A Rejoinder to Mr Drake, Title page – To the reader
A REJOYNDER TO Mr. DRAKE, OR A REPLY Unto his Book Entituled, A Boundary to the holy Mount. Which being approach'd, is found ſo dreadfull, that the people do exceedingly quake and fear, leſt they be conſumed.
By John Humfrey Maſter of Arts, and Miniſter of Froome in Somerſet-ſhire.
The Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteouſneſs of God.
JAMES 1.20.
LONDON, Printed by F. L. for E. Blackmore, and are to be ſold at the Sign of the Angel in St. Pauls Church-yard 1654.
The Author to the Reader.
IT is mans nature, or his fortune, in the turn of Opinions to run commonly toward extreams; for while he ſtruggles to get out of the clutches of an error on one hand, the very force of his own ſtriving, with a little trip of Sathan, letting him looſe upon the ſudden, throws him quite down upon the other. We have very ſad experience hereof in our times, which makes the day of Reformation, between the animoſities and exceſſes of two parties, and the mouth of Separation, to be as if a man did fly from a Lion, and a Bear met him, then going into a houſe, and leaning againſt a wall, a Serpent bites him.
The great unhappineſſe of our dawning Government, next to the laying the ground of our diviſions in her own bowels, has been the entruſting her pious deſigns to the managemen of over-eager ſpirits, who finding no other hold-faſt on the hearts of Godly men, havr preſsed too hard on a Tryal to the Sacramen as if they built alone on this foundation; whereas the divine right of Church-Government ſtands firm on its own baſis, as diſciplin is diſtinct from worſhip. Indeed it is a pious office of thoſe the Holy Ghoſt has made overſeers, to look into the ſtate of their flocks, according to prudence and conveniency, and if they take occaſion at this Sacrament to do part of that office (if they have opportunity) upon theſe grounds, who can gainſay them? And indeed had men held forth in this tryal only a chriſtian prudence, and paſtoral duty, the people would be willing to lay burthen enough on us; but when a power muſt be eſtahliſh'd, cloathed with a divine right, and that urged with the terror and danger of cenſure, and damnation: No wonder if tender Chriſtians, fearing a bondage bringing upon them, riſe up for their precious Liberty; for Chriſtian conſcience, which is the ſeat and tributary only of the infinite God, abhors to become a ſervant of men, and while it trembles at every word of holy Scripture, as ready to be turned with a twined thread, will never be brought to bow, ſtoop, or abate a jot, to all the powers in the World.
A certain Governour of the Jews having ſet up Trophees, covered with Armour and ſuch Ornaments, in honour to Caeſar, the people were all in a mutiny, as at an indignity to their Religion; upon this he calling the chief of them together, points to the Trophees, asking, what they thought they were, they began to exclaim, Images; He ſeeing their zeal, cauſes their coverings to be taken off, and underneath they were stocks of wood; The Jews ſeeing that, were preſently turned, and all their fury huſht into a ſubmiſsion. I humbly judge thus of our Reformation, if ſhe will ſet up her Examination, under ſuch Ornaments, as pretend Divinity, we ſhall be afraid of it as an Idol, but if ſhe would take off the Armour and dreadfulneſſe of it, and let it appear but an humane Ordinance for inſtruction, there are few, happily, but might bear with, or ſubmit to it. If thou be kind to this people, and ſpeak good words to them, and but pleaſe them in this Free Admiſsion, they will be thy Servants for ever.
