An Anti-Diatribe, To the reader – Errata
To the Reader.
Good Reader,
ONe great Duty of Chriſtians is to be eſtabliſhed in the preſent truths, 2 Pet. 1.12. that is, to be well verſed in the matters that are ventilated in their age and time, but uſually the Orthodoxy of the generality of the world cometh an age too ſhort, in all things already recovered from oppoſition, and ſufficiently eſtabliſhed, they hold ought, but in the truths which God bringeth upon the ſtage of the world in their time, they are to ſeek, being either blinded by intereſts, or diſcouraged by their own weakneſſe, and ſo dare not determine any thing, till parties be more agreed, or, which is worſe, kept back by their own lazineſſe from uſing the helps of Prayer, diligent ſearching and conference, whereby (through the bleſſing of God) they might come to the knowledge of the truth: and yet herein is our ſincerity tried, 'tis no thank to us, to own what is already received upon ſufficient evidence with publick conſent and eſteem, but to finde out the ſecret of the Lord, whileſt the ſtrife is depending; and the duſt being raiſed by contention, caſts a miſt and darkneſſe upon the truth, that argueth moſt ſincerity, becauſe it coſts moſt labour and ſelf-denial.
The great truths now a foot, are thoſe which concern the conſtitution and reformation of the Church, in theſe days of contention; other controverſies are revived, but this was the firſt quarrel; and becauſe of our darkneſſe, miſtakes, and oppoſitions, herein, are other diſtractions by a juſt judgement continued upon us.
Reformation is a great bleſſing, but we are not worthy of it, aſſoone as doore of hope was opened, it was preſently obſtructed and ſhut up again by the interpoſition of many adverſaries, yea, the differences among the friends of Reformation have been no ſmall let and hindrance to the progreſſe of it. A perſon lieth deſperately ſick, and the Phyſicians are not agreed about the means and way of cure; ſome would have the corruption taken away by degrees, leſt the cure prove as bad as the diſeaſe; others, all at once, and ſo would make haſty work of it to the endangering of the body its ſelf: or rather let me lay it thus, an houſe, if on fire, ſome are for pulling it quite down, others for quenching the flame; and whilest the differences of judgement continue, the body languiſheth the flame increaſeth; juſt thus, and worſe is the preſent ſtate of things amongſt us; we have been diſputing about a remedy, and the diſorders by a long and ſinful neglect of diſcipline are much increaſed.
Among all others none have deſerved worſe of the Church of God, in my judgement, then thoſe that plead for a looſe way of receiving of all ſorts of perſons to holy things, and by promiſcuous admiſſions prostitute the Ordinance of God to every comer; I will not ſay for handfuls of barley, and pieces of bread (though the opinion looketh as exactly calculated for a worldly intereſt) but at leaſt out of a judgement much miſtaken in the matters which do concerne the glory of Gods houſe.
One great miſchief of the collapſed eſtate of the Church, was this proſtitution of Church-Priviledges, and in the beginning of theſe conteſts not only complained of as a grievance by the godly, but confeſſed as a diſorder by them through whoſe neglect it firſt crept in; and 'tis ſtrange, that after the matter hath proceeded thus far, any profeſſing godlineſſe, ſhould interpoſe for the continuance of this duſt and filth, which was in ſo fair a way to be ſwept out of Gods houſe; And holy communion is the glory of the Church, Holineſſe becometh thine Houſe for ever, Pſal. 93.5. Chriſt would not be the head of an ulcerous body; yea, a monſtrous body, like that of Nebuchadnezzars image, where the head was pure gold, but the members were made up of braſſe, iron, clay, &c. a thing the Lord cannot endure, and therefore by a juſt providence all down along he hath broken off the branches of the Covenant, when they began to run wilde, and caſt off his people, when by the intermiſſion of a vigorous and ſtrict diſcipline they have ſuffered the Church to runne into the world, and the world into the Church: when the doore hath been too wide, and kept too open, only miſchief hath entred in; ſuch a practice may fill the Church, but heaven will be never the fuller. Carnal men are but hardened in their ſenſleſneſſe and ſecurity, whileſt by mans charity they are ſuffered to enjoy Priviledges beyond Gods allowance; and ſo (as Salvian complained long ago) it falleth out, that*Multiplicatis fidei populis fides imminuta eſt. whileſt the Church is multiplied, the faith is leſſened; and though more profeſſe it; yet with leſſe vigour and power.
To prevent this abuſe, it hath pleaſed God to ſtir up many of his worthy ſervants to plead the neceſſity of a well-tempered Reformation; amongſt others this eminent godly Miniſter in this book which is now preſented to thee, a book which (if my love to the perſon and cauſe deceive me not) will contribute much light to the ending of this controverſy. The Anſwer to Mr. Humphreys was penned long ſince, before any had as yet appeared againſt him. The other diſcourſe is in Anſwer to ſome Objections of a perſon of worth and quality in thoſe parts where the Author liveth, concerning the ſame matter; both might have ſeen the light much ſooner, had they not beene kept private, firſt by the Authors modesty, ſince by ſome neglect and miſcarriage here; but we hope they are not borne out of due time; the Controverſie being returned every day, and men, either tired with oppoſition, or out of other reaſons, growing faint in the cauſe of God, generally now enclining to ſome remiſſeneſſe, and careleſſeneſſe in this weighty matter: if theſe labours of the Author finde acceptance, he will be encouraged (I hope) to go on with that which he hath been urged to, to wit, an Anſwer to Maſter Humphreys ſecond Part. The Lord give us underſtanding in theſe and other truths.
I am thine in all Chriſtian Bonds, Tho. Manton.
ERRATA
Reader,
The Preſſe hath made much work for thy pen; this if done before thou read, will prevent thy ſtumbling: miſtakes as to pointing, are infinite, and therefore not referred: theſe which marre the ſenſe, crave this correction; the other, thy common charity.
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