The Cry of a Stone, Section 14 – Section 16
A proportionable application of the Iewes State, unto our times.
TRue it is, that when the Kings of Iudah commanded the Ordinances SECT. 14.of Moſes, the people were bound to obey them even in Religious rites, but if they ſhould have varied from Moſes rule, the queſtion is, whether the people might have followed them without ſinne, though even David or Ioſiah ſhould have done it.
Firſt, as for example, whereas Moſes gave his Statutes to Iſrael, if now David ſhould have compelled the Edomites or the Ammonites, or the Philiſtims whom he conquered, to have come into the Temple, with offerings and oblations, being Gentiles and uncircumciſed; whether the Prieſts might have offered their offerings, and the people have prayed for a bleſſing or not?
Secondly, if he would have made Prieſts of any other thcu of the houſe of Aaron; whether the people might have brought their offerings to them or not?
Thirdly, if other matters then Moſes Law had ordinarily beene read and preached in their Synagogues; whether the people muſt have come to heare it or not.
Fourthly, if among the Iudicials hanging had beene uſed in ſtead of reſtitution, burning in ſtead of whipping, and cutting off the head in Exod. 22. 1. Deut. 22. 18. & 25. 9.ſtead of pulling off the ſhoe; whether the people muſt ſtill have executed accordingly.
Firſt, But our aſſemblies are compact in a manner of blacke Ethiopians, prophane and inſulting Edomites, mocking and deriding Amonites:
Secondly, our Prieſts are made by an invented forme▪ and muſt hang upon the univerſall race, and not by the lineall ſucceſſion of Acts 14. 23.grace, and therefore election of the people.
Thirdly, and wee have other teaching and ſervice than the Word and Spirit of Chriſt, viz. by Hom. Canons Apocrypha prayers &c.
Fourthly, and in ſtead of a Chriſtian conviction and cenſure of offenders by the Chriſtian aſſemblie, wee have Comminations read in Lent, and proceſſe comming out of Courts, which are bought and ſold, and flie in and out according to the purſe rather then according to the offence; and what ſhall we make of all this, if we put it together, ſurely wee may compare it to a leprous body, in a painted paper coat, which neither hath ſoundneſſe within, nor ſolidneſſe without.
But here is the queſtion, whether the godly muſt contentedly ſubmit to all this patcherie, and putting out that light, and diſcerning that they have in theſe things, may bleſſe their ſoules, and ſay it is onelyonly the fault of our Governours? or whether all Chriſtians are not bound to keepe the patterne left by him who was more faithfull then Moſes, 1 Tim. 6. 13.without regarding what any Prince or Potentate doth to the contrary.
Fifthly, Indeed whatſoever abuſe or neglect there had beene of the Temple in Ieruſalem, by the Kings, yet the people might not without ſpeciall command have built another, but that Legall reſtraint was not by occaſion of any Kings command, but by a Statute of the Lord, who onelyonly there had put his Name, and for a time it might not be altered; but now ſince mount zion is every where, and that God is no Deut. 12. 11. 1 King. 8. 29.reſpecter of places or perſons but is in the middeſt of two or three of his ſervants, gathered in his Name, I ſee not how the Church in any ſenſe can be bound or tyed to the pleaſure and libertie of any mortall man whatſoever.
Sixthly, and if Vzziah, being a godly King, was not onelyonly withſtood, when he would have burned Incenſe, but even thruſt out of the 2 Chron. 26. 18. 19. 20.Temple when once he became a Leper. And ſince ſinne was typed out by Leprouſie, and is ſo much more materiall then it, as a ſubſtance is of more value then a ſhadow; I ſee not, but if wicked rulers now ſhould offer to joyne to the Church, they may be refuſed, and then how much eaſier may ſuch Subjects and ſervants of theirs be refuſed, as are wicked and nought on whom the Leprouſie of all viciouſneſſe cleareth and ſheweth it ſelfe in the behaviour, countenance, words and actions▪ notwithſtanding their owne deſire, and the deſire of any friends that love them not aright.
The ſubmiſſion of the Jewes to the Heathen Kings about building the Temple, is no imitable practice about the Church.
SOme others object the example of the Heathen kings, as Cyrus and SECT. 15.Darius, without whoſe leave the Iewes could not build the Temple, and therefore how much leſſe may we that are under Chriſtian Object. 6 Princes, gather and eſtabliſh Churches without their direction or allowance?
I anſwer firſt, That the time of building the Temple according to Anſw. 1 the Prophets predictions was not come before they ſet about it; for if it had, they muſt have gone about it to their powers ſo ſoone as the Hag. 1. 1. 2.commandement had beene forth.
Secondly, The building of the Temple was a matter of great charge and labour, and required ſuch materialls to doe it, as they being poore Nehe. 2. 8.Captives, neither had, nor were able to accompliſh, ſo that there was an impoſſibility in it.
