Law-Power, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Firſt, WE have heard, That the Law of the Relation of a Miniſter (for that one containes all thoſe dignities, glories, titles of honour, His Lord hath beſtowed upon him, calling them Angells, His par-Nymphs, or ſpokes-men to wooe and gaine the good will of ſoules towards Him; Ambaſſadours, Fathers, Stewards, Shepheards, Friends, we have heard how engageing all this is to a Miniſter to preach pure Doctrine, and to live an holy life, which they muſt doe, and cannot doe otherwiſe, having the Law of their Relation written upon their Hearts.
Secondly, We have heard alſo how engageing the law of the Relation the people ſtand-in to their God in Chriſt, is, to them, being felt in them, written upon their hearts by the finger of God; they cannot but walke (this law conſtraining them) in the way of holineſſe, full-up to that Law, and their Rule, perfectly, and with a right foote, as to their courſe, and way, or walke, though through humane frailty, ſome of their ſteps may be out of the way.
SECT. I.
WEE come now to the third part of our undertaking, which was to cleare this way of the Holy from th' objections caſt-in even by Miniſters themſelves, as well as by their people (in Common account Godly, as their people are) as ſo many ſcandalls or blocks, to keepe from entrance upon the way, or from a comfortable walking on-ward in it: And to tell our obſervation we have made from our eye and eare, this firſt we find objected.
Object. 1. It is an uncouth way; who or how few enquire after it, or tread in it? Not one Miniſter of ten, yet reputed Godly, nor one Man or Woman of twenty. Nay may we not ſay ſcarcely one Miniſter of an hundred, or ten of a thouſand among the common people? To this we reply.
Anſ. Granting what is ſaid and cannot be denied, for where ye heare the Miniſters contradicting, you ſhall heare the people blaſpheming, and this ye and we heare every where. But this proves the Holineſſe of the way, becauſe it is ſpoken againſt every where, contradicted and blaſphemed, Act. 13. 45. 28. 22. The way is as Chriſt Himſelfe was, a contemned, ſlighted perſon, who asked after him? and as the Church is, That walkes in it (which was ſaid) This is Zion, which no man asketh after, that is, very few, Jer. 30. 17.But note it in paſſage, they that enquire not after this way, enquire as little after Him, who is the way, the Truth, and the life; Who points His people to this way, leads them in it, and carryes them, as in His hand, to the end of the way, eternall life; But this can be no greife to us, nor offence of heart, That the way is ſo contemned, ſeeing Chriſt is ſo ſlighted, and His Church ſo vilified; It is good to fare as Chriſt fareth, and His Church fareth, The Spirit ſhall have the better cheare, if not at preſent, yet anone; The way to Heaven is not the wide way of the world, which windeth to the Devill, but it is a ſtraight way, which few walke in, for few walke godly in Chriſt Jeſus, Holy Bradfords words.
Object. 2. Obſerve it well, and you ſhall ſee the pooreſt, and meaneſt of a pariſh goe this way, and but a ſprinkling of them neither, here one and there one, and yet ſo confident they ſeeme to be of their way, they would have all walke with them calling them to their foote.
Anſ. Indeed they would (to ſpeake to that firſt) wiſh, as that all could propheſie, ſo all were as they are excepting their bands, ſcornes, and reproaches, though theſe they muſt meete with, if they will be godly. But they will never yeild unto any, That this is any other but an holy confidence, and their zeale for God, and love to His people, That all were the Lords people. They wiſh that they could ſpeake ſo gloriouſly of the Churches of Chriſt (we meane as to the numbers of them) as ye ſpeake of your Monſtruous Church, They are all holy; every one of them, and borne to Church-priviledges; But yet they would account it almoſt blaſphemy to ſay ſo to them; Indeed they could wiſh they could ſee many wiſe men, and learned men, and rich men walking along with them; and yet, though they ſee it not; yet they ſee no cauſe of diſcouragement though. The day is come, which was propheſied off; The glory of Jacob ſhall be made thin, and the fatneſſe of Iſa. 17. 4.his fleſh ſhall be made leane (we take it we may allude to that Scripture, Relating there to a temporall deſolation, which followed) for indeed the wayes of Sion lye deſolate, and in compariſon, forſaken; The wayfaring men ceaſe therein, and thoſe few that walke therein are counted the verieſt fooles in the world, (but by the fooles of the world, the wicked, and unreaſonable men there) It was ſaid of old, and it is the ſtumbling block ſtill, which fleſh and blood will never paſſe over. Have any of the rulers, or of John 7. 48, 49the Phariſees Beleeved on Him? But this people, which knoweth not the Law are curſed; They were a poore people ſtill, that ſaw their wants and were oppreſſed with them; who followed Chriſt; Theſe, and no other, except for His Loaves.
