The Churchs Quarrel Espoused, Section 4
SECT. IV. THat the Condidates of the Ministry undergo a due Tryal by ſome or other of the Aſſociation, concerning their Qualification for the Evangelical Miniſtry; And that no perticular Pastor or Congregation, Imploy any one in occaſional Preaching, who has not been Recommended by a Testimonial under the hands of ſome Aſſociation.
Anſwer.
To Monopolize (in the Great Articles of Trade) ſome very Rich Spice, and of ſuch uſe for the good of Kingdoms, that they muſt needs periſh without it, or be greatly Injured by exceſſive Sales, is accounted by good Common-Wealths-men intolerable; for ſuch Men or Companies, ſo inveſted, can, with Joſeph in Pharoahs Court, buy and Sell a Country at their own Prizes; even ſo, When theſe Churches have delivered up the Right in their Condidates to the Claſſes, they may then go a begging to their doors for their Miniſters, and be contented to take what they are pleaſed to put off, and at their own lay.
Obj. But you may Object, that Exomni Ligno, non fit Mercurius. Therefore the Judicious muſt Determine and ſet their Mark upon what is Merchantable, and throw by what is Refuſe ware, or elſe there may be great Damage done for want of caution. And thus we come to the Plain point in hand, which is to be debated by Diſputing this Queſtion, viz.
Queſt. Whether a Tryal by Aſſociations is Preferrible to the Old Cuſtom of the Churches, in promoting their Candidates for the Miniſtry to Publick Truſt?
Anſwer.
In the Reply, I ſhall, firſt, Conſider our Candidates under Tryal; as to their Qualification, And (ſecondly) Implead the Propoſal on a Juſt Perjudice from the Corruption of the Clergy.
1ſt. We may conſider our Condidates under Tryal, as to their Qualifications, (1.) As to their humane Learning; and here we abſolutely object againſt the Tryal of Aſſociations, as Booteleſs, Uſeleſs and perilous both to them and to us.
1. To Them, it is no Diminution, or Treſpaſs upon the Laws of Honour or Truth to affirm, That the Settled Miniſtry in general (with ſome Reaſonable Exception) is leſs expert in Grammer and Points of Phyloſophy, then our learned Children are at the Degree of Junior Batchellors, and that from diſ-uſe, Proved from all Experience, Nam uſus Promotos facit; and alſo for the ſake of more divine ſtudies, which Crowd out thoſe firſt Ideas a great pace, according to that Obſervation, on a learned Memory, Imago Imaginem Expellit, Aliiſ que Alice Suceedunt, for as one Wave thruſts out another, ſo one Idea another. Therefore it is pity to Expoſe ſuch venerable Perſons to the hazard in this Service, leaſt when they become Poſers of others, they ſhould be poſed themſelves. I do Remember an odd ſtory when I was at Colledge, it was Retained as a Reproach on a very Divine and worthy Perſon; tho' he was bred in England a good Schollar, and alſo had been a School-maſter, and had taught the Grammer in his Young times, but yet having laid by in a great meaſure, the uſe of ſuch things, for the ſake of more valuable and Heavenly Speculations, being at the Solſtice, and one of the Corporation, ventured in the Hall to propoſe this Queſtion, to one of the Commoners, Quot Sunt Coela! To which the Lad with Saucineſs enough, yet with a gramatical Niceneſs, only Anſwered,
Sed Audi.
Maſcula Duntaxat Calos vacitabis et Argos.
That Priſians head will in likehood be kept bleeding from one Generation to another, by reaſon of ſome unlucky Strokes, if this Form be Eſtabliſhed, and that to the great Detriment of thoſe who ſtrike the Blows.
2dly. To ƲS. Accedamical Learning we profeſs to be a very Eſſential Accompliſhment in the Goſpel Miniſtry. It is introduced by the Ordinary Bleſſing of God upon Humane endeavours, to Supply the place of the Cloven Tongues, and thoſe other Miraculous Gifts and Indowments of Mind Impreſt upon Chriſts Ambaſſadors, whereby Fiſher-men Commence (per Saltem) Doctors of Divinity, and in an inſtant were ſtock'd with ſuch Principles of Religon, Reaſon and Philoſophy, that they were capable to diſpute with Athens it ſelf, and Baffle the greateſt Wits ſhe could produce in defence and for the Advancement of Chriſts Kingdom, Act. 17.18
Thus it is very Reaſonable that the Churches ſhould be well aſſured of the Sufficiency of the Learning of thoſe Perſons, e're they preſume on the Miniſtry; yet there is a fairer way in vew, fuller of Honour and Safety, than what the Propoſal Directs to.
