Vindication of Four Serious Questions, To the reader
To the unprejudiced Reader.
Chriſtian Reader:
HAving privately communicated Foure ſhort Questions concerning Excommunication and Suſpenſion from the Sacrament of th… Lords Supper, to ſome of my Parliament friends, out of a meer cordiall deſire to expedite the ſetling of an Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline in our Church, according to Gods word; ſo much deſired, and now in agitation in the Commons houſe: I have for this good ſervice (theſe Queſtions ſince growing publike) been openly cenſured, traduced both in Preſſe and Pulpit, and theſe my Queries have been ſeemingly refuted, by ſome well▪meaning perſons, whoſe Affections are ſtronger then their Arg…me…ts, and miſguided Zeale more predominant then their Knowledge, in the points debated by them, wherein they betray their own Ignorance and Error, whiles they would cenſure mine.
The firſt Anſwer to theſe Queſtions, intituled, An Antidote againſt four dangerous Queries; is ſuch a combination of Ignorance, Errours, Miſpriſions, and impertinent Invectives, as merits rather deriſion then refutation, and hath been already ſufficiently triumphed over in the Antidote animadverted; ſo as it needs another Antidote to preſerve it from ſodain expiration. The ſecond Anſwer to them, ſtiled A Brotherly and friendly Cenſure; as it Courts my perſon in the Title and Epiſtle with friendly complements, ſo it wounds and traduces my honeſt intentions, but in no ſort anſwers my Queſtions; the Cenſure it ſelf, being the ſame in ſubſtance with the Antidote, and as full of groſſe Errours, Miſtakes, and injudicious weak replies, as it. The third Anſwer, as it is more large, ſo more judicious then the other two, and thwarts them both in ſome particulars, as in that of Judas his receiving the Lords ſupper; and, that Miniſters, as ſuch, have no authority to keep back any from the Sacrament, but have diſcharged their duties by their premonitions of the danger of unworthy receiving.
I have not here anſwered each of them diſtinctly▪ but only taken the quinteſſence and ſubſtance of them all into examination, debating only the moſt materiall differences between us, and bringing their falſe mettals to the teſt of Scripture and ſound Reaſon; omitting all their impertinencies, and things of leſſer moment, as not deſerving any reply. My ſubitane Lucubrations in Vindication of theſe Questions from all their miſpriſions and erronious cenſures, I here humbly ſubmit to the Parliaments publike, and thy private impartiall ſcr…tinie; in peruſing whereof, I ſhall only requeſt thee to purſue the Apoſtles Canon, a1 Theſ. 5. 21.To examine all things by the Word, and to hold faſt that which is good and true.
For my part b2 Cor. 13. 8.I can do nothing againſt, but for the Truth: and though ſome report cGal. 4. 16.I am their enemy (yea an enemy to publike Reformation) becauſe I tell them the truth, in theſe controverſal points of Church-diſcipline, in which they have little inſight; yet neither their calumnies on the one hand, nor flatteries on the other, ſhall ever ſway me one hairs-breadth from the Truth, either to the right hand, or the left. And although I certainly know, the ſpeaking out of the whole truth in this preſent Controverſie will render me odious and diſtaſtefull to many of my dear Chriſtian friends and Brethren in the Lord, and draw ſharp cenſures on me: yet becauſe dIohn 1…. 37I was for this cauſe born & brought into the world, that I might beare witneſſe to the truth; I neither waigh their favours, nor regard their frownes, being reſolved whiles I breath on earth, neither for feare, favour, partiality, nor any private intereſt or relation whatſoever, to do any thing againſt the Truth, but only for it, whatſoever the iſſue or event thereof ſhall prove; be it, Veritas odium parit; or Vncharitable conſtructions, or wreſting of my Writings pointblank to their ſincere intentions, whereof I have had experience in this Controverſie, eſpecially in two particulars, which I cannot pretermit in ſilence without ſome reply thereto.
