Animadversions Upon the New England Anabaptists, Section 3
SECT. III.
In the next place▪ we have an Epiſtle to the Reader, to uſher in the Narrative▪ Dignum patelâ op rculum. If ſtrangers will needleſly be medling, they muſt thank themſelves if they get a blow. They tell us, they …eave the enſuing Apology to plea… …o it ſelf (But it had been friendly to have ſpoke a word for it, it being able to ſpeak ſo little for it ſelf) yet they are willing to give in their teſtimony how that one and the ſame ſpirit in Chriſtians makes them in paſſions and affections preſent, though locally diſtant, and extends a fellow-feeling with the members of the ſame body) and if that were proper to ſincere Chriſtians, or characteriſtical of them, they had ſaid ſomething: But experience lets us know, that a ſpirit of Error is as diffuſive, as that of ſincerity, and a common cauſe (though bad) can tye men up in a combination and conſpiracie: hence they do well to ſubjoyn that plea from their perfect agreement in matters of Faith and worſhip] for if ſo, then ſelf intereſt alſo obligeth them to take part with their Brethren: and they do it to purpoſe, having ſqueezed the quinteſſence of the Book into their Epiſtle. The intendment of it is to accuſe this Government and theſe Churches of Perſecuting the Saints and Servants of Chriſt: and they begin with the Churches, where (wiſely taking the Queſtion for granted, which might have put them to ſome difficulty to have proved) they endeavour to aggravate our guilt by divers Arguments.
1. Our practiſes are contrary to the Principles and practiſes of our Brethren of the Congregational way in England, which do equally plead for the liberties of the Anabaptiſts as their own] But let them not be angry if we are hard to believe that thoſe of the Congregational way i… England do judge ſuch Anabaptiſts as theſe in New-Engl. to be as Orthodox as themſelves, and deſerve like countenance and favour; or that Magiſtrates and Churches are no wayes bound to labour (according to the power given them) to ſuppreſs Errors ſcandalouſly perſiſted in, or to manifeſt a practical diſlike of them: is not this to ſcandalize the congregational Churches there, that they may better accuſe them here?
2. Our practiſes are contrary to the deſign of our firſt Planters, who left all for liberty of Conſcience, and we are the Children of thoſe that felt the laſh of Impoſi…, and yet will ſhew to others the like ſeverity] I perceive they are miſtaken in the deſign of our firſt Planters, whoſe buſineſs was not Tolerations … were pro…eſſed Enemies of it, and could leave the World profeſſing they died no Libertines. Their buſineſs was to ſettle, and (as much as in them lay) ſecure Religion to Poſterity, according to that way which they believed was of God. If (therefore) this People parted with ſo much, and were at ſuch charges for their liberties why then do the Anabaptiſts trouble them, who had neither ſcot nor lot in that charge? let them go and do the like, and we ſhall not ſo moleſt their Churches, as they have ſhamefully done by ours.
3. It is againſt their Brethren] the ſincerity of the expreſſion is much to be ſuſpected, ſince we know that they do deny us to be, ſo much as viſible Chriſtians, while they declare our Baptiſme, not only to be a mal Adminiſtration, but a meer nullity. But granting it, we never could finde that Diſcipline rightly adminiſtred, was againſt Chriſtian charity; and yet the ſubject of it is Brethren; yea the neglect of that duty (in caſe) would argue want of love, if not hatred, Levit. 19. 17.
4. But they are Brethren that avowedly profeſs and appeal to the ſame rule] But what if the Churches, in their bearing witneſs againſt them, do appeal to the ſame rule? and think they ſhould violate it by neglecting this duty, how ſhall we do then? why do they cenſure our Church cenſures againſt them that have ſometimes been our Members? we do avowedly appeal to the ſame rule. Is it ſufficient to ſatisfie men in one anothers proceedings (though contrary) becauſe they appeal to the ſame rule; this muſt certainly be ſome Leſbian Rule, that may ſquare to all mens Opinions and fancies.