Our Accademy is the Store-houſe of Learning, and this all Mankind will Aſsent to. When you have loſt the Company of the Muſes, there they are found in their Free-holds, where they hold the ballance of Honour amongſt the Learned. This is the Place, if not of the Goddeſs Minarva or Apollo, yet the Bethel or Temple of God himſelf; the God of Wiſdom, where he, as cheif Architect, with his under-work-men, form Wiſe and Learned Men, and where you may have them wrought off at the firſt hand: Then certainly here we are to ſecure our Credulity and Confidence in this Affair; here we are to know whether they be or the Right Stamp, Yea or No.
That of all men living, the beſt and moſt Infallible Standard for the Philoſophical Accompliſhments of our Candidates, is the Judgment of the Honorable Preſident and noble Fellows of our Famous Colledge; for this I am ſure muſt needs ſtand for a verity, that the Judgment of a real Honeſt and skilfull Artificer (keeping cloſe to his Shop) concerning the Nature and Qualities of an Edge-Tool which he hath wrought, and hammered on his own Anvil, out of its firſt Rude Matter, muſt certainly Excel him that hath been long from the Trade, that only takes it, turns the Edge ſlightly, or has but a Tranſient view of it! So that hence we may fairly infer, that (as to humane Learning) Harvards Commendamus is moſt valuable and ſufficient, and juſtly Supplants theſe Teſtimonials.
2. With reſpect to the more Evangelial Qualifications of the Goſpel Miniſtry, we ſhall be ready to honour the ſufficiency of the Aſsociates, yet muſt take liberty to Object a few things.
1. Suppoſe we, that the Tryal is made per Concionem ad Clerum, by Preaching a Sermon in Audience of the Aſsociation, and I think this is the way propoſed and generally agreed upon, as the Square or Rule moſt agreeable with Gunter, to take the Dimenſions, Length and Breath of our Candidates by.
Reply 1. What can a Sermon do at deciding this Queſtion? for that the moſt ſenſible and valuable, who are uſually moſt Humble and tender, are lyable by this Stupendious Examination, to be baffled by their own Timerity, and quite dash'd out of countenance by their own fear. Alas! upon their firſt Entrance upon the Stage, to appear in ſo auguſt and awful a Preſence, this muſt needs diſ-animate and put their thoughts into a Ruffle, as having in their afrighted minds the Reſemblance of their going into the Spaniſh Inquiſition, rather then Dwelling amongſt the Softer Meaſures of the Goſpel? Luther himſelf, (that unparallell'd Inſtance of Spirit and Magnanimity (as I Remember of his Life) hardly ever got over ſomething of a Panick Fear attending him, through the courſe of his Miniſtry; and indeed, Men of the quickeſt ſenſes are moſt liable to theſe Paroxiſms. Then ſurely to put our Tyros to this Teſt, which may daunt and diſ-ſpirit the greateſt Hero, is no ways Proportionable, eſpecially ſeeing they may under the Inſpection of Learned, honeſt and Judicious Men, both Paſtors and Churches, and thereby under Covert of more Private Invitations (with all their natural) creep into this noble Work, and keeping on, as their Courage and Strength will bear the Journey, may, Gradatim, attain a juſt and ſufficient Probation, as our Learned youth have hitherto done.
Indeed, the Bold and Brazen, who can make a greater figure with half the ſtock, by many ſhircking Tricks, and diſſembling Artifices, defended and ſupported with confidence and Delivery, may obtain the Euge Juvenis, that they no ways deſerve, as will be found, when they come to be Detected by a more Dilatory Search, or a more tedious Analiſis made of them. That, to conclude, as the Proverb is, Ʋna Hirundo non facit Ver; one Swallow makes not the Spring; ſo in this Tryal one good or mean Sermon cannot Determine the man or umpire his Caſe.
2. Suppoſe the Tryal muſt be made, and the Queſtion Determined by a Perſons Converſation. And this is a very great Article in the State of all Serviceable men, and eſpecially in the Miniſtry, 1 Tim. 4.12. 1 Pet. 5.3. being Enſamples to the ſtock. Then Certainly a more Intimate Converſe and Society, is a very Invincible Plea. By the Laws and Coſtums of England, the Vicinage muſt be allowed, as affording the Moſt Competent Judges, when Perſons Reputation lies at ſtake in Criminal Caſes, becauſe they are preſumed to know ſome-what conſiderable of Perſons and Caſes of their own knowledge, and ſo more capable of giving a Juſt Verdict. So in the Caſe, what do thoſe Perſons know of … Learned Youth, who make up the Aſſociation? Our Candidates appear on a Certain day, … blazing Stars once in an Age, and are gazed on▪ and then they vaniſh) Now what Judgment can be made on a mans Converſation by ſuch a Tranſcient view? unleſs they muſt be handled in this Conſiſtory, as Perſons that have been bound to the Peace, and in open Court are to be delivered from their Recognizane by three Out-Cryes?
