The Nature and Use of Things Indifferent, Argument 6
VI. ARGVMENT.
Many Congregations, Men, Women, Supplicat.Children, Maſters and Seruants, of all ages and conditions, are in great heauineſſe for their Paſtors, and doe make lamentable moane for them.
Ergo, The States of the Parliament muſt needs be Suiters vntounto his Maieſtie for reſtoring of them againe.
ANSVVERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
I.
IF the Antecedent be true, Anſwere.as the Suppliants ſeeme confidently to affirme, then ſurely the more hard hearts hauehave thoſe cruell Tyrants, rather then ſhepheards, that hauing no pitie, nor compaſſion vponupon thoſe ſillie ſheepe, deſperately forſake their flockes, ouer whom the Lord had made them ouerſeers; and relinquiſh their vocation for litle or no cauſe at all.
The Defender replies two things. 1. Replie.We must hauehave pitie and compaſſion on our ſheepe, that we wound not our owne ſoules. We must (as hath been ſaid) eſchew euill, and doe good: not commit euill, to doe good. As gold may be bought too deare, ſo may the good of our people.
As if dutifully to obey the ordinances of our Church, Reioynder.were to commit euill. Whereas indeed rebellion is as the ſinne of witchcraft, and he that reſiſteth the Magiſtrate ſhall not be guiltleſſe. The Error is foreign.
2. By the like Reaſon, Reply.a Theefe may complaine of the hardnes of his heart, that had rather loſe his purſe, than hauehave his throate cut.
The Reaſon is not like; Reioynder.for there is great ods betweene wearing a Surplice, and hauing ones throate cut, as eueryevery man knoweth. How doth this reaſon argue? As hee hath an hard heart, that had rather loſe his purſe, than hauehave his threate cut: So he hath an hard heart, that had rather loſe his liuing, than weare a Surplice. The error, is foreign. And, foreign.
II.
Thoſe Congregations, Anſwere.Men, Women, Children, &c. may ceaſe to mourne any longer, and comfort themſelues herewith, viz. that ſeeing their vnfaithfull and vngratefull Paſtors, hauehave dealt ſo vnkindly and vndutifully with them; yet (God be thanked) the Lord hath ſtore of good & faithfull Seruants, which he will ſend forth into the Harueſt, who both can and will breake the bread, and powre out the water of eternall life vntounto them, and performe the duties of faithful Shepheards, that wil neuer forſake them, nor runne away when they hauehave moſt need of their helpe.
The Defender replies. Reply.Thoſe that will not runne away, Where are they to be found? What net may one hauehave to catch them? what keepe to hold them? For doe not the FORMALISTS daily runne away from their people? Doe they not take another Liuing, and keepe the former alſo, leauing one to ſome tourney man fit for all companies? Yea both Maſter and man, oftentimes leaue both flockes to the Wolfe: yea I know ſome that forſake their owne charges, and are Curats elſewhere vnderunder other. And to whom doe ſome of them leaue their owne? To one that all the weeke long goeth to hedging, ditching, threſhing, and other day labour for his liuing: Who on the Lords day, is at Church with a white Surplice to reade Seruice, &c.
If the Formalist be ſuch a man, Reioynder.as the Defender paints him out in this place; would GOD our Church were fairely rid, as well of the Formalist (if any ſuch be amongſt vsus) as of the refractarie Miniſter; ſeeing the one is as negligent and ſlothfull, as the other is ſchiſmaticall and factious; and both of them pernicious vntounto Gods people. And let the Defender informe the Gouernours of the Church of any ſuch in the Miniſterie, and I doubt not but he ſhall ſee all ſuch perſons either ſpeedily reformed, or turned out of the Church. But if the Defender meanes by Formalists, all ſuch Miniſters, as be regular and obedient vntounto the gouernment and diſcipline of our Church, then hath hee entred againe into his Common place of Calumniation and lies, which needeth no further anſwere.
II. To the Conſequence.
The Conſequence followeth not from the Antecedent, but this rather; Ergo, Anſwere.The Paſtors muſt needs hauehave pitie vponupon their miſerable aiſtreſſe, and obeying the wholeſome ordinances of the Church, returne againe and comfort them.
The Defender replieth. Reply.We will returne againe to our people and comfort them, when the Ordinances of the Church, are proued by Gods Word to be wholeſome.
If your conſciences be not yet perſwaded of the wholeſomenes and lawfulnes of our Churches ordinances; Reioynder.wherfore do not you obiect any thing againſt our Bookes written purpoſely of that Argument? But I feare me, it fareth with many of you, as it doth with moſt part of the Papiſts in other things; to wit, that your wils and affections ought to be beaten downe, and terrified with Gods threatnings againſt cōtemptuous and wilful impugners of the knowne truth, rather then your iudgements reformed or rectified in theſe controuerſies. I pray GOD forgiue you your wilfull obſtinacie and contempt, and encline your hearts to embrace peace and vnitie; that at length we all may be one, as GOD the Father, and CHRIST IESVS are one.