The Nature and Use of Things Indifferent, Argument 5
V. ARGVMENT.
Many ſpake earneſtly; Supplicat.yea and ſome hauehave aduentured their liues in behalfe of the Church of God, as Nehemiah, Hester: ſo alſo did Joſeph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus for Chriſts bodie.
Ergo, So ſhould the high Court of Parliament do for the refractarie Miniſters and for whole Chriſt.
ANSVVERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
THe zeale and courage of ſuch as hauehave been earneſt, Anſwere.or aduentured their liues and eſtate in Gods cauſe, for defence of his eternall truth and Church, is certainely much to be commended and imitated (to their vtmoſt power) of all ſuch as deſire to be called, and be indeed members of the Church of God: but it would be wiſely conſidered, that it were raſhneſſe and foole-hardineſſe, for any to aduenture hazard, or manifeſt danger, by intermedling in a friuolous and vnneceſſarie quarell, and much more for ſuch cauſe as cannot be iuſtified by any probable reaſon.
The Defender replies. Except by a friuolous quarell, Replie.and a cauſe not iuſtifiable, you meane not the cauſe of the Miniſters; you ſpeake nothing to the purpoſe. If you meane that (as needes you muſt) then doe you not ſpeake to vsus poore Miniſters alone, but alſo to the Parliament, and to all other (Noblemen, or Gentlemen) that hauehave intermedled, or ſhall intermedle in our cauſe. Yea, them doe you not cunningly, but openly and plainly, charge all ſuch with raſhnes and foole-hardines.
What ſhould mooue the Defender, Reioynder.to imagine that I meane any other Cauſe, but the Miniſters? I meane no other indeed; and yet it followeth not, that therefore I cenſure the Parliament houſe, &c. or charge them with raſhnes and foole-hardines. For the Parliament houſe is not of their faction and ſtraine, as wee hauehave noted before. What they deſerue for this their continuall inſolencie and malepertnes in ſlandring the high Court of Parliament, I referre vntounto the religious cenſure of that noble and wiſe Aſſemblie.
II. To the Conſequence.
I
Anſwere.This Conſequence hath no coherence with the Antecedent. For there are great ods betweene theſe examples propoſed, and the refractarie Miniſters caſe.
The Defender replieth. Reply.There ſhould be ſuch ods. For the Auctor reaſoneth not à ſimilibus, or paribus, from likes or equals, but from the leſſe to the greater.
But the oddes are ſuch, Reioynder.that they make the Argument to be plainly inconſequent: for the Auctor of the Supplication makes that leſſe, which is eueryevery way greater, as ſhall appeare in examining the particulars.
II.
In the time of Nehemiah, Anſwere.the Church of the lewes, hauing been long captiuated, was in great affliction and reproach, and the walles of Hieruſalem were broken downe, (Nehem. 1.3.) which was not ſo in the daies of their Fathers. But our Church hauing (by the mercies of God) now long continued in proſperous and flouriſhing eſtate, is (God be thanked) glorious ſtill, yea more now, then euer it was in the daies of our Fathers. Furthermore, Nehemiah, after he had wept, mourned, fasted and prayed, (Nehem. 1.4.) ſpake vntounto King Artaſhaste, an Heathen and prophane man, and finding grace in his eyes, obtained leaue to build vp Hieruſalem. (Nehem. 2.6.) But Sanballat, Tobiah, Geſhem and others deriding and deſpiſing the Iewes, laboured to hinder the worke, but preuailed not (Nehem. 2.19. and 4.7.15.) Then Nehemiah prayed, My God, remember thou Tobiah and Sanballat, according vntounto theſe their workes. (Nehem. 6.14.) So euen in the very beginning of our religious Soueraignes raigne, many worthy Nehemiahs finding grace in his eyes, hauehave moued his Maieſtie for the continuance of the proſperous eſtate of our Church, as it was in the daies of our late bleſſed Queene, albeit his Highneſſe was more readie to graunt their requeſt, then they to aske it. And now ſo many Sanballats, Tobiahs, and Geſhems, as there be refractarie Miniſters and Papiſts, deriding and deſpiſing vsus, labour to hinder our Miniſterie, blaſpheming the ſame, either to be none at all, or adulterate and very corrupt, but (God willing) ſhall not preuaile. And we ſtill thinking that moſt of them do ſinne of ignorance, ceaſe not to pray vntounto God: O Lord, open the eyes of theſe men, and lay not this ſinne to their charge.