Thirdly, they were ſervants, yea, captives and priſoners to thoſe heathen Kings, and muſt not without a ſpeciall diſpenſation from God, (as was that of robbing the Egyptians) have left their Maſters Exod. 12 35. 36and places, under whom by Gods juſt order they were captivated.
Fourthly, It came of the Lord, that thoſe heathen Kings ſhould (after they had for a time corrected his people) become their friends and furtherers, in the ſervice of the Lord, turning their love into hatred, Nehe. 2. 4.and at Gods appointed time, provoke and ſtrengthen them in building the houſe of the Lord God of Iſrael, and theſe things conſidered, what force can there be in this example?
Fifthly, And how commeth this farre fetched type, to be ſo blindly urged, when the cleare truth in this point hath followed us ſo cloſe at the heeles? Did Chriſt when hee gave his Diſciples commiſſion to goe make Diſciples in all Nations, bid them firſt aske leave of the Magiſtrates which were in thoſe parts? No ſurely, neither did the Mat. 28. 19. 20.Apoſtles and ſervants of Chriſt, when they went to and fro preaching the Goſpell, and ſtabliſhing Churches in Samaria, Phenice, Antiochia, Act. 8. 5. and 11. 19. & 18. 1. Tit. 1. 5.Corinth, Galatia, Crete, and the reſt, ever ſo much as aske leave of any of the heathen Governours to publiſh and ſtabliſh the Goſpell there?
Sixthly, And if the allarme of the Goſpell muſt firſt be ſounded in Princes Courts, and that the Kingdome of Heaven muſt come with ſuch obſervations, we may ſometimes wait long enough, ſince the Luke 17. 20.Goſpell, the ſubject wherereof is ſalvation, by a poore abject Carpenter, Marke. 6. 3. Act. 26. 28.is too baſe a matter ever to be ſet by in ſuch places for the moſt part, otherwiſe then ſome parcells thereof may be received, ſo farre as it may procure outward ſafetie and glory.
The only way to eſtabliſh the Goſpel and the pure Ordinances thereof is to ſuffer perſecution for it.
BUt now, ſeeing this age will goe no further than they are, nor SECT. 16.endure no other courſes in religion than that which is by Law eſtabliſhed, how ſhall wee doe? Muſt wee ſpend our money, Object. 7 and be diſturbed in our Calling? Muſt wee alter our diet, abate our habits, and change our lodgings? Alas, muſt we goe to priſon and lie there? O! that I would be loth to doe; many lie there and are poyſoned by the ill ayre and uſage, and beſides one knoweth not whether they will hang one or not, they are ſo violent and mercileſſe to all oppoſites, &c.
I anſwer, Doe not thouſands die in their beds of Feavers, Fluxes, Anſw. 1 Surfets, &c. And can a man give his life for a better thing then for the honour of Chriſt, and be ſarcificed for the redeeming and recovering that liberty of the Goſpel which this age refuſeth to heare of, and which fighteth againſt the confuſions and corruptions of our times? Heb. 11. ….O that ſome Chriſtians rightly informed in theſe things would ſtand forth and ſuffer, and would not be delivered, but would rather die, then live to ſee Gods Ordinances ſo baſely contemned and thruſt out of place, and humane traditions upheld with ſtrong hand.
Secondly, who ſeeth not that for want of reſiſting unto blood, all aſſayes and beginnings, which men have made, have come to little, Heb. 12. 4.many have ſet on upon a purer practice, in divers places and ſo long as things could be carryed ſecretly, they went well on; but aſſoone Gal. 5. 7.as it began to be noted and talked againſt. Some would flie off preſently. And if they were once called in queſtion by authoritie, and threatned, there was preſently a ſcattering; and if ſome two or three were more ſtout then the reſt, then to priſon a while they were ſent; and then their friends and acquaintance would reſort to them; ſome with compaſſionate complaints, others with bigge ſpeeches, but all in carnall reaſons, till at laſt ſome mincing under hand acknowledgement, There muſt be no yeelding in the cauſe of Chriſt.or ſome equivocating Proteſtation muſt be framed and ſhewed to their oppoſites▪ and ſo they ſhould get out with great charge to take heed of factions, ſchiſmes and conventicles; and ſo there lies the life and ſoule of that begun practice, and the parties afterward either become conformable, or elſe keepe themſelves very cloſe.
And what conſtruction can be made of this, but that either it was not truth they ſtood for, or that they were not rightly informed in it: but fell lightly and wantonly upon it, and ſo left it as lightly againe; or elſe that they made not conſcience of doing the will of God in the things revealed to them: whereas, if they had ſtoutly ſtood out, and borne their croſſe with patience even to bands and death; ſome other The day of ſuffering for Chriſt is a day of honour.events would have followed, and beſides their pretious & honourable death, they ſhould have given ſome furtherance to the glory and truth of God, whereas by their cowardly yeelding, the arme of fleſh exulteth, and reproach and ſcandall is caſt upon the ſincere profeſſion and practice of Gods Ordinances, and themſelves commonly languiſh for loſing the day, and are as men liveleſſe amongſt their neighbours, and comfortleſſe within themſelves.