They muſt be fooles (that is, they muſt know their owne wiſdome to be fooliſhnes; their light darkneſſe; their ſight into heavenlyIſa. 35. 8. matters, blindneſſe; their ſtrength weaknes, yea rottenneſſe) they muſt be fooles, that walke in this way; There is, as one ſaith,1 Cor. 3. 18. Hil: Joh. 4. 19. a kind of kingdome, which (of all the corruptions that are in the nature of man) is the greateſt impediment, and bar unto ſaving grace, and ſo to the walking in His way; The aRom. 8. 7.carnall mind, or wiſdome of the fleſh; It cannot endure this way being enmity it ſelfe againſt it; for ſuch it is againſt God. Thy wiſdome, and thy knowledge, it hath perverted bIſa. 47. 10.thee; and it is noted as a wonder, "That a great Company of the Prieſts were obedient to the cAct. 6. 7.faith; That the Carnall Miniſtery ſhould hearken after theſe things it were a wonder. Learned men and wiſe men after the fleſh, theſe are Lords they have no need of God, they can live without Him; They bid, for the moſt part, defiance to Him, and His wayes; they would rather dye, than be pent-up in ſo ſtraight, and narrow a path: Indeed theſe Learned men (men puffed up with their Learning, theſe knowing men (but yet know nothing as they ought to d1 Cor. 8. 2.know, thinking they doe know, and are lifted-up with that thought) theſe wiſe men are as brutiſhly ignorant, as we a brutiſh, and ſottiſh people are, at theſe two principall points; for how little doe they know about originall and actuall ſinne, which is their diſeaſe? and how little about Chriſt, who is their Phyſician? theſe are Mr Burges his words. So then they, that are wiſe, and learnedPag. 41 after the fleſh, muſt become fooles, that they may be wiſe, and taught to unlearne their Learning, as …o any Confidence in that fleſh, before they can learne Chriſt, and know that they know Him, walking in His way. They to whom the Myſteries of ſalvation are revealed muſt be babes. By whom is not meant thoſe, that have no knowledge, or are Children in underſtanding, but ſuch as are lowly, and humble, and weake, comparatively with others, and ſo carry themſelves, as weaned-ones, yet have their underſtandings opened, and have a ſaving knowledge of Him, Who is eternall life, and their life; And this may ſuffice to remoove that block of offence.
Object. 3. The principles of this way are not peaceable, for we ſee what worke they make, and what differences are cauſed between Neighbours and Friends.
Anſ. We can ſay little to the peaceablenes of this way; we are verily perſwaded (which was more than once hinted before) fleſh and blood will find no peace, nor pleaſure in it. It is a way moſtIf you labour to doe the worke of the Lord, pray thinke it not ſtrange, if among men curſes be your reward, and deteſtation your wages. Dr. Owen. Jer. 15. 19. Pag. 10. Cum ab hominibus damnamur a Deo abſolvimur. croſſe or contrary to one principle at leaſt of Infant Baptiſme; And therefore ſeeing that is reported to be a peaceable principle, this way, and every ſtep in it, ſtanding in the greateſt oppoſition to it, as doe the remoteſt extreames, this way can have no peace in it, as the world calls peace, nor ſhall they have any peace from men, that preach-up this way, and walke in it. But we hope the way is not the more to be diſliked for this, but the more to be liked, and the rather to be choſen; It is condemned of men, it is approved of God: and that peaceable principle of Infant Baptiſme the more to be loathed. It is a way of holineſſe, elſe thoſe people, and Miniſters, that have the Law of their Relation written in their inward parts, would not walke in it. And Holineſſe we know with the way of it, is a meere contraction to fleſh, and blood, and a very torment to it, as fleſh and blood is a very bloody enemy to Holines; It would perſecute and drive holines out of the world, not thinking enough, if it could helpe it, to drive Holines out of the heart, whereat the fleſh is lifting every day, but conſcience holds it, and will not let the forme of it goe, the power was never there. Well; we grant that no principle of this way, ſo far as we know, is peaceable; It yeilds no peace to the fleſh, but to the Spirit peace, peace. For being an holy or pure way, it muſt needs be peaoeable; firſt pure, then peaceable. O it is a peaceable wayJames 3. 17. to the Spirit; It yeelds more peace to the Spirit renewed, in one houre, than that peaceable principle of Infant Baptiſme can yeild the perſon all his life time. Nay, that peaceable principle is like to end in deſperate ſorrow.
