The Nature and Use of Things Indifferent, Argument 11 – Argument 15
XI. ARGVMENT.
Pharaoh prouided for the Idolatrous Prieſts of Aegypt. Supplicat.And the Monkes and Friers at the diſſolution of their idolatrous Houſes, were prouided for during their liues, though they neuer had done any good.
Ergo, Much more ought the refractarie Miniſters to be prouided for, hauing done ſo great good in the Church of God.
ANSVVERE.
To the Conſequence.
THe argument doth not follow, Anſwere.becauſe of the diſſimilitude that is in the inſtances or examples alleadged, and the Miniſters caſe.
The Defender replies. Reply.The Argument doth follow the better, becauſe of the diſſimilitude of instances.
This will appeare otherwiſe, Reioynder.in examination of the particulars.
I.
Pharaoh miniſtered daily food vntounto ſuch Prieſts, Anſwere.whom he thought profeſſed true Religion, and diligently obeyed him in the function of their Office. A rare example of a bountifull and magnificent Prince, though otherwiſe in error. But the refractarie Miniſters, though profeſſing true Religon, yet do they obſtinately, being blinded by ſuperſtition, refuſe to ſerue GOD and his Church, in the faithful and diligent function and exerciſe of their Miniſterie.
The Defenders replie is. 1. Reply.As Pharach was in error touching the religion and obedience of his Priests, ſo are our Prelats, touching our refractarines and Superstition.
Not ſo. Pharaoh was indeed deceiued, and in error: Reioynder.but our Prelats are not; neither touching the Miniſters Refractarines, as daily experience teſtifieth; nor touching their Superstition, ſeeing they accompt that ſinne, which is no ſinne.
2. Our obedience towards his Maiestie is as good, Reply.as of the best of their ſide. That mans obedience to a Maior of a towne, or to any other inferiour Office of a Prince, is alwaies the best, that is most agreeable to the pleaſure of the Prince himſelfe. In like manner, that obedience is best vntounto Princes, that doth best agree with the pleaſure of the Prince of Princes, and King of Kings. To obey the Inferiour, without due regard of the Superiours pleaſure, is but flatterie and fawning, not good obedience. So to obey Princes, without due regard to our dutie to God. For it is more preiudiciall and hurtfull, then beneficiall and profitable to ſuch Princes.
Well. Your obedience to his Maieſtie is good. Reioynder.You ſay ſo. But your deeds proue the contrarie: for you daily kicke againſt his Maieſties auctoritie, and will not be reduced to obedience. Neither is there any thing here ſpoken, but the Papiſts will ſay as much for themſelues. You limite how farre you are to be obedient vntounto the King: ſo do the Papiſts; for neither of you will ſerue God, vnderunder his Maieſties gouernment, according vntounto the Religion eſtabliſhed. You ſay you are as dutifull and obedient, as any of our ſide: ſo will the Papiſts pronounce of themſelues, if they might be their owne iudges. But in the meane time, the Defender doth not iuſtifie Pharaohs example rightly alleadged, to procure compaſſion towards the refractarie Miniſters. Let vsus come to the next inſtance.
II.
The Monkes and Friers were depriued of all, Anſwere.againſt their will, for Sodomie, Hereſie, and Idolatrie, which they had embraced in time of their ignorance. But the refractarie Miniſters are willingly depriued, for obſtinate ſuperſtition, in refuſing ſincerely to preach the Goſpell of Chriſt with vsus, not being conformable vntounto the Chriſtian Lawes of our Church and Magiſtrates.
The Defender replies. Reply.The more iustly that Monkes and Friers were put out, the ſtronger is the argument for vsus, to be prouided for, that are put out vniustly.
It is true, Reioynder.if you were VNIVSTLY put out: but in ſaying ſo, you beg the Queſtion; proue it, if you can.
III.
The Monkes and Friers could not hauehave retained their places and poſſeſſions, Anſwere.not not by ſubmitting themſelues: But the refractarie Miniſters may, if they will but conforme themſelues vntounto the lawful Ordinances of our Church.
