A Rejoinder to Mr Drake, Part 1 · Section 9
Sect. 9 MY fourth Reaſon aroſe from the formality of a ſelection at this Sacrament, as vain, and endleſſe; vain as to the really worthy, becauſe we cannot know them, and endleſſe as to the viſible, becauſe this is the door of our ſeparations.
Look we unto the Church as it was amongſt the Iews; The whole Nation, Deut. 12.2. is ſaid to be a holy people, a peculiar people, Ezra 9.2. Dan 8.24. In Deut. 26.16, 17, 18. there is this reaſon, becauſe the Lord had given them his Statutes. Compare it with Ro. 3.2. and 9.4. To them belonged the Oracles, and the Covenants, &c. I pray mark it, as the Iews were ſeparated from the World, in the acknowledgement of the true God, and profeſſion of his name, they are a holy, peculiar, adopted people, inſomuch that Moſes ſays expreſly, God did hereby avouch them to be his people, and they him to be their God. Now unto whom the Covenants belong, the ſeals of the Covenant do belong; but the Covenants we ſee manifeſtly belong to them hereby, as profeſſors, or members only of the Jewiſh Church, and that we muſt know too, by way of privilege, ſo as that they are intereſted in the outward benefits of it, and reckoned externally in Covenant with God, even in caſes of very grievous tranſgreſſions, if you ſeriouſly ponder Ex. 32.7, 8. with 11.13. Pſ. 106.39. with 45. &c. In Eze. Idolatrous Children are ſaid born to him; and Chriſt calls them his own. Io. 1.11. who were unbelievers, and received him not. And hence therefore did Circumciſion, and the Paſſeover, belong to them on that account, for we find their whole ſeed to be Circumciſed, and counted holy, Ro. 11.16. and when they were once Circumciſed, Ex. 12. there was no need of proving any other right unto the Paſſeover. There is a place here in prevails much with me, Exod. 24.8. where we find Moſes upon this very reſpect, making no diſtinction, in ſprinkling the blood of the Covenant in general upon the people, with theſe words, Behold the blood of the Covenant God has made with you. I pray pauſe a little, and think, what do we more in delivery of the Sacrament?
Look we again as we are Chriſtians; We ſhall find there is no privilege belongs to the Elect, but in an external relation, it is frequently attributed to the viſible Church, in the New Teſtament. There is an external Vocation, Sanctification, Adoption, Redemption, &c. The Apoſtle calls the Hebrews Holy Brethren, and partakers of a Heavenly calling, Heb. 3.1. when yet there was a heart of unbelief (ver. 12.) he fears in them. The Corinths were very vicious, 2 Cor. 12.21. and upon this account he at firſt wrote to them, 1 Cor. 1.11. yet does he ſtile them, as they are of the viſible Church, Saints by calling, Sanctified in Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1.2. And even thoſe of them that were given to Fornication, 1 Cor. 3.17, he ſays they were the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, uſing that as an argument to reclame them from it; Even as he tels them, all were in communion with Chriſt, and partook of one bread, wherefore they ſhould flee Idolatry, 1 Cor. 10.14, 15, 16, 17. There is then a double Chriſtian, and Jew; An outward Jew, and Chriſtian, and an inward Jew and Chriſtian, Rom. 2.28, 29. Even as there are theſe outward and inward privileges and relations. Now that which makes a Chriſtian or Iew to be inwardly a Iew or Chriſtian, gives him an immediate right to the inward privileges, which is truth of grace: And that which makes a man an outward Chriſtian or Iew, gives him immediate right to the outward privileges of the Iew and Chriſtian, and that is Church-memberſhip, or profeſſion. And this buſineſſe, methinks, is ſweetly decided for us by Chriſt himſelf, when he ſumms up the whole viſible Church into theſe two heads only, Many are called, and few choſen.
