The Schismatic Sifted, Discourse 2
The opinion and advice (as it is deemed) of Monſieur de MOULIN, Profeſſor of Divinity, in the Ʋniverſity of SEDAN, in FRANCE; Concerning the opinion of thoſe who are named Independents, in ENGLAND.
Wherein, the Inconcinnity and unreaſonableneſſe, if not apparent impiety of Independents, in the mayn point of Claſsicall-Diſcipline, is moſt evidently diſcovered, by this eminently Reverend and Learned Divine, to the ſhame and ſilence of our obſtinate Independents.
SIR,
A Certain friend of mine, an honeſt religious man hath given me notice, that certain perſons doe finde fault with the Order and Diſcipline eſtabliſhed in our Church; In which, the Conſiſtory are ſubject to the Colloquies, and the Colloquies to the Provinciall Synod; and the Provinciall to the Nationall Synod. And their deſire is to have every particular Conſiſtory or Congregation of one and the ſame abſolute authority, independent from any Superiour authority or Aſſembly whatſoever. Upon which, my ſaid friend earneſtly deſired to have my opinion or judgement on the matter; which, being of ſuch a nature and importance, I could not any way decline, or deny his requeſt, which, I have here ſet down, and is as followeth.
I ſay, that thoſe which propound this opinion ought in no manner or wiſe to be hearkened unto; For if in caſe this their opinion were followed, there could nothing elſe enſue but the certain ruine of the Church, and an extreme confuſion, for the ſeverall reaſons, heer following.
Firſt, It happeneth often times, that two Miniſters of one Pariſh or Congregation, fall our and are at variance, and thereupon they ſeparate and divide the Congregation into two factions, in ſuch an occaſion of neceſſity, there muſt needs be the helpe of a Superiour Authority.
Secondly, The Church or Congregation hath but one Miniſter, and he leads an ungodly life, to the ſcandall of the Church, and the Conſiſtory of that Congregation cenſureth him, all being of one accord or if it happen that the ſaid Conſiſtory be divided, and of two opinions, there can be (ſurely) in ſuch a caſe, no remedy, but by a ſuperiour Power and Authority of Colloquies or Synods, who have power to depoſe and appoint ſuch Miniſters (or ſuch a Miniſter) if there be but one) as they ſhall think fit, and they or he deſiring to be depoſeth? Who ſhall depoſe him, the Elders onelyonly of the Conſiſtory, or the whole Congregation or Aſſembly? Shall they give ſentence againſt them or him?
Thirdly, If any one of the Congregation bee unjuſtly ſuſpended from the holy Communion or abſolutely excommunicated, unto whom ſhall he direct himſelfe to be re-admitted to the Congregation; or to whom ſhall be direct his complaint, if ſo be the Conſiſtory who have unjuſtly ſuſpended or excommunicated him, have an abſolute authority to themſelves without dependencie upon any other?
If any new Hereſies happen to be raiſed in any Church, and that ſome Miniſters and Congregations become infected therewith, what remedy is there to avoid this great evill, but by a Synod, who may examine and depoſe the obſtinate Miniſter or partie who infecteth the Church? Had not the Synod of Dort remedied this evill, the Arminianiſme was ſpreading it ſelfe over that whole Countrey, and had unavoidably prevailed. For in caſe that every Conſiſtory or Pariſh had been abſolute of themſelves and Independent, they might have refuſed the reſolution of the ſaid Synod, alleadging that they were not ſubject to Synods, but had an abſolute authority within themſelves.
It is the chiefe and peculiar work of Synods, which they always firſt take in hand, to heare the complaint of particular Churches, and to judge of appeals: If theſe be taken away from the Synods, they need no more to meet, for they have nothing to doe: For to no purpoſe ſhould they pronounce their judgements, if they might govern according to their own mindes, as if every pariſh were made a particular Soveraignty which would be an Order, which was never practiſed nor uſed in any place ſince the Apoſtles.
There are many ſmall Pariſhes in the Countrey, where the Conſiſtory is compoſed of one Miniſter (of none of the greateſt capacity) and of foure or five countrey-men, or clowns, who are Elders of that Church: And ſhall to ſuch a Church be given ſuch an abſolute Independent authority? And if their Miniſter happen to die, will you believe thoſe clowns ſitting to judge of the capacity of a new Miniſter, to give him the impoſition of hands, or to order in this caſe what ever may be needfull?
If upon occaſion of wars or diſtractions in the Kingdom, it be neceſſary to keepe a day of faſting and humiliation, through all the Churches in the Kingdom, who ſhall ordain this faſt, or who ſhall appoint the day of celebration thereof?
If it be neceſſary to remonſtrate to the Kings Majeſtie, the complaint of all the Churches in generall, who ſhall depute the partie that ſhall preſent the Petition of the Churches of the whole Kingdom?
If upon any occaſion it be found needfull to alter any thing in the Diſcipline of the Church in generall, and to make any new neceſſary Orders in the ſame, to be obſerved generally, can this be done by particular Conſiſtories being Independent, and who are not ſubject to any generall Ordinance? In brief, It ought to be believed that the Dependencie of particular Churches to ſuperiour powers, is that which maintains the union of the Church, and this being taken away, there would remain no more correſpondencie, but a wilfull and wofull confuſion would ſoon appear.
No man ought to be judge in his own cauſe. But if there happen a contention between two Churches (as it happeneth too often) neither of theſe two Churches can be judge in their own cauſe, and of neceſſity there muſt be reliefe by a ſuperiour authority, elſe all will be naught between them,
I will not believe (though I confeſſe there is cauſe of jealouſie) that thoſe that deſire this Independencie have any intelligence with the enemie, and that thereby they ſeeke (under pretence of Reformation) to bring us into a confuſion, or at leaſt to expoſe us to the laughter of our enemies, though, I ſay, I fear this, by many Symptomes thereof, I rather will (in charity) believe they err through want of experience, and knowledge of what is profitable for the Church of God.
The end of every good Chriſtian and Common-wealths man, is to glorifie God in maintaining his true Religion, to ſerve the King in the preſervation of his royall perſon and dignity, and to procure the Common good in maintaining juſtice, and liberty of the Subject and Kingdom.
All theſe (though three branches) ariſe and ſpring from one root, and have the ſame eſſenſe and being: But it is impoſſible that any man ſhould truly affect the King or Common-wealth that is ſlight and negligent in Religion, nor can any man fully diſcharge his duty to God, that is not carefull of King and Common-wealth,
See then ô Independents, by this foreſaid ſolid judgement, how feeble and falſe, yea, how dangerous and deſtructive your Independent Church-way is. The Lord open your eyes to ſee it, and give you hearts affected with much ſorrow for your obſtinacie in it, and in his good time, graciouſly convert you from it, to embrace Peace and Truth with your Presbyterian Brethren, thus prayes.
Yours, J. V.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Vicars, The Schismatic Sifted (1646)