Law-Power, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
IN the ſhutting-up of all, we crave leave, firſt to addreſſe our ſelves to your ſelfe, and brethren of the ſame perſwaſion with you. Secondly, Then to thoſe of our owne ranke … Church Communion one with another. In the third place, we will ſet downe foure ſavoury Speeches, ſpoken, as we conceive, in anſwer to this very plea againſt ſeparation here pleaded for.
But before we can have the leaſt hope, that our Counſell ſhould take, we muſt take off as we can, another Reproach we ſtand aſperſed with, which is this; That we have made mention of three men (of a contrary mind and judgement to us) with honour little enough to their perſons, and contempt more than enough to their bookes; But not anſwered any one of their Arguments, no not one; To this we reply.
Firſt, That we cannot make honourable mention of them, who have, to our ſeeming, …ſt ſuch diſhonours upon our deare Lord and Saviour, His Holy things, and people of His Holineſs, ſpeaking all along in their Pamphlets moſt contrary to Scripture, to Reaſon▪ and to the judgement of all the Orthodox Miniſters, and people, that ever were or now are in the world; As if the deſtruction from God was no terrour to them, and by reaſon of His Highneſs they could endure to be an occaſion of drawing downe that Curſe upon us, whereof we read, Levit. 7. 20. More dreadfull …ow under the Goſpell than that was under the Law, becauſe Goſpell Curſes are moſt dreadfull; The ſoule that eateth of the ſacrifice Levit. 7. 20.of peace …ffrings, that pertaine unto the LORD, having his uncleanneſs upon him, even that ſoule ſhall be cut off from his people. We cannot ſpeak, (becauſe we cannot think, honourably of thoſe men, that have ſpoken ſo as they have don, pleading for the Admiſſion of thoſe to the Lords Table, who have all their uncleanneſs upon them. And yet we have not to our knowledge vilified their perſons, or ſpoken reproachfully of them, much leſs judged them as to their preſent ſtate and beeing in Chriſt; they may be for ought we know, truely Conſcientious, and men fearing God, and ſo, that they have don, hath proceeded from ignorance and miſtake: onelyonly this ſeemes ſtrange unto us; that whereas all three have been told their errour, and little leſs than braied for it, yet they ſhould perſiſt to bring▪ in that abomination into Gods houſe, which cauſeth Deſolation. We cannot think or ſpeak honourably of them for ſo doing. And have ſo erred, though not in their hearts. And yet that ſaying may command all due conſideration; An erroneous head, and a Godly heart will not meet. Corruption in judgement being like poyſon in the ſpring. But yet this Conſideration ſhould be for a lamention, That the envious-one called the Devill and Satan, hath ſo mightily prevailed in theſe dayes, as to make Miniſters themſelves not a few, ſtudiouſly active in the miſcheiving, yea ruining their owne peoples ſoules. But
Secondly; As to our not Anſwering any one of their Arguments we ſay, That had we as many ſpare houres as there are ſpare books in the world; and as well able for ſuch a ſervice, if it may be called ſo, as they are who are beſt able, yet we had not medled with their Arguments; and theſe are our Reaſons; for
Firſt, Why ſhould we actum agere doe that we find ſo clearely and fully, ſo learnedly and holily don to our hands; ſo Mr Hs: is anſwered is he not? And Mr Prynn's twelve Arguments, if we may call them Arguments, for Free Admiſſion of all to the Sacrament, It being one of the moſt effectu…ll principall meanes for reall Converſion; are Anſwered with twenty ſet againſt them by learned Gilleſpy of pleſſed Memory, which will be replied unto and reanſwered, when bleſſed Juel is by any of them who are of Hardings old▪ Taking way and judgement, the great Rode of the world. And for John Timſons Arguments (who knows how many?) we will ſingle but one out of the throng, whereby we may make judgement of the reſt▪ and of the Anſwers thereunto; Unregerate perſons, ſaith he, have an hand to take, and a mouth to eat, therefore a right to receive. This Argument, ſaith worthy Mr Collings, will prove a Monkies right to it alſo; I had thought the takeing, eating and drinking muſt be ſpirituall by faith; he asketh how we will prove it? And in a bold confidence, that this cannot be proved, he hath argued the Caſe afreſh this laſt yeare, againſt two of his good Maſters. And now we have Cauſe to beleeve, he will be anſwered with ſilence, theſe worthy men Mr Hs: Sanders, and M John Collings having, as we conceive, a command from their God, Anſwer him not; his errour, which ſome may call folly will not, by that meanes, depart from him. They will commend him to God, and Word of His Grace, which is able to doe that which all the ableſt men in the world are not able to doe, make his folly depart from him. In the next place becauſe;
