The Nature and Use of Things Indifferent, Argument 9 – Argument 10
IX. ARGVMENT.
God doth euer plentifully recompenſe any kindnes ſhewed vntounto his Children, Supplicat.ſpecially vntounto the Miniſters and diſciples of Chriſt.
Ergo, The high Court of Parliament ought to ſhew kindnes vntounto the refractarie miniſters.
ANSVVERE.
To the Conſequence.
I
OVr Sauiour ſaith, Anſwere.He that receiueth a Prophet, in the name of a Prophet, ſhall receiue a Prophets reward, (Matth. 10.41.) So ſhall he alſo that doth any kindnes vntounto a Miniſter. But if a Miniſter do otherwiſe then he ought (as theſe Refractaries do) what kindnes then ought ſuch to hauehave done vntounto them?
The Defender replieth two things. I. Reply.There is a ſecret contradiction in this Anſwere, for as a Maior out of his Office is no Maior, ſo a Minister out of his Miniſterie is no Minister.
Was there euer heard ſuch a Propoſition vttered by any Diuine! A Minister out of his Ministeris is no Minister! Reioynder.An abſurd Poſition of the Defender.Then belike as oft as a Miniſter is ſilenced, or ſuſpended, or depriued, if he ſhall be reſtored againe, or called into ſome other place, hee muſt hauehave a new ordination. Vnpoſſible and abſurd. Neither can the Office of a Maior, being but temporary, for a yeere only, be compared vntounto the Office of a Minister, being perpetuall. The Error, is foreign in Theologia: Alſo, foreign.
II. Reply.What a multitude of conformable Ministers are quite ouerthrowne by this Argument? For do not many of them otherwiſe then they ought?
But what aduantageth this the refractarie Miniſters? Reioynder.We doe not affirme that ſuch as doe otherwiſe then they ought, whether conformable, or refractarie, ought to receiue any fauour in that reſpect. The Error, is foreign.
II.
Let the refractarie Miniſters dutifully ſerue GOD and his Church, Anſwere.in their diligent and humble obedience, in the worke of their vocation, and then let them ſupplicate for kindneſſe to be ſhewed vntounto them.
The Defender replies. Reply.What is that diligent and humble obedience &c? To put on a Surplice, …o make a v…niſhing Croſſe, to reade Seruice, to acknowledge the Prelats to hauehave power to make ordinances against Gods word, &c? How ſhall they ſupplicate? With a 100. or 200. in a bagge? Then perhaps if they ariſe betimes, and ride a paſe, they ſhall hauehave a paire of benefices, an Archdeaconrie, &c. yea libertie a ſoto go whither they will, and neuer to come at any of their benefices.
This ſcorning and lying Spirit needeth no other reproofe, but The Lord rebuke thee, Reioynder.Sathan.
X. ARGVMENT.
God threatneth ſeuerely to puniſh the wrongs and iniuries done vntounto his Children and Seruants, Supplicat.euen in their outward ſtate much more the crueltie towards their Soules.
Ergo, The high Court of Parliament ſhould neither proceed ſo hardly againſt the Miniſters, nor winke at others that do ſo proceed.
ANSVVERE.
To the Conſequence.
I.
NEither did the honorable Court of Parliamēt, Anſwere.nor the Magiſtrates of this Land, euer intend the leaſt wrong to any Subiect in this Kingdome, much leſſe to any Minister of the Goſpell, no not in their outward eſtate, much leſſe towards the ſaluation of their ſoules. And certainly it is an vngratefull, yea an vngracious part of theſe Suppliants, to taxe that honorable Aſſemblie, or any Magiſtrate of this Land, ſo vndutifully and vnchriſtianly, for vniuſt, cruell and mercileſſe dealing.
The Defender 1. Reply and Reioynder.Denieth that any of his faction, euer taxed either the houſe of Parliament, or any Magiſtrate; but only admoniſhed them of thoſe faults, which GOD forbiddeth; as if vniuſt admonition and reprehenſion, were not preſumptuous taxing of men. 2. Retorteth the argument vponupon vsus, affirming that we, not they, taxe the high Court of Parliament, all which needeth no farther anſwere. Let the diſcreet Reader conferre the Supplication and the Milde Defence together, and then iudge indifferently where the fault reſideth.
II.
The refractarie Miniſters were neuer proceeded againſt, for preaching the Goſpell, Anſwere.or for opportune and ſobcrexecuting their Miniſteriall function: but only for giddie innouation and noueltie, for faction, ſchiſme, and impugning the Magiſtrates auctoritie, for diſturbing the peace and quietneſſe of the Church. And would they requeſt theſe vile enormities to bee left vnpuniſhed? An vnreaſonable Suite.
The Defender replies. This is vtterly vntrue. Reply.For ſome of vsus hauehave been molested for preaching any thing tending against the preſent Hierarchie, or any other corruptions: ſome alſo for confuting the Popiſh doctrine of other, though they hauehave done it neuer ſo ſoberly: and ſome for other matters, which are points of the Gospell, as well as other.
Preaching againſt the preſent ſtate and gouernment of the Church, is not preaching the Goſpel. Reioynder.Preaching againſt corruptions, or ſober confuting Popiſh doctrine, was neuer no cauſe of the refractarie Miniſters trouble. By thoſe OTHER MATTERS he ſpeaketh of, he meaneth the pretended DISCIPLINE, which eueryevery man knoweth is no point of the Goſpell. Heere is nothing but a meere contradiction of what I ſay. It ſhould ſeeme the Defender growes very barren.