The Covenant Sealed, Introduction
THE INTRODƲCTION.
REverend, Beloved, and much Honoured, I have received your Apologie, according to your appointment, from your Stationer, for which I return you hearty thanks, as for the gift it ſelf, ſo for the pains that you have taken to rectifie me, where, in your judgement, I have publickly ſtept aſide. An error in Divine things, if it ſtand alone, without addition of further aggravations, is not light. Truth being of ſuch divine excellency, that no penſil can draw out; all deviation from it into oppoſite error muſt needs anſwer, in black deformity, and darkneſs: But when it is not ſimple error, but joyned with endeavour to engage others, it is far above it ſelf in fowlneſs. To reduce a brother therefore, not onelyonly erring, but thus erring, muſt needs be an high, acceptable office of love. But in this, I need to do no more, than to ſay over to you, what you have ſaid to me, in your firſt and ſecond page, which you ſtile your Prologue. In this (if we both ſpeak our hearts & thoughts) we are one. And I wiſh that in all other things, there were a like unity in judgement, and the time I hope (with ſome confidence) is near at hand, that all miſts and clouds will be ſo diſpelled, that we ſhall arrive at perfect union. And as for infinite other reaſons, ſo for this, glory is infinitely deſireable. In order to a right underſtanding between us, I muſt acquaint you, that your firſt words, after your Chriſtian ſalute, have their miſtake, though not much material; whether upon miſtake of my words, when I laſt ſaw you in Shrewsbury; or fayling in memory, I cannot determine. I told you not, that I had then ſent to the Preſs a treatiſe of the Covenant…, but wiſhed you, indeed, not to be offended, in caſe I ſhould in ſuch a treatiſe, publiſh ſomewhat in the way that you mention. In which I do not barely oppoſe my memory to yours; but alſo the witneſs of the Reverend Brother, whom you know was then preſent: together with the computation of time, which ſpeaks it to me to be above contradiction. It was May 3. that we ſpake together; as I well know by the errand, that I had at that time into thoſe parts: and my book ſaw not the light, till towards the end of November following; and yet made ſpeedy haſte, after it went out of my hands. I was glad of the opportunity, as of a brief diſcourſe of ſome things, (as the little ſcantling of time would bear,) ſo alſo to underſtand your mind, in the thing already mentioned, before any further proceeding, that there might be no unbrotherly difference, which at that time you expreſs'd with all poſſible candor, for my encouragement in that way. Yet, you now complain, that I have given the firſt onſet, and ſo put you upon a neceſſity of this way of dealing againſt me; which you mention in your Preface Apologetical, and in this Prologue, and more at large in the Preface of your Confeſſion: preferring in your judgement a more private Collation, and enquiry into things, before this publique way of appearing in the Preſs. And indeed, I had it in my thoughts to have written to you, before I had any ſetled reſolution at all, any more to have appear'd in publique; & had done ſome little that way, as ſoon as your Aphoriſms came to light, (which was more than three years and an half, before my treatiſe of the Covenant was publiſhed, as may be ſeen, comparing the dates of either) but after-thoughts took me off: And indeed I ſee no cauſe of Repentance; conſidering the iſſue of things between you and others. After ſo much pains of writing on both ſides, I do not hear that any of thoſe eminently learned men, which you ſay from moſt parts of the land have taken this way, to impart their animadverſions, have at all prevail'd to change your mind. Neither do I hear, that any of your replies have wrought any change in them for ſatisfaction. And in the mean ſpace, thoſe elaborate writings on both ſides, are buried in your Study and theirs; and no other, but your ſelves, have any benefit at all; Only we have their complaints (ſuch is humane frailty) that their names ſuffer in your publick writings. As to the Charge againſt me for making the firſt onſet, I had not appear'd at all, had I not upon other occaſions (which