Truth Vindicated from Unjust Accusations of the Independent Society, Title page – To the reader
TRUTH VINDICATED FROM The unjuſt accuſations of the Independent Society, in the City of NORVVICH.
Wherein is proved,
1. That the Church of England is a true Church of Chriſt.
2. That it is a ſin to ſeperate from the true Church.
3. That the Independent Society in the City of Norwich is no true Church of Chriſt.
4. Divers reaſons and arguments uſed to perſwade men not to ſeperate from the Church of England and joyne to their Society, ſhewing the ſinfulneſſe of ſo doing.
By S.T.
Why gaddeſt thou about ſo much to change thy way?
Jer. 2.36.
Theſe be they who ſeperate themſelves,
Jude ver. 19.
Where there have not beene care in laying a good foundation at the beginning, and where there is much liberty, what elſe can be expected but diviſion?
Mr. Burroughs Moſes Choice, pag. 295, 296.
Imprimatur,
Ia. Cranford. Aug. 10. 1646.
LONDON, Printed by Tho: Harper, for Gifford Galton, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the ſign of the Kings Armes in the Poultrey. 1646.
To the Chriſtian READER.
IN theſe our dayes under the notion of new light, many are led into darkeneſſe, following thoſe who rank things as they conceit, tyrannizing over the minds of others, obtruding their errors on them as truths, ſo putting their humour in the place of Gods Law: which is (as I conceive) the ground and cauſe of all the Errors, Schiſmes, Factions, and diviſions that are now amongst us; But to prevent miſleading, by following theſe night lights (or lanthorne men, as they are vulgarly called) which will (if followed undoubtedly leade thee out of the right way: I have written this following Treatiſe, and undertaken therein, to deale with thoſe of the City of Norwich, that would not be brought under the power of any man, but would have liberty of conſcience (as they call it) that is to ſay, liberty to live and walke as their fancies move them, not preſcribing to themſelves or others, any ſetled way or rule to walke by, but every one to do what ſeemeth good in their owne eyes,Iudg. 17.6. and therefore they are truly called Independents. I know it will be objected, I once pleaded for them, and deſired to be joyned with them, why therefore doe I now write againſt them? I anſwer, before I examined their way, I did judge them to be the true Church of Chriſt, but now I ſee it was my errour ſo to account of them, and I count it no ſhame to confeſſe and revoke it as an errour, for the reaſons mentioned in the following Treatiſe. And it is true, I once deſired of them to underſtand and know their way, with an intent (as I told them) to joyne with them in it, if my judgement could cloſe with them, when I underſtood what was their way, (which they promiſed to acquaint me with) at which time I did intimate to them, that it was my judgement, to hold communion with other Chriſtians, that were not of their Iudgement and in their way, although I ſhould be a member of their ſociety, which they ſeemed much to diſlike. I told them alſo (I intended) if I were admitted to declare in writing my judgement, what I held concerning their way, which they tooke as great pride in me to attempt, and were much diſpleaſed at me for it. So I waited for the accompliſhment of their promiſe, to acquaint me with their way, but it was never performed, at which I was much troubled, that I might not declare mine owne judgement, and that they would not tell me theirs: I thought light ſhould not be put under a buſhell, but on a Candleſtick, that the way of God ſhould not be concealed, but revealed, that it might be practiſed. VponUpon theſe thoughts, I have examined their way, and I finde them (as corrupted, ſo likewiſe) exceedingly divided in their judgements: they doe not ſpeake all the ſame thing, nor walke all in theſame way; All (if I miſtake not) deny the Church of England to be a true Church, but all doe not deny to heare the Miniſters thereof; ſome will heare ſome of them as gifted men, few or none will heare any of them as the Miniſters of Chriſt; all (or moſt) of them thinke it a ſin to heare any Miniſters that ſpeake againſt their way; ſome of them thinke it a ſin to heare any but thoſe that are in their way. They are divided in their judgements, in theſe and many other things, (which I forbeare to name) and while they are thus divided, how can their way be cleered? but I ſuppoſe when their judgements be all reconciled, then will the Modell of their way be publiſhed; In the meane time, what comfort can be had to joyne with ſuch a ſociety? To walke in a way unknowne, into how many errors may they run? For a man to enter into a way he is ignorant of, and cannot be informed in, argues him to bee, either weake in the head, or unſound at the heart. VponUpon theſe conſiderations, I did at a meeting of divers of the Independent ſociety, proteſt againſt their way as unlawfull, and ungodly: ſince which time they have raiſed and ſpread abroad many falſe and ſcandalous reports of me: but my intent (at this time) is not to vindicate my ſelfe, but Gods truth which I preferre ten thouſand times before my owne credit: But if I ſhall perceive they take occaſion from my preſent writing, to vent and ſpread abroad their clamourous reproaches of me, ſo as I ſhall perceive my ſilence will incurre the ſuſpition of the guilt of ſin or ſenceleſneſſe and ſtupidity under the ſenſurers; I ſhall then (God permitting) cleere my ſelfe, and if in ſo doing, I ſhall make a further diſcovery of them, and make their private miſcarriages publique, I am not to bee blamed, if they neceſsitate mee thereto: In the meane time, I truſt (through the grace of God) my life and converſation ſhall be a reall refutation of my traducers, and proclaime them liers. What I have now written in this Treatiſe, doth cleerely prove, that the Church of England is a true Church of Chriſt; that it is a ſin to ſeperate from it: that the Independent ſociety is no Church, and that it is a ſin to joyne to it. In all which my eye was upon God to pleaſe him, not upon men to pleaſe them; nay, I am perſwaded ſome godly men will be offended with me, who many times, through their miſtakes, looking upon grace and acts of grace as groſſe ſinnes, they cenſure men for exerciſing of their grace. Truth is, I had rather a milſtone were put about my neck,Mat. 18.6. and I caſt into the bottome of the ſea, then that I ſhould give them juſt cauſe of being offended; but if I become their enemy for telling them the truth,Gal. 4.16. I paſſe it not. Gods glory in the convincing of ſome that are in a way of error, and deterring of others from entring into ſuch a way, is the maine thing aimed at, which if obtained, let God have the glory, and your prayers be for him who remaines
Your friend in and for the truth, S.T.