Account of a Late Debate at Lime, Chapter 4

Account of a Late Debate at Lime · Chapter 4

p. 133CHAP. IV. The Concluſion.

I Think nothing Material ſaid on either ſide is Omitted in the Narrative above, p. 134beſure I have not willingly Omitted any thing of that Nature. In accounting for ſome things, for the Advantage of ſuch as may think it worth their while to Peruſe theſe Sheets, and more full Illuſtration of the matter in hand, I have enlarged beyond what was ſaid at the Debate, yet not varying from the Subſtance of it. Yet let not any think what is here Related as then offered on either of the Ar…icles above, the whole that may be ſaid in Confirmation of them It is not ſo, and as to the Firſt more eſpecially, (which relates to the Subject of Baptiſm,) much more might be ſaid and is by many others for Confirmation of it, and then had been, had it been needful & time & ſtrength allowed. However by what is contained in the fore-going Pages, its hoped Perſons will ſee We of the Eſtabliſhed Miniſtry in the Country, have ſomething to ſay for our Opinion and Practice in thoſe Points, and at the ſame time, reaſon to hope we are not in our Conſciences convicted of Error in them, as ſome of our Adverſaries Scrupled not Reproachfully to ſay of us before the Debate. I have no pleaſure in Recriminations, eſpecially on ſuch Perſons, yet can't forbear ſaying on this Occaſion, that when at the time of the Debate I urg'd them, …a any of them then preſent, and that Repeatedly, to make p. 135anſwer, if they could, to the Arguments offer'd, and not a word could be obtained in way of Anſwer from any of them, but all remained in a Dead Silence; when I did ſo I ſay, and none ſo much as made an Attempt to Reply, I could not but think, as I now do, that ſome Convictions of the Truth, by the Over-bearing Light & Evidence of it were wrought in their Conſciences; and at the ſame time how Engaging, Inſnaring a thing ERROR is, and what need we all have to look to our ſelves and ſtand on our Guard againſt it. And alaſs, when this once gets hold of us, how much are we put into the Hands of our Grand Enemy, and how many Luſts are there that inſtantly riſe up and ſet in with it, and almoſt Inevitably oblige us to ſtand by it, and this, tho' the Error be ſuch as if retained, will iſſue in Eternal Ruine! Every Age and Place almoſt affords but too many inſtances ſorrowfully Confirming this Remark.

But its time that I haſten to an End; and for a Cloſe (tho' the Obſtinacy of the Perſons but now mentioned, and Contempt of all that can be ſaid to them, manifeſted in their Pertinacious perſiſtance in their Old Practices, nowithſtanding all diſcourages me from an Addreſs to them, yet) I think my ſelf obliged on this occaſion earneſtly to call p. 136upon and exhort all others to take heed of them, as a ſort of Men that without an Abuſe may in the Apoſtles Language be ſtiled Seducing Spirits; who by bringing in F…lſe Doctrines, (and ſome of them Doctrines that inſer a denial of the LORD that bought them) as well as by their Subtile inſin… tions, endeavour to turn Men from the Truth, that good Old way they have been Train'd up in, and which GOD has many ways Witneſſed his Approbation of. (I mean the …ſtabliſhed Religion of the Country Recommended and Handed down to us by our Pious Progenitors) Take heed of them I ſay, come not into the way of them, leſt by their Inſinuations you are prevailed upon thus to do. We find the abounding of Falſe Teachers, Seducing Spirits, mentioned as one of the Calamities of that Late, Concluding Day of the World into which doubtleſs we are caſt, 1 Tim. 4.1. 2 Pet. 2.1. and no doubt for this reaſon as much as any other, its ſp…ken of as a Time peculiarly Perilous, 2 Tim 3.1.—It were well it Perſons were ſenſible of this, knew the Peril attending ſuch Perſons, and the Errors they ende…our to Advance or Propagate, at leaſt ſome of them. What the Apoſtle Col 2. ſays of ſome Chriſtians in his time, viz. That they did not hold the Head, &c. (i, e. tho' in p. 137words they owned CHRIST; yet at the ſame time retained & taught ſuch Opinions and Practices as infer'd a denial of Him) may with equal Truth be ſaid of ſome, at leaſt, of the Perſons now ſpoken of; though they talk of CHRIST, and in Words ſeem to Honour him, yet they hold not the Head, their Opinions and Practices inferring a Denial of him It were eaſy to make good this charge upon them were it needful. And it being ſo, may we not with reaſon look upon them, their Opinions, &c. as none of the leaſt things rendring the preſent Day Perilous? Certainly Opinions of this Nature are no leſs Damning than the moſt Enormous Practices. Heaven can no more Receive one who holds not the Head (at leaſt in the ſenſe the Apoſtle there ſpeaks,) than it can the moſt Proſligate Wretch. And this conſideration, no doubt, was the occaſion of that mighty concern reſpecting the Jews, we find the Apoſtle making diſcovery of. Rom. 9. & 10 — It was not their Immoralities, but their bad Principles or Fundamental Errors that wrought in him that Concern leſt they ſhould fall ſhort of Life, as he there lets us know. Error is as Damning as Vice; the one is an open Road, the other but a more By-path to Hell and Deſtruction. Take heed therefore, and what p. 138Paul ſays to Timothy, 2 Tim. 3.14. I would ſay to you on this occaſion, Continue in the things you have learn'd and be not by any means turn'd aſide from them And that you may take heed, I'll here for a Cloſe leave with you a few Conſiderations.