There is no peace to this peace, to be ſubject to the Prince of peace, the more ſubject thou art in thy walke to Him, the more peace ſhall be upon thee; The connexion of theſe two is obſervable, Of the encreaſe of His government, and of His peace, there ſhall be no end; to ſhew, ſaith that Saint, on earth, now in Heaven,D…. Preſton. That as His government encreaſeth in mens hearts, and is enlarged, ſo as a man is made more ſubject to Him; ſo alſo peace Eph. 5. 9.encreaſeth. In thoſe, that are moſt ſubject, there is moſt peace, and therefore He is called the Prince of peace, for where He rules as a Prince, there is that peace, which He as a mighty Prince is able to procure to them. But He landeth upon the ſoule, as an Enemy, and with His ſword makes a Conqueſt there, before He is to that ſoule a Prince of peace.
Object. 4. This way cauſeth differences betwixt Neighbours, and Friends, whereas, obſerve it well, they that walke in the way of a Nationall Church, both Miniſters, and people, as Mr Hs: ſayes, and we find it to be juſt ſo, are very well accorded there is no difference between us.
Anſ. This makes for the way ſtill to be the way of Holines, and that other way to be the way of wickedneſſe, becauſe they are all (that walke in that broad way) ſo well agreed and accorded. We doe believe, That the verieſt varlet in the National Church agrees with Mr Hs: M… Prynne and John Timſon, and are all three all one as to that Doctrine of free admiſſion, That all are to be admitted, even the worſt of all, to the Lords Table, ſo be they ſtand not excommunicated; Theſe three are in one way, and of one judgement; how or wherein can they differ? I have, ſaid Luther, Non aliud habco robuſtius Argumentum.no ſtronger Argument againſt the Pope and his ſhavelings than this, That they are all agreed & platted together like thornes againſt Chriſt, and the offence of the Croſſe ceaſeth amongſt them. This banding againſt Chriſt, and (though in other things they differ greatly) all true Chriſtians, hath accorded deadly enemies, as once it did Herod and Pilate; for upon the like account they were made friends together, who before were at enmity between themſelves, Luke 23. 12. Truely we cannot readily find a more peaceable principle, raking in the dunghill of Popiſh ſuperſtitions, than is this, That although the worſt of all, are to have free Admiſſion to the Lords Table. The Miniſters of that perſwaſion hold to this; the people love to have it ſo; what diſagreement? For obſerve;
Secondly, Thoſe places, and perſons, and their way where their Religion is rivited-in by Infant Baptiſme; Obſerve it in villages, Townes, Cities and ſee how quietly and peaceably they live no difference among them in point of Church-Adminiſtrations. Then againe, obſerve thoſe places, where Religion hath been Rivited-in by preaching the Goſpell, the power of God to ſalvation, and ſee what deadly fewdes, and devilliſh differences there are there; occaſioned by thoſe helliſh luſts in the hearts of men, which Goſpell-light comes to diſcover, and with a ſword in its hand to ſlay, and with fire in its mouth to conſume.