Firſt my Antagoniſts publikely charge me, That I ſpeak untowardly, to the great offence of godly people, againſt all Christs Ministers and Eccleſiastical Rulers, in this conditionall clauſe, [If it fall into indiſcreet, over-ſevere, ambitious, paſſionate, or revengefull hands] In which I ſuppoſe, that ordinarily the hands of Miniſters & Elders of Chriſts Church are ſuch, and therfore they ought not to be truſted with ſuch power of Suſpenſion and Excommunication; or elſe that I ſuppoſe, ſome of them may act with ſuch hands, and therefore that all of that calling are to be abridged of that power.
To which I anſwer, that no ſuch uncharitable incoherent inference can any way follow from this Clauſe; the whole ſcope of my Queſtions diametrally contradicting it, which tend only to an orderly regular ſettlement of Presbyteriall power in the originall inſtitution of our new Presbyteries, not to take from them all Eccleſiaſticall Jurisdiction due by divine right to them, but to confine it within certain definite limits, to prevent all exorbitant abuſes of it, into whoſe hands ſoever it ſhould ſall. There is no man ſo unskilfull in Politicks, but will acknowledge, it is the duty and ought to be the ſpeciall care of Lawgivers, in the creation of new Iurisdictions, and promulgation of new Lawes, to look, not only to preſent, but future Inconveniences which may poſſibly ſpring up in after-ages; and to conſider, not what ſome, or moſt men are which ſhall execute ſuch Lawes or Iurisdictions at preſent, but what any of them may poſſibly prove to be in after-times, and thereupon to preſcribe ſet bounds to all alike, and leave nothing meerly arbitrary to any, how good or juſt ſoever, to prevent all poſſible, all probable abuſes by any intruſted with ſuch Lawes and Iurisdictions. And there are none ſo ignorant of the preſent condition of our Engliſh Church & Miniſtery, but muſt acknowledge, 1. That many of our godly Miniſters and people are very paſſionate, indiſcreet, and over-rigorous; having more zeale, then knowledge, or diſcretion how to manage ſuch a power. 2. That the beſt and juſteſt men we can ſelect to conſtitute Presbyteries of, if left at large, to an arbitrary kind of proceeding, and not bounded by ſtrict or punctuall Lawes and Penalties, will be very apt now and then (through naturall infirmities, and the remainder of corruptions in them) to abuſe or exceed their power, and run into extravagancies to the oppreſſion of the people, of which we have divers experiments in many Counties, if the complaints againſt their Committees may be credited, as many of them are too true. 3. That though there be ſufficient choice of prudent, diſcreet, learned, conſcientions, upright Miniſters and Chriſtians in and about London, fit to be united into Preſbyteries, Claſſes, and truſted with Eccleſiaſticall cenſures; yet in moſt places elſe throughout our three Kingdomes (except here and there a City or country Town) there are very few, if any ſuch Miniſters or Lay-Elders to be found for the preſent, and none can certainly determine when or where to provide or cull out ſuch for the future. 4. That, let the Parliament make the beſt preſent choice they can of Miniſters and Lay-Elders to execute Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline, yet there may and will be a Judas among the twelve Apoſtles, at leaſt one or more indiſcreet, paſſionate, ambitious, or ſpleenatick perſons, who upon occaſion offered wilbe apt to abuſe or exceed their power, to the prejudice of others. 5. That into whoſe hands ſoever this power ſhall Eccleſ. 2. 18, 19 c. 6. 12. c. 10. 14.be put for the preſent, yet there is not only a meer poſſibility, but probability too, (eſpecially if the Epiſcopall or Malignant party ſhould at any time prevaile) that it may hereafter fall into unjuſt, tyrannicall, oppreſsing hands, out of which it will hardly be wreſted again. 6. That ſince we intend to ſettle the ſelf-ſame Eccleſiaſticall Government and Diſcipline in all three Kingdomes, at leaſtwiſe throughout our Engliſh territories; there ought to be the ſelf-ſame rules, bounds, and limits preſcribed unto all Presbyteries and Claſſes, to regulate their proceedings by, and prevent exorbitances in every of them; and none of them left more arbitrary then others, leſt their proceedings ſhould vary from others. Theſe undeniable principles were the grounds of my Suppoſition ſo much excepted againſt, If it fall into indiſcreet, over-ſevere, paſsionate, or revengefull hands: Yea, the true reaſon why the Parliament takes ſo much deliberation and advice in ſetling of the intended Presbyteriall Church-Government and Diſcipline, in which more difficulties ariſe then ordinary capacities are able to apprehend. Wherefore for any to inferre from thence, as my Antagoniſts do, That the hands of all the Elders and Miniſters of Chriſts Church, are ſuch, and therefore ought not to be truſted with the power of Church-cenſures; or that all of them are to be abridged of this power, becauſe ſome of them are ſuch; is ſuch a malicious and uncharitable perverting both of my words and meaning, as nought but prejudice or malice it ſelfe could invent.
