An Anti-Diatribe, Part 1 – Part 2
THE TWO FIRST SECTIONS OF THE Paper.
§. i. ALthough I am none of the ſuperſtitious adorers of Antiquity, (for, Antiquitas ſaecli eſt juventus mundi,) neither will be any of the froward retainers of cuſtome, which may be as turbulent a thing as innovation; and Chriſt having ſaid that he was Truth, not cuſtome; yet I have learn'd from Scripture to make a ſtand upon the old wayes, and then to look about, and diſcover what is the ſtraight and right way:
And ſure novelty though it be not by and by rejected, yet is alwayes ſuſpected; and what is ſettled by cuſtome, though it be not of the beſt, yet at leaſt may ſeem fit; and therefore I remember that not only the Spartans ſet a mulct on the Muſician that added one ſtring more then ordinary to his Harpe; but the Lycians ſuffered none to propoſe a new Law, but with an halter about his neck, that if the reaſon thereof were not approved, he might forthwith be hanged for offering novelties; and therefore I cannot but conclude with Ʋlpian. In rebus novis conſtituendis, evidens debet eſſe utilitas ut recedatur ab eo jure quod diu aequum viſum eſt.
If this new way (and I think I may without the hazard of a quarrel take the liberty to ſtile it ſo) of adminiſtring the Euchariſt, and admitting and excluding Communicants, had ground and warrant from Gods Word, the practice of the Primitive Church, the demonſtration of reaſon, or did manifeſtly conduce, and tend to the advance of godlineſſe and pure Religion, I ſhould not check with it for the novelty; but when many good, and moderate, and rational men are much unſatisfied, that it beares any ſuch ſtamp, or character. And for mine own part, unleſſe I am blinde through infirmitie, (whoſe own heart witneſſeth to me that I am not maliciouſly or wilfully ſo) I can ſee nothing to ſupport this new frame, but popular, not Logical diſcourſes and ſimilitudes, rather then reaſons, adpopulum phaleras, (which is handſomely to paint a houſe that hath no ſolid foundations) I cannot therefore but excuſe ſuch, that at the ſound of ſuch Muſick, cannot fall down and worſhip the Image that Nebuchadnezzar hath ſet up.
The entrance and ſumme of the two firſt Sections.
The Authour (ſhewing his way with ſome flowers of Reading and Rhethori…k) Apologizeth for himſelf, as one that dotes not on Antiquity, nor is led by Envy. And after cenſures ſome men to be abettours of a new way, whereon this character is ſet, (viz.) being unſatisfactory to many good, moderate, and rational men; not grounded on the practice of the primitive Church, not rationally conducing to the advancement of godlineſſe, but ſupported, and vindicated by popnlar arguments; that is, (as we take it,) having the paint of perſwaſion without any life, or ſtrength of reaſon: From theſe thoughts he concludes ſmartly, if not bitterly; I cannot therefore but excuſe ſuch, that at the ſound of ſuch Muſick cannot fall down and worſhip the Image that Nebuchadnezzar hath ſet up.
SECT. I.
Anſwering the Preface of this diſcourſe.
§. 1 The ſcope of the Preface is to advance Antiquity, being (as is ſuppoſed) favourable unto the Author: putting a viſard of novelty upon an aged face, to make a Scare-crow to fright weaker judgements from cloſing with the contrary opinion. We ſhall firſt weigh theſe Prolegomina, and anſwer the generalities of this Plea, not forgetting the particulars: wherein we ſhall take liberty to ſpeak freely, that we may more fully convince, and yet carefully, that it may be ſaid,(a)Eccleſ. 12.10. That which was written was upright, even Words of truth.
SECT. II.
What is due to Antiquity, and what is true Antiquity.