5. That the preſent moleſtation given them is meerly for a ſuppoſed Error relating to the Subject of Baptiſme] Here learn, how dangerous a thing it is, to take a thing for truth, upon the credit of prejudiced perſons. How untrue this is, there will be afterward occaſion in divers examples to make appear: only we muſt give them leave to call it a ſuppoſed error; but with whom? with them it is a believed truth, and of ſuch weight, that it were better ſet a fire on the World than not ſtand up in it's defence: and (I can aſſure them) with us it is more than a ſuppoſed error: and yet that that hath been the only ground of their being moleſted, ſhall alſo appear to be more than a ſuppoſed falſhood.
6. It is a matter which hath been, and (if we believe them) is ſtill ſub judice: controverted, and that between learned and judicious, holy and good men] why then ſhould they be ſo ſtiffe for it, or we againſt it? it is very weak for men to be ſo rigid on all hands about a nice controverſie, and indeterminable queſtion, which learned and good men have not theſe 1600 years known how to determine. But (upon ſearch) I finde it hath been both profeſſed and defended in all ages by the Churches of Chriſt: though this truth (as many others) hath not eſcaped the oppoſition of men left by God to a ſpirit of error: but it hath fared as well, as almoſt any great Goſpel Truth; God having ever raiſed up worthy Patrons for the defence of it. If fundamental Truths muſt be the more charily or dubiouſly aſſerted becauſe men enfatuated with Error and holding perverſe, principles, yet pretending holineſs (and what Heretick ever did other) impugne it, it would be a plauſible way to ſubvert all.
With theſe Arguments they fortifie their concluſion, viz. that for one Proteſtant Congregation (on ſuch occaſions) to perſecute another (where there is no pretenſe to inſallibility in deciding controverſies) ſeems much more unreaſonable then all the cruelties of the Romiſh Church▪ &c.] Before I ſaw that Narrative, one told me it was a moderate piece, and ſhewed a Chriſtian ſpirit. If they intend us not in theſe words they are vain m…n; if they do, they render themſelves the Perſecutors, purſuing us with bitter words who have this to ſay that in all our dealings with them, we have (allowing humane infirmities) walked by the golden Rule they urge upon us (if rightly underſtood) doing as we would be done by.
Now they have a word of counſel to the Governours in New-England, to conſider their Brethren of the Congregational way in England leſt they juſtifie thoſe that trouble them there▪ ] They owe thanks to any that will fairly put them in mind of their duty, only in this counſel there lurks a dangerous evil, which they (in retaliation of cour…eſies) are to be admoniſhed of, viz. they forget that the cauſe evermore alters the quality of the action: nor was it ever thought by any (of a …ound minde) that juſtice ſhould not be adminiſtred upon offenders, leſt others (by miſapplication) ſhould thence take occaſion to wrong the innocent: and the Honourable Governours in New-England have learned, and are perſwaded that if they ſhould ſin, by omitting duty for mans ſake▪ they ſhould both diſhonour God and grieve their Brethren To ſcare us the more with this, they tell us how Dr. Stillingfleet improved it to the ſame purpoſe againſt us.] all I ſhall ſay to this is we cannot confeſs guilty, for the cenſure of thoſe, who neither knowing what we do, nor weighing the difference of caſes (which they would make parallels) raſhly conclude againſt us: we humbly conceive men that are not prejudiced will eaſily diſcern that ſuppreſſing with all gentleneſs and tenderneſs, a dangerous error and of bad tendency (ſuch as Anabaptiſm eſpecially ſo circumſtanced as in New-England it hath been) and the enforcing of Ceremonies in Religion, which are neither directly, nor by any good conſequence required, in or by the word of God do differ to…o coelo.
For the concluding Prayer, we can heartily put it up to God, and might have joyned with them in it too, had they not added it as a cloak to the ſlander of their Epiſtle.