We would remember more of Luthers words here alſo; If we were all quiet, and lived at peace one with another, while yet we live in our ſinnes, It is a ſure ſigne the Goſpel is not come unto us; or it be come it hath made no conqueſt over us: it hath not throwne fire amongſt us, we have not felt it cutting like a ſword, making diviſion betwixt us, and our luſts; for how well accorded, and like Friends doe we live, while Friends, and well accorded with our luſts? Truly, ſaid Luther, Niſi tumultos iſtos vide…em Chriſtum in mundo non crederem. Math. 10. 34. Luke 12. 51.unles I ſhould ſee what I doe ſee, and heare what I doe heare, words like ſwords drawne out againſt God, and all good men, troubles, and tumults, and diviſions, I ſhould not beleeve the Goſpell to be in the world, for it brings a ſword with it where ever it comes, and cauſeth Diviſion; As we have read from our Lords own mouth, and ſo have we heard, and ſeene. It is notable if we can obſerve it▪ That the people of God were never vexed with more, and more ſtrange adverſities or grievances to the fleſh, than at that when the Lord Chriſt lived amongſt them; when were there more leapers, palſied men and women, lunaticks; and men poſſeſſed with Devills? ſo uſually it is with our Spirits, when Chriſt Jeſus our Lord lives within us; for He brings a ſword, and maketh Diviſion there; before He eſtabliſheth peace in our borders. We proceed-on here.
Tell us we pray you what difference have you obſerved, for we doubt not, but you have made your obſervation in the place where you were borne, betwixt Paſtor and people there; or in any other place, where you have made your obſervation, and there is like Prieſt, like people, as the one is, ſuch like are the other, and a juſt agreement betwixt them; for indeed what ſhould make difference here in this broad way of the Nation? The whole Nation is Baptized and every perſon there; and now Religion is Rivited into them by their Infant Baptiſme▪ and thereby they are inſtated in, and poſſeſſed of all Church-priviledges, for that is the peaceable ▪principle thereof. Certainly thoſe make-bates, the Spirit of the world without and that uncleane Spirit of man within will cauſe no difference there: They all goe-up to their meeting place, as friends, then up to the Lords Table, as Beleevers, Diſciples, Saints, and in the After-noone to the Ale-houſe, if they pleaſe their Church will paſſe no cenſure upon them, what difference can be here? for Aske them now, what they would have more to make peace amongſt them, and to take away all differences? Their Miniſter will give it to them, having indulged them ſo much, if they can tell what they would have more, as to Church Adminiſtration; We te… our perſwaſion, That Satan himſelfe, as to their Church matters, deſires no more, and he ſeekes their peace ſo far, that he will not diſquiet them; and therefore he will not viſibly appeare among them, though he is their God, & Prinoe by choice, and the head of their company, amongſt whom there is ſo full a conſent, and no difference at all. To ſhut up this, The way of the holy, wherein Chriſt walketh with them, or in them, as they in Him, is as different from the way wherein the uncleane walke, as their perſon; are, ſo they looke not to the differences; They are no cauſe, but an occaſion of it aEvery man ſhould …ay. The occaſion, did b…t helpe, the p…incip…ll; was my heart. Heb. 12. 14.They follow peace with all men, and (giving a juſt offence to no man) holines, without which no man ſhall ſee God. Wee will take in here worthy M… Mantons words. All true peace, and ſweet agreement, is founded in purity, and holines, which meekneth ſpirits; And the pureſt, and ſweeteſt agreement is in the truth. Firſt there is a pure language, and then one ſhoulder, Zeph. 3. 9. One faith is urged by the Apoſtle, as the ground of union, Eph. 4. He will bring it to that at length; The world looketh at purity as the make-bate, but it is the great reconciler. The world would have ſtirres ended, they would have no difference in Church matters, neither would they have holines; So in thoſe matters they muſt be well accorded amongſt themſelves. But the counſell is ſeaſonable, Have ſalt in your ſelves, and peace one with another, Mark 9. 50. Doctrine muſt be kept wholeſome, and Truth retaine its ſavour, and acrimony, and then looke after Agreement.
Certainly where God hath put enmity between thoſe, there will be a difference whileſt the world ſtands; what a difference? what a war? what a contention? what a bloody field is fought within the boſome of ſome Godly perſons at all times? If not of every Godly perſon ſometimes? The fleſh fighting againſt the Spirit, Gal. 5. 17.the Spirit againſt the fleſh, for theſe two are contrary; The carnall Rom. 8. 7.mind is enmity againſt God, for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. You may as well perſwade darkneſs to ſhine, as the fleſhly mind to obey, and be at peace with the ſpirit of the mind renewed. When all differences are accorded, betwixt righteouſnes, and unrighteouſnes; Truth and falſhood, ſo as theſe may kiſſe, and embrace each other; When Chriſt, and Belial; Earthly Adam, and ſpirituall Adam, when theſe ſhall meet and comply each with other; Then ſhall the broad way, and the narrow be accorded too, and no difference between the walkers therein. There is no more ſure ſigne of an holy way, than that the unholy differ from it, come not neare it, turne their backe upon it, and paſſe away as they ſhould doe from ſinne, turne from it as an abhomination.
