A Rejoinder to Mr Drake, Part 1 · Section 8
Sect. 8 MY third Reaſon was from Church-fellowſhip, which ought to be in charity, humility, without judging, every one eſteeming others better than themſelves, &c. Now if men will go to ſet up a diſcriminating Ordinance they cannot keep themſelves from intrenching on theſe duties, and occaſioning diviſions. Our ſad experience has made this argument too weighty for Mr. Drakes particulars, which are not worth the naming, unleſſe he could firſt prove it the Miniſters duty, to diſcern between the worthy and unworthy, as the rule of admiſſion. When Moſes ſaw two Iſraelites fighting, he parted them, and made them friends, but when he ſaw an Egyptian ſtriving with an Iſraelite, he ſaved the Iſraelite, without any regard to the life of the Egyptian. If this rule of viſibility had any foundation in the Scriptures, we ſhould certainly endeavour to reconcile theſe texts to it; but when it has not any at all, and yet is ſtriving againſt our peace and unity, humility and charity, we muſt ſave the Iſraelite: theſe duties muſt be preſerved, whatſoever becomes of this oppoſite thing that contends with it.
Not that I hold all judging unlawfull, for I doubt not, but there may be both a Publick, and private judging; Publick judgement is either in Civil cauſes, or Church-cenſures, both which are ſufficiently warranted in the word upon due conviction. Private judgement, is either upon ones ſelf, or upon others, I think ſometimes the one may be ſinfull, as the other without ſin, and that not only, in caſe of outward actions which are apparent tranſgreſſion, but in ſome charitable ſuſpitions upon occaſion (as Iob over his Sons) tending to admonition. This I do ſpeak, that I may not abate from the zeal and piety of any over their relations, though we allow a free-communion.
For his 9 things, p. 62, 63, 64. I return briefly, 1. A judging ones ſelf as worthy, and unworthy unto the Sacrament, is private, but ſound judgement. A judging others as to the truth and ſincerity of grace, though publick, is not, I think, a warranted judgement. But a judgement of probability, as to a viſible fitneſſe, and unfitneſſe, upon a charitable jealouſie, may be ſolid, as to advice and counſel, but not, as to be a rule of admiſſion, or ſuſpenſion.
2. The cenſures of the Church upon Hereſie or ſcandal, after due admonition and conviction, will ſtand firm (as they have ever done) without this judging at the Sacrament.
3. Epheſus is commended for her tryal of the falſe Apoſtles, as to their doctrine, not for a trial as to the Sacrament. She could not bear thoſe that were evill in the Church, it were a wretched interpretation, to ſay, ſhe could not bear them only at the Lords Supper.
4. The Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 5.7, 12, 13. ſpeaks of the like Excommunication from the whole lump, that the evil report of ſuch a notorious action (I take it) might not leaven their Churches reputation, by his being reckond of their company.
5. The trial of the Miniſters at our Ordination, hath expreſſe warrant for it, but there is no Scripture ſets up a tryal of our members unto the Communion.
6. The gentleneſſe required of an Elder, 2 Tim. 2.24, 25. will hardly ſtand with Mr. Drakes ſpirit, which makes him the more unfit for this trial, if it were meet in others.
7. The word foreign, does not allow us to ſuffer men in their ſinnes, for there is a reproof in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, but it does allow us to ſuffer, and invite them (unleſſe excommunicate) unto Gods ordinances.
8. It is a cenſure befits only Mr. Drake to judge it out of pride in the moſt, and ignorance in the beſt, that they do not conform themſelves in this thing unto him, when it may be the lamentation of their ſouls, to ſee the miſerable effects already of it.
9. As a man cannot note a fault with more mildneſſe than in Scripture-terms, and bring himſelf in it, as I have done in theſe words, Preferring our ſelves, Phil. 2.3: ſo there cannot be expreſſed more bitterneſſe to a fellow-Miniſter, ordained as he (if he would know it) by the Presbytery, than to number me in the company of Corah, Sanballat, and Tobiah.
And now ſhould I return him his own language, p. 61. See you not here how the vizard of piety falls off, and his breath and pen ſavour quickly of pride? Should I ſay, If this do not ſmell ſtrong of ſublime Phariſaiſm, I beſeech you what doth? as he has it p. 93? Or rather ſhould I heartily adviſe him to take heed there be not a guilt herein upon his own conſcience, that ſo galls him to the heart, (in a hatred of the remedy, inſtead of the diſeaſe) I ſhould be juſtified by his words, but do not know whether I ſhall be approved by God, in making it a means to ſhew him his ſin, and humble him for it. For my part, while he can even wiſh the earth might open and ſwallow me up, I deſire the Lord to open his eyes, that he may ſee the rents he helps to make, to ſwallow up the Church: And though he obtain not his wiſh as to the Earth, yet has he prevailed much as to the waters, which have overflowen my ſoul, and even been ready to ſwallow that up, with the ſorrows and woundings of my heart under theſe his bitter accuſations. The Lord executeth judgement and righteouſneſſe for the oppreſſed.