may be ſeen in my Preface) been put upon it, to come out in open view. And how far I ſtand guilty of that in which I ſtand charged, I deſire the indifferent Reader impartially to conſider. In that of Sacramental Seals, you had given me at leaſt ſome occaſion. When I had delivered my ſelf in private to you, and alſo made my judgment publick, that they ſeal conditionally; you are pleaſed peremptorily to determine the contrary. Herein being not alone unhandſomely cenſur'd by your Quaeriſt, (with whom you there deal) but terminis terminantibus by you alſo gainſaid. I indeed make mention of your name, yet ſo, as almoſt wholly agreeing with you in the thing in queſtion, and differing in ſome notions and expreſſions only. In which, I made it my work to beat out the right meaning, for a true underſtanding; and in language, I hope, altogether without offence; And therefore that piece was ſcarce worthy the name of a difference. In one or two more problematicall things, I likewiſe mention your name, taking notice of your opinion; perhaps with ſome diſſent, as we are conſtrain'd to deal with all, ſince the pen-men of the Holy Ghoſt compleated that Canon. But for the points that are worthy the name of controverſall, (whether allready inſerted into the forgoing treatiſe, or following in this Poſt-ſcript) the Reader may ſee, that your name is not ſo much as once mentioned, unleſſe it be with approbation. I was loath indeed to appear your profeſſed adverſary, and more loath, to honour thoſe Tenents of which I had no other eſteem, with the mention of your name. Had you held like courſe with me, how inobſervant would the differences have been that are between us? Not many that read your Aphoriſms, read my treatiſe, and ſo on the contrary: and all Readers would not have obſerv'd the author of arguments, when the Man induſtriouſly is concealed. The offence of Br. againſt Bl. and Bl. againſt Br. would, howſoever have been avoided. I had indeed many debates with my ſelf, whether or no I ſhould not have totally waved all, that in oppoſition to that which I intended to publiſh, you had delivered. My inclination to peace, and that great reſpect I had to you, led me ſtrongly that way. On the other hand, being reſolv'd upon a tract, in that method, and way, that found you in full opppoſition; Conſcience of duty (to appear againſt all, where I was convinc'd that truth was oppoſed) put me upon it to deal with your arguments, yet with reſolution to let alone your name. So, that I think, the indifferent Reader will judge you, rather than I, (reſpective to theſe bickerings in this Apology of yours, where, in this publick way, you deal with me) to be the beginner. You are pleaſed to tell the Reader in the Preface to your Confeſſion, that you have uſ'd more care to avoid offenſive words to me, than any other; which cannot but much engage me. But truly Sir, to ſpeak of things, as they are, I am apprehenſive of not a little gall, in the ink that thou ſpent upon me, and take my ſelf to be much more bedabled through your writings, than the cauſe required. And indeed it is ſeldome the cauſe that I defend, that hears ſo much (which yet muſt fall before arguments, & not words,) as my weakneſs, as you endeavor to hold it forth to your Reader. Were it alone my thoughts, exceptions might ſoon be put in; but being all Readers thoughts, (as I think) as well as mine, there is no likely-hood that I am much deceived. I may over-value my ſelf, but others will not be ſo haſty to put that over-high eſteem upon me. Let your Index ſpeak, which appears in the vann; Many eyes will faſten there, that perhaps will look no further; And what honourable language Mr. Bl. upon all occaſion hears, will ſoon be diſcerned. But I hope I have learn'd better than to make returnes; If I can, I fain would avoid it. But to leave the Porch, and to get more neer into the Houſe. You ſee my thoughts in three particulars already laid down, in the preceding treatiſe. I was there reſolv'd to wave nothing that fairly came into my way; nor to take in any thing that was impertinent to the work in hand. The firſt, I muſt confeſs, is moſt in my thoughts, viz. The intereſt that faith, which is ſhort of juſtifying, gives to Baptiſme. In