Three Private Meditations, Defense
Here followeth a brief Defence in anſwer to private Objections, lately made againſt ſome paſſages in this Authors Writings, heretofore publiſhed.
I Am informed by good friends, that among thoſe Expreſſions which I thought pertinent to this Generation, I have here and there intermingled that which is diſtaſteful to many who are not therein of my judgement, and that I have thereby loſt their good eſteem. This I finde experimentally ſo true, that not a few have neglected me, more to my grief in relation to them, and for their ſakes then for mine own, who am not ignorant how I might both have prevented, and may yet repair that loſs hereafter. Nevertheleſs, whatſoever I am, or may be thereby expoſed unto, my reſolution is, neither to deſert thoſe Principles whereto I conſcientiouſly adhered, until I am convinced of errour; nor to deceive any man by ſeeming that which I am not: For, I ſo abhor to comply for meer outward reſpects with any Perſon or Society, in things which I cannot yet believe are agreeable to Gods revealed will, and Chriſtian prudence; and ſo far alſo from recanting what I have conſcientiouſly profeſſed, though to my perſonal diſadvantage, tho I loſe all my ſeeming friends yet left, (who have not Love enough to be peaceably minded toward their Brethren, who are conformable, according to their underſtanding, to the whole will of God revealed in his word) that, as I will neither obſtinately reſiſt, or willfully neglect the means of better information; ſo I will not recede from the Chriſtian Liberty due to me, and all other men.
Many ſuppoſe there is no ſalvation, ſave in that particular Church onelyonly, whereof they are Members: But, I do believe, (as to me it ſeems implied in the 87. Pſalm) that the City of GOD extends it ſelf into every part of the world, even into Egypt, Phyliſtia, Tyre, Ethiopia, yea and into Babylon alſo; and, that under every outward Form and Diſpenſation whatſoever, GOD hath an elect people, who are Citizens of Syon, though their particular Churches, which are, as it were, diſtinct Wards of that ſpiritual Corporation, may have many blemiſhes, ignorances, errours, and defilements for the preſent. In many things, we erre all: They, who know moſt, know but in part; yea, the Apoſtles long time after they were choſen by our Savour, judged not aright of his Kingdom, nor were free from being ambitious of a Prelatical Preheminency, but ſubject to many miſapprehenſions; and ſome of them ſeduced for a while, by an Anti-chriſtian perſecuting ſpirit; as many perſons in Congregational and National Churches have ever ſince been, and zealous without knowledge, in Practices and Principles tending to that Babyloniſh Confuſion, which will univerſally come to an end e're long, though it hath lately begun to be reinforced. True Faith cannot be evidenced without good works; which being imperfect in the beſt men, we have no ſuch certain mark, whereby unfeigned Diſciples may be known, as by their being loving to each other, and charitably affected toward all men; yea, although they are our perſonal enemies: and this mark of diſtinguiſhment Chriſt himſelf hath left us.
Upon theſe and ſuch like conſiderations, I have been as wary as poſſibly I could, ſo to uſe my Chriſtian Liberty at all times, and in all places, that I might not offend a weak believer: And, we have ſo many among us, who diſſent from each other, that it makes the performance of that duty very difficultly inoffenſive; and hath put me to more trouble in the fleſh, and occaſioned more outward inconveniences, by infringing my juſt private liberty, then many of thoſe ſufferings put together, which are very grievous to other men. I dare, and do openly profeſs, (tho ſome think it needleſs) my belief and judgement, as oft as I ſee juſt occaſion is given: yet I do not voluntarily ſeparate my ſelf from any Perſons or Congregations, who are not apparently and maliciouſly wicked in their lives or doctrines; but ſeparate from their damnable errors and ſins only, as much as I may: yea, my Conſcience makes me afraid, I may juſtly offend by not complying in ſome things Indifferent, Civil or Divine, which are not repugnant to Gods revealed Word, though not thereby commanded.