I do acknowledge the ſpirits of many the moſt holy Chriſtians, have their faces ſet againſt a mixt communion, and I do humbly reverence the many pantings-and breathings of their hearts, after a fellowſhip of the Saints on Earth, as neer as may be to the Church in Heaven, which will ever cauſe it to be no otherwiſe with us, ſo long as any zeal in mens affections ſhall prevail over their judgements; Yet do I tenderly believe, that Chriſts example enclines not their way. Indeed there is no argument ſinks ſo deep in my heart, as to ſee the winding of ſuch inclinations, againſt which I have Chriſts own life alone as ſatisfactory. My Saviour Chriſt was holier than them all, he was the godlieſt man, and the ſweeteſt and humbleſt man that ever breath'd; He never ſayes to any of us, Depart from me, I am holier than thou, unleſſe at Judgement; He never ſpake ſuch a word, I warrant you, in all his life. The most holy, and the moſt lowly, the moſt ſeparate from ſinners, and yet a friend of ſinners. Truly methinks the conſideration of this gracious temper of Chriſt in that meekneſſe of his, and acceſſableneſſe to poor ſinners, enters moſt nearly into the embraces of my ſoul, and claſpings about him, when I acknowledge my ſelf moſt undeſerving all his benefits; Nay, if I may confeſſe my very heart (for ſuch an untoward thing it is) I do more ſenſibly (according to thoſe poor, ſmall, wretched affections I have) love him more for his ſweetneſs of diſpoſition, amidſt the doubts of my condition, than in my beſt aſſurances (they are ſo fainting) for his dying in particular for my ſalvation. We never read of any he turned away, but if they will come quite home to him in ſpirit, they ſhall be welcom to all his entertainments; If they will come but to a profeſsion, he has even ſome love for them alſo, Mar. 10.21. they ſhall not be grudged the benefits of that profeſsion, Whoſoever comes unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out.
Now that doctrine that has ſo fair a countenance from the holy Jeſus, that goes the way of humility, and tends to peace, which if it may be Religiouſly embrac'd, would have kept us from, and might end our diviſions, and yet do no more harm unto the main, than to forward it, is not unworthy more willing contemplations. There are ſome have thought the World was made by a concurſe of Atomes, I think, if ever the multiform opinions of men, which like thoſe Atomes, fly up and down, about Church Government, do concurre in one, they muſt have their confluence and coagulation at this Ordinance.
It is obſerved of ſome diſeaſes, that the fear of having them does bring them; we may obſerve it here in pious men; the fear of Church-levelling, has leveld us; their own Tenents have ſerved to do it; the frights of our Mother, brings her travel upon her.
There are four principles amongſt us, Epiſcopacy, Presbytery, Independency, Eraſtianiſm. Some are for Martin, and ſome are for Luther; But is Chriſt divided? Might not one Jeſus ſerve all parties? We know the perfect temperament of natural bodies is of the four Elements; and it may be in our Government, if the prime qualities of either of theſe were well diſputed and allayed, they might unite, and educe a form of the richeſt extract for our mixt Churches.
When Herod, to his great renown, promiſed the people, to re-edifie the Temple, and was beginning upon it; they came and beſought him by all means to forbear, till he had provided the materials, and could aſſure them he was able to build it a new, before they pluckt down the old; which when he had taken ſome three years time (if I forget not) to do, then they joyfully went about it, and accompliſhed it. I humbly Imagin, this would have been good policy among us, that the Houſe of our Reformation, while it was building, had been made ready before it was brought thither, that there might not have been heard the noyſe of the Hammer and the Ax, in any of theſe claſhings, while it was rearing.
As for the Presbytery, I verily believe the ſpirit of zeal, and fear of the Lord breathes as eminently in moſt of them, as in any of the Saints on this ſide Heaven. I heartily wiſh their moderation were known unto all men, as their piety; though I doubt not too, but ſome very precious of them gather with us, whilſt others ſcatter abroad; ſome cannot but ſee, and feel, and pity our perplexities. The Lord knows truly what it is that makes the hearts of many ſad that ſhould not be ſad, and ſtrengthens the hands of our ſeparations. For my part otherwiſe, I could be contented to lye in the duſt, for I am nothing, and can let the world know, while Mr. Drake calls Mr. Humfrey one of the number of Core, a Kain, a Deceiver, a boaſter, ſo monſtrouſly proud, that he even takes the judgment ſeat to my condemnation; I thank the Lord, if I may acknowledg my preſent temper, that Mr. Humfrey thinks Mr. Drake a very zealous ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt; and I do adviſe the Reader that the harſhneſſe of his paſsion may not prejudice his cauſe, but that he will embrace the truth whereſoever he finds it, pitying his weakneſs, eſpecially in theſe four particulars.