The ſecond Charge is of the ſame ſtrain; That th…ſe Queries charg… the Reverend Aſſembly very unjustly, with falling into extremes; with affecting a greater Lording power over the conſciences and priviledges of their Christian brethren, then of right belongs unto them. That they, and our new Presbyters will proceed as in the Papacy and Prelacy; with indiſcreet, over-ſevere, paſsionate, revengefull hands, &c. Whereas they deſire nothing but a strict diſcipline according to the rules of Christ, &c. And that they cast many ſuch unjust aſperſions upon the Aſſembly.
Certainly there is not one ſyllable in theſe 4 Queſtions from whence any ſuch malignant accuſation can be ſtrained: and my former Writings to vindicate the Reverend Aſſembly (whom I love and honour with my ſoule) from the libellous, venomous, intolerable aſperſions caſt upon them, in many late ſeditious ſchiſmaticall printed Libels, (publiſhed by Anabaptiſts and other Sectaries, to defame them, and vilifie all their proceedings;) with the grounds in the preceding Anſwer (which occaſioned all the Paſſages unjuſtly wreſted by theſe uncharitable Anſwerers, to warrant this falſe charge) will (I hope) ſufficiently purge me from theſe ſcandalous accuſations, and all miſinterpretations of my Queries, or this Vindication of them; the ſcope of both being only this, to reduce the Power of Miniſters and Presbyteries, in the originall erection of their Eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction, (now in agitation in the Parliament,) to as great a conformity to the Word of God, and as punctuall certainty in all particulars as poſſible may be; and to ſettle it with ſuch neceſſary Cautions & Limitations as may prevent all abuſes of it, into whoſe hands ſoever it ſhall be committed either for the preſent, or in future ages: ſince a ſmal error, or admiſsion of a meer arbitrary power in ſom things in the beginning of this New Government, may ſoon degenerate into a grand inconvenience and grievance in concluſion, which is eaſier prevented then redreſſed.
Thus having fully cleared the ſincerity of my own intentions, againſt theſe ſcandalous inferences, I have onelyonly this to adde in the Parliaments behalfe; That the ſettlement of Church-diſcipline being a matter of great difficulty and concernment, wherein many new doubts and ſcruples daily ariſe, requiring much debate, they cannot be juſtly blamed (in the middeſt of their other preſsing publike occaſions to preſerve our Kingdomes, themſelves and us from eminent ruine) for proceeding deliberately in this weighty work, which hath taken upthe Aſſembly themſelves ſo many moneths debate, and wherein there are ſuch differences of Opinions. Many there are, who deny any Excommunication at all to be of divine inſtitution, producing ſundry ſtrong arguments to juſtifie their opinions, and anſwering all objections to the contrary: In maintenance of which opinion, Tho. Eraſtus (a learned Phyſitian) long ſince wrote a large Volume in Latine, intituled, Explicatio graviſsimae quaestionis de Excommunicatione printed An. 1589. who is ſeconded by many learned men. Others, who admit Excommunication to be introduced, and exerciſed in the Apoſtles times, and ſomwhat after; yet hold it to be but a temporary Ordinance, taken up by Chriſtians out of meer neceſsity, for want of Chriſtian Magiſtrates to reſtrain and puniſh ſcandalous ſinners; and altogether uſeleſſe, or ſeldome or never to be put in execution in ſuch places, Churches, where Chriſtian Magiſtrates are ſetled, whoſe office and duty it is, to puniſh all obſtinate, impenitent, ſcandalous ſinners, with the temporall ſword of justice, and to cut off all evil doers from the City of God, Pſal. 101. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Rom. 13. 