.
Answ. Though this Objection be not a direct Answer to your Argument, yet it is a very great prejudice against it, that by striking at the present Ministers, you wound the holy Martyrs; you make them Idolaters for that very thing for which they dyed, that they might not be Idolaters; judging them, as committing Idolatry, in kneeling with such respect to the bread, as they did utterly detest, abhorred to the death, and for witnessing against it, laid down their lives in the flames; and making all the godly at that time, who did as they did, and held communion with them, guilty of their sin, for hearing them, and not separating from them, and urging that against the present Ministers, which the holy Martyrs rejoyced in, and the Ministers think themselves happy, that they are found like them. Me-thinks when you wrote this chapter, you should have thought of that which is Psal. 73.15. If I say, I will speak thus: behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children: And have taken heed, how you had perswaded to separation for that, which in the Martyrs you make their infirmity, and in charity you might so conceive of the present Ministers: whereof many of them, even of the Bishops, and such as were in exile with the King, and others, at home, and abroad, have shewed their constant adherence to the Doctrine of the Church of England, particularly against the ado…ation of the consecrated host, when they were tempted to joyn with the Papists. I wish you did not strengthen the hands of the Papists, by this your pleading, rather than help to reduce them from their great abominations: and that you did not weaken the Protestant party, by hind…ing the union that should be among men that agree in the main, though they dissent in some things considerable, in this time, wherein the common Cause is endangered by divisions. If the Martrys were but peeping out of the gates of Babylon, it may seem, they were not, in your opinion, escaped thence, if some of the filth of the great Whores fornications did cleave to them, how is it, they are now with Christ, where no unclean thing enters? That they should repent of that which they offered to justifie a little afore they dyed, is not likely. It would be more for your comfort, and the Churches peace, if by getting out of Babylon, you did not run to the contrary extreme of Fana…icism: and in seeking Reformation, you did no… unsettle all; and that you did review this Argument, in which I find strong accusation, and weak proof.