Beams of Former Light, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Divers Objections anſwered, no ſhew of Scripture for it, nor neceſsity, nor requiſite for uniformity, or obliged to it by our Covenant.
I Shall now faithfully give an account of whatever I have either read or heard, or imagine can be pleaded as a warrant in this caſe.
§ 1.
Obj. 1 The notation of the word foreign, to teach by voyce from foreign, and this from foreign *foreign autem ſonum ſive ſimplicem ſive ex reflexa & repercuſſione geminatum ſignificat.and hence wee have our Engliſh word Eccho, which is as it were an anſwering againe.
Anſ. There is no ſuch diſtinct meaning in the Scripture uſe of the word, but moſt ordinarily for preaching or inſtructing by voyce, and ſo interpreted by our Tranſlators, 1 Cor. 14.19. foreign that by my voyce I might teach others, Gal. 6.6. wee doe not beleeve the Miniſters maintenance, is to riſe from thoſe that learn Catechiſmes only, ſuch as are unmarried, and under the age of twenty one years, yet the ſame word there, and is tranſlated teaching, and the Scripture ſpeaking of ſuch to whom this Catechiſtical way ſeems to bee moſt ſutable, it expreſſeth their inſtruction, and teaching by another word, Heb. 5.12. You have need that one teach you the firſt Principles of the Oracles of God: the word there is foreign not foreign, the word is uſed alſo for a ſtory, or any report by hear-ſay, Luke 1.4. Acts 21.21, 24.
Obj. 2. Thoſe Scriptures are objected that mention Principles, Fundamentals, which are reckoned up, Heb. 6.1. & Pſal. 34.11. Come yee children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. And 2 Tim. 1.13. a pattern of ſound words, in faith and love; and Rom. 2.20. the forme of the knowledge of the truth is ſpoken of.
Anſ. In none of theſe Scriptures any ſet forme for method and words, and if ſo, yet not with injunction to bee held to only, that principles and lower truthes are to bee taught, and to thoſe of a lower capacity in a more familiar and plaine method and way; this is confirmed by thoſe Scriptures, and is a duty of that evidence from Scripture, that the Civil Magiſtrate may impoſe and compel Miniſters thus to inſtruct, leaving them as Chriſt hath left them, for choyſe of matter and words according to the gifts the Lord hath furniſhed them with for his ſervice.
§. 2.
Obj. 3. It is ancient, and received by all Churches in all ages ſince the Apoſtles times?
Anſ. If it bee meant inſtructing the ignorant, and younger ſort in Principles, it is not only ſo, but more ancient, even before the Apoſtles times, and confirmed by them, and is or ought to bee received & practiſed by all Churches; But method, words, &c. impoſed as a neceſſary Rite, and Order in the Service of God; this is not ancient, and he that was well skilled in antiquity will tell you ſo.Mr. Parker of Symbolizing with Antichriſt, part 2. p. 19. If they ſpeak of Canons inferring neceſsity, they muſt know there were no ſuch Canons in antient time, Chriſtian Liberty was more tendred in thoſe dayes. Againe, Antiently (ſaith the ſame Author) there was in Rites a liberty permitted, and no neceſsity impoſed, neceſsity in Rites is jugum papale, never heard of in the Church till Antichriſt began to uſurp over the liberty of Chriſtian men.
Anſ. 2. Suppoſe it had both Antiquity and Univerſality.
Is this a topick more cogent here then in former diſputes? as between Proteſtants and Papiſts, Conformiſts and Non Conformiſts;Caſſander, Anglica. pag. 2. Mr. Sprint layeth his moſt weight upon this Argument, The refuſing of Conformity, ſaith hee, tends to condemne all true Churches, all faithful and ſound Teachers of all times and places ſince the time of the Apoſtles of Chriſt.
The avouching Antiquity, and Univerſality of acceptation, as equivalent in a Diſpute, to Divine Authority (which is, or ought to be the only rule in this matter) is very ſufficiently refuted by Jewel, Whitakers, Reinolds, Morton, and the reſt of ours againſt Papiſts, as alſo at large diſputed betweene Doctor Ames, in his reply to Mr. Sprint, and Doctor Burgis his rejoynder, and then Dr. Ames again in his Freſh ſuit.
Obj. 4. And for any neceſsity, or Arguments drawne from thence?
Anſ. There is no Miniſterial work in which a neceſſity may not better bee pretended; as
1 In convincing the Gain-ſayer, controverſal diſputes, ſuch difficulty, as for want of help ſometimes men are diſputed into error.
2 To pitch upon ſuch Characters and ſignes, by which Sincerity may be diſcerned from Hypocriſie is very difficult, and for want of experience and skilfulneſs in ſuch a work, the hearts of thoſe have been made ſad whom God would not have made ſad. Ezek. 13.If in ſuch Caſes the Magiſtrate ſhould conſult with a Synod, and forme certaine wayes of reaſoning for method and words, and impoſe upon the Miniſter in their Diſputes to bee held to, and no other; and the like for the impoſing certaine formes of ſignes, and markes, by which Sincerity and Hypocriſie may ſafely bee diſtinguiſhed; or any other difficulty that falls in the way of our Miniſtry: is much more neceſſary and allowable.