which you are pleaſed to charge me with a doctrine of a very dangerous nature; Though in all that you have ſaid, I hear not a word of any dangerous conſectary that followes upon it. And truly, Sir, if I ſhould have a thought of changing my opinion, I know not how to look to the end of the danger that will follow.Dangers that attend the reſtraint of right to Baptiſm to the- Regenerate. I muſt firſt neceſſarily engage my ſelf, in an everlaſting Schiſm; being not able to find out a Church in the world of any intereſt, in which I ſhall dare in this account to hold Communion. I ſhall ſee in many members (unleſſe I offer violence to my judgment) too clear ſymptoms of non-regeneration; and unbelief, as to that faith which juſtifies: And though this will not bear a ſeparation (as is clear in all the examples that we find to the contrary in the Scriptures, and the Epiſtles wrote from heaven to the Churches in Aſia) yet this conſideration of their non-baptiſm, will neceſſarily enforce it. Church-communiō is not to be held with any that are no Church-members; But all in non-regneration (according to this tenent) are no Church-members, upon account of their non-baptiſm, or their null-baptiſm. And if I meet with men that are able to give a good account, (and as to men ſatisfying) of their regeneration; yet if there ever were a time, ſince their baptiſme, that they were unregenerate, that concludes the nullity of their former baptiſme. And being Baptized upon the account of their Fathers faith, That failing and falling ſhort of that which juſtifies (as often it doth) Their baptiſme fails; and I muſt upon my new taken up principle, renounce Communion, till they have made all good by a new baptiſme. And if I ſhall betake my ſelf to the Antipaedobaptiſts (for ſo many of them as I do know, where I now live, or have lived, or hear of by report) I muſt upon all occaſions among them plead for Anabaptiſm; So ſlender ſignes of regeneration, but all on the contrary, being too evidently manifeſted for the moſt part by them. The great reaſon that ever I could gather from the principles of Antipaedobaptiſm, why God ſhould ſo blaſt that way, whereſoever it appears (as you, after Bullinger, Bucer and many others, have abundantly ſhewn) is, the Schiſm in which they unavoidably engage themſelves. The whole face of Chriſtianity through the world, had their baptiſm in infancy; and this proving no more than the ſprinkling of a little common water, and meer mock-baptiſm, they are eo nomine, put upon a ſeparation, and neceſſitated to disband themſelves, and deny ſociety to the whole Church on earth. The like will (as appears to me) here follow upon this principle, That only the faith that juſtifies, gives title in a man of years, either to his own (if unbaptized) or to his Childs baptiſme, upon the grounds before mentioned. And If I be here holpen out (as indeed I utterly deſpair) by any diſtinction of Forum Dei, or Forum Eccleſiae, Ʋnivocall, or Aequivocall; what thoughts then ſhall I entertain of the Holy Scriptures? As you ſay of an opinion that you oppoſe, Confeſs. pag. 5. when you do but open the Bible, you can ſeldome meet with a leaf that is not againſt them; And I think your Hyperbole is very tolerable; The ſame, I think, I may aſſert of this opinion which here I oppoſe, if you except the book of Geneſis, and that needs not wholly to be excepted, as Gen. 6.1. doth witneſſe. After the Church was gathered into a viſible body in Abrabam, the leaves are very rare, through the Old and New Teſtament, in which a man may not find, teſtimonies, or inſtances, of a people in Covenant-relation to God, and received by Circumciſion, or Baptiſm, into a Church-ſtate, in an unregenerate condition. Let Mr Ball be conſulted in his Friendly tryal, pag. 192. What high titles, implying a Covenant-relation, are given to men of moſt vile qualifications? To which many more might be added. They are called (ſaith he) by God himſelf, His People, His Children, A choſen People, An holy Nation, The peculiar People of God, The Daughter of Zion, The Daughter of his People, His pleaſant Plant, A right Noble Vine. To which may be added, Children of the Kingdome, Children of the Covenant, Heires of the