As for what Mr. D. has to ſay againſt this, p. 71, 72, 73, 74. it is barren, as a field already glean'd. In general he ſays, 1: In the rule of admiſſion, they are not to go by the truth of grace. It is well he is brought to confeſſe this, which ſo often otherwhere he thinks himſelf bound to pry into. See Page 117. His trial there, is to uncaſe many outwardly pious, that live in ſome known ſin, and diſcover them to be hypocritical, yet here it is not the rule he goes by. It is pity but the Lawgiver ſhould be Lord over his own rule. His reaſon is, becauſe Infants, &c. which is now ſeven times.2. Nor by viſible profeſſion, or Church memberſhip, which way the Scripture goes, becauſe it is too looſe for him. The godly, forſooth, muſt not go the ordinary road of Chriſtians, leſt the wicked come along with them. His argument is as good as this, I muſt not go the horſeway, becauſe I am a man.3. He has found out a medium, a middle way, which before theſe times our Church never knew, and he may be famous for the diſcovery, ſeeing there is ſcarce a trace or footſtep in the whole Word, any elſe can find for it, beſides him. We have had one Drake already famous for ſhooting the Gulph, you ſhall now have another, for cutting the Streights in this buſineſſe of Admiſſion.
In particular, Page 71.72. Could not all the Art Mr. H. hath, think of a medium participationis?
Anſ. 1. The whole Art Mr. H. profeſſes, is to be a humble follower of Ieſus Chriſt, who tells us of no medium here, while he divides all his gueſts (as I have ſaid) into the called and choſen, Matt. 22.14. Which cloze being brought in unto this Parable, may happily ſerve both to check Mr. D. that will be wiſer than his Lord, and help to direct us in the rule of our admiſſion. The ſervants can look but to the one, who are Saints by calling, as the Lord to the other, who are Saints by Election.
2. I doubt not but if Mr. D. finds out one medium, there will be enough to find out more, for if ever there were any Sects or Schiſms in the Church, they run upon this ſame account, that they have found out the true medium as well as he. If we maintained our profeſſion, we might have kept out our diviſions, but in the yielding the one, we are loſt in the other. Mr. Drakes words here are but vain, when we ſee theſe ſad effects. There is a wound made in our very bowels, which the Church has received by her own ſons, while they have given the occaſion of ſeparation from her. This is the whirlpool wherein ſhe loſes her Children, whom as ſoon as ſhe has foſtered under her wings, and with long travels gotten but out of the ſhell, they preſently leave her; Even as thoſe Ducklings that are hatch'd under a Hen, let them but come once to ſee the waters, they regard not at all the cluckings of their Mother, but run themſelves in the depths of their own imaginations.
P. ibid. Wee look at his rule of Church-memberſhip, or profeſſion, as a very looſe principle &c.
Anſ. And what does he think of Chriſts action, in admitting of Judas, was that a looſe action? and are the Scriptures looſe Scriptures? what reaſon has he for this? Becauſe it will open a door for Infants, &c. Alas, good man I, Is this it? and I pray what elſe? As alſo for the wicked, &c. He ſhould ſay in plain terms, It is a looſe principle, becauſe it is not his principle, and then he had hit it.
For his inſtance of children, which we have had now no leſſe than eight times over, merely out of penury, in having nothing elſe; Methinks I may only anſwer him, with the Philoſopher, when he took another a-bed with his Wife, that was extremely ill favoured, O miſerable man (ſays he) what neceſſity has brought thee hither? O poor Mr. Drake! what wretchedneſſe is this, that he ſhould have no other argument to make uſe of? For his other inſtance, if profeſſion be Mr. H's, ground, how dare he Excommunicate any Baptized perſon, though most wicked? I anſwer, As the Prieſt durſt ſhut up the Leper from the whole Congregation; becauſe of Gods ſpecial command, 1 Cor: 5.13. Indeed if the Prieſt would have kept him from the Ordinances, when he was not to be kept from the Camp, he had no warrant for it. Though I dare not exclude any Church-member, in ſtatu quo, while his right is good, yet I hope I may, where he has forfeited that right, and is made no Church-member by Excommunication. Becauſe I muſt admit of him that is a profeſſor, therefore may not I exclude him, that is for the preſent in the ſtate of no profeſſor? It fares with children here, as it does in their lands, it is not for want of a right, but want of a capacity, they do not enjoy it; but it fares with the Excommunicate, as in mens forfeiture of their Eſtates; Their whole right to it is loſt for the preſent, until there be a recovery by their repentance.