3 To be able to ſpeake level, and not over or under in determining the Magiſtrates power in Eccleſiaſtical matters, is a difficulty, and to what extremities doe good men in their preaching and printing run in the point; upon this conſideration a Homily is compoſed, that is, a certaine forme for matter and words,Synod 40. Can. 2. and impoſed * upon all Miniſters as followeth, For the fuller and clearer inſtruction and information of all Chriſtian people in their duties in this particular, wee doe Ordaine and Decree, That every Parſon, Vicar, Curate, or Preacher, upon ſome Sunday in every quarter of a year, ſhall treatably, and audibly read theſe explanations of the regal Power here inſerted. and the words are ſet downe. In every of theſe Caſes (and forty more might bee inſtanced) there is more neceſſity of impoſitions than in teaching plaine Principles; Can it bee imagined Miniſters intruſted, without any ſuch books or helps, in theſe more difficult points, will need them in the eaſieſt part of his Miniſtry? Is a Miniſter able to feed with ſtrong meat, and not fit to bee truſted with Babes and Lambs?
Obj. 5. It will conduce (ſay ſome) much to uniformity, and ſo to unity and peace, if the ſame order in this matter be obſerved throughout the Nation.
Anſ. This is the old Plea, and a means by which the Ceremonies and Common Prayer-book kept their ſtation ſo long amongſt us. There is an uniformity ariſing from the vertue of internal principles, as alſo from an external mould or frame, the one is free and natural, the other compelled and forced. Uniformity from internal Principles is an excellency in Nature, and in Grace alſo. That an Acorn, a grain of Corn, a Kernel, a ſeed, from each a Body, and in its kinde the like; the like leaf, bark, branch, fruit; it is true, not in ſmaller things ſo exact in likeneſſe as what you caſt in the ſame mould, yet for ſubſtance, and in the maine they are the ſame; all Vines, Cedars, every Plant, and every Herb in its kind, every Beaſt, and every Bird in its kind. And ſo is it with gracious and holy men, being a holy Seed, and having this Seed remaining in them, their converſation for the ſubſtance is the ſame, and ſo viſibly, uniforme, and the ſame, as the blinde World can diſtinguiſh them from other men.
So alſo in this part of their converſation, their Service of God in his Ordinances; if the inſtitutions of Chriſt, and whatſoever hee in his Word hath preſcribed, as neceſſary means, and circumſtances from more general Rules bee obſerved, by Miniſters that are gifted, induſtrious, and gracious, you will have a natural, free, and comely uniformity, and more to the glory of God, then to have all by external injunctions, caſt as it were in an artificial mould; ſuch a forced Conformity in all Ages hath been the occaſion of greateſt differences and diſturbances; I ſay, the neglect of Scripture Rules, which guide and direct an uniformity in matters of ſubſtance and greater conſequence, and by Canons and Injunctions erect an uniformity in matters of doubtful Diſpute, and not of much concernment if they were cleared. Thoſe Reverend N. Conformiſts that wrote the Admonition ſpoke very prudently to this; The only cauſe why our Church differeth from the Churches reformed of the Strangers, or among our ſelves, or they among themſelves is, becauſe our Church ſuffereth not it ſelf ſo to bee directed by the courſe of thoſe Scriptures as another doth, except it be in thoſe things of order, wherein one Pariſh may many times differ from another without offence, following the general Rules of Scripture for order, as in appointing time, place, and the like, 2 Ad. pa. 42. The pretence of uniformity, and upon that account taking liberty to impoſe doubtful Traditions, hath been in all Ages an Utenſile in the hands of Church Governours, by which they have exerciſed the greateſt tyranny, and put themſelves in a capacity to bring Miniſters under what bondage they pleaſe. One Councel Decrees, that all Miniſters must live ſingle lives, for uniformity. Bellarmine diſputes to have the Service in the ſame Language in all the Popes Dominions for uniformities ſake, and what thing, be it ever ſo abſurd but may bee brought into this Liſt. Where Councels or Convocations have a minde to bee rid of thoſe, of more conſcientious and uncomplying ſpirits (tempting them by this means to that which they will call Schiſme and ſeparation) they may thus eaſily compaſs their deſignes.
Ob. 6. Wee are bound by Covenant to uniformity in the Worſhip and Service of God, and in particular to an uniformity in Catechiſing.
Anſw. I doe not beleeve the Covenant did, or doth binde us to any thing in the Worſhip of God, but what in conſcience and prudence we were bound to practice, and doe if there had been no Covenant; neither are wee bound to any other uniformity but what was but even now mentioned.
