Answer to the Narration of the Practices of the Churches in New England, Part 14 – Part 15
Anſwer to CHAP. X.
ARt. 1. he ſaith (and that truely,) Wee grant that ſeverall Churches have a communion amongſt themſelves, whereby they doe and may partake with each other in the Sacraments.
Of the contradiction betweene this and and chap. 9. Art. 4 5. Anſw. it is ſpoken to already.
Only here note 1 the fulnes of affirmation (in this Art.) for our communion with other Churches in the Sacrament; we have (ſaith he) a communion amongſt our ſelves. 2 in the Sacraments, (in ſpeciall,) 3 with ſeverall Churches, 4 we do and may partake, 5 each with other, 6 mutually, 7 and this both betwixt Miniſters and people, & 8 we not only practiſe this, but grant it may be ſo; And yet when he comes to ſpeake of the other part of the contradiction (i. e. that we have no communion in the Sacraments) (as if he ſtudied to croſſe himſelf) he is as full in his deniall of it. vid. cap. 9. Art 4 5. 2. Note how thicke his ſayings and unſayings fall in. Cap. 9. Art. 1.☜ He affirmes, we hold Communion with other Churches and Church members, and then preſently in 4, 5. Art. of the very ſame chap. he expreſly denies, that we hold any ſuch communion: Then againe in the very next chap. (the 10.) Art. 1. he ſaith, as full as can be, that we hold communion mutually with other Churches; and by in chap. 12. 8. as fully and expreſſely denies againe that we hold any ſuch thing. The man being an able and judicious man in other things, it is more remarkable, he ſhould be thus extreamely left to confound himſelfe, while he ſought to confound our poore innocent Churches. Let any carefully obſerve in all theſe things mentioned, whether I have not dealt candidly with him, or no.
Art. 2. He reports, 1 That one Church may give power to another over any of her members for excommunication. 2 That the Miniſter of one Church may convey power to the Miniſters of another for the adminiſtration of the Sacraments. Anſwer.
Neither of both which doe wee hold or practiſe. The onelyonly Author cited (that we can come at is Cot. Cat. p. 7. whoſe words are theſe. The Supper is diſpenced by the Miniſter to the faithfull of the ſame Church, or to ſuch as are cōmended to them by a like body: See if here be one tittle to bear him out.
Yet from theſe aſſertions (which he ſaith) we hold, he flings rebukes upon us in his comments upon his owne Text. p. 37. whereas indeede wee might reprove his, 1 miſreporting, 2 abuſing his Author, 3 reproving us without cauſe.
Without letters of recommendation from one Church and Miniſter to another, it is unlawfull (ſaith he Art. 3.) in any caſe, to adminiſter any Church ordinance to any Church member but their owne upon any pretence whatſoever.
1. Here is neither truth nor proofe to be ſeene. Anſw.
2. Letters of recommendation for publique participation, are not ſent from one Miniſter to another, but from a Church to a Church.
3. We hold it not unlawfull (but doe often practiſe) to receive other members to communion with us without letters; eſpecially if they bee knowne to any of our Church, elſe ſuch letters are deſireable; but hee ſaith, We doe it not in any caſe, upon any pretence whatſoever, which is utterly falſe and without proofe.
He tells us, That wee are ſo ſtrait-laced, that if a company of godly people ſhould ſit neere us (where our power reacheth) differing from us only in ſome points of Church-Government, they ſhould not onelyonly not be owned as a ſiſter Church, but ſhould be in danger of ſevere puniſhment by our Magiſtrate.
Anſ. 1 If you weigh well this accuſation of us in all the particulars, it is very harſh and ſore, and here is no proofe but H. W. who this ſhould be, (I profeſſe) I cannot tell, unleſſe ſome malignant or back-friend amongſt us there, or whether ſuch a thing were ever written in theſe words and ſenſe, I know not; and if it be certainly ſo written, and from a godly man, yet it is but one ſingle witneſſe and I am forbidden (and ſo are all others) 1 Tim. 5.19. to receive an accuſation againſt one Elder, (much more againſt all the Elders and Churches in New-England without two or three witneſſes: therefore we dare not beleeve it.
2. To this very point in hand, the Anſ. to 32. 9. p. 82, 83. ſpeakes fully and fairely, which W. R. well knowing, (for it was written to himſelfe amongſt others▪) deales not candidly to conceale that Anſwer of a printed booke from known Authors of credit in New-England, becauſe it is faire and loving (for what other ground could hee have?) and bring in the Anſwer of H.W. (a man we know not) which is harſh and diſtaſtfull; how can the concealing of that, and relating of this ſeeme ingenuous, or friendly to us, or the truth?
Anſwer to CHAP. XI.
HE makes report of a groundleſſe courſe (as he calles it) in the Church at Cambridge in New-England, where (ſaith he) the people uſe to meet together privately, each one to hold forth the work of grace in his or her ſoule, from the firſt converſion to that day, ſo that their Paſtour might know their growth in grace. And, (ſaith alſo) that (as ſome report) the end of this meeting was to cast out by excommunication, non-proficients.
Anſ. With what face can any godly man call ſuch meetings of the Saints, for ſuch an holy end (as to try their growth in grace) a groundleſſe meeting; and ſo caſt dirt upon it? for he makes proofe of no other end beſides that.
2. Did theſe godly people ever caſt any out of the Church there, meerely for non-proficiency?
3. He hath ſtill forgotten that rule in 1 Tim. 3.19. that requires two or three witneſſes to bee brought forth, &c. who yet proceeds upon (I know not what) relations to beleeve and report, yea and print to the view of the world, what (in his opinion) may detract from a Reverend Elder, and a godly Church alſo.
No marvell, he calls his Book [a poore pamphlet,] truly it is ſo indeed, if all things we have diſcovered in it be well weighed; and it will appeare yet poorer (before we have done) to any candid reader. It is our humble ſuit to heaven, that God will diſcover to himſelfe the weakenes and error of his dealings herein, for the humbling of his ſpirit.