Secondlly, To make Anſwer was no part of our undertaking, but to give-in our perſwaſion in ſome matters before ſpecified in their proper place to a neighbour Miniſter calling us to an account about them; and in ſpeciall about free Admiſſion of all to all Church Communions. This we have don according to our Meaſure, looſning the foundation upon which their whole building ſtands, and taking away that rotten pillar, which upholds it which is this; That being baptized into a Church, they are all holy every one, and eo nomine, all have a right to all Church Communions, unleſſe they be children in yeares, fooles or mad men. This is the very ſubſtratum or underbearer, upon which their building ſtands, And whereby a great multitude which no man can number, being as the ſand of the Sea, are built up as high as Heaven, and, having no other ſtay to leane to muſt be caſt down to the lowe… moſt Hell: To looſen this ſandy foundation, and to throw down this rotten building, or dawbed wall, before the great haileſtones fall, and a ſtormie wind rents it, was a great part of our undertaking; that we might caſt a flood, if poſſible, and utterly drown the fooles paradiſe, or lay our batteriers to his Caſtle he hath (by your good help, the Maſter-builder) built in the Aire; his ſtrong Confidence, we meane, that being borne and baptized in a Church, he is a priviledged man to abide in Gods Tabernacle here below, and to dwell in His Holy Hill for ever and ever above in the higheſt Heaven Had we the Confidence of one man, we would ſpeak as he doth; for ſhame therefore diſclaime this abſurd irreligious paradox' for which there is not the leaſt ſhadow of Scripture or ſolid reaſon. A glorious Saint put a ſhort Queſtion, and a ſhorter Anſwer thereunto, we will ſet it down, and ſo an end of this matter; What brings men to hell in the Church? falſe Confidence, ſaith he, They beare themſelves up as high as heaven, becauſe they were borne and baptized in a Church; they muſt be thrown-down as low as Hell, If they have no other leane-to, to beare them up. Having page missing with ſorrowes. We will commend to your Reading, as we ſaid,Per …otam di… onem quàm lo…è pateat Eccleſie ſingulls … … Chriſti & Eccleſiae proſpi…ite, pro ſa…ul…ate veifrâ veni e…es adjuvando, dormientes excitand…; nihil cogitantes & ignorantes accerſendo Jun…n locū …. and beſt obſervation, and the Lord ſett it home unto you* Iſa. 62. 10. as our Engliſh, 12, as Junius devides the Chapter, with his notes upon it; and ſo we commend you to God, and the worke of His Grace with you.
To your ſelfe Sir, who were the occaſion of all, ſo this we would ſpeake as Hierom to Auguſtine; Si Culpa eſt reſpondiſſe, quaſo ut patienter audias, multò major eſt provocaſſe; ſed faceſſant iſtiuſmodi querimoniae, ſit inter nos pura Germanitas, & deinceps non queſtionum, ſed charitatis ad nos ſcripta mittamus. But then you muſt come cleare off from that horrid opinion ſo often mentioned, That the Receiving the Lords Supper &c.
§ 6 Secondly, Now to our ſelves, and thoſe of the ſame ranke with us, endeavouring after the ſame thing, purity of Doctrine, of Diſcipline, and life.
Firſt, Let us not trouble our ſelves with controverted points; True it is, in ſome Caſes, Expoſitorum diverſitas excitat attentionem, Diverſitie of opinions, make the hearer more attent. But this is never where the Text is plaine; or if he be more attent he will be more unreſolved. It is as true alſo, That Truth getts advantage by a neceſſary conflict of arguments, but this is among the Learned in the Schooles; and when the Caſe admitts of ſome doubts; ſeldome or never among thoſe of our ranke; And where the Caſe is cleare and reſolved. Diſputes among ſuch, and in ſuch caſes, the more amuzes them, putting them into Doubts, where they ſhould make none; None at all; None at all, as we conceive and have proved, whether all are to be admitted to the Lords Table? Whether Chriſtmas-day, as we call it, with the like, of the ſame ſtamp, or inſtitution, is to be kept holy? And being reſolved at that point, as you are, in the Negative, then, whether a Miniſter of Chriſt ought not contend with the obſervers of that heathen-Feaſt; as Nehemiah did with the Nobles prophaning the Sabbath day, at leaſt by conniving at thoſe, who did. 13. 17. we take it, that ſuch cleared Truths as theſe and thoſe relating to formes of prayer, are not to be put to queſtion, or if they be, we are not, as we conceive, to be carefull to anſwer in theſe matters; we are not to deliberate upon them. They that will put theſe things to queſtion, may feare to be delivered-up into a minde voyde of judgement. And they that are reſolved in theſe points, and would reſolve the gaine-ſayers; Let them looke into their …. For what hope have they, of our ranke, to prevaile with thoſe, who have withſtood the Reſolves from Gods word by the mouth of Gods faithfull Miniſters? They that contend for theſe matters, are not weake ones, but vaine and ſuperſtitious perſons, built-up high in their fleſhly confidences, ſo as your words can move with them, no more, than can a blaſt of winde move a tower of braſſe, or the waves a rocke. In a word; Let not us diſpute Gods right, but give it Him; nor the lawes of His houſe, but give our obſervation unto them; nor the way of His people, but walke we therein, and with ſo right a foote in deſire and endeavour, that we may put a beauty upon the way, and ſo adorne it, that we may draw others to it, to walke together with us as Friends in it, having concluded within themſelves, making obſervation by our walke; This is the way of Holineſſe; for ſee how Holily they walke, who are walkers in it; OnelyOnly take this with it more, ſuſpect that at the leaſt, to be a curſed liberty the worldly Church contends for; and reckon upon that to be the Holy way, they would ſtand up againſt, contradicting and blaſpheming.
