Truth Maintained 2, Discourse · Second commentary 17 – First commentary 23
TREATISE.
You hover in Generalls,9. No new light or new eſſentiall truths are or can be revealed in this age. and ſeeme to me deſirous that your Reader ſhould underſtand more then you are willing to expreſſe, my opinion breifly is this. That no new Revelations, or new infuſed light in eſſentiall points of Religion, is beſtowed on any now-adayes, but that the ſame light hath in as plentifull a meaſure beene given to former ages, eſpecially to the age wherein the Apoſtles lived, and when the faith was once delivered to the Saints, and by them ſett downe in the Scripture, and that then ſo perfectly and compleatly, that it needed not the acceſſions of any future Revelations.
I confeſſe that men by ſearching the Scripture (that oyle will never leave increaſing as long as more veſſells be ſtill brought) and diligent prayer to God may and do arive daily at a clearer underſtanding of many places of Gods word which they had not before. Theſe words; Thou art Peter and on this rock will I build my Church, and that Place, this is my body, are now more truly and plainly underſtood then they were 200. yeares agoe, when the Popes ſupremacy was as falſly founded on the former as tranſubſtantiation was unjuſtly inferred from the latter. However theſe were not Revelations of new truthes, but reparations of ould. For the prime primative Church received and embraced the ſame, The Saints*Revel. 14 3. in the time of Popery Sung as it were a new ſong, a Song not new but renewed, not new in it ſelfe but perchance to the hearers, and ſuch are many truthes, which are preached in our age in the Proteſtant Church.
They that maintaine the contrary opinion of moderne revelations of new eſſentiall truths doe a three fold miſcheife therein. Firſt they lay an aſpertion of ignorance and imperfection of knowledge on the Apoſtles themſelves, and this is no leſſe then Scandalum Magnatum.
Secondly they much unſettle men in matters of Religion, and produce a conſtant inconſtancy and ſcepticall hovering … all oppinions and as the Athenians erected an Altar to the unknowne God, ſo men muſt reſerve a blancke in their ſoules therin to write truths as yet unknown, when they ſhall be revealed. Thus men will never know when their creede is ended, and will daily waver in that truth which they have in poſſeſſion, whilſt they waite for a clearer and firmer as yet in revertion.
Thirdly, they fixe on the Scripture an imputation of imperfection and ſuch as talke of new revelations of truth, may well remember the paſſage in the Old Revelation. *Reve. 21. 18.If any man ſhall add unto theſe things, God ſhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this booke. And it ſeemes to mee all one in effect whether men peece the Scriptures, with old Traditions, or new Revelations; and thus the Papiſt and Anabaptiſt are agreed like men in a circle going ſo farre from each other with their faces, till their backes meete together. And I profeſſe I ſhould ſooner truſt a tradition containing in it nothing croſſe to the Scripture and comming to mee recommended from the primitive times, and countenanced with the practiſe of the Church in all ages, then a new upſtart Revelation. The beſt is, wee have no neede to truſt either, whilſt we have Gods word alone ſufficient to relie on.
The reſult of all is this, We have now a-dayes no new truths revealed, but old ones either more fairely cleared or more firmely aſſented to, no new Starres of Revelation ariſe in any hearts. If any ſuch doe burne and blaze there, they are but commerts which will fade at laſt. In a word this age is not happie with any new truths, but guiltie of many old lyes.
Yea, it rendereth it ſuſpitious, that ſome men are going about ſomewhat, which they cannot juſtifie by the old knowne lawes of God, becauſe they beginne to broach preparative doctrines, Introductorie of new revelations: Diſtruſting (as it ſeemes) the Scripture, the old Iudge, as not for their turnes, becauſe they provide for an Appeale to an other Vmpirer; and if thoſe are juſtly accounted dangerous members in the Church, who would bring in Innovations in Ceremonies, then pretenders of new Revelations in Eſſentiall points of Doctrine are ſo much the greater offenders, by how much Doctrine is more neceſſary, and fundamentall in a Church then ceremonies. But I will anſwer ſome paſſages in your Examination particularlie.
