Review of the True Nature of Schism, Treatise · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3.
A Review of the chargers Preface.
HIs firſt chapter conſiſts for the moſt part, in a repetition of my words, or ſo much of the diſcourſe of my firſt Chapter as he could wreſt, by cutting off one, and another parcell of it from its coherence in the whole, with the interpoſure of gloſſes of his own, to ſerve him to make biting reflexions upō them with whom he hath to deale. How unbecoming ſuch a courſe of procedure is, for a perſon of his worth, gravity and profeſsion, perhaps his foreign, have by this time convinced him. If men have a mind to perpetuate controverſies unto an endleſſe, fruitleſſe reciprocation of words and cavils, if to provoke to eaſie and facile retorſions, if to heighten and aggravate differences beyond any hope of reconciliation, they may do wel to deale after this manner with the writings of one another. Mr. C. knowes how eaſie it were to make his owne words, dreſſe him up in all thoſe ornaments wherein he labours to make me appeare in the world, by ſuch gloſſes, inverſions, additions, and interpoſitions, as heis pleaſed to make uſe of; but meliora ſperamus. Some particulars that ſeem to be of any importance to our buſineſſe in hand, may be remarked as we paſſe through it: pag. 1. He tels us the Donatiſts had two principles: 1. that they were the onelyonly Church of Chriſt in a corner of Africk, and left no Church in the world but their owne. 2. That none were truly baptized, or entred members of the Church of Chriſt, but by ſome Miniſter of their party. Theſe Principles, he ſaies, are againe improved by men of another party: whom though yet he name not, yet it is evident whom he intends: and pag: 3. he requires my judgement of thoſe principles.
Becauſe I would not willingly be wanting in any thing that may tend to his ſatisfaction, though I have ſome reaſon to conjecture at my unhappineſſe in reſpect of the event: I ſhall with all integrity give him my thoughts of the principles expreſſéd above.
1. Then, if they were conſidered in reference to the Donatiſts who owned them, I ſay they were wicked, corrupt, erroneous principles, tending to the diſturbance of the communion of Saints, and everting all the rules of love, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath given to his diſciples, and ſervants to obſerve: if he intend my judgment of them in reference to the Churches of England, which he calls independent, I am ſorry that he ſhould thinke he hath any reaſon to make this inquiry. I know not that man in the world who is leſſe concerned in obteining Countenance to thoſe principles then I am. Let them who are ſo ready on all occaſions or provocations to caſt abroad the ſolemne formes of reproach, Schiſmaticks, Sectaries, Hereticks, and the like, ſearch their owne hearts, as to a conformity of ſpirit unto theſe principles. It is not what men ſay, but what men doe, that they ſhall be judged by. As the Donatiſts were not the firſt who in ſtory were charged with Schiſme, no more was their Schiſme confined to Africk. The agreement of multitudes in any principles, makes it in its ſelfe not one whit better, and in effect worſe. For my part I acknowledge the Churches in England, Scotland and France, Helvetia, the netherlands, Germany, Greece, Muſcovia, &c. as far as I know of them, to be true Churches; ſuch for ought I know may be in Italy or Spaine; and what pretence or colour this Reverend perſon hath to fix a contrary perſwaſion upon me, with ſo many odious imputations and reflections, of being one of the Reſtorers of all loſt Churches, and the like, I profeſſe I know not. Theſe things will not be peace in the latter end; ſhall the ſword devour for ever? I dare not ſuppoſe that he will aske why then do I ſeparate from them? he hath read my booke of Schiſme, wherein I have undeniably proved, that I have ſeparated from none of them, and I am loath to ſay, though I feare before the cloſe of my diſcourſe I ſhall be compelled to it, that this Reverend Author hath anſwered a matter before he underſtood it, & confuted a book, whoſe maine and chiefe deſigne he did not once apprehend. The reſt of this chapter is compoſed of reflections upon me from my owne words wreſted at his pleaſure, and added to according to the purpoſe in hand, and the taking for granted unto that end that they are in the right, we in the wrong, that their Churches are true churches, and yet not eſteemed ſo by me, that we have ſeparated from thoſe churches, with ſuch like eaſie ſuppoſitions. He is troubled that I thought the mutuall chargings of each other with Schiſme, between the Preſbyterians, and Independents was as to its heat abated and ready to vaniſh: wherein he hath invincibly compelled me to acknowledge my miſtake; and I aſſure him I am heartily ſorry that I was miſtaken, it will not be ſome bodies joy one day that I was ſo. He ſeems to be offended with my notion of Schiſme, becauſe if it be true, it will carry it almoſt out of the world, and bleſſe the churches with everlaſting peace. He tells me that a learned Dr. ſaid my book was one great Schiſme, I hope that is but one Drs. opinion; becauſe being nonſence it is not fit it ſhould be entertained by many. In the proceſſe of his diſcourſe he culls out ſundry paſſages deliverd by me in reference to the great diviſions and differences, that are in the world among men profeſſing the name of Chriſt, and applies them to the difference between the Preſbyterians and Independents, with many notable laſhes in his way; when they were very little in my thoughts, nor are the things ſpoken by me in any tolerable meaſure applicable to them. I ſuppoſe no rationall man will expect, that I ſhould follow our Reverend Author in ſuch waies and pathes as theſe; it were eaſie in ſo doing to enter into an endleſſe maze of words, to little purpoſe, and I have no mind to deale with him as he hath done by me, I like not the copy ſo well as to write by it; ſo his firſt chapter is diſcuſſed, and forgiven.