promiſe, Saints, Believers, Diſciples, Together with many compe…l…tions, I am God, even thy God, &c. And all of this (as this Reverend Author ſhews) of a People that were a ſtiffnecked People, Fooliſh and Ʋnwiſe; That did rebell againſt the Lord, That did not underſtand, were a moſt Sinfull Nation, As Sodom and Gomorrah, paſſing Sodom and Gomorrah in iniquity. Here is enough to ſpeak a Covenant, and upon that account, intereſt in Circumciſion and Baptiſm. Yea theſe were called, The People of the Lord, and the People of his holineſs. And to come off with ſuch diſtinctions, that they were aequi…ocally, not univocally, nomically & not really ſuch; That they had theſe names, as a Corps, or Picture hath the name of a man, is that boldneſs with Scripture on which I dare not adventure; Eſpecially finding thoſe great advantages and priviledges in Scripture annexed unto them. May not the worſt of Antinomians, whom you follow with juſt indignation, give like anſwers, and find like ſtarting holds? when they deny any neceſſity of good works, and we bring Scripture Texts in the fulleſt and plaineſt way againſt them, May not they reply, that all this is reſpective to our carriage towards men, and not, as to any notice that God takes of them, either as to diſpleaſure or acceptance? That they are not neceſſary in foro Dei, but in foro humano onelyonly. As Trask in a journey that he made into Stafford-ſhire, there delivered, That a Chriſtian was to live amongſt men, as though he were under the obligation of the Law of God, (or words to that purpoſe) but muſt not account himſelf obliged. And I once heard one that had got into a Pulpit, pretending to advance Chriſt, (but in ſuch a way, as I hope I ſhall hear no more) mentioning Sanctification, he ſaid, There was ſuch a thing indeed reſpective to man, but God regards it not; And objecting the Apoſtle's words 2 Cor. 8.12. If there be a willing mind, it is accepted, according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which a man hath not, This he ſaid was not any acceptation of God, but of the Saints. I muſt confeſs the gloſs with me, is alike in the one, as in the other; and either of both, ſuch, as the Text will not bear. Not that I charge all that hold that tenent, as ſo highly guilty. They ſee not (as is plain, in that they deny) the connexion between them, as the Ubiquitaries deny that any thing that they hold is deſtructive to the humane nature of Chriſt; but with me, the conſequences before mentioned, are palpable. And if on the other hand, when God ſayes Hear O my people, and I will teſtifie againſt thee, I am God even thy God, Pſal. 50.7. I entred covenant with thee, and thou becameſt mine, Ezek. 16.8. I ſhall believe that God ſpeaks as he thinks; and that this covenant-relation is reall, and not barely equivocal, or nominal; I cannot ſee any danger that followes upon it. To leave this to your further thoughts, and the Readers more ſerious judgement, I come to that which is behind, which I think I may reduce to theſe three heads.
1. Thoſe things, wherein you and I really differ in judgement.The Contents of this Poſtſcript.
2. Thoſe things, in which there is an agreement between us.
3. Thoſe things, which we on either ſide problematically diſpute, and enquire into.
In the firſt, I believe your buſineſs is to beat down error, and find out truth; In the ſecond, your end might be judged to be onelyonly to diſcover my weakneſs, (being ſatisfied with my Tenent, but unſatisfied it ſeems with my reaſons) but you profeſs other, and better intentions; In the third, I believe that amidſt what ſeems doubtful, you would fain find out that on which you might fix as certain. In all of theſe I would willingly be brief upon a ſeveral account. 1. There is none of them in which this Treatiſe doth directly engage me, and that, at this time is my work; And I think I had never appeared at all in any of theſe, had not this work led me to it. 2. I would not be thought to have a mind to differences, when indeed my endeavour is to take my mind off them. 3. I doubt I ſhall put the Reader to too much coſt and pains. The Book it ſelf is of that bulk (though I hope of a neceſſary ſubject) that he may be tyred, before he comes at the Poſtſcript.