Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights, Postscript
Poſtſcript.
SInce this Advertiſement of mine came abroad (though but a month,) what horrible foreſpeakings, threatnings, imprecations, and cenſures have beene publikely denounced againſt me in ſeverall parts of the Countrey, I ſhall not need to repeat, being too well knowne. Neither will I anſwer them accordingly leſt I alſo be like them; I will only in the feare of God, and by the comfortable aſſiſtance of his holy Spirit apply that ſaying,Numb. 23. 1. How ſhould they curſe where God hath not curſed? Or how ſhould they deteſt where the Lord hath not deteſted? 2 Sam. 16. 12.And thoſe words of David, It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and doe me good for his curſing this day. A deſperate thing it is for men to blaſpheme againſt ſome good light; and what is it, to acknowledge the good gifts and graces of God in thoſe which they ſo bitterly preach againſt; and to overwhelm them all with moſt foule and feigned ſuſſpicions and aſperſions without cauſe? As when they ſay, Satan will not uſe profane and wicked men, but he makes choiſe of thoſe that are of good and able parts, men of a religious life, of a blameleſſe converſation; theſe cloſe hypocrites he makes his inſtruments to oppoſe the Kingdom of Chriſt (that is their intended Diſcipline) &c. with other like ſpeeches. I ſay it is very dangerous for men thus to give way to wrath and malice. The Scribes and Phariſces did ſee, and would no doubt have acknowledged the eminent gifts and graces that ſhined in our Saviour, if he would have applied them to the eſtabliſhing of their Faction. But becauſe he would not doe ſo, they maliciouſly traduced him, and ſaid he had an uncleane ſpirit; but he reproves their deſperate wickedneſſe, ſhewing how nearly they did approach, or became guilty of the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt. And let every man take heed how they doe cunningly faſten ſlanders, or otherwiſe ſhew deſpight unto the ſpirit of Grace, becauſe it will not be ſubordinate unto their ends. I could wiſh alſo they would conſider the words of Marſilius Patavinus, in his Book entituled, Defender of the Peace, Where ſpeaking of thoſe that preſume to frame or preſſe Orders, Decrees, and other parts of Diſcipline, without licenſe of the true Law-giver or Prince, and endeavour to draw people to the obſervation of them by ſurreptitious words, as it were compelling them by threatning eternall damnation to ſuch as tranſgreſſe them, or denouncing execrations, reproachfull ſpeeches, excommunications, ſlanders, revilings, or other maledictions againſt them, or any of them, in word or writing; ſuch (ſaith he) are to ſuffer corporall puniſhment in a moſt high degree, as conſpirators, and ſtirrers up of civill ſchiſme, or diviſion in a Common-wealth. For it is ſaith he, a moſt grievous kinde of treaſon, becauſe it is committed directly againſt the Royall Majeſty of the Prince and his Soveraigne Authority; and tendeth to ſet up a plurality of ſupreame authorities or powers, and ſo of neceſſity to the diſſolution or overthrow of every civill Government.
They object alſo, that I am but a Lay-man, and therefore ſhould not meddle with matters of Divinity, applying that Proverb Ne ſutor ultra crepidam, and ſaying, that even the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, wherein he hath skill, ſhould teach him that leſſon, which alwayes move in their owne ſpheares, except they be wandring ſtarres, for whom the blackneſſe of darkneſſe is reſerved for ever, with many other bitter expreſſions. But this is an old plea of the Popiſh Clergy, to hold the people in ignorance and thraldome, and ſhould not be taken up by thoſe that would ſeeme to be more oppoſite to Popery then Proteſtants are. That eminent and bleſſed Divine Doctor Sibbes was of another minde, who ſpeaking in commendation of Mr Sherland (that was no Preacher) diſdaines not to ſay he had good skill in controverted points of Divinity, and that he was a good Divine. And ſurely the calling of a Chriſtian is of that importance, that he muſt, if need ſo require, omit whatſoever calling he have beſides, to make good that one moſt neceſſary, neither can he juſtly be charged to move out of his ſpheare whenſoever he meddles with matters of Chriſtianity and Religion, eſpecially ſuch points as he is preſſed to embrace and ſubmit unto. The Apoſtle exhorts us all, that wee ſhould earneſtly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints. And I may fitly anſwer them in the words of that renouned Souldier of Chriſt Doctor Baſtwick who being checked by the Biſhop of Canterbury in like ſort as I am by theſe, that he being a Phyſitian, a Lay-man, ſhould preſume to write of ſome points in Divinity, anſwers in Latine, to this purpoſe in Engliſh.
I writ a Book (ſaith he) not to finde my ſelfe employment or to ſtirre up ſtrife, but of a Chriſtian minde and affection, according to my duty to God and my Prince. The reproach of a Lay-man toucheth not me, for he which hath vowed himſelfe to Chriſt is one of Gods Clergy. The ancient Church doth not acknowledge that ſurname of a Lay-man, but reckons it among the Soloeciſmes of the Beaſt. We have given, promiſed, and vowed unto Chriſt in Baptiſme our name and faith; and have ſolemnly denounced battell againſt the fleſh, the world, the devill, herefie &c. againſt which wee muſt fight unleſſe wee put off the reverence and reſpect of our Vow. How unſeaſonable is it then to ask by what authority we fight againſt theſe? (And a little after) ſhall that be a fault in me, which is a praiſe to Divines? They exerciſe phyſick, Grazing, merchantdize, they husband their grounds, plant, gather in their fruits, they all may doe all things, I envy not; yet I wonder we ſhould be ſo ſtreightned, whilſt they have ſuch liberty. But if ſome blunt fellow ſhould ask a Divine, Hear'ſt thou good man, what haſt thou to doe with the Court, with privy Councell, with Seats of Judgement? what haſt thou to doe with renting lands, with planting vineyards, with breeding cattell, with money the provocation of all evills? would he not check ſuch a bold queſtion with ſome ſharp anſwer? yes doubtleſſe he would. What then ſhould we doe when we are asked, What wee have to doe with God, with Chriſt, with Religion, with the Truth? We will laugh to ſcorne ſuch envious queſtions, and performe with diligence what God calls us to. Wee will endeavour with all chearfulneſſe the defence of the truth, the conſervation of Religion▪ the obſervation of our fidelity and allegiance to that Soveraigne Authority which is over us; rendring an account of our endeavours to him, to whom wee have vowed our ſelves &c. He that deſires to ſee his defence more at large, may peruſe his Apology to the Engliſh Prelates.
Now I beſeeth you brethren, mark them diligently which cauſe diviſion and offences contrary to the Doctrine which yee have learned,Rom. 16. 17. and avoid them.
18. For they that are ſuch ſerve not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but their own… bellies; and with faire ſpeech and flattering, deceive the hearts of the ſimple.
March 30. 1643.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Prynne, Some New Blazing Stars Styling Themselves New Lights (1645)