In the ſecond place. Let us pray God make us Learned to the Kingdome of God; That we may humble all our knowledge to the obedience of Faith. God grant to all his people the Spirit of wiſedome and underſtanding, That they may be able to diſcerne the Spirits, whether they are of God, or no. That they may take heed of falſe Prophets, and give eare to the voyce of the Prince of Paſtors, and fly the voyce of ſtrangers, and beware of blinde Guides that ſo often have deceived them. Amen.
§ 7 Thirdly, In the laſt place, We will ſett downe thoſe foure ſavoury Speeches, we before made mention of. Mr Chillingworth ſpeakes firſt, what the goodneſſe of the man was, we know not, but this ſpeech is very good, If I did not finde in my ſelfe a love and deſire of all profitable Truth; if I did not put away idleneſſe, and earthly affection, and to ſearch to the bottome of my opinions in reference to Divine matters, being prepared in my mind to follow God, and Him onelyonly, which way ſoever He ſhall leade me; If I did not hope, that I either doe, or endeavour theſe things; Certainly I ſhould have (little comfort in my ſeparation from the world at preſent and) little hope of obtaining ſalvation hereafter; There is the firſt ſpeech.
Mr H: Sanders ſpeech is next: The power of godlines is firſtPag. 175. to be heeded; if we be nothing within; no great matter, though we ſit at the right, or the left hand of Chriſts outward Kingdome; let us contend principally to be members of Chriſt, to be of the inviſible Church, imbodied in the Church of the firſtborne; here we cannot eaſily be too carefull or too curious. But as to externall fellowſhip, though the mind of Chriſt in this alſo be to be ſought, and followed; …et ſo much earneſtneſſe, and confidence needs not, as in the other, Ʋnleſſe men take care how to live, 'tis not much matter, how they worſhip. Thou maiſt be, (this we take to our ſelves, as chearefully, and thankfully, as this good man ſpake it to himſelfe, and his good people heartily) in a purer Church than another, and yet be the impurer, and vainer ſoule of the two; It is better to ſee a mans Converſation, commending his way, than to ſee men beholding to their way for their eſteeme.
Mr Ant: Palmers words follow; An holy fellowſhip withSermon upon Math: 8. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, p. 85. ſuch as are Godly, by frequent Conference; communicating their experiences of God in a more holy Church-fellowſhip than the mixt Congregations are yet reduced into, will abundantly quicken and ſtrengthen faith, and every gift and grace of beleevers; and make much for the retaining and encreaſe of comfort.
Dr Owens words follow, and therewith we will cloſe all; YouOn Ezek. 17. 24. p. 32. that doe enjoy Holy Ordinances, Labour to have holy hearts anſwerable thereunto: you have heavenly inſtitutions, labour to have heavenly Converſations; if we be like the world in our walking, it is no great matter, if we be like the world in our worſhip: it is ſad walking contrary to God in His owne Paths; ſhew-out the power, and efficacie of all Goſpell Inſtitutions in a frame of Spirit, courſe of life, and equability of ſpirituall temper all your dayes. Keepe up the power of private worſhip, both perſonall, and family. I have ſeene many good Lawes for the Sabbath, and hope I ſhall ſee ſome good examples: Looke what the roots are in the family, ſuch will the fruit be, in the Church, and Common-wealth: if your ſpirits are not well manured duplicate page duplicate page there, you will be utterly barren elſewhere: that is done moſt cleareto God, which is done within dores.
This being ſet home by the Spirit of holineſſe, will keepe our foote cloſe-up to wiſedomes wayes, which are pleaſantnes, and all her paths peace, and tends to that Bleſſed End, that hath no End, Eternall life. Excellent Bradfords good Counſell, and prayer ſhall put a cloſe to all.
Moleſt not the good Spirit of God, which is given you, as a gage of Eternall Redemption, a Counſellour, and Maſter to lead you into all truth; which good Spirit, I beſeech the Father of mercies to give unto us all, for His Deare Sonnes ſake, Jeſus Chriſt, our Lord; To whom I Commend you all, and to the word of His grace, which is able to helpe you all, that beleeve it, follow it, and ſerve God, thereafter.