1 Con. The Way now Recommended for your Walk and Continuance in, is in all the Subſtantials of it that good old way our Pious Progenitors walked in, and which as they have variouſly Recommended to us their Children, ſo God has variouſly witneſſed his Approbation of. Its in all the Eſſentials of it the ſame way they walked in. Indeed of us who are of the Preſent Day, it may be ſaid that our Attainments generally ſpeaking in that way are much ſhort of what theirs were, at leaſt many of them; Where are thoſe Eminent degrees of Faith, Love, Holineſs &c. that were Conſpicuous in many of them? In how few to be found? Yet the way we walk in and deſire your Adherence to and Continuance in, is the ſame ſtill as to all Eſſentials of it. Our Doctrines of Faith and Precepts of Life were theirs alſo, they Believed and Practiſed them, and handed them down to us. Our Miniſtry and Worſhip are the ſame with theirs in all the Eſſentials of them. We do not in any thing material differ from them in theſe things. What I now ſay is ſo p. 139well known to moſt, that any thing in way of proof can't I think, be needful. And this way, I ſay, they have variouſly Recommended to us, and God has variouſly Witneſſed his Approbation of it, that its the way he has Choſen and Ordained for us to walk in. Beſides their great Concern and Labour to train us up in and inure us to it, (whereby they bore witneſs to it) they have Recommended it by their frequent Atteſtations to it and that both while living and when dying. We have in our hands, & no doubt many of you have alſo, ſuch performances of many of them while living, as wherein tho' they are now dead, yet they beſpeak us their Children in ſuch words as theſe, viz This is the Right way, walk in it: In this way we walking have ſound God, Received Tokens for good from him, the Pledges and Aſſurances of his Favour, even thoſe that are the Earneſts of the Eternal Inheritance And not only ſo, but as holy David when Old and Dying, being fill'd with a Pious Concern for Solomon that he might both do and be well after he was gone, left it in Charge with him to know the God of his Fathers, and ſerve him with a Perfect Heart and willing Mind, in the ſame way they had gone before him, in 1 Chron. 28 9. So have not many of our Pious Progenitors done in like manner? p. 140Of how many of them may we ſay that words of this Import, were their laſt words to us? And with them they took their leave of us: thereby giving witneſs to this way and aſſu…ing us that our Adherance to and Walk in it was what they look'd upon to be of an Importance for us beyond other things, and was therefore what lay on their Spirits with a peculiar Concern. Now this Conſideration methinks ſhould be of weight with us, and mightily arm us with Reſolution to adhere to it, and withſtand all attempts or endeavours of any whatever to turn us aſide from this way. I'm ſure it will be ſo with all thoſe that are wiſe, and Conſider who and what thoſe our Progenitors were, partioularly that they were of thoſe of whom the Pſalmiſt ſays Pſal. 25.14. That the Secret of the Lord is with them, and that to them be ſheweth his Covenant.

In a word, The Moſt High Himſelf has variouſly ſignified and witneſſed his Approbation of it. I might luſtance here in more things than one, but it ſhall ſuffice to ſay, He has done ſo by that peculiar Bleſſing wherewith he has attended or followed it, whereby he has made it effectual for ſaving good to Multitudes. It's but little more then one Century of Years ſince New-England was numbred among thoſe Dark Places of p. 141the Earth that are fill'd with the Habitations of Cruelty, where Satan Reigns, and which belong to his viſible Kingdom, as having never been viſited with the Day Spring from on High. But ſince the happy Day has dawned, and it has been Bleſſed with the preſent Eſtabliſhed Religion and way of Worſhip, I believe that all Impartial Perſons, being Judges, will allow it has been a Fruitful Mother, bringing forth more Children to God, and more Serious, Pure and Practical Religion than perhaps any other Place in the known World, Caeteris Paribus, has done. And this I take to be a good evidence of its being what God approves of and is well pleaſing to him. And may not we of the Eſtabliſhed Miniſtry in New-England, on this Occaſion, with little variation ſay to you as Paul on the like Occaſion did to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 9 2. If we are not Miniſters to others, yet doubtleſs we are to you, for the Seal of Our Miniſtry are ye in the Lord. The Converſion of ſo many Sinners to a Life of Serious, Practical Religion, and the Building up ſo many Saints in Faith and Holineſs, is Gods Seal to Our Miniſtry; and what we may with good Reaſon look upon as an Evidence of its being what he approves of. Now it being ſo, every one will ſay its not eaſy to believe any ſuch Exceptions p. 142ſhould lie againſt this way as may excuſe any man in deſerting of it. Eſpecially when herewith the following are Conſidered, Viz.

2. Con That in this way of Religion or Worſhip you have a True Goſpel Miniſtry in all the Eſſentials of it i. e. A Number of men in Succeſſion who being competently qualifi'd for the Miniſterial work, are Lawfully called and ſet apart to it. None I think will doubt of this, but ſuch as Diſ-believe the fore-going particular; ſince if that be true