The Defender replies. Reply.All things being granted that you ſay (concerning the glorie of our Church) doth not hinder, but further the cauſe. The more the Church flouriſheth, the more eaſie it is to grant that, which the Arguments pleade for. Miniſters alſo of the Word are as neceſſarie for preſeruing and increaſing of the glorie of Churches, as for the procuring thereof at the firſt.
Not hinder? Reioynder.If our Church be glorious and flouriſhing both in the entire and ſound profeſſion and practiſe of Gods truth, in the exerciſes, meanes, and ſignes of faith, (which is the true and principall glorie of the Church) and alſo in the outward ſtate, Diſcipline and Gouernment thereof (which Glorie is ſecondarie and depending of the former) how can it bee, but that giddie innouation, the vtter ouerthrow of Eccleſiaſticall policie, and the bringing in of the Presbyterian prelacie, euen almoſt equalizing Papall tyrannie, ſhould be a maine blemiſh, and vncurable maime vntounto the GLORIE of our Church? It is true indeed: that the Ministers of the Word are neceſſarie for preſeruing and encreaſing of the glorie of Churches; but are there no Miniſters, but ſuch as be refractarie? HaueHave we not ſtore (God be prayſed) of ſufficient religious Miniſters alreadie? And are not the Vniuerſities able continually to afford farther ſupplie?
But alas, Reply.ſaith the Defender, I would God our Church did ſo flouriſh, as you pretend: Indeed it hath many rich mercies, God be bleſſed for them; but he that ſeeth not what the Church wanteth, doth not rightly acknowledge that which it hath. We want ſome of thoſe Officers, that Christ hath commended by his Apostles to the Church, What Christian heart is ſo ſtonie, that it doth not mourne; what eye ſo blind, that it doth not guſh out with teares, to conſider and behold the miſerie of our ſuppoſed glorious Church, by the ſpirituall nakednes, blindnes, and pouertie thereof? I meane the great ignorance, the ſuper ficiall worſhip of God, the fearefull blasphemies and ſwearings in houſes and ſtreetes, the direfull curſings, the open contempt of the Word and Sacraments, the wicked prophanations of the Lords dates, the diſhonor of ſuperiours, the pride, the crueltie, the fornications, adulteries and other vncleanneſſes, the drunkenes, the couetouſnes, the vſuries, and other the like abominations; almost as grieuous, as either heretofore in the time, or now in the places of Poperie, when and where there was no preaching at all of the Goſpell? O behold and pittie the woefull and lamentable ſtate of our Church in theſe things!