3. Suppoſe the whole ſtock of Miniſterial Qualifications muſt be enquired into, and Judgment muſt paſs by the direction of the Apoſtolick Law, 1. Tim. 3.2. Tit. 1·6.9. viz. Let them be Blameleſs, Sober, apt to Teach, &c. and add what more you pleaſe, which the Scripture mentions, to fill up the Character of an Evengelical Miniſter, to compleat him in all his Gifts and Graces, either in his beginnings, or in his Riper State, and it is moſt apparent, that our particular Paſtors and Churches, with the Learning, Experience, Grace, Wiſdom and Diſcretion they are Owners of, can make a more upright, judicious and ſollid Tryal, and give a better account of our Candidates from their frequent Converſe with them, and their Occaſional and Repeated Preaching amongſt them, then the Wiſeſt Aſſociation in the World can do, and it is eaſier Diſſembling with the latter, than the former, unleſs the Aſsociation will take them home, and both Winter and Summer them.
Now then, conſidering that their Degrees, with the expreſs Teſtimony of the Colledge (when Perticularly deſired) are ſufficient Teſtimonials of their Learning, and the Experience of their other good Gifts and Miniſterial Qualifications, obtained by Converſe, and their Occaſional Preaching, has been the chief Teſt and Tryal for our Candidates; and by theſe Methods they have been approbated in order to Settlement in Office-Truſt; and this has been the Cuſtum of the Country and Churches for near four ſcore Years. Wherefore, to conclude this Argument, I make this Proclamation, That if any Perſon or perſons diſaffected with our old Settlements and Way in Churth-Conduct, will produce one Example led into the Publick Miniſtry by this Practice, which has juſtly offended him, and he will or can evince this to be the blameable Cauſe, we will then Surrender the Coſtum to your Mercy.
2dly. I ſhall now Implead the Propoſal on a Juſt Perjudice or Perſumption of Corruption in the Clergy, Tho' we are in Charity for the preſent, yet in this way propoſed, we have no aſsurance for the future againſt the Corruptneſs of ſuch Societies; and let any Sober man obſerve and he will find abundance of poor Tools under the Mark of the Office, where theſe Meaſures, and ſuch like, are in force and form. How oft is it Repeated, That poor Sordid Debauch't Wretches are put into Holy Orders, when as they were fitter to be put in to the ſtocks or ſent to Br…dwell for Mad-men, then to be ſent with their Teſtimonials to work in Chriſts Vineyard? How long have the Indies, the Seas, the Provinces, and many other parts of the Empire Groaned under this Damnable way of cheating God of his Glory and the World of Salvation?
Simony we know began almoſt as early as the Chriſtian Church, and has prevailed amongſt Clergy-men to a Prodigy. The Sacred things of Gods Houſe have been a Trade and Merchandize, which has beggared the Churches and filled the Clergy in ſome Kingdoms with a Sacriligious and Exorbitant Pile of WEALTH, and the World with a flood of Debauchees; and this Propoſal puts us into the way to open the Shop windows again, and expoſe the ſame Wares to Sale upon a little Indulgence in our Country; for who can render a Reaſon that the ſame Opportunities, the ſame Temptations, the ſame Corruptions, the ſame Nature, and the ſame Power, would not produce the ſame effects? or that the ſame Climate, Seed, Ground, and manner of Culture, ſhould not Yeild the ſame Grain at Harveſt?
And what have we in pledge for our Security, more than the Fallacy and fickleneſs of Humane Nature, when the Power is delivered out of our hands?
Obj. You may object, That our Candidates, Thro' their own Ambition, and the Indulgence of perticular Paſtors, Thurſt themſelves into the Work too Young, and this our way will Preſcribe due Boundaries to them
Anſwer. 1. In General, St. Paul ſolves a worſe Caſe, than can be found (Pick whilſt you are weary for an Example to quadrate with the objection, and render it forcible) amongſt all our learned Youth, who have hitherto adventured upon the Miniſtry, Phil. 1.18 What then! &c. as tho' he ſhould ſay, What's that to you, Sir? if Chriſt be Preached, all is well. And as to our Caſe, we may ſay, Deſpiſe not the day of ſmall things, all men muſt have a beginning, and every Bird which is pretty well fleg'd muſt begin to fly. And ours are not of the Neſt where Icharus was hatch't, whoſe Feathers were only glewed on; but theſe belong to the Angelick Hoſt, and their Wings grow out from their Eſſence; therefore you may allow them, with the Lark, now and then to dart heaven-ward, tho' the Shell or down be ſcarce off from their heads. And ſo we conclude with our Charitable and Divine Apoſtle, What then! If Chriſt be Preached whether in Pretence, or in Truth, either by Old or by Young, yet therein we do rejoyce, yea, and will rejoyce, &c. to ſee our own Nazarites ▪ ſo forward and well diſpoſed, it ſhall add to our Joy, and no ways increaſe our Horrour, unleſs our Ambition ſhould Surprize us with Fear, that ſuch young ſtarts ſhould out-ſhine us.