2 The former part of the Diſpute in this Argument muſt bee refuted, before wee can thus reaſon; for if it bee a ſinful and unwarrantable addition in the Worſhip of God beſides, or againſt the Word of God. The Covenant cannot make a crooked thing ſtrait, Eccl. 7.13.or an evil thing good; a Covenant brought in ſo lately cannot make voyd any branch of the Covenant God made with his Church ſo many hundred years before it. And therefore it is added in our Covenant, according to the Word of God.
3 There is no Uniformity in any adminiſtration mentioned there, but ſuch as is neceſſary to ſuch an end as is there alſo propoſed, namely, that wee and our poſterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midſt of us; which certainly will better bee accompliſhed without ſuch an external mould of conformity then with it. There was faith, and love, and peace amongſt godly Miniſters when Catechiſmes were, and were uſed in greateſt variety.
4 We are bound by the Covenant to no ſtricter uniformity in a Catechiſme then wee are in other parts of Worſhip; now in no part of the Directory, or Worſhip there mentioned, are we bound to method and words, as appeareth evidently throughout the Directory; no nor are wee bound to the Directory further then is explained in the Preface to it, for that was ſtood upon by a conſiderable party in the Aſſembly, and aſſented unto by the whole (and mentioned in the Committee of Accommodation as a foundation of an agreement, p. 4. which Preface profeſſedly holds forth the intent of the Aſſembly in matters of Uniformity thus; Our meaning therein being only that the general Heads, the ſenſe and ſcope of the Prayers, and other parts of Publique Worſhip being knowne to all, there may bee a conſent of all the Churches, in thoſe things that containe the ſubſtance of the Service and Worſhip of God; and the Miniſters may bee hereby directed in their Adminiſtrations to keep like ſoundneſſe in Doctrine and Prayer; and may, if need be, have ſome help and furniture: And yet ſo, as they become not hereby ſlothful and negligent in ſtirring up the gifts of Chriſt in them: But, that each one, by meditation, by taking heed to himſelf and the Flock of God committed to him, and by wiſe obſerving the wayes of Divine Providence, may be carefull to furniſh his heart and tongue with further, or other materials of Prayer and Exhortation, as ſhall bee needful upon all occaſions.
5 It is not to an uniforme Catechiſme, but uniformity in Catechiſing in the Covenant, wee may be uniforme in Catechiſing, though we uſe not a Catechiſme, the ſame for matter and words; we may bee uniforme in preaching, though we bee not bound to the ſame Homily, the ſame forme of words; nay, though not uſe the ſame method, as to preach conſtantly by Doctrines, Reaſons, and Uſes, which is expreſly aſſerted in the Directory for Preaching.
And ſuch were the Directories of reformed Churches (as before was inſtanced) where I hope was Uniformity. Yea in Scotland it ſelf, the Uniformity ſtands not in being held to a ſameneſs of words, Habemus quidem nos etiam in Eccleſia, (ſaith a Learned Scotch-man) agendas & ordinem in ſacris celebrandis ſervandum, Alex. D…ſed nemo alligatur, &c. proponuntur tantum ut paradgimata quib; precum materia & forma quo ad ſubſtantialia indecantur, non ut eiſdem verbis aſtringantur miniſtri; totos ego tredecim annos quibus functus ſum miniſterio ſive in Sacramenta ſive in aliis ſacris celebrandis precib; aut Exhortationibus quae extant in agenda, unquam uſus ſum, ſic etiam aliis cumplures & omnibus etiam liberum idem facere. That this is the uſe of a Directory in the reformed Churches, appears in the words of Mr. Hooker in his Eccl. Pol. Wee hold it much better with the Church of Rome to appoint a preſcript forme, which every man ſhall be bound to obſerve, then with them (the reformed Churches) to ſet downe a kinde of Directory, a forme for men to uſe if they liſt, or otherwiſe to change as it pleaſeth themſelves. There was an uniformity in bleſſing the people, yet if you compare Numbers 6.23. 2 Cor. 12.13. 2 Theſs. 3.17, 18. Heb. 13.20, 21. Jude 24, 25. together, you ſhall not finde their bleſſings the ſame for matter and words; no, nor in that which you call the Lords Prayer, if you compare Matthew 6.9.13. & Luke 11.2, 3, 4.
Ob. 7. It may be yet further argued, it will be an advantage when the younger ſort remove out of one Pariſh into another, as we finde in uſing the ſame Grammer, and other Bookes, it is an advantage when Children remove from one Schoole to another.
Anſ. Formes beget a forme, but as they have little, ſo work little of the power of godlineſſe; the ſcope of Miniſterial inſtruction is not only to faſten in the Memory, and accordingly by rote to repeat it thence; but to beget a grounded underſtanding, whether wee carry away the words or not, if variety of Catechiſms, and all ſound, and according to the Analogie of Faith, the Doctrine is the ſame though the words be not, and if it be received with underſtanding, wee ſhall acknowledge truth in what method or form of words ſoever wee meet with it; if it be not the ſame, but another Catechiſme, containing ſome few other truthes, yet ſuch poſſibly as are uſeful and neceſſary to be known as thoſe in a former Catechiſme, and ſo a means to increaſe knowledge.