Alas Sir! Is it any advantage unto me to ſee our Church in her ruines? can I repine at that double honour you would get, in ruling well, as in labouring in the Goſpel? Do not I rather deplore the burden on your ſelves, and indignation of others in lieu of it? Would it not be as much happineſſe to me as my fellow brethren, to have that Government eſtabliſht, which is thought moſt conducing to our own good? And can I take any ſuch pleaſure in the diſ-orders, diſ-reſpects, and contumelies, of an unwieldy people, as much as any, for want of diſciplin, that I ſhould be againſt it? No, it is the unwarrantableneſſe in Scripture, the unſuitableneſſe with mens Spirits, the improbability of the effect; it is the deſire of peace, unity in the Church, and the taking away the root of our diviſions, eſpecially it is the infinite account on the Miniſters Soul, the many grievous wounds, and perplexities of tender Conſciences, that have engaged my ſoul…, and intereſſ'd my ſpirit for a freedom at this Ordinance. And now, if it ſhall pleaſe the Lord, to make me a poor inſtrument, to bring refreſhment to any of his people amidſt their afflictions, concerning themſelves, or our mixt Communions, I ſhall be contented to be reckoned by this man, for a Sanballat or Tobiah, if I may be accepted of my God in the words of Nehemiah, Remember me heerin O Lord, according to thy great mercy, and wipe not out the kindneſſes I have done to the houſe of my God, and the offices thereof, but wipe out all my failings, and my offences, with thy goodneſſe, and the precious blood of Ieſus Chriſt.
Pag. 65. His note is good (though words bad,) We are more apt to take notice (of what men do ill, than what they do well) of their ſitting to reject a few, than of the many are admitted to their mutual comfort, &c.
Anſ. I know not which is more comfort, to have all viſibly worthy, or to have charity enough to make all ſo, I am ſure, the ſeeing the vileſt may have a good uſe on our hearts, if it humble them, and makes us look on our ſelves, as them, without the difference of Gods mercy. It is indeed a comfortable thing, to be with our brethren round about our Father, with none but His Children, receiving our portions of the blood of Chriſt, yet need it not deject, but enlarge our devotions, to ſee an attendance of Servants alſo coming along with his Sons, in their due profeſſion of a like outward dependance on him. While the Glory of the Lord filleth the Temple, his Traine may be ſuffered to reach unto the Earth.
Pag. 66. to p. 70. He brings in my 3 paſſages of our Saviour. The firſt was about the Phariſee, Lu. 18. Which I have expreſt with that tenderneſſe, and caution in the ſhewing the fault, and not grieving the faulty, that I commit it farther to their conſideration, pitying Mr. Drakes poor excuſe, That his judgement was private and without tryal, as if a thing for being more publick, were the leſſe evill; and when he judges himſelf worthy, and many unworthy, he asks the queſtion, Yet how do we think our ſelves better than others?
The ſecond was in Lu. 5. where Chriſt entertaining ſo many Publicans and ſinners at Table with him, gives us the reaſon, that he came to call them to repentance, that is, to convert them; and yet Mr. Drake ſays, What is this againſt them, Who will admit none unto Chriſts Table, unleſſe converted already? For his interpretation of I come not to call the righteous, he wrongs Chriſt to ſay, 1. He would not have all admitted.2. Rejects the Righteous, for this muſt be taken in regard of the effect, not tender of his grace. 1 Tim. 2.4. Chriſt rejected not the Phariſees, but they rejected him, Mat. 23.37. He offered his grace as freely to them, as any others, but the fault was their own, they would not come into it. Whoſoever comes unto me I will in no wiſe caſt out.
The third was a ſweet place in Io. 8. where, who doth not ſee how impertinent Mr. Drake is, about opening that Text (though he doth it well enough) as if he could not diſtinguiſh between a proof, and illuſtration. My ſenſe is this, the tender conſideration of Jeſus Chriſt, in ſetting the Iows to the ſifting their own hearts, when they came with intents of judging the Woman, might be a good allay for many amongſt us, that are ſo forward about the cenſuring others, and indeed, is ſo taking, Mr. Drake fre…s at it. For my part I can patiently bear with his tearms, of Ignorance, Instability, Prejudice, Perverſion, ſo long as I find a complacency in my ſpirit, and comfort in this paſſage above moſt I have writ. Methinks I have ſome paſſages are not ſo fit for me, I can even mourn over them, that they ſeem too pious for the writer; but this is an Argument, may be my very own, an Argument that becomes ſuch a poor ſinner as I am; the very prevailing thing at the bottom of my ſoul, and not ſo much an Argument, as the very confeſſion of my heart. Indeed I was afraid that this acknowledgement of my Conſcience would have turned to my ſhame, but I have found it my peace, and whilſt I have confeſſed mine iniquity, my God I hope does forgive me, and anſwer my reproach. For when Mr. Drake tells me, I am proud, a Phariſee, a Corah, I can but turn to this place, and I hope I am not ſo. For my anſwer then to him, his error is open, in taking his Sacramental judging for warranted, which is the thing in queſtion. Tis true, men cannot bring this paſſage againſt the Magiſtrate, nor to take away our cenſures which God has commanded in the Church, yet is it ſufficient, I hope, to make us take heed, and be very loath to ſet up any cenſures (as of viſible worthineſſe) which Chriſt has not commanded us. So that to cloze, as I ſaid at firſt, if this were once proved a precept of Chriſt, I would yield to Mr. Drake in every particle, but ſeeing men are aſſured there is no ſuch thing, it is in vain to conceive chaff and bring forth ſtubble, which his own breath ſerves but to conſume, while of all his particulars, he that is now ſo hot, ſhall not have a coal left him, to warm at, nor fire to ſit before it.