Where I know not any weak brother to be then preſent, whom I may thereby offend, (and when I am thereto inclined for no carnal reſpects) I can communicate with any profeſſing belief in Chriſt Jeſus, either in Humiliations, Thanksgivings, Breaking of Bread in commemoration of our Saviours Paſſion, or in Prayer, where nothing is ſo idolatrouſly or ſuperſtitiouſly injoyned or practiſed, that it derogates from the honour of God, or is contrary to the Canon of his Word, or may in my underſtanding ſeem deſtructive to true Piety or Morality: For, all other ſuch deficiencies or ſuperfluities, as we may ſuppoſe to be in the outward worſhip of God, do but exerciſe love, humility, or meekneſs, and I look upon them where ſuch be, as I do upon mine own failings or performances. Whatſoever, where I come, which I find to be ſo done or ſpoken, that I may abſolutely conform thereunto, without offence to God and mine own Conſcience, I therein joyn; and when ought is acted or ſaid, whereto I cannot fully aſſent, I lift up my heart in ſecret prayer to God, beſeeching him to vouchſafe pardon to me, and them for what is ignorantly offended in; and to rectifie both mine and their erroneous underſtandings, who are then preſent: which practice of mine, if not worthy to be exemplar, I hope deſerves, at leaſt, a charitable cenſure.
Moſt of the quarrellings amongſt Chriſtian Profeſſours, are about matters of leſs moment then tithing mint, and anniſe, and occaſion the neglect of weightier matters, as it will appear, if well heeded; as alſo, that moſt of our Conteſts ſpring from ſelf-love, though pretended for God; and tend more to ſatisfie the ambition and covetouſneſs of men, then to advance his honour or true piety. For, it is evident, that a ſuperintendency over divine Rites, and the Worſhip of God, is unduly aſſumed by many, ſurreptitiouſly obtained, and magiſterially uſurped by ſom who had no lawful call thereunto; yea, & viciouſly exerciſed (in my judgment) by all thoſe who endeavour to compel men (otherwiſe then by loving compellations) either to the omiſſion, or to the uſe of this or, that Diſcipline or Form of Prayer, againſt their Conſciences. They who think no Oblation's accepted of God, but thoſe ſet forms, or extemporary Devotions which they affect, are equally guilty of a ſuperſtitious errour: For, both the one and the other, may be compleat or defective, warrantably or unwarrantably exhibited, according as they are performed. Extempory Prayers are ſet forms to all who hear them, except to the ſpeakers onelyonly; and perhaps alſo, to ſome of their knowledges, who ſpeak them, the greateſt part of thoſe Prayers are ſet forms, and otherwhiles, in that regard the more acceptable: For, that form which the Spirit of God hath at any time dictated, never leaves it to be leſs effectual then it was at firſt, if it ſhall at any other time be offered up on the like occaſion by thoſe, who with the ſame devotion, and a true ſenſe of what is wanting, ſhall faithfully pray for it in the ſame words.
Some have affirmed in my hearing, that by declaring my private judgement touching matters controverted, I expoſed my ſelf to more ſufferings, then were neceſſarily adventured: yet I do not ſo believe: For all that I have publickly affirmed in ſubjects of that nature, whereupon troubles enſued, was by me intended for Gods Glory and the common good, (though turned to my perſonal detriment in appearance) and they have hitherto, brought upon me no miſchief, which God hath not converted to my ſpiritual advantage; whereas, many of thoſe things, which my Cenſurers practice and profeſs, have occaſioned uncharitable ſeparations, without any benefit to themſelves or others; yea diſturbed their own and the publick tranquility, to the daily enlargeing of breaches, and to the hazzard of an univerſal irreconcileable Diſcord; if the probable evil conſequents, be not timely prevented, by an amicable declaring what we are perſwaded in our own heart, as we finde juſt occaſion; and by leaving other men to the ſame Liberty, until they ſhall be as conſcientiouſly inclined to believe otherwiſe: and then perhaps many will ſuſpect their own diſcretion as much as now they do mine; and make it to themſelves queſtionable, who required their former actings or ſufferings, at their hands. Let this be conſidered by all thoſe Cenſurers of my open heartedneſs, to whom this ſhall come; and let my friends be many or few, as God pleaſeth; for my truſt is in him onelyonly; his honour is my chief aim; from him I cannot conceal what I believe; and from men (as touching things relating to his Service, and the peace of his Church) I will not; nor diſſemble my belief: as it ſhould more appear, if it were always, as free for me to publiſh my thoughts, as I am to write them, at this preſent.