We heartily embrace that ſaying,§. 2. Quod antiquiſſimū eſt veriſſimum. That which is firſt is moſt true, becauſe true: Antiquity is alwayes a friend to Truth; and though all that is old be not good, (ſin and Satan are both very old) yet every good way is old, and therefore in every good old way we may ſafely walk. We are not moved to hear men count, and call good wayes new; who knowes not that the Adverſaries of true Doctrine have alwayes loaded it with this title?(b)Noſtra omnia ut peregrina, & nova condemnāt. Juel. Apol. Eccl. Anglic p. 114, 115. All our doctrines are condemned to be new, and ſtrange. It confirmes us to ſee the wayes of government to have the ſame lot. So that the principle of Antiquity yields but a(c)Satis ſciunt nihil iſtis nominibus po…ularius eſſe aut in vulgusgratius. Idem. pag. 116. vol. c8. popular and fallacious argument; yet it being the firſt-borne of the Paper, and the firſt weapon form'd againſt us; we might ſay much to it, but that we think of diſpatch. Jerome is condemned by one for deſiring leave of Auſtine to erre with ſeven Fathers which he found of his opinion. We dare not take, nor are we willing to give the liberty, as the Scripture ſaith,(d)Luk. 17.32. Joſh. ch. 9. Remember Lots wife; ſo do we to the pretenders of antiquity, Remember the Gibeonites. Scripture-antiquity is venerable; but if the antiquity which we call others to, ſignifie but cuſtome, (as may be gueſt by ſome paſſages, (viz.) what is ſettled by cuſtome, line 5. of the Paper,) we may be bold to ſay of ſuch antiquity, that in moſt things it is vetuſtas erroris, the age of errour.(e)Prov. 16.31. Ch. 20.29. The gray haires of opinions and practices are (then) beauty, and a crowne, when found in the way of truth and righteouſneſſe. For matter of doctrine, it muſt be ſpoken with thankfulneſſe, that long hath the light thereof filled our Horizon: But the light of Diſcipline was not ſo forward and ſucceſſeful. Truths of this nature were a long while held by ſome men in(f)Rom. 1.18 unrighteouſneſſe; corruptions in worſhip continued, when corruptions in doctrine were generally decryed.
Now becauſe the Sun ſhines not out till twelve,Si ordo in Dominicā coenâ obſervandus Apoſtolorum praecepto definitus ſit, illi adhaereſcendum quem Apoſtolica Scripta docent, non quem ſequiora ſecula introduxêre. Spanhem. dub. Evan. Part. 3. p. 237. ſhall we ſay it riſeth but then, or not at foure? Was America a ſecond, or new creation, becauſe found out but of late? The preſent light of government contended for, is elder then the former cuſtomes of our predeceſſours. If any man can prove it younger then the Scriptures, we will ſoon caſt it out as an untimely birth; we think it unreaſonable and unſafe to look only on the cuſtomes and practices of the next ages before us, while we are ſure that they for a long time worſhipped God impurely, not doing as it was written.(g)Joſh 1.8. We may ſhut up this, onelyonly minding the lovers of truth, that they be not frighted with a notion of novelty from a more excellent way:(h)Mat. 5 47 1 Cor. 12.31. this being certaine, that while we agree with the Word, we never check with true Anquity.
SECT. III.
Unſatisfactory to many good, moderate, and rational men.
§. 3 That which ſatisfies one good man, may ſatisfie all; when inform'd, they having one and the ſame Spirit within, and rule without. Of all men, we would ſtudy to ſatisfie good men. It is poſſible ſome ſuch may be unſatisfied with our way; the time is not yet come,Zach. 14.9 which will unite the mindes of Gods people, till then, differences in judgement will continue, but without breach of affections, if we do well. We do not condemne all that differ from us in theſe outward things, which may for a time be hid, where Jeſus Chriſt is revealed in moſt ſaving truths. It is acknowledged that there are many learned and eminent men in parts and places, not cloſing with us, ſome of which we muſt think godly; there are many no leſſe godly unſatisfied, but it is upon another account.
As others cenſure us for going too far, thoſe for not going far enough in our ſeparation; but as theſe laſt are above us, ſo are they more againſt our opponents. To ſpeak freely, who are foremoſt in oppoſition to us? they are the moſt carnal, and profane in the Countrey, the ſcumme of whoſe choler we often ſee and hear: theſe meaſurinp us by a fleſhly line, finde our work defective, their own large principles not being able to bear the ſtrictneſſe of the Word.
SECT. IV.
Not grounded on the practice of the Primitive Church.
§. 4 This is the great thing in queſtion, and ſubject matter of this congreſſe, and therfore not to be begg'd in the entrance. We make the Word our Antiquity, (as before) and that which is ſo new, as to have footing only on mens intentions, and examples, we reject as not old enough to be called truth. We are contented,Ifa. 8.20. and deſire it may be ſealed on both ſides, that what is ſaid ſhall ſtand, or fall, as the Word judges.
