The Shepherds Wanderings Discovered, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Containing ſome ſhort notes upon Mr. Sheppards fourth Chatper, p. 73. to the end of his Booke; Concluding with a ſhort application unto him.
1. YOu chide the preachers, p. 74. that they never preſſe upon the people their duty to interpret Scriptures, we muſt (Sir) firſt know it is their duty and not their ſinne, you goe on, p. 74. 75, 76. in ſome things ſcandalouſly aſperſing, in other things unwarrantably reproving the Miniſters, impertinently applying and ſhamefully wreſting Scriptures, and laſtly calling away our people from us as from Babylon, Rev 18.34 —Bona verba quaeſo. As is a man,P. 78. ſo is his tongue, Cauſa infirma eſt ſemper querula, here's hard language enough (Sir) but your arguments before, and your ſenſe here, is as ſoft as a bulfiſt; Sir we hate Popiſh ſuperſtitions with as full an hatred as your ſelfe.
Then you turne to the gifted brethren, and give them eight wholeſome rules, againſt which I have nothing to ſay, but onelyonly thinke there is one wanting, viz.
That they ſubmit themſelves to Examination and Ordination, much elſe there is of good in the latter pages of your booke, but nothing argumentative.
I ſhall here cloſe; I have not Sir (I thinke) aſperſed your perſon, you are a ſtranger to me, and (if I may judge by ſome things in your booke) one that profeſſeth much to the feare of God and the honour of Jeſus Chriſt, whom I deſire to feare, and in whom alone is my hope, and whom I deſire to ſerve in my ſpirit; If I have made my ſelfe merry with your Logicke ſometimes.—Hanc veniam damus petimuſque viciſſim.
Now I beſeech you (Sir) by the Love of God, and by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſeriouſly to weigh this thing, and to conſider,
1. Whether there be any Goſpell precept or plaine preſident for this practiſe?
2. Whether there is not ground enough in Scripture to thinke this act of preaching a proper and reſtrained act, when as it is plainely betruſted to officers in ſo many Texts?
3. Whether, theſe things conſidered, it can be an act of Faith in them to preach who are not ſo called?
4. Whether uſually ſuch preachers be not puft up with an opinion of their own parts?
5. Whether moſt of the hereſies and blaſphemies by which the precious name of our God is diſhonoured this day, be not branches from this root and ſtill maintained by it.
And (Sir) let us not contend for Maſteries but for Truth. Can you thinke Sir that (as the polluted ſtate of Englands profeſſors now is) this is a way to reforme us? can a gifted brother convince a gaineſaying Socinian or Anabaptiſt, or Arminian thinke you? are not ſome of theſe in every corner of the Nation? Is not a gifted brother more likely to be ſeduced by their ſubtilities, then to convince and oppoſe or anſwer? ſhall not the Goſpell of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſuffer when a publike preacher of it ſhall turne his back upon an adverſary? (Deare Sir) I beſeech you by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt conſider theſe things, and take heed of pleading for Baal, no, let him plead for himſelfe; I beſeech you to peruſe Dr. Seamans Booke: Mr. Halls Pulpits guarded, Mr. Ferribies anſwer to Collier, the Booke called Church Members ſet in j…ynt, and that called Lay preaching unmask't, and (if you will ſtoop ſo low as to read my Vindiciae) you will finde there collected what Mr. Gilleſpy and Mr. Rutherford (thoſe two holy and learned men) have ſaid in anſwer to all arguments. For my part I am reſolved to take up pen no more, except I find ſomething more objected that theſe Reverend Fathers and Brethren have not anſwered, but if you ſay any thing that one of them hath not anſwered, or invalidate their anſwers. I will promiſe you a ſober reply. But (Deare Sir) ſtrive not for Maſteries Magna eſt veritas & praevalebit, the great God and his truth ſhall one day conquer all. Believe it (Sir) I could heartily wiſh all the Lords people were Prophets, O that their knowledge might be doubled if conjoyned with Sobriety and humility and the feare of God, let me be accurſed that day that I deſire any thing that my conſcience tells me ſhould tend to Ecclipſe divine light, no let it Triumph till the Prince of darkeneſſe be driven out of every corner, till our underſtandings be fully enlightned: thus far Sir, I hope we agree. The Lord guide us into all truth:
So prayes Your Friend and ſervant, though in this thing your adverſary, and the meaneſt Servant of the Lord Jeſus, in the work of the Goſpell. J. COLLINGS. Ap. 20. 1652.
FINIS.