It is for ſuch reſpects, queſtioned by ſome, What I am as to Religion? and of what Society I profeſs my ſelf to be; whereto I anſwer, that I profeſs my ſelf a Catholick Chriſtian: miſtake me not; I do not mean a Roman Catholick, which are terms contradictory to themſelves, being ſo united; becauſe, the addition of Roman to Catholick, deſtroyes that Denomination. I am a member of that Church which is Univerſal, and of every particular Church in thoſe places where I reſide, ſo far forth onelyonly (and no further) as it is a member of the Church Catholick, profeſſing and practiſing in purity, the Faith, Doctrine, and Diſcipline thereof. I am not of Paul, or Apollo's, or Cephas, or any Society, but as they are of Chriſt Jeſus; whom I deſire to know (as Paul ſaid he did) not onelyonly as he was in the fleſh, but as he is ſpiritually to be known alſo; and to avoid that dividing into parties, which from the Apoſtles time until this day, hath tended more to the nouriſhing of Diſcord, and confirming of Errors, then to edification in Piety and good life.
I ſeparate from no Church, adhering to the foundations of Chriſtianity, not wilfully profeſſing and practiſing what may be deſtructive thereto, though there be ſome defects or corruptions therein. I joyn not in doing or approving what is not approvable in my underſtanding, yet am as far from a diſaffectionate ſeparation on my part, as from ſeparating my ſelf from my ſelf, or a limb from my body, though painful and loath ſome unto me, by a wound or ſome diſeaſe: For I ſhall cheriſh it until it ſo corrupts and gangreens, that it may deſtroy my whole body; and then I ſhall willingly be rid of it. In like manner, waiting in love upon Gods good pleaſure toward me and every weak member of Chriſts myſtical Body, I will endeavour to preſerve my ſelf and them in unity, and leave the anathamizing or judging others to him onelyonly, whoſe members they are, or pretend to be.
The Title of a Catholick Chriſtian aforementioned, I affect not out of ſingularity, but admit of it by way of diſtinction onelyonly, to anſwer their queſtionings, who ask of what Religion, or of what Church I am: And I profeſs an abſolute adherence to the Catholick Church onelyonly, becauſe that onelyonly is infallible, and the Sanctuary of God upon earth, wherein his Myſtcries are preſerved in purity; and wherein I may have aſſurance of ſalvation by continuing therein. I wave the confining my belief or practice to any one National or Congregational Society of Chriſtians, not out of a factious inclination, or petulent diſeſteem of any: But having a deſire to be inſtrumental in uniting men diſſenting in judgement both unto God, and to each other in Love, I conceive that endeavour would be ſuſpected of partiality, and not ſo effectually proſecuted, if I made my ſelf a party with any one Fraternity more then with another: ſome of whom ſtrain at a Gnat, and ſwallow a Cammel; or ſo preſume of their infallibility, that they exclude all as Reprobates, who diſſent from them in Doctrine or Diſcipline; having alſo more affection for thoſe who are zealous in the Opinions and Formalities which they approve, (though held in unrighteouſneſs for carnal ends) then they have for them, who are conſcientious profeſſours of the Truth in godlineſs and ſincerity, according to their meaſure of faith and underſtanding, if they diſſent from them but in a Crotchet. For theſe and ſuch like reſpects I ſuffer not my ſelf to be bound up with any Congregation, as aforeſaid) but ſo far as the Chriſtian Liberty, and the exerciſe of Charity towards all men may be preſerved: as alſo the Peace and Credit of all Societies profeſſing Jeſus Chriſt, ſo far forth as it ought to be; for though he may have ſomewhat to alleadge againſt them, (as he had againſt the ſeven Churches in Aſia, to whom he wrote by St. John) they are all in ſome degree Nurſes of Piety and good manners: And many thouſands have had, and have in them, initiations into that which is beſt approvable. Our National Church was my firſt Nurſe, and I confeſs with thankfulneſs, I from thence firſt drew nouriſhments, ſtrengthening me towards eternal life; that I had there alſo, dry Nurſes, ſome of which fed me wholeſomely, and ſome to the endangering my being poiſoned or ſtarved. But I have but one Spiritual Mother, which is the Catholick Church aforementioned.
There are other Objections whiſpered; ſome againſt my late publiſhed Meditations upon the Lords Prayer; ſome againſt my Tract, entitled, The Perſecution of the Tongue among Brethren, a manuſcript not yet publiſhed; and ſome others, which I ſhall by Gods aſſiſtance, vindicate as ſoon as I have leaſure, from miſapprehenſions; and make it evident, there are many who have heretofore complained of ſeverity in thoſe, by whom they were perſecuted for their Conſciences, who would quickly (had they power anſwerable to their will improve it into that Perſecution, which is the Mark of the BEAST in the forehead, or in the hand. But, having for juſt cauſe, added this here, I will conclude for the preſent, heartily beſeeching GOD, that his Peace may be eſtabliſhed and continued among his Saints for ever.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, Three Private Meditations (1665)