Declaration Upon the Coasts of America, Postscript
Poſtſcript.
SInce this Advertiſement of mine came abroad (though but a monethmonth,) what horrible foreſpeakings, threatnings, imprecations, and cenſures have beene publikely denounced againſt me in ſeverall parts of the Countrey, … not need to repeat, being too well knowne. Neither will I anſwer t… accordingly leſt I alſo be like them; I will onelyonly in the feare of God, … by the comfortable aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit apply that ſaying,Num. 23.8. How …ld they curſe where God hath not curſed? Or how ſhould they deteſt wher… … Lord hath not deteſted? 2 Sam 16.12.And thoſe words of David, It may be that the Lord will looke on mine affliction, and doe me good for his curſing this day. A deſperate thing it is for men to blaſpheme againſt ſome good light; and what is it, to acknowledge the good gifts and graces of God in thoſe which they ſo bitterly preach againſt; and to overwhelme them all with moſt foule and feigned ſuſſpicions and aſperſions without cauſe? As when they ſay, Satan will not uſe prophane and wicked men, but he makes choiſe of thoſe that are of good and able parts, men of a religious life, of a blameleſſe converſation; theſe cloſe hypocrites …e makes his inſtruments to oppoſe the Kingdome of Chriſt (that is their intended Diſcipline) &c. with other like ſpeeches. I ſay it is very dangerous for men thus to give way to wrath and malice. The Scribes and Phariſees did ſee, and would no doubt have acknowledged the eminent gifts and graces that ſhined in our Saviour, if he would have applied them to the eſtabliſhing of their Faction. But becauſe he would not doe ſo, they maliciouſly traduced him, and ſaid he had an uncleane ſpirit; but he reproves their deſperate wickedneſſe, ſhewing how nearely they did approach, or became guilty of the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt. And let every man take heed how they doe cunningly faſten ſlanders, or otherwiſe ſhew deſpight unto the ſpirit of Grace, becauſe it would not be ſubordinate unto their ends. I could wiſh alſo they would conſider the words of Marſilius Patavinus, in his Booke entituled, Defender of the Peace. Where ſpeaking of thoſe that preſume to frame or preſſe Orders, Decrees, and other parts of Diſcipline, without licenſe of the true Law-giver or Prince, a…d endeavour to draw people to the obſervation of them by ſurreptitious words, as it were compelling them by threatning eternall damnation to ſuch as tranſgreſſe them, or denouncing execratio… ▪ reproachfull ſpeeches, excommunications, ſlanders, revilings, or other maledictions againſt them, or any of them, in word or writing; ſuch (ſaith he) are to ſuffer corporall puniſhment in a moſt high degree, as conſpirators and ſtirrers up of civill ſchiſme, or diviſion in a Common-wealth. For it is ſaith he, a moſt grievous kinde of treaſon, becauſe it is commited directly againſt the Royall Majeſty of the Prince and his Soveraigne Authority; and tendeth to ſet up a plurality of ſupreame authorities or powers, and ſo of nec…ſſity to the diſſolution or overthrow of every civill Government.
They object alſo, that I am but a Lay-man, and therefore ſhould not meddle with matters of Divinity, applying that Proverbe Ne ſutor ultra crepidam, and ſaying, that even the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, wherein he hath skill, ſhould teach him that leſſon, which alwayes move in their owne ſpheares, except they be wandring ſtarres, for whom the blackeneſſe of darkeneſſe is reſerved for ever, with many o…her bitter expreſſions. But this is an old plea of the Popiſh Clergy, to hold the people in ignorance and thraldome, and ſhould not be taken up by thoſe that would ſeeme to be more oppoſite to Pope…y then Proteſtants are. That eminent and bleſſed Divine Doctor Sibbes was of another minde, who ſpeaking in commendation of Mr. Sherland (that was no Preacher) diſdaines not to ſay he had good skill in controverted points of Divinity, and that he was a good Divine. And ſurely the calling of a Chriſtian is of that importance, that he muſt, if need ſo require, omit whatſoever calling he have beſides, to make good that one moſt neceſſary, neither can hee juſtly be charged to move out of his ſpheare whenſoever he meddles with matters of Chriſtianity and Religion, eſpecially ſuch points as he is preſſed to embrace and ſubmit unto. The Apoſtle exhorts us all, that wee ſhould earneſtly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints. And I may fitly anſwer them in the words of that renouned Souldier of Chriſt Doctor Baſtwicke, who being checked by the Biſhop of Canterbury in like ſort as I am by theſe that he being a Phyſitian, a Lay-man, ſhould … points in Divinity, anſwers in Latine, to this purpoſe …
I writ a Booke (ſaith he) not to finde my ſelfe employment, or to ſtirr… … ſtrife, but of a Chriſtian mind and affection, according to my duty to Go… and my Prince. The reproach of a Lay-man toucheth not me, for he which hath vowed himſelfe to Chriſt is one of Gods Clergy. The ancient Church doth not acknowledge that ſurname of a Lay-man, but reckons it among the Soloeciſmes of the Beaſt. Wee have given, promiſed, and vowed unto Chriſt in Baptiſme our name and faith; and have ſolemnely denounced battell againſt the fleſh, the world, the devill, hereſie, &c. againſt which we muſt fight unleſſe wee put off the reverence and reſpect of our Vow. How unſeaſonable is it then to aske by what authority we fight againſt theſe? (And a litle after) ſhall that be a fault in mee, which is a praiſe to Divines? They exerciſe Phyſick, Grazing, merchandize, they husband their grounds, plant, gather in their fruits, they all may doe … things, I envy not; yet I wonder wee ſhould be ſo ſtreightned, whilſt they have ſuch liberty. But if ſome blunt fellow ſhould aske a Divine, Hear'ſt thou good man, what haſt thou to doe with the Court, with privy Councell, with ſeates of Judgement? wha… haſt thou to doe with renting lands, with planting vineyards, with breeding cattell, with money the provocation of al… evills? would he not checke ſuch a bold queſtion with ſome ſharp anſwer? yes, doubtleſſe he would. What then ſhould we doe when we are asked, What we have to doe with God, with Chriſt, with Religion, with the Truth? Wee will laugh to ſcorne ſuch envious queſtions, and performe with diligence what God calls us to. Wee will endeavour with all chearefulneſſe the defence of the truth, the conſervation of Religion, the obſervation of our fidelity and allegiance to that Soveraigne Authority which is over us; rendring an account of our endeavours to him, to whom we have vowed our ſelves &c. He that deſires to ſee his defence more at large, may peruſe his Apology to the Engliſh Prelates.
Rom. 16.17.Now I beſeech you brethren, marke them diligently which cauſe diviſion and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which yee have learned, and avoyd them
18. For they that are ſuch ſerve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but …ir owne bellies; and with faire ſpeech and flattering, deceive the hearts of the …
March 30. 1643.
End of the text · Robert Rich, Declaration Upon the Coasts of America (1643)