What maruell is it, Reioynder.that the Owle cannot SEE, in a cleare Sun-ſhining day, whoſe only delite is to flutter, and to roue about in the profound darkeneſſe of the night? And can any man thinke it ſtrange, that the Defenders eyes dazle at the Glorie and goodly order of our Church, when nothing pleaſeth him, but the Aërian or Presbyterian confuſion? Oh, but there want ſome Officers in our Church, which Christ commended vntounto vsus, by his Apostles. What Officers be thoſe? ô they are the Lay Preſbyterian Aldermen. Hinc illae lachrimae; heere lyeth the ſoare a bleeding. We want the ſuppoſed Apoſtolicall Senate of Aldermen; and for this cauſe, we are ſpiritually naked, and blind, and poore, and miſerable, and what not? But when wil the Defender proue, that either Chriſt, or his Apoſtles commended any ſuch Aldermen vntounto vsus? Shall we beleeue him on his bare word? What other proofe brings he, or any other of the faction? And yet vponupon this moſt beggerly Suppoſition, neuer granted by vsus, becauſe neuer proued, nor able to be proued by them; he openeth his foule mouth, The Defenders ſlanders againſt the Church.moſt wickedly traducing and ſlandering the Church of GOD, as guiltie of great ignorance, of ſuperficiall worſhip of GOD, of blaſphemies, ſwearings, direfull curſings, and many other horrible and monſtrous enormities, which my pen doth euen bluſh to relate after him. We reade (1. King. 22.21.22.) of a wicked Spirit, that liberally promiſed his ſeruice in ſeducing King Ahab, by being a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets: Except this foule fiend hath entred into the Defender, and wholly poſſeſſed him; I cannot poſſibly imagine, how his pen could ſo leaſingly raue againſt our whole Church. I beſeech the Lord, that hee would vouchſafe, to rebuke the euill Spirit, and to giuegive the Defender grace to repent him in time, by confeſſing his malice againſt the Church of God. But let vsus heare what he ſaith further.
But to returne, herein you erre not a little, Reply.in that you confound the ſtate of the Church, and of the Common-wealth of the Iewes. The Common-wealth was indeede at that time in much miſerie. But was the Church alſo amongst them, for ſuch things as wherein chiefly conſisteth miſerie, in as bad condition?
Doe I confound the Church and Common-wealth of the Iewes? Was not the CHVRCH in diſtreſſe, Reioynderbeing but lately returned from the Captiuitie of Babylon? Can the Common-wealth be in extreame miſerie, and the Church hauehave no feeling thereof? Was not the Temple at Hieruſalem the ſpeciall place of Gods worſhip, which now, by reaſon of the deſolation of the Citie, was but little regarded, and the lawes not executed? Did not Nehemiah, after his returne from Artaſhaste, reforme many things as well in the Church, as in the Common-wealth? It ſeemes the Defender cares not what he writes, ſo he contradicts my ſayings. But he proceedeth.
The ods that before he ſpake of, Reply.now he maketh likes. Is this to diſpute ad idem, and to the purpoſe?
As I ſaid before, Reioynder.ſo I ſay ſtill, that there is GREAT ODS betweene the example of Nehemiah, and the refractarie Miniſters caſe. And doe I now make thoſe ODS LIKES? Nay contrariwiſe, I make Nehemiahs caſe to be OVRS, and the refractarie Miniſters, Tobiahs, Sanballats and Geſhems. Is not this adidem, and to purpoſe? Where is the Defenders vnderſtanding?
Touching his Worthie Nehemiah (whom he compareth to ancient good Nehemiah) let this be obſerued, Reply.that although he ſpake of the prayer and fasting of the ancient Nehemiah, yet he ſpeaketh not of the prayer and fasting of his new Nehemiah. What may be ſuspected or noted herein, I leaue to the conſideration of the wiſe and iudicious Reader, that remembereth What oppoſitiō many of the Prelats hauehave alwaies made to true fasting.
I ſpake not of ONE, Reioynder.but of MANY worthy Nehemiahs: neither needed theſe to hauehave faſted and prayed, the Church being not then afflicted, as it was in auncient Nehemiahs daies: and (I thinke) the Defender is not ignorant, that Similitudes runne not with foure feete, as the Prouerbe is. As for the Oppoſition of many of the Prelats to true fasting, it is vtterly vntrue that any Prelat euer oppoſed himſelfe againſt true faſting, except it were peraduenture againſt the diſordered conuenticles, and preſumptuous practiſes of ſome harebraind Refractaries, contrary vntounto all good Diſcipline and order.