That is an holy way ſure; whereto the wicked ſtand ſo croſſe, and contrary. Let our ſoules chooſe, and delight in the choice of that way, which is an abhorring to the fleſh.
Object. 5. Yea, but they That pretend to this holy way, and to walke in it, make it but a pretence ſure; They are quite out of the way; for obſerve how ſupercilious they are, and cenſorious, they paſſe by others with a kind of ſcorne, bidding them as they bid, ſtand by, come not neare us, for we are holier, than you.
Anſ. To this we will ſay, this firſt; That looke what a man is in being he is in working; the meaning is, If his being is in Chriſt, his walke is in Chriſt; If he be out of Chriſt, he is without God in the world, and his walke is after the fleſh, and according to the world moſt contrary to Holines.
But for this holy man, that walks in the wayes of holines; In deſire and endeavour his converſation is moſt exact, and pure; And of any ſin, though he cannot ſay he is free from any, yet he can ſay his ſoule abhorres the leaſt ſlighting, much more the ſcorning of any, be he or ſhe never ſo bad; Oh no, they that converſe with him are his witneſſes, and God alſo, that he is ſo farre from ſcorning, or ſlighting of others, that he is more enclined to mourning, than to ſcorning; he can mourne over the Contrary minded, and, if he might be ſuffered, he would rep…oove them for their contrary walking, even weeping, letting as many teares fall from his eyes as words from his mouth; or when his eyes are dry his heart mournes, or he wiſheth it might be ſo; And groanes from the heart, are as acceptable as teares from the eyes, as was ſaid: periſhing for ever is ſuch a mournefull, dreadfull thing to his thoughts; He conſiders withall, who made the difference? and what hath he, that he hath not received? then why ſhould he glory either in himſelfe, or over others? No he that walks humbly with his God, cannot walke proudly before others; he is meeke, and gentle towards all, waiting when God will give repentance.
There is one conſideration, and two Scriptures amongſt many, which the good Spirit hath brought home unto this man, and ſealed upon his heart; whence it is he walkes humbly, loathing himſelfe, and admiring free grace.
The Conſideration is, That all the Sonnes of Adam by natureMr. Brinſley. are, as one ſaith, like ſo many carkaſes buried together in the ſame Church-yard, or lying together in the ſame Golgotha, or Calvery, theſame Charnell houſe. Now this man, ſuppoſe it ſo, hathJoh. 5. 25. heard the voice of the Son of God in the Miniſtry of the Goſpell, and now he is riſen from the dead, for Chriſt hath given himſelfe; Eph. 5. 14.Surely he hath no cauſe of glorying over his brother, that may lye ſtill rotting in that grave, but infinite cauſe hath he of glorying in his God all the day long, who hath made ſuch a difference, even becauſe it pleaſed Him; whereas, as to outward accompliſhments, and naturall endowments, his brother might be like a flouriſhing Bay-tree, and he a poore ſh…b, or bramble-buſh: His pride wereEccleſ. 4. 14. intollerable, that out of a priſon cometh to reigne, or of a deſpicable wretch, is new become Prince in all Lands; This is thePſal. 45 16. humbling conſideration, He hath regarded the low eſtate of His handmaiden; The well minding an oppreſſing Egypt, and anRead Holy Mr Sanders, p 103. howling wildernes, will keepe the heart very low in Canaan.