The Defender replies. Reply.I know no condition of ſubmiſſion offered to Monkes &c. Touching the rest, we thanke you for nothing. This is the curteſie of the Prelats, to make vsus pay deare for our liuings, euen to buy them with ſinning against God.
What needed there be any condition of ſubmiſſion offered to Monkes, Reioynder.when they could not hauehave kept their places by any ſubmiſſion they could make? For the reſt, you ſhew your deſperate reſolution, ſtill to continue in your ſchiſme and faction, and that vnderunder ſuch a pretenſe, as will neuer ſtand before the tribunall ſeate of God to excuſe you. The Lord ſoften your hard and ſtonie hearts. The Error in both the inſtances, is foreign.
XII. ARGVMENT.
The Prayers of faithful Miniſters of the Goſpell, Supplicat.are very effectuall in behalfe of Chriſtian aſſemblies.
Ergo, The high Court of Parliament, euen for this cauſe, ought ſomewhat to regard the refractarie Miniſters.
ANSVVERE.
To the Conſequence.
I.
NEither are the Prayers of Schiſmatiques much to be regarded: Anſwere.neither will the honorable Court of Parliament altogether neglect the refractarie Miniſters, but will labour by all good meanes for their recalling: neither can the refractarie Miniſters in Charitie, but ſtil pray for that high Court, yea in caſe they did not ſatisfie their deſire.
The Defender replies. Reply.As for the Prayers of Schiſmatiques, it is not much to be denied, if men be ſchiſmatiques in deed, and not only in name: but neither the Anſwerer, nor all the Prelats in the world, ſhall euer proue vt Schiſmatiques and Refractaries, as they vniustly tearme vsus.
That the refractarie Miniſters are PVRE SCHISMATIQVES, Reioynder.hath been abundantly proued before (in the Reioynd. to the Defence of the 3. Arg. pag. 116. & ſeqq.) I will not adde a word more vntill that be anſwered. Only I deſire I may not be miſtaken in this point, to wit, that the Prayers of Schiſmatiques, are not much to be regarded, I meane, as they are SVCH; otherwiſe the Prayers of Gods Saints are very behoouefull and neceſſary for vsus.
II.
If they had ſtill made conſcience of their dutie in their Miniſterie, Anſwere.their Prayers had been much more effectuall.
The Defender replies. Reply.Behold what conſcience theſe men make of Subſcription, Croſſe, Surplice, Conformitie, and other particular obedience; that make no conſcience of preaching, &c. Is it not ſtrange alſo, that Surplice and croſſe ſhould adde ſuch efficacie to prayer?
It is true, Reioynder.we make conſcience of obedience. Do they of the Defenders faction, make no conſcience thereof? But that we make no conſcience of Preaching &c. alſo, that Croſſe, Surplice, &c. adde any efficacie to prayer, is a palpable vntruth. The Error is foreign.
XIII. ARGVMENT.
Our Sauiour willeth al to pray the Lord of the harueſt, Supplicat.that he would thruſt forth labourers into his harueſt.
Ergo, No man ought by head and ſhoulders to thruſt labourers out of the harueſt.
ANSVVERE.
I.
I Grant the whole. Anſwere.If the Suppliants will inſiſt, Why then do you ſilence and depriue the Ministers?
II.
I anſwere. They are not ſuch Labourers, whom our Sauiour meaneth: neither are they thruſt forth of the harueſt, for labouring, but for labouring as they ought not, for ſowing the tares of ſedition, Schiſme and faction, for diſturbing the peace of the Church, and for moleſting other ſincere and faithfull Labourers.
The Defender replies. Reply.Touching the ſowing of the tares of ſedition, ſchiſme, faction, and disturbing of the peace, hath bin often anſwered. All which doe rather belong to them that teach that a true iustifying faith may be loſt, that there is no certentie of Saluation, that pleade for ignorance and an ignorant Ministerie, and ſuch other like things.