Touching the Tobiahs, Reply.Sanballats, and Geſhems (whom faine he would hauehave to be thoſe that he cals refractarie Miniſters, as well as the Papists) let him not deceiue himſelfe herein. For the wiſe and Christian Readers, are able to diſcerne them to be most worthy of theſe names, that ſtriue most for mens precepts, that ſtudie more to pleaſe men then God, that preach not themſelues, and hinder them that would: whoſe chiefe worke is not to encreaſe God his kingdome, but to vphold their owne, fearing nothing more, then the downefall thereof: which alſo feed not the Lords people, with the bread of eternal life, but their owne bodies with the meate that periſheth, and with carnall delights, &c. but the righteous Lord in the end ſhall plead our cauſe, if not in this life, yet in the world to come, when ſome of our aduerſaries (without repentance in the meane time) ſhall be throwne into the place, Wherein is Weeping and gnaſhing of teeth.
Ceaſe your raſh iudgement, …and reſtraine your cenſuring and lying Spirit, if you can awhile; and turne the backſide of the wallet before you: then conſider, that they moſt aptly reſemble Tobiah, Sanballat and Geſoem, who by tooth and naile labour to let the building of the ſpirituall Hieruſalem, by withdrawing their ſeruice, breaking vnitie, and diſturbing the peace of the Church; of which ſort are both the refractarie M…ſters and the Papiſts, who are as guiltie herein, as were Tobiah, Sanballat, and Geſhem, for hindering the building of the materiall Hieruſalem.
Moreouer whereas I had ſaid, that I thought that moſt of the refractarie Miniſters and Papiſts did ſinne of ignorance, the Defender replieth, See how this man tumbleth vp and downe and how he contradicteth himſelfe? Hath not he before expreſſely charged all of vsus, to do that which we do for carnall reſpects? I meane in his Preface.
See how the Defender iugleth vp and downe! … on.1. Are no… my words ſpoken aſwell of the Papists, as of the refractar… Ministers? 2. What is in my Preface contrarie to what I a… firme heere; or rather, doth not the Defender by ſome iugling tricke, ſuppreſſe ſome words in my Preface, whereby, deceiuing his Reader, he might perſwade a contradiction? The words are theſe;
It cannot be denied, but that the Miniſters preſumptuouſly and wilfully contend with the Magiſtrates, impugning his auctority in Things indifferent, and ſoueraigntie in Eccleſiaſticall cauſes, which all of them do for carnall reſpects: Some becauſe they know not otherwiſe how to be maintained, but by depending vponupon that faction; ſome to gratifie their benefactors and patrons, and to pleaſe their friends; ſome for diſcontentment and want of preferment; ſome for giddines of innouation; ſome for pride of heart and ſelfe louelove; ſome for hatred of order and reſtraint of their libertie; ſome ſtill to retaine the opinion of conſtancie in perſeuering ſingular; and others OF MEERE IGNORANCE, which yet is wilfull and affected, ſeeing they will not learne the ſtate of the Controuerſie, which they are bound to know, and therefore cannot be excuſed.
What? HaueHave not I named IGNORANCE heere amongſt the reſt? and is not Ignorance carnall? Where then is the Contradiction? Let the Reader iudge.
III.
In the daies of the noble and renowmed Queene Heſter, Anſwere.all the Iewes ſhould hauehave been ſwallowed vp by the tyrannie of Haman, had not that vertuous Queene, by aduenturing her owne life, deliuered her people from deſtruction. But I hope the Suppliants do not thinke our Church to be in ſo deſperate a ſtate, neither outwardly, nor ſpiritually: and if they do, yet none can be ſo fooliſh as to beleeue it.
The Defender replieth. Reply.May we feare nothing to our whole Church and Kingdome, for the hard dealing of the Prelats towards the ſoules of many thouſands of our owne Nation? Let no man deceiue vsus with vaine words; Epheſ. 5.6. Prou. 28.14.Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwaies. There is danger in ſecuritie, there is much more ſafetie in a godly feare. As for the spirituall danger of the Church, it appeareth by the decay of the ſpirituall beautie, and by the encreaſe of the ſpirituall deformitie, that is, of ignorance and of impietie in thoſe places already which are depriued of their good Ministers.
