Answer to the Narration of the Practices of the Churches in New England, Part 11
Anſwer to CHAP. VII.
IN this 1. Art. there are three things that will be found too light.
1. He affirmes, we ſay, all men are bound to be ſetled members of a particular Church.
Yet in his Margent, he affirmes, Anſw. we allow ſome to bee admitted tranſient members for a time only. Now to be [ſetled] and yet (tranſient) are termes contradictory, and how the Churches of New-England (for they are ſtill the ſubject of this diſcourſe) can binde all their members to bee [ſetled▪] and yet allow ſome to bee tranſient. I know not; Hee muſt grant, either a contradiction in his owne words, or prove one in our practiſe.
2. He affirmes we ſay, That whoſoever is not a member of ſuch a Church as is before deſcribed. (i. e. A New-England Church) is for the time without the viſible Church of Chriſt, and quotes Anſ. to 32 q. pag. 11.
That Author is abuſed, for hee ſaith not, Anſwer. that non-members of ſuch a Church, as you deſcribed, i. e. of a N. E. Church, are without the viſible Church,…nſ. to 32. q. 38. but that if men be not members of [ſome particular Church or other] they — may [in ſome reſpect] be ſaid to bee without the power and priviledges of the viſible Church: (as the Anſw. to 9. poſ. p. 62. to which this Author points makes it evident.) Now W. R. I hope knowes we hold there are other particular congregations both in England and elſe where, (beſides our owne) that are true Churches of Chriſt; of any of which, if they be members, it is ſufficient to make them within the viſible Church of Chriſt. Yet ſee, how againſt our expreſſed judgements plaine words, and the minde of his Authors, hee would make us odious, by laying ſuch a groſſe tenent to our charge.
3. That whoſoever doe not become ſetled members of our Churches, are accounted deſpiſers, &c. yea wicked and prophane.
…nſwer.Hee againe rowles the ſame unhappy ſtone he did once before, cap. 3. art. 12. but you will ſay; ſure; his proofes are ſtrong which make him bold to aſſert this, (now) the ſecond time: Therefore I intreate the Reader but to review his proofs which I will relate verbatim. Anſ. to 9. Poſ. 62. is one of them he brings (which ſaith thus,) We maintaine communion with all [godly perſons,] though they be not in Church fellowſhip with us: and Idem. p. 69. To be without Church fellowſhip is the caſe of ſome beleevers, and Anſ. to 32. q. 11. is (another of his quoted Authors, whoſe words are theſe,) Some Chriſtians that are not without Chriſt, yet are not within any particular Church.
☞Theſe are the Authors and pages he brings to prove the cleane contrary, i. e. that we account all non-members, wicked, and prophane men, and yet they directly ſay, Some ſuch are godly perſons, beleevers Chriſt, &c.
Yea, he hath an expreſſion (as he layes it downe) exceeding groſſe, which is this; That whoſoever doth not become a ſetled member (if poſſibly he can) ſinneth; And (marke what followeth) [whether he can or no] — he is accounted — prophane and wicked. He would make us up for the moſt abſurd men that ever lived; that whether m…n can (poſsibly) (for ſo his word is) inioy Church fellowſhip or no, he is counted a prophane man: But the blemiſh will, and muſt needs fall upon himſelfe.
To Marg. of 1. Art. hee propounds 5 queſtions concerning tranſient members.
1. Q. If it be very inconvenient and diſcommodious to ioyne at preſent, may they not delay a while?
He anſwereth, we ſay [no,] but the place to which he points (Anſ. to 32.… queſt. p. 38.) ſaith not ſo, but thus. A man is alwaies bound to join himſelfe to ſome Church or other, if poſſibly he can. Now doth not W. R. know there is [a p…ſſibility of convenience] which the Anſwer muſt needs meane? for it's a conſtant and allowed courſe in New-England for more to forbeare joyning to any Church for a time, after they come thither, meerly to avoyd diſcommodious inconveniencies, which over haſty joyning ſometimes puts men upon.
