Answer to the Narration of the Practices of the Churches in New England, Part 12
Anſwer to CHAP. VIII.
This chapter is ſpent (eſpecially the Margent) in invectives againſt the ſtrictneſſe of our Church Covenant, that reſtrains men, that they cannot have elbow roome, and be at looſe end, when they pleaſe. I will gather the ſtrength of all he ſpeakes in this chapter into ſome objections, and very briefly anſwer them.
Object. A member (ſaith he) cannot remove from a Church without our conſents, ſought and obtained. Art. 1.
…nſ.It croſſeth the nature of all Covenants in the world, for to diſſolve the Covenant without the conſent of the other: And ſhall this engagement, ſo ſolemne, ſo ſacred, ſo deliberate, be looſed at pleaſure, (by a mans removal whē & whither he pleaſeth, & it may be alſo not without apparant ſin without acquainting the Church withal, & getting approbation frō thē?
The Church may be partiall in their own cauſe, may not ſome of other Churches Object. 2 be conſulted withall, rather then this: pag. 32. Marg.
Shall a man infringe this Covenant, Anſw. deprive the Church of her proper right, and lay her under blame of partiality upon a meere ſuppoſall, that the Church may be partiall? Let this Church be [firſt] conſulted withall, rather then any other, (and good reaſon too,) for the Covenant is made with her: and if it appeare ſhe is (indeed) partiall, then let the counſell of other Churches and Miniſters be called in, which was never yet denied any Member, and I hope never will be.
But what need a man conſult with the whole Church? what if his reaſons be ſecret, Object. 3 &c.
The Covenant being made with the whole, Anſw. (reaſon ſpeakes) the whole ought to untie the knot. But if there be ſome caſe extraordinary, where the grounds of removall may not ſafely be divulged to all, as I confeſſe it's poſſible ſo to happen, let the partie but intimate ſo much to the Church, and deſire that ſome two ot three faithfull men be intruſted, and what hinders?
If the Church covenant binds ſo fast, then (as the Diſciples ſaid of marriage) Object. 4 it is not good to touch this covenant. pag. 32.
1. A gracious ſp;irit counts it no bondage but freedome, Anſw. to be conſtantly under the ſweet yoake of Chriſt in Goſpell duties: and ſuch and no other are the particulars of our Covenant; ah,Ex. 21.5.6 let none be weary of this but all be as the ſervant in the Law, that might have gone out free, yet (loving his Maſter well) choſe rather to abide with him for ever.
2. Yet it any man be deſirous, and ſtedfaſtly bent to depart, the Church never holds him againſt his will, though ſhe ſees little or no weight in his reaſons, and I hope it is not the caſe of marriage, ſo eaſily to be diſſolved.
But if the Church be not ſatisfied with his reaſons, he goes away tacitely accuſed, Object. 5 ſlandered, yea virtually caſt out and curſt.
Sure I am, this is accuſing, ſlanderous, and curſt language: Anſ. Deut 22.… 19.not fit for a ſober & grave man, by that law in Iſrael, W. R. would goe neere to be amercied and ſtriped for this defamation. What would he have them doe when they cannot be ſatisfied with the grounds of his departure? muſt they needs act againſt light and conſcience, and ſay they are ſatisfied, when they are not, eſpecially when they ſee a brother (haply) running into evill, or danger, by ſuch a removall? All they can doe, is (through indulgence) to ſuſpend their vote and leave him to his own liberty. And yet they will neither accuſe or ſlander him, much leſſe curſe him or caſt him out: Theſe are words fit for nothing but retraction, and repentance.
If men be once …tred into covenant, he is ſo riveted into it that he can hardly Object. 6 ever get out of it, but muſt continue in it, though perhaps against his conſcience. Ibid.
Anſw. To my beſt remembrance, I never heard of, or knew any godly Church-member that repented of this Church-way, & deſired (upon that ground) to make a retreate.
2. If any ſhould be convinced in his conſcience (as you ſay) that there is ſin in it, and ſhould (after all meanes of information uſed) ſolemnely profes and make it appeare ingenuouſly, that he dareth not in conſcience proceed on in thoſe waies; I know no Church that will detaine him?
Object. 7 How ſhall this man, thus diſmiſſed without the Churches approbation and Letters of recommendation be received into any other Church?
…nſwer.How many lines doth he ſpend (to no purpoſe) about untying this knot? and when he cannot unlooſe it,☞ (for that he knows not our practiſes there) he falls out extreamely with us, and our way as harſh and rigid.
I have read of Harpia (a lame woman in Seneca) who ſtill complained of the roughneſſe of the way that made her limpe, but faw not her owne lameneſſe to bee the cauſe. I will not ſtand to make application, but unlooſe his knot, by telling him; Though a Church cannot ſee cauſe enough to commend ſuch a perſon as we ſpeake of, to another Church, for his Departure from them, as being not cleare in it themſelves, yet (hee being a godly man, and of a good converſation in the generall) they may and doe uſe to commend him for his godlineſſe, &c. and in prudence, conceale any ſuppoſed error, or infirmity in his departure from them: And upon ſuch a teſtimony he is received, and ſo neede not bee left as an Heathen.