Disputations Concerning Matters of Religion, Discourse · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of the Diſputation at Kenelmworth, betwixt John Brian Doctor in Divinity, Miniſter at Coventry, and John Onley Paſtor of a Church at Lawford (as he ſtyles himſelf.) How it was occaſioned, undertaken, and continued at divers monthly meetings there.
THe occaſion of the Diſputation (as it is related in Doctor Brians Letter to me, and in both his and Mr. Onley's Epiſtles printed with, and prefixed before the printed Diſputation) was this; When the Lecture at Kenelmworth, at the Monday monthly meeting there was agreed upon by many Miniſters, and begun Decem. 1. 1655. for the ſetting up, and ſetling of a Goſpel-order in Parochial Congregations. Doctor Brian, who took the firſt turn in it, held it on himſelfe the ſpace of ſix months together; the Text he treated on was Coloſ. 2.5. Though I b… abſent in the fleſh, yet am I with you in the ſpirit, joying and beholding your order, and the ſtedfaſtneſs of your faith in Chriſt. In my ſecond Sermon (ſaith he) I deſired any that ſhould hearme, or hear what I delivered touching the way of reforming our Parochial Church's, which we reſolved on, if they doubted of the truth of any thing, they would ſignifie their doubts or ſcruples in writing, and I would endeavour to ſatisfie them. Accordingly a godly Brother of the Congregational way (Lieutenant Fox by name) ſent in ſundry objections to the Doctors third diſcourſe upon that Text, and ſome letters paſſed betwixt them, whereof he (i.e. Mr. Fox) deſired not any publication (though for parts and piety he is judged no way inferiour to Mr. Onley) but he, viz. Mr. O. the next day openly declared his diſſent, and deſired to diſpute with the Doctor publickly upon theſe two Queſtions.
Firſt, Whether the Pariſh Aſſemblies of England generally be true viſible Churches; which Mr. O. denied.
Secondly, Whether every Brother, though no Elder, that hath received abilities from God (whereby he is enabled to preach) may publickly preach; which he affirmed; appointing me, ſaith Doctor Brian, to be Opponent in the firſt, and Reſpondent in the ſecond queſtion the next monthly day.
It would have ſignified ſome modeſty in Mr. O. not to have appoynted Dr. Br. but to have the turns of diſpute as he would appoint them.
I need not tell you (ſaith the Doctor) how many diſſwaſions I had from entring the lists with an illiterate Adverſary, as Mr. O. was taken for by many: among others this that in ſo doing, I ſhould diſparage my ſelfe, nor was there any probability of good to come of it; which it had been well, if he had heeded ſo far, as to refuſe not ſo much the diſpute it ſelf, as to undertake it with ſuch an unequal oppoſite. But he argued himſelf into an acceptance of the challenge, out of ſome reaſons of piety, charity, and humility, which (as event hath proved) were miſapplyed to Mr. O. and that rather by his injurious miſdoing, then by the Doctors imprudent miſtaking. Beſides he had an inducement to adventure ſome inconveniencies by the diſpute (while but doubtful) from the experience of his conteſtation with two Anabaptiſts of London, Mr. Knowles and Mr. Kaffen, who came from thence to Coventry, with a great deal of confidence to confront Dr. Brian, and his worthy Brother Dr. Grewe in a publick diſputation: for which purpoſe, though the Magiſtrates of the City, and at their requeſt, promiſed to lend the Town-Hall (upon the boyſterous misbehaviour both of themſelves, and of many of their followers, on the Sabbath day before the diſputation (who flocked in great numbers thither, to countenance and encourage their Champions) they recalled their conceſsion, & for the ſame cauſe the Committee of Parliament reſiding there, for bade the diſpute. The 2. Doctors notwithſtanding were neceſſitated ſomewhat to Symbolize with the Anabaptiſts, viz. ſo far as to a non-obedience of their Governours therein, & that rather in hope of their pardon, then in contempt of their power; becauſe the Anabaptiſts imputed theſe prohibitions, not ſo much to the prudence of the Magiſtrates, as to the diffidence of the Doctors to undertake the defence of their profeſſed judgment and practice: and this ſiniſter ſuggeſtion ſo far ſwayed with ſome religious perſons, that they inclined to make a Schiſme from the Church, if theſe far-fetched Fencers ſhould find none to take up the Sword and Buckler againſt them. For prevention of which ſcandal, they were publickly encountred, the truth ſo ſtrenuouſly aſſerted, and they ſo fully confuted (in a very numerous Auditory) that ſuch as before were wavering, and in a manner tottering towards a revolt (if they ſhould have had cauſe to glory, that they put off their harneſs, becauſe none durſt put on any to combat with them) were throughly ſatisfied, and firmly ſetled and eſtabliſhed in the truth. The like bravadoes Doctor Brian might expect from his Thraſonical challenger, if he had not been undertaken, and his factious adherents would have triumphantly traduced him, that he durſt not commit his cauſe to ſuch a publick trial, and ſo they might have gained a great advantage, which might have confirmed his fellow-Sectaries, and diſſetled the ſimple, too much addicted to liſten after novel fancies, and to like them too well. Beſides, he might have good hope alſo that the ſucceſs of a diſputation at Kentlmworth would be ſuch, as there was of that at Coventry. And ſo the day prefixed to begin the diſputation being come, nine Arguments were brought by the Doctor, in vindication of the Affirmative in the firſt Queſtion; and when half the time was ſpent in debate of the two firſt, Mr. O. (as himſelfe ſaith) moved for the reſt of the time to oppoſe in the ſecond queſtion, which was granted only with a motion of reading the other ſeven in the Congregation: whereto Mr. O conſented, deſiring a copy of the Arguments undiſputed of, to return an anſwer to be likewiſe publickly read the next meeting, which was Monday month after; according to which, Mr. O. drew up, as he ſaith, a Reply, and read it in the Congregation.