SECT. V.
Not rationally conducing to the advancing of godlineſſe.
§. 5 This we more wonder at, then at any other paſſage; our hearts muſt deceive us much, and our underſtandings faile us quite, if this be ſo, conduce as a proper meanes it doth, and this we take to be rationall conducing, otherwiſe the cauſe of our progreſs in that way muſt be faſtened on the Grace and Spirit of God. That which ſhames and reſtraines ſin, muſt needs conduce to godlineſſe; But the way pleaded for, tends apparently to this. It advanceth godlineſſe,
1.Eph. 4.17.5.15. By engaging ſuch as walke in it to more watchfulneſſe, they being by this profeſſion expoſed to more obſervation for their wayes.
2.Col. 4.5. In regard of the mutual watchings they ſubmit unto.
3.Heb. 10.24, 25. Through the benefit of many private exhortations and duties, whoſe light and heat may both kindle and cheriſh gracious affections. God hath given ſundry of our meeting ſo much experience of growth (as to knowledge and affection) this way, as plentifully confutes this Paradox.
We are ſure the old impure way of pelmell tends to ſo many evils, that it would fill a large Paper to ſet them down.
Firſt,Jer. 23.14. It ſtrenghens the hands of the wicked.
Secondly,Luk. 13.26 Blindes them in their wretchedneſſe. While wicked men enjoy the priviledges of the godly, it will be difficult to convince them of their impenitency, and want of converſion. Let the Miniſter make them Saints in the Chancel they will give him leave to make them Devils in the Pulpit till he be weary.
No wonder if ſuch profane ones as have uſually received the ſeales of the Covenant of Grace, and joyned in the higheſt act of Church-communion,Jer. 7.8. live in a good opinion of their ſoules eſtate, and truſt in lying words.
SECT. VI.
Supported, or vindicated by popular Arguments.
§. 6 It is not much that this weak way of arguing is faſtened upon us, who pretend not much to Art. Some others (of the ſame judgement with us in the maine of this buſineſſe) have publiſhed arguments enough, and ſuch as were never anſwered to this day by ſuch as drew them forth. It may be the arguments the Paper means, have been lamely and diſadvantagiouſly repreſented.
We have not given out under our hands any arguments, but in our private meetings, and publick exerciſes, we have argued the preſent controverſie, of which ſome account ſhall be given hereafter; ſo that the cenſuring of our arguments unſeen, is ſhooting at rovers. God hath given us ſo much skill as to diſtinguiſh between an illuſtration, and an argument: and we do plainly diſcerne ſome reaſonings in the Paper before us, to be juſt of that conſtitution. What we finde ſhall be duly weighed, and we hope in this as in other undertakings, we ſhall prove our ſelves to be builders, and not painters; the rivel'd skin of former cuſtomesneeds paint, where the beauty of holineſſe wants.
SECT. VII.
I cannot therefore but excuſe ſuch that at the ſound of ſuch Muſick cannot fall down, and worſhip the Image that Nebuchadnezzar hath ſet up.
Sir,
§. 7 We were ſenſible of this laſh of your rod, for it cuts very deep.
1. The way which we ſuppoſe holy, and Chriſtian, is Nebuchadnezzars Image; we wiſh it as free of all defects, as it is of Idolatry: Doubleſſe the old way pleaded for, hath much more of that Image.
2. The Miniſters exhortations moving ſouls to our ſociety, (as tending to reformation, and being the riſe of ſome order,) this is Pagan Muſick, and ſomewhat worſe then Pauls tinkling Cymbal:1 Cor. 13.1. We hope our Muſick hath been no unpleaſant ſound in Gods ear, while to our knowledge we ſought ſubmiſſion to Jeſus Chriſt,Col. 1.15. and to no other Image. Towards them that ſtand off, we have freed our ſouls, by expreſſing our deſires of their good, and tendring them the holy means of ſpirituall life: We ſhall not take upon us further to cenſure their refuſing, though to ſpeak freely, we dare not excuſe them.
We muſt waite till God perſwade men, then they will come in. In the mean time among the refuſers, there may be different principles; ſome may ſtand off out of doubtfulneſſe, and diſſatisfaction, but others (perchance) may be Adders,Pſal. 58.5. that ſtop their own ears, or ſuch as Chriſt condemnes in that reproofe of his:Mat. 11.17. We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned, and ye have not wept.