1. Becauſe the Sacrament is not to be Adminiſtred without the Church, unto Heathen, to convert them to the faith, therefore it cannot tend within the Church to any unregenerate Members ediſication.
2. Becauſe that Infants, Diſtracted, and Excommunicated perſons are not to be admitted, therefore there is the ſame reaſon for all ignorant and ſcandalous perſons; The often repetition of this, is a dead fly in his Oyntment.
3. His manifold unſavory catchings at my words only and expreſsions, which is purſuing my ſhadow, and not ſatisfying my Conſcience, as p. 15. to 21. eſpecially p. 92, 93, 94. which is too unworthy a tender Chriſtian.
4. His ſharpneſs of ſpirit, and ſore language; His words are very Spears and Swords. I muſt confeſs they often wound me to my heart, and make me think ſometimes what profit is there in my wounds? If it will do him any good, he may take the blood of them. O my Saviour! though he get no good in the making, let me receive good in their healing, let me have one drop of thy blood poured into thoſe wounds, and how ſweetly will it heal them! let me find Oylin my good Samaritan, while I fall amongſt them, and thy balm of Gilead under the reproach of Sion.
There is one paſſage I may not omit in his Preſace, When I weigh his looſe Principles with his being ſo favourable to the looſer ſort, it makes me and other to ſuſpect his practices, &c. For my Principles, I hold thus; It is the duty of all Church-members of age to frequent the Sacrament; A man muſt examine himſelf and ſo Eat, he muſt come, and come worthily; If he be not worthy, that will not excuſe him from his duty, he must do both, as in other Ordinances, and there is no eſcape otherwiſe. Mr. Drake holds, If a man be not worthy he muſt abſtain, and that is his duty. Let the righteous judge, if this take effect, which will prove the looſer doctrine. As for his cenſure of my life; let me excuſe him with his own words, p. 2. where he waves it with this reaſon. For who am I, that I ſhould judge my Brother? Good man! he is here afraid to ſin againſt God in the judging of me he knows not; but ſhould he know me in all the ſecrets of my heart, and whole life, from my youth up, Alas! he does not think of me half ſo bad as I do; I am verily, & in my own eys, much worſe than he dare judge of me (to wit, in his ſober, not raſh, indgement.) I heartily beſeech him to ſpend as many prayers unto God to make me better in his ſight, as he has done words to make me vile unto the World; and that while he ſays unto my Soul, Bow down that I may go over, I may lay my body as the ground, and as the ſtreets, and let him go over.
Now as there are ſome of theſe, who are precious and godly, may be diſpleaſed, for which I am ſorry; there are others, with whom my Book, or ſubject of it, has found acceptance. I find 4. ſorts of them.
The firſt, are a humble lowly ſort, that love to ſerve God, and be quiet; that follow their ſtudies and devotions in a ſtill voice, and make no more noiſe of Religion, than a ſigh can do, and the ſoft droppings of a tear; Theſe can meet no body, but they are ready to bleſſe God for them, as ſeeing ſomething in them, that makes them eſteem them better than themſelves; They can think every one penitent, when they come to the Sacrament, as they are themſelves. When Zeal is ready to ſay, I only am left alone, Humility thinks, there are ſeven thouſand beſides me. Theſe are Nathaniels, true Iſraelites indeed, in whom there is no guile; I bleſſe God for a taſt of ſome ſuch ſpirits, whoſe ſweet encouragements herein, have as it were brought water to the thirſty, and prevented with their proviſion, him that fled.