The Scriptures are theſe, And ſuch were ſome of you, 1 Cor. 6. 11. Obſerve we well what ſome of them were: Speake evill of no man, be no brawlers, but gentle, ſhewing all meekneſſe unto all men: why? for we our ſelves alſo were &c. Tit. 3. 2, 3. Wee thought it fit to be the longer here (though indeed we haſten to an end) becauſe we find good Mr Baxſter after his manner, dealing not ſo kindly, as became him with the people of God, at this point, and in theſe words; I confeſſe I have no great zeale to ſhut Chriſt out of all other Societies, and coope Him up to the Congregations of theſe few, that ſay to all the reſt of the Churches ſtand by, we are more holy than you. Theſe words are in his Preface to Mr Hotchks his Treatiſe of forgivenes of ſins, where they ſpeak very worthily each of other; He dips his pen in the ſame gall writing to the Separatiſts, and Anabaptiſts in England; The Phariſees liturgie is of too frequent uſe in the ſeparated Congregations [I thanke Thee (O God) that I am not, as other men are &c. nor even as this Publican] Thus he ſpeaks not making a difference. It might be eaſily ſhewen here, That this good man frequently wounds the moſt eminent Men amongſt us for learning and pietie, through the ſides of Separatiſts, Anabaptiſts, and Antinomians—But we proceed.
Object. 6. It is ſaid, This way of the Holy is a cloyſtered way.
Anſ. We ſay that reaſonably this cannot be ſaid againſt it. For how doth it appeare? They can ſay here much after the words their Lord and Maſter ſpake;; I ever taught in the Synagogues, John 18. 20.and in the Temple, whither the Jewes alwayes reſort, and in ſecret have ſaid nothing? We may, we hope give-in curious Fullers his gloſs upon this (we meane in point of expreſſing himſelfe by his pen) underſtand Him, that He never wilfully affected Conventicles, as aſhamed of his doctrine, or willingly declined the Temple, when afforded convenient entrance thereunto; otherwiſe He taught alſo on the Mount, in the Ship, in Synagogues, in private houſes. The Godly Miniſters may ſay much the ſame; They preach in the publique place, on the ſtated day; and it grieveth them to ſee how thin their Congregations are, yet when they are thinneſt, and they have feweſt hearers, even then they know their Lord hath ſewer; Though indeed the people come more willingly to the publique place, for they Idol…ze places ſtill, as they doe their duties and their ſins, very ſuperſtitious that way; they chooſe to pray, and to heare chiefly in the publique place, what they doe in the cloſet, God knowes; It ſeemes but little, or to little purpoſe, by that they doe in point of prayer in the open place, and in point of practiſe at home, and abroad, which is with moſt as contrary to the Rule of Gods word, as if they never heard a Sermon, or the word of life preached unto them: But we were ſaying, they doe not cloyſter up themſelves, nor their Doctrines, They are not, as a 'Candle under a buſhell, but on a Candle-ſticke, and ſo would give light to all that are in the houſe. If they ſpeake in a private place, as ordinarily they doe, and muſt ſo doe, come-in to heare, as many as will, the more the more welcome. They make a ſeparation no where; but at the F…nt (as they may ſee cauſe and warrant from the beſt, and beſt learned, Calvin, Perkins, Ameſius) and the Lords Table, there they depart from the world. And there they have as cleare a warrant to doe it: viz: to keepe Dogs from taking holy things, as they have for ſtaving off a Dog from flying in their faces, or from leaping-up their Table.
You will ſay what? before the Church hath paſſed their Cenſure on them, and declared them to be Dogs?
It was ſaid before; Chriſt will neither wait the leyſure of the State nor of your Church; He hath given power into His Miniſters hand to doe if not more, yet as much as that, To keepe the wicked from communicating in holy things; The manner of Godly Miniſters in ancient times, as auncient Records tell you; ſurely even in theſe matters it may be ſaid as we read; The Remnant of Mich. 5.Jacob ſhall be in the midſt of many people, as a dew from the Lord, as the ſhowers upon the graſſe, that tarryeth not for man, nor waiteth for the ſons of men; ſo we have concluded, That godly Miniſters have as ſure a warrant to keepe out dog… and ſwine from communicating in holy things, as any man hath▪ from keeping a dog from flying in his face, or a ſwine from entri…g his cloſet; and if …e feeles the power of this Relation upon his heart, he will find power enough in his hand intruſted there by his Lord and Maſter Himſelfe ſo to doe; and not to waite the State or Churches leyſure, what they will doe: Their Lord hath given them a key, and they muſt give it their hand; He power to them, they muſt put it forth for them, and if not here at the Lords Table, then no where, the key is of no uſe.