When the Defender hath nothing to ſay for the refractarie faction, then hee falles a rayling, Reioynder.or to ſlaunder our Church: for what other thing doth hee, ſeeing wee are ſo farre from defending any of theſe blaſphemies he ſpeakes of, as any man of their ſide. The Error is perpetua foreign.
XIV. ARGVMENT.
EueryEvery man ought freely to confeſſe Chriſt before men, Supplicat.in the time aſwel of triall and perſecution, as of truce and peace.
Ergo, The high Court of Parliament ought earneſtly to ſpeake for Chriſt and his Word.
ANSVVERE.
I Grant the whole againe. Anſwere.What can this aduantage the refractarie Miniſters? It followeth not, that therfore their Honors ſhould ſpeake for them. For they are neither Christ, nor his Word: neither is their quarrell and contention, either for Christ, or for his Word, as hath been declared before.
The Defender replies. Reply.They that ſtriue againſt humane Ceremonies in Gods worſhip, and for the ordinances onelyonly of Chriſt Ieſus, doe ſtriue alſo for Chriſt and his Word.
But the Ordinances which the refractarie Miniſters contend for, are not the ordinances of Christ Ieſus: neither doe they ſtriue for Christ, or for his Word, but for the ſuppoſed Senate of Lay-Aldermen, and their owne fantaſtique conceits. The Error is foreign.
XV. ARGVMENT.
It is neceſſarie that there bee prouiſion made of ſufficient able Miniſters, Supplicat.one in eueryevery Congregation, to inſtruct the people in the truth, to confute the Papiſts &c.
Ergo, The refractarie Miniſters muſt needs be reſtored.
ANSVVERE.
I
AS if there were not able Miniſters inough (God be praiſed) in both the Vniuerſities, Anſwere.and other parts of this Kingdome (if competent maintenance could be procured for them) ſufficiently to furniſh eueryevery Congregation, to inſtruct the people in religion, to refute the Aduerſarie &c. but that the ſmall handfull of Schiſmaticall Miniſters muſt needs be entreated to make vp the number.Reply.
The Replie vntounto vntounto this Anſwere, conſiſting of meere tautologies, contradictions of what I ſay, Reioynder.ſcoffes and bitter ſlanders againſt our Church and Miniſterie, deſerueth no other Reioynder, but Thou lieſt, Satan.
II.Anſwere.
Suppoſe there were not able Miniſters inough, for this purpoſe: hauehave not the Refractaries then greater reaſon, to ioyne with thei Brethren, in preaching the Goſpell, confuting the Papiſts &c. then ſuperſtitiouſly to quarrell about Croſſe and Surplice, and to forſake their neceſſarie vocation and function?Reply.
The Defender replieth. Nay, hauehave not the Prelats the more reaſon, to ſuffer vsus ſtill in the worke of the Ministerie with them? We are all willing ſo farre to ioyne with any in preaching the Goſpell, as we may doe nothing against the Goſpell, to craze the peace of our owne conſcience.Reioynder.
HaueHave the reuerend and wiſe Prelats any reaſon, to admit ſuch to labour in the Miniſterie; who they know will diſturbe the peace of the Church? yea who plainly profeſſe that they will neuer bee conformable vntounto the Diſcipline eſtabliſhed? None at all. Eſpecially ſeeing the ſuperiour Magiſtrate hath repoſed ſuch truſt in their fidelitie and diligence, that they would carefully, to their vtmoſt abilitie, endeuour to preſerue pure Religion and vnitie among his ſubiects. If the Refractarie Miniſters were permitted to labour amongſt vsus; why then, their Conſciences (forſooth) would not ſuffer them to performe, either faithfull ſcruice vntounto their Brethren, or loyall obedience to his Maieſtie. Better it is for the Church of God, that ſuch Miniſters, and ſuch Conſciences ſhould hauehave no part in our ſocietie, than that all States ſhould be ſet together by the eares about idle and needleſſe queſtions.