The ſecond ſort, are moſt of the old way, amongſt which, there may be indeed, too many of the looſer ſort, whom nevertheleſſe we muſt not exaſperate, but meekly admoniſh to repentance, and be contented, with Rebeccah, when we open the well for Abrahams ſervant, not to let the Man drink only, but the Camels alſo.
The third, are part of the moſt judicious, of free and unprejudiced ſpirits; who judge the main body of my Work neceſſary, though mingled with the Authors weakneſſe, and are ready, As the Shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the Lion two leggs, and a piece of an ear, to reſcue ſome parts of it, ſome paſſages, as uſefull, and fit for better Meditations: Even as amongſt thoſe Votaries, that were met withall by Iſhmael, and about to be put to death, there were found certain of them, ſaying, Slay us not, for we have treaſures; ſo they forbare, and ſlew them not among their brethren.
The fourth and laſt ſort, to whom I owe moſt, are many unſatisfyed doubtfull Chriſtians, either through tenderneſſe of conſcience, or ſearch of underſtanding, while the former, poor ſouls! look in their hearts, and find ſome good deſires, but not a prevalency of reſolution in them; while they feel ſinne, and a love unto their ſin, and yet a hatred of that love; while they have ſome ſigns of grace, and want others, no wonder they ſo greedily embrace the Sacrament as a means to beget that in them, they are in doubt of, or elſe must come upon their certain ruine. I muſt confeſſe it is a notion has enter'd my heart, and runs through this Book; Let the poor ſinner come, as condemning himſelf, and apply Jeſus Chriſt in the ſenſe of his condition; Let him come with a rope about his neck, for our King is a merciful King. If we would judge our ſelves, we ſhould not be judged, 1 Cor. 11.31.
For the latter, the wiſe and more piercing, as they may not be ſo ſtrict in their apprehenſion of this ſolemnity, they do mainly enquire into the nature of grace; how the Spirit works it, by way of moral Swaſion only, or Infuſion, and that at once, or by gradual preparation; they know not whether ſpecial grace differs from common any otherwiſe, than the ſame ſeed caſt in divers grounds, in regard of root and continuance; and conceive this Ordinance with others, to be means and helps for the rooting of it, or for the begetting thoſe farther degrees, which make that grace, that before was not, to become ſaving, and ſo they can allow a proportionable latitude in their admiſsion. It was the famous Tyranny of one Procruſtes towards ſtrangers, to lay them in his own bed, and if they were ſhorter, to ſtretch them out to the length of it if longer, to cut them ſhort to his Stature. I heartily bewail the extream rigor of too many of thoſe we hold Orthodox, that would have all other judgments cut even with the model of their own, eſpecially in theſe firſt effectual workings of Gods Spirit, which are ſecret to reaſon, various in experience, and unſearchable; as to the way and means whereof, Jo. 3.8. there is none may limit him. For the Bed is ſhorter than that a man can ſtretch himſelf on it, and the coverings narrower than that a man can wrap himſelf in them.
To conclude, There are two kind of Readers into whoſe hands my lines will come, my bare Readers, or my Iudges. For my bare Readers, I do heartily fore-warn you, not to truſt to my judgment, but to ſtay and ſee what others will write of it, counting of me only as one that have propoſed your minds, that you may be ſatisfied. In the mean while, I beſeech you Brethren, in the Bowels of Chriſt, be ſubmiſsive to your Paſtors, and grieve not the more knowing and pious ſouls of thoſe, that ſo indulgently watch ever you. For my Judges, I only wiſh them to be moderate, unprejudiced ſpirits, and humble men, and I ſhall ſubmit unto their cenſures. If I have built Wood, Hay, or Stubble, on Chriſt the foundation, let my work be burnt, but my ſelf ſaved; I ſacrifice it to the flame, where it ſhall dye, though Truths malefactor, yet a Martyr, as to the innocency of my intentions, and to teſtifie my repentance, turn to aſhes.
Iohn Humfrey.