2. Queſt. Why doe we not give the ſame liberty to all to be tranſient M…mbers, as we doe to ſome?
Anſ. Becauſe all are not ſo free to abide with this or that Church, where they joyne at preſent, (as others are (by reaſon of ſome ſtrong deſires and pre-ingagements of joyning with ſome other congregation, which at preſent they cannot remove unto, or elſe the other (as yet,) not entred into Church-fellowſhip, and ſo unfit to receive them at preſent.
3. Queſt. How doth this agree with the tenour of the Covenant, that limits no tim…?
Anſ. There may be, (and is) ſuch a clauſe put into the Covenant of a tranſient member, viz. [during their abode with that congregation.]
Queſt. 4. How doth this agree with the ſenſe of the Covenant, that binds them to aske counſell of the Church in caſe of removeall?
Anſ. I know not what informations he hath received, I ſhould know our practiſe as well as W. R. (after my 10. yeers experience, having beene preſent, at very many Church-gatherings) but I never heard (or heard of) ſuch a clauſe put into any Covenant, and yet three times in his booke he mention… this: Let him learne hereafter: 1. to be ſlow in beleeving informations, 2 ſlower to print them to the world, 3. ready to retract them, if nor done already.
He ſaith, Art. 5 That if the examiners conceive a man not fit to enter into Church fellow…p▪ th… he is there ſtaid, without any further proceedings.
He ſhould h…ve added [only for the preſent] elſe he leaves the Reader to conceive that ſuch a perſon is ſtaid from Church fellowſhip for ever, which himſ…e knowes to be untrue, as appeares by his own words, in the 7. Art. w …re he ſaith, that ſuch a Perſon is staid only for a time, whiles all things are cl ared.
To his Margent Art. 7. That if the party be a Woman, or weake, who is to be admitted, then their examination are taken more privately. Anſwer.
Is not this contradictory to what he ſaid, Chap. 3, Art. 6.☜ That the declaration of their knowledge and grace must be made in publique, before all the Church though never ſo many. Now to preſſe all to make their declaration before the whole Aſſembly, & yet to accept of ſome weaker ones doing of it, more privatly (which indeed is the truth) are a contradiction.
Here he makes two objections. Objection 1
How ſhall the Church know the fitneſſe of ſuch, (i. e. as are examined in private? Anſw.
By the teſtimony of ſuch godly men whom they betruſt with their triall; who (though they have not abſolute power to determine yet) making ſuch report to the Church as they accept, the Church proceede to admit them.
…bject.Why is this favour ſhewen to ſome, not to others, is not this to be partiall? contrary to 1 Tim. 5.21.
Anſw. Partiality is to reſpect the Perſon, not the cauſe, here the cauſe is reſpected not the Perſon, or the Perſon for the cauſe: Some being more weake, and fearfull, we rather tender, (as Jacob would not overdrive the feabler ſort of Ewes and lambes) leſt they ſhould miſcarry.
Art. 9. He reports, That infants of parents that are no members are accounted to be without the viſible Church, and in the ſame eſtate with the Children of Turkes and Heathens, &c. and writes in the Margent, cold comfort to Chriſtſtian Parents, and cold charity to their Infants.
…nſw.1. It were cold comfort indeed, if that he ſaid were true, but (bleſſed be God) it is not ſo. For though ſuch infants be not as yet Members of this or that particular Church there, yet (he knowes) we account them (and their Parents) Members of the viſible Churches of England, witneſſ… our writings in print, diſcourſe of Covenant pag. 36. &c. Therefore he much forgets himſelfe, to ſay, we account them to be without the viſible Church.
2. To ſay, we eſteeme them as Children of Turkes and Heathens, is a moſt uncharitable and groundleſſe cenſure, unworthy of his penne or our practiſe, to which we anſwered before. The Lord forgive him ſuch hard ſpeeches.
For his quotations (Anſ. to 33. q. 20. 21. and Anſ. to 9. Poſ. 61. 62) if they will afford him the leaſt word or ſhow for either of theſe particulars, Il'e take the blame for ever, let any pleaſe to peruſe them.
But he forgets the law in Iſrael of amercing and ſtriping the man that brings an ill report upon a Virgin of Iſrael, I muſt mind him of it.