But what is this, Reioynder.to proue that the example of Q. Hester was rightly alleadged by the Suppliants, to prouoke the high Court of Parliament, to ſpeake for the refractarie Miniſters? The danger of the Church in Hesters time was very great and imminent: The danger of ou… Church (GOD be thanked) is but an exſtaticall imagination of the Suppliants and Defenders braines. Oh, but the hard dealing of the Prelats towards many thouſand Soules, ought to cauſe vsus to feare continually. What? Is the remouing of SCHISMATIQVES, and the ſtopping of the mouthes of ſuch clamorous wranglers, as ſtirre vp diſſention and diſcord in the Church, hard dealing towards mens ſoules? Who will ſay ſo, beſides the Refractaries, and their abettors, the Browniſts? But how doth this Elymas peruert that ſaying of Scripture, Bleſſed is the man that feareth alwaies, (Pro. 28.14.) Is this feare meant of the feare of puniſhment? Nay, let him remember, that GOD will ſend FEARE vponupon the wicked, where no feare is: that ſuch as obſerue not Gods commandements, ſhall feare day and night, (Deut. 28.66.) that the ſame which the Wicked feareth, ſhall come vponupon him, (Prou. 10.24.) As for his ſlandering our Church with decay of Spiritual bewtie in thoſe places, which are depriued of their good Miniſters; if it be ſo, then woe vntounto them by whom the offence commeth, that ſo eaſilie gaue place vntounto the Wolfe: But I maruell he was not aſhamed, ſo impudently to auerre that, which all the Land and daily experience teſtifie to be an impious Calumnie.
IV.
The examples of Ioſeph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, are altogether impertinent: Anſwere.for neither had Pilate any reaſon, to deny the buriall of Chriſts body being dead: nor is the Miniſters requeſt, concerning Croſſe and Surplice any thing of ſuch importance, as was the buriall of Chriſts body. For it is not true that they contend about Whole Chriſt Ieſus, and the Miniſterie of the Goſpell, as the Suppliants heere ſuggeſt.
The Defender replieth. The Argument ſpeaketh of the honorable buriall of Christs bodie: the Anſwerer only of the buriall, leauing out honorable; is not this Sophistrie?
Is not this Sophistrie? Nay, is not this Knauerie? The very words of the Argument are theſe (pag. 7. of the Supplication) Further to adde one other example briefely: If fearefull Ioſeph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate, and ASKED THE BODY OF IESVS. And if Nicodemus (before as fearefull as the ſaid Ioſeph) ioyned with him in the honorable buriall thereof, &c. Did Ioſeph of Arimathea deſire of Pilate, that he might HONORABLY burie the body of Ieſus? This indeed is the Defenders dreaming, or rather doating conceipt; which neither the Auctor of the Supplication doth affirme; nor can be proued by Scriptures. Search the text (Matth. 27.57. Mark. 15.43. Luk. 23.52. Ioh. 19.38.) and you ſhall find that Ioſeph of Arimathea asked the Body of Ieſus; but not a word ſpake he to Pilate, of the BVRIALL thereof, much leſſe of HONORABLE BVRIALL.
The Defender vrgeth. Reply.If the Ministers request concerning Croſſe and Surplice, be not of ſuch importance, as the buriall of Christs body, this weakeneth not, but addeth ſtrength to the Argument. For the leſſe it is, the more eaſily it may be granted, and the more eaſily it may be granted, the more boldly it may be ſued for.
Yes, it ſo weakeneth the Argument, that it ouerthroweth it altogether. For the leſſe that the thing deſired by the Suppliants is, the more ought they to be aſhamed, in being ſo troubleſome vntounto the honorable Court of Parliament to intercede for them in ſo needleſſe and ſmall a ſuite.