Page 74. Doth not Mr. H. know, a man may be habitually worthy, and yet not actually, &c. Dia he never hear of Real and Viſible worthineſſe. &c?
Anſ. For the former, I do know it is a good diſtinction, as applied to the Receivers, though I believe it no wayes concerns the rule of our admiſſion. But for the latter, I muſt confeſſe I have heard of the Viſible Church, Saints by calling, Profeſſors, &c. but this Viſible worthineſſe, as diſtinguiſhed there-from, I have not lightly read of, but in him, though I willingly in oppoſing him, make uſe of the terms as brief, and very ſignificant of his meaning, that is as Exotick to the Scriptures, as the expreſſion.
And now methinks I ſee many pious men, conſcious of their own uprightneſſe, as ſo many Iobes, ready to ſtand up and juſtifie themſelves; behold therefore, I ſhall be as another Elihis, formed out of the Clay; I have heard you ſay we are innocent, our way is righteous; But where are your Scriptures? Where is any precept for it? or example in the Word? doth it ſeem good to you to put a yoak on the Brethren, when you are not ſure, it ſeemeth good alſo to the Holy Ghoſt? Is there any thing worthy all your labours, watchings and pious deſigns, that has not clear Authority from Chriſt? Or is there any ſuch thing, worthy our Churches troubles and alterations? Have ye been ſo tender of your own conſciences, about ſome circumſtances at this Table formerly, that you ſhould not now leave the ſubſtance of the duty free unto others? And have you in the iſſue found any ſuch fruits, and bleſſed effects, as you have expected in laying this foundation, whereof our ſpiritual enemy takes advantage to bring a burden upon our own Souls, perplexities to tender Conſciences, diſpleaſure on the general, and accidental danger to us all▪ in opening the door to our endleſſe ſeparations? How hath the Lord Covered the Daughter of Zion with a cloud, and caſt down from Heaven to Earth the beauty of Iſrael? Reproach, and Diviſion hath broken our hearts, wee looked for ſome to take pity, and there was none, and for comforters, and have found none. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we ſhall be turned, Renew our days as of old.
Pag. 75. Upon that alluſion of mine, about the Onion, out of pleaſant, he brings bitter; whether the man be more flat or ſpiteful, let others judge; I am ſure, the Embleme of the Spider, ſucking venom out of thoſe flowers the Bee does honey, is lively repreſented in this place. For the ſenſe of his words, which are a cenſuring of all us that hold for a free offer of Chriſt at this Sacrament, to be oppoſers of the Church, and the Wicked, and his party only the godly; I anſwer him humbly in the words of Chriſt, Luk. 9.55. You know not what manner of ſpirit you are of. It is not ſo eaſie a thing, to diſcern, between the right hand and left hand of Ieſus Chriſt; It is not your part to ſever the Sheep and the Goats, to write Doomſday, and the book of Iudgement. It was a kind queſtion of Joſeph to his brethren, How does the old man, is he yet alive? I will ask my virulent oppoſer, the ſame queſtion, Sir, What think you of the antients of our Church, and their former practices? How have they done a long time? Is your Father well, the old man, of which you speak? Are they all of them of the wicked? Is this your kindneſſe to them in their age? to bring down ſo many grey judgements with ſorrow to the grave.
For the manner of his expreſſion, with his dagger of that text, Ez. 13.22. (though uſed by roat before to Mr. Prynne) I muſt confeſſe it is very grievous to me; Mine eyes cannot look upon it, but they affect my heart; O Lord! Do thou bow down thine ear, and hear, open thine eyes, an behold, for me, the reproach, he has ſpread here with p. 92, 93, 94. &c. before the world; See Lord, if thou wilt allow ſuch language, and ſuch ſpleen in one of thy children, and not reprove him for it; Rebuke him, O Lord, yet not as a Son of Aſhur, but as a Son of Iudah. Let all bitterneſſe, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice, and be you kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Chriſts ſake hath forgiven you.