3, 4, 5. without whoſe aſsiſtance Church cenſures will become altogether uſeleſſe, invalid, & contemptible: whence the Church hath always been inforced to pray in aid from the Secular arme, and Civil Magiſtrate, by Writs De Excommunicato capiendo, and the like, to force obedience and ſubmiſsion to her cenſures, which elſe would prove meer Bruta fulmina. Others, who admit of Excommunication, deny ſuſpenſion from the Sacrament of the Lords ſupper, as no divine ſtep or degree to it, nor to be inflicted upon any but perſons actually excommunicated from all other Ordinances. Others who plead moſt for Excommunication and ſuſpention from the Lords Supper, are yet divided into theſe circumſtances which concern them. 1. Who ſhall inflict thoſe cenſures? Whether the Miniſters only? Or the Presbytery and Claſſis only? Or the whole Congregation? 2. For what ſins and Offences? which is now the grand doubt and debate: Whether for Inceſt, and Hereſie onelyonly, for which they pretend examples of Excommunication in Scripture; or for any other ſins, for which we finde no pattern of any Excommunication or Suſpenſion in the Word? 3. In what manner, and by what ſteps and degrees the Presbytery or Claſſis ought to proceed in inflicting theſe cenſures? What remedy ſhall be given by way of Appeal, to the parties grieved? And, to whom they ſhall appeal? 4. How, and by whom ſuch who contemn thoſe cenſures ſhall be proceeded againſt? How long thoſe cenſures ſhall continue, and how and when reverſed? 5. Whether excommunicated perſons ought to be admitted to hear the Word, or to any other Ordinance? and in what ſort; with what publike badges of infamy and diſtinction, the more to ſhame themſelves, and deter others? All theſe, with ſundry other difficult controverſies ariſing in the ſettlement of Church-diſcipline (in which the very Aſſembly-men are divided in opinion, as well as the Members of Parliament) it muſt needs require much debate and deliberation to ſettle Church-diſcipline in a due and ſolid manner.
It is a received Maxime, approved by prudent men, and God himſelf; Diu deliberandum quod ſemel ſtatuendum; We muſt deliberate long of that which is to be ſetled but once. We know that the materiall Temple of Solomon was neere *1 Kings 9. 10. 2 Chron. 8. 1. 1 Chron. 29. 2 Chron. 2. & 3.twenty yeares in building▪ though David, Solomon, with all the Princes and people moſt cheerfully contributed their beſt aſſiſtance toward it; and yet it was after *As appears by Ezra 4. 24.far …onger in re-edifying: And can we then imagine the Spiritual Temple and Church-Goverment ſhould be compleatly finiſhed and built up by the Parliament in a monethmonth or two? How many yeares, I pray you, have our Independent Brethren been in hammering and compleating their New Church-Model, long ſince promiſed, and yet are not agreed on it, or elſe afraid, to publiſh it, leſt all ſhould diſcern its manifold flawes? Ignorant men, altogether unacquainted with the numerous difficultes, intricate diſputes which accompany this Subject, may deem it an eaſie buſines, ſoon diſpatched: but perſons of better judgements, acquainted with the ſeverall controverſies in point of Divinity and civil Policie, which ariſe about Church-Diſcipline, will find it an Herculean labour, and a work of time to eſtabliſh it ſo, as to anſwer expectation, ſatisfie all objections, and ſtop the mouths of all oppoſers, which muſt firſt be done, or elſe it will not be imbraced with ſuch alacrity as is fit. Wherefore be perſwaded to wait a while longer on the Parliament for the accompliſhment of our longing deſires in the ſetling of Church Diſcipline, and pray earneſtly to God to ſteere their hearts and judgements aright in this work of higheſt concernment to us; for fear they ſhould now ſettle any thing in haſte, which they and we may hereafter repent of by leiſure. With which friendly advice I ſhall diſmiſſe thee to the peruſall of this Vindication, which I humbly tender to thy Chriſtian acceptation.
Farewell.