2. In Perticular, Where will you ſix the Quando, and ſettle the Preciſe Aera, or Period of Time, for their Beginning?
1. There is no College or Statute Law yet Enacted, to decide this Queſtion: Then of neceſſity you muſt do homage to long and laudable Cuſtom, as to a Superiour Authority, and honourable Ruler; and where that fixes the Time, you muſt ſubmit; for Cuſtom, when full of days, and of Noble Examples, becomes the Common Law of a Nation; and is as ſoveraign and Pleadable, as the Dictates of a Parliamentary Power, at leaſt, it ſhelters from Rebukes and Calumny: That for any Gentlemen to Affront, Talk-high, and Frown at the Early Zeal and beginnings of our Candidates, is but too much, in Imitation of the Great Mogul of India, who after he hath Dined, orders his Trumpets to be blown, to ſignifie to the Princes of the Earth, that they have liberty now to go to Dinner; and when he hath finiſhed his Formalities, if they pleaſe, they may vail their Royal Bonnets, and thank him for nothing; for where there is no Law, There is no Tranſgreſſion.
2. Under the Goſpel, we have no Preciſe time, tho' there was under the Law, when to begin and enter into the Miniſtry, the Goſpel knows no Bar from Time, where Perſons are other ways meetly qualified. Days and Qualifications, are divers things, and the latter are the Eſſentials of a Miniſter of Chriſt. It is not, how Old, but how Capable a Perſon is, which is the main point to be enquired after here. Therefore where (in ſome good meaſure) there is an honeſt Life, a Gracious Heart, an Orthodox Head, and a learned Tongue, There is no reaſon to ſend ſuch Youths to Jerico with Davids meſſengers, Tho' their Beards are not yet grown) to wait upon Time and Nature, for ſuch an Accompliſhment; for certainly thoſe Recited are the Principal in the Argument. It is a ſtory in the Hiſtory of Perſia, that when the Grecians ſent ſome very young Noble-men upon an Embaſſage to that Court, the Perſians Reflected upon the Grecian Republick for ſending Beardleſs Boyes on ſo Grave a Meſſage to ſo mighty a Monarch. To which the young Grecians very ſmartly Anſwered, That if ſtate Policy did conſiſt in Beards, then He-Goats would do for Embaſſadors, as well or better then Men: I muſt confeſs, I am ſome-what of their mind; and therefore I think it is not, How long men have lived, but how Wiſe they are Grown: GOD hath ordained Praiſe out of the Mouths of Babes. Jeremiah pleads, he was a Child, but that cannot null his Commiſſion for the Miniſtry, Jer. 1.6. St. Paul guards the Miniſtry of young Timothy, by Heavens Authority, to Defend him from Cenſure, for Audaciouſneſs. What! for a Child to teach Old Men their Duty! Hold! ſays St. Paul, 1 Tim. 4.12. Let no man deſpiſe thy Youth. What! ſhall not our great Lord Illuſtrate his Grace and Power in what Examples he pleaſes? Has he not formed all the Powers of nature? and does he not furniſh them with their Diſtinct Vertues? &c.
Object. But you may ſay, Days are full of Wiſdom, and Youth of Ignorance in the great Affairs of Salvation.
Anſw. Not always and univerſally ſo; as in the Examples juſt now Recited, and in many others that may be named, called in at the third and ſixth hour, Mat. 20. But however, if our Candidates muſt never begin till they are without Ignorance, or not till they have gained all Points (ad unquem) in the vaſt ſtudies of Divinity, then it may be ſaid of all our Miniſters, as Queen Elizabeth was wont to ſay of Biſhops, when ſhe viſited the Schools (Study hard Children, ſtudy hard, for) Biſhops are Old Men. So of Neceſſity, all our Miniſters muſt be very Old Men. But I think that is more agreeable with our Neceſſity and ſtate, both in Nature and Grace, which one of the Ancients was wont to ſay of himſelf, viz. That whilst he ſtudied to Teach other men, he Learn't himſelf. That Conſidering Theology, as well as Art, is a long ſtudy, and Life is very ſhort, why may they not begin young? and alſo, conſidering that our Churches are no ways over Cluttered with Candidates, there is no need to ſerve them as Chriſt did the Money Changers, who with a Whip of ſmall Cords, he drove them out of the Temple; and eſpecially they having hitherto acquitted themſelves in the main as men that need not be aſhamed, and yet never any one of them, to this day, has been Repreſented as Learned or vertuous, or any way ſupported by theſe Teſtimonials.