M. The Goſpel doth worke and winde its beames into the world, according to the propheticall ſeaſons for Revelotions.) Diſtinguiſh we heare, betwixt matters of fact, and matters of faith. Matters of fact being foretold in the Scripture, are beſt underſtood when they are accompliſhed: In which reſpect the longer the world laſteth, the clearer men ſee & the plainer they underſtand ſuch predictions. The Seales in the Revelations were ſucceſſively opened, the Trumpets ſucceſſively blowne, the Vialls ſucceſſively powred out, and the things imported in and by them, are ſucceſſively performed. Wherefore time is the beſt comentator on the propheticall parts of the Bible, Dies diem docet. And to day, which is yeſterdaies ſchoolemaſter will be Scholler to to morrow, in which reſpect the*Dan. 12. 4. Prophets words are moſt true, Many ſhall runne too and fro, and knowledge ſhall be increaſed. But now, as for matters of Faith, they were at once, and for ever, fully, and freely, delivered at the firſt to the Apoſtles, and ſo from them to us, and that ſo perfectly, & compleatly, they neede no new revelations, quo ad Materiam, though quoad modum, old truths may now have a new meaſure to be more clearely underſtood then in the darke times of Popery.
N. We may have Beames, and Radications, and Shootings, which our Fathers had not.) For Beames and Radication of knowledge, I have delivered my oppinion: but as for Shootings, God k…owes wee have many ſuch as our Fathers never had; God in his mercy ceaſe ſuch Shootings, or elſe in his Iuſtice direct the Bulletts to ſuch markes, as in truth have been the troublers of our Iſrael.
O. The Apoſtles had not all their truths and light, revealed at once, ſome early, ſome late, ſome not till the Holy Ghoſt was beſtowed.) All this is moſt true which you ſay, The Apoſtles at firſt were (as we may ſay) Freſhmen, newly admitted into Chriſts Company. Then they tooke their firſt degree of knowledge, when ſent forth to Preach the Goſpel, Mat. 10. to the Iewes alone in their Maſters life time. They commenced in a higher knowledge after Chriſt his Reſurrection; And after his Aſſention, aſſended yet higher in Spirituall Illuminations: Laſtly, after the comming of the Holy Ghoſt, they proceeded Doctors in deede; I meane, they then had the completion and conſumation of all underſtanding neceſſary to ſalvation. Now Sir, Conſider that after this time, they wrote the New Teſtament, and therein all eſſentialls for us to know and doe for our ſoules health, ſo that we now doe deduce and derive our knowledge, not from the Apoſtles in their infancy, or minority of Judgement, but from them having attained to the Top, and Verticall point of their perfecteſt skill in heavenly miſteries.
P. And who cannot thinke, wee are riſing into that age, wherein God will power his Spirit upon all fleſh, &c.) What proportion doth this beare with what you ſaid not long ſince. Propheſying that our Marian Times did approach too faſt? When nothing was light but the Bo…efiers to burne the Marters. I will not deny, but this great ſun m…y arriſe, but the reigning vices of the time are but an ill Morning Starre to harbinger the riſing thereof. We have taken the St. Shippe from thoſe in heaven, but have no more holineſſe in our ſelves here on earth. What betwixt the ſins which brought this Warre, and the ſinnes this warre hath brought, they are ſad preſages of better times. Never was Gods name more taken in vaine by oathes and imprecations. The Lords day, formerly profained with mirth, is now profained with malice, and now as much broken with Drummes as formerly with a Taber and Pipe. Superiours never ſo much ſlighted, ſo that what*1 Sam. 25. 10 Naball ſaid ſullenly, and (as he applyed it) falſly, we may ſay ſadly & truly, there be many ſervants now adayes, that breake away, every man from his Maſter. Killing is now the only Trade in faſhion, & Adultery never more common, ſo that our Nation (in my opinion) is not likely to confound the ſpirituall Whore of Babilon, whilſt corporall whoredom is in her every where committed, no where puniſhed. Theft ſo uſuall, that they have ſtollen away the word of Stealing, and hid it under the Name of Plundering. Lying both in word & Print grown Epidemicall, ſo that it is queſtionable whether Gunnes or Printing, (two inventions of the ſame Countrey and ſtanding) at the preſent doe more miſcheife in this Kingdome. It is paſt coveting of our Neighbours houſes, when it is come to violent keeping them. He therefore that doth ſeriouſly conſider, the Grievouſneſſe and Generality of theſe ſinnes, will rather conclude that ſome Darkeneſſe of Deſolation, then any Great light is likely to follow upon them. God I confeſſe in mercy may doe much, both to pardon and proſper us, and can extract Light out of Darkeneſſe, but whether he will or no, I (though confident of his power,) ſee little cauſe to hope of his pleaſure herein, And though herein I muſt confeſſe, many of theſe inormities. may, (though not wholy be excuſed, yet) be ſomething extenuated, by pleading the unavoidable neceſſities which warre doth cauſe, yet ſurely wee ſhall anſwer to God for cauſing this warre, by our crying ſinnes, and tranſgreſſions.
Q Wherein the light of the Moone ſhall be as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sun as the light of the ſeven dayes.) This, for ought I can finde to the contrary, was accompliſhed as Chriſt Comming, and the generall giving of the Goſpel to the Gentiles, with the ſending of Gods Spirit miraculouſly upon them, ſure I am a Paralell place of the Prophet was then fulfilled, by the expoſition of Saint *Ioel 2. 28. Acts 2. 17.Peter himſelfe, And it ſhall come to paſſe in the laſt dayes (ſaith God) I will power out my ſpirit upon all fleſh: and your Sonnes and your Daughters ſhall propheſie, and your youngmen ſhall ſee viſions, and your old men ſhall dreame dreames. Theſe words having the advantage of that Date In the laſt daies, might with the more colour have beene alleadged by you, and applyed to theſe times, to prove ſome ſpeciall Revelations in our dayes, had not the Apoſtle marred your Mart, and prevented you by applying the propheſie to the primative times.
EXAMINER.
But we ſee the Policy R of commending the Fathers light to our Generation, for could you prevaile with us to ſet our Dialls by that, you then might reforme our Church by the Canterburian Gnomen, and ſo ſet us backe to a falſly-reputed, Primitive Reformation.
TREATISE.
R. But wee ſee the policie of commending the Fathers.) I proteſt before Almighty God I have neither baſe nor by reſpect in praiſing the Fathers. Saint Paule blamed*Gal. 2. 11. Peter at Antioach, becauſe he was to be blamed. I in the like manner commend the Light of Fathers, becauſe it is to bee commended not for any favour or flattery. A falſely-reputed primitive Reformation, I abhorre from my heart, & I preſume our Church is to wiſe to be coſened therewith. If Canterbury hath misbehaved himſelfe his friends for him deſire no more, and foes to him ſhould grant no leſſe, then a legall triall. But inſult not on any mans ſufferings, Organs I dare ſay, are not ſo offenſive in Churches as the making of Muſick on men in miſery. Time was when you ſett as much by a ſmile from Canterbury, as he ſtill ſetts litle by a Scoffe from you.
SERMON Paragraffe 13. 14. 15. 16.
The qualification for Reformers, the Decent burialls of ſuch Ceremonies, as are taken from the Fathers, the honorable Reſervation to our firſt Reformers.
EXAMINER.
That it may appeare I looke not only at the worſt of the Sermon, There are Excellent Truths in it, and it is pitty they are not better S ſcituated, I could alwaies wiſh to ſee a Diamond ſet in Gold.
Theſe are good Poſitions, and in their pages not without their enamill of witt, yet there is a policy to write faire in one Leaſe, though you T make a blot in another, but I cannot let theſe paſſe without ſome obſervation.
TREATISE.
S. And it is Pitty they are not better ſcituated, I could alwaies wiſh, to ſee a Diamond ſet in Gold.) I cannot blame you, eſpecially if the Diamond be their owne. But what meane you by this Expreſſion; Would you have had the Truths in my Sermon to have beene ſet in the Gold of rich & glittering language. Truly I could not go to the coſt thereof eſpecially on ſo ſh…rt warning, wherein the Sermon was made. How ever a Diamond, is a Diamond though ſet in Horne, whereby the luſter thereof may be ſomewhat dimmed, but the worth thereof no whit deminiſhed. But in one reſpect I muſt confeſſe theſe Truthes were ill ſcituated, that they ſtood too neere to a captious Reader, who tooke cauſeleſſe exception at them.
T. Yet there is a policie to write faire in one leafe, though you make a blot in another) Shew me Sir, where theſe blotts bee. For as yet I am more troubled to know my fault, then my defence.
EXAMINER.
Firſt for qualification, V I dare ſay, never age afforded more eminent in this Kimgdome, their calling lawfull, their Pietie exemplary, their knowledge radiant, their courage experienced through a legion of difficulties, Their prudence in the conduct of a buſineſſe, though oppoſed with the Policy, and malignity of a grand and Potent Enemy.
TREATISE.
V. For their qualification I dare ſay.) If you dare ſay it, I dare not to gainſay it. Their calling no doubt is lawfull, if the ſupreame powers concurres with them. Of their pietie, which conſiſts in their hearts, God alone is Iudge. I will not diſpute againſt their radiant Knowledge, nor fight with their experienced Courage, and it were folly in me to oppoſe their Prudence. Let not the perfections of King Davids *2 Sam. 3…Subjects be numbered. God make their Konwledge, their Courage, their Prudence, an hundred fold more then it is, and may the Eyes of my Lord the King ſee the ſame, to his comfort and Honour.
EXAMINER.
And for the decent buriall of Ceremonies, and ſuperſtitions W of the Fathers) They ſhall have a Parliament of Senators, and an Aſſembly of Devines to lay them in their grave, And I dare ſay a Godly Congregation in the Kingdome to ſing a Pſalme at their Funerall; and will not this be a very decent X buriall? And for the Honorable reſervation, to the reformers, and their memories, our Devines and reformers, now have ever made reſorte and appeale to the Truths they delivered; and in thoſe times when Beza, and Calvin, and Peter Mertir were ſet loweſt, till the Maſter of the feaſt came lately, and bid them ſitt up higher, a Caiſtan and Bellarmine, and a Councell of Trent, I am ſure had more honor from the Devinity of the other yeare, or your times, ſo farre we admire the reformers as to love their Truths and to pittie their Errors. But I will not ſay much, Errors may be more provoked then remedied with over-handling; let us be wiſe in the Colours of good and evill, though it be an honeſt, yet it is a dangerous miſtake to many our freinds, and to f…w our Enemies.
TREATISE.
W. As for the decent buriall of Ceremonies and ſuperſtitions of the Father.)*Paragraffe 24. You are cunning to improve your ſelfe on my words. In my Sermon I made a double ſuppoſition, Firſt, if there be found in the Fathers practice any Ceremo…es ſmacking of Paganiſme or Popery. Secondly. If the ſame can be juſtly Challenged to be continued in our Church now, (as if two Suppoſitions made a Poſition) you flatly infer & perumtorily conclude ſuch Superſtitions are in our Church. I ſhould be loth to ſell wares to ſuch a Chapman, and to truſt his honeſty in meaſuring of them out, who hath ſuch a ſlight in ſlipping his fingers, that gives him an inch and hee will take an ell. You might have don better, to have tould us what the perticulers of theſe ſuperſtitions are.
X. And will not this be a decent buriall.) The pleaſantneſſe of your witt doth pleaſe me, ſome mirth in this ſadd times doth well. But you might have been pleaſed to have taken notice, that by the decent buriall of ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, (if any ſuch can be proved to be in our Church) I ment the removing of them in that manner, as might give no juſt offence to any, as I have largely diſcourſed of before. However as you ſay, let but a Parliament lay them in the ground and I ſhall not moorne for their death but rejoyce at their ſolemne and legall Interment.
Y. Had more honour from the Devinitie of the other yeare, or your times.) The more ſhame for ſuch, if any who under valued ſuch Worthy Men. And bleſſed be God that they have recovered their former eſteem. For my part they have not with me regained any new degree of Honor, but ſtill keepe the ſelfeſame place in my valuation of them whereof they ever were peaceably poſſeſſed.
EXAMINER.
If I be now examined what reformation I aime at, I anſwere, my endeavour here, was only to take out of the way ſuch rubbiſh as others would bring in; If we can but cleare the paſſage, we go farre in the worke, and in the meane time let us like Ioſhuas ſpies, bring no evill report upon the land we are going to.
TREATISE.
Z. My endeavour here was only to take out of the way ſuch rubbiſh as others would bring in.) Whether rather, you have not bronght in ſuch Rubbiſh, which others have taken away, be it reported to the juditious Reader.
A. Let us like Ioſhuas ſpies, bring no evill report upon the Land we are going to.) By Ioſhuas ſpies, you meane thoſe who accompanied Caleb, & Ioſhua; to ſpie the Land of Canaan, and theſe were guilty of a three fold Fault.
Firſt they ſpake truth with an ill intent, to diſharten the Iſraelites, in their reporting of the ſtrength of the Country. Secondly, they ſpeake more then truth, raiſing the walls of the Cannanitiſh Cities by their Hyperbolyes bolyes as high as Heaven, *1 Dut. 28.Laſtly they ſuppreſſed the moſt materiall point, not incouraging the people, (as Caleb and Ioſhua did, by the aſſured aſſiſtance of God againſt their enemies. But I conceive my ſelfe, (againſt whome your words are darted) to be innocent in the foreſaid perticulers.
EXAMINER.
But ſuppoſe this perfect reformation, B or Church, were among the C foreign the foreign the Ragione diſacro Dominio. He were no wiſe D, nor faithfull Devine who would not preſerve that ſecret E for holy advantages, t'is Gods owne deſigne and his Apoſtles to hould out a perfection to us, be perfect as your Heavenly Father, And ſome paſtors for the perfection of the Saints, I commend Boden and Tacitus for their Politicall faithfulneſſe, they writt farre yet would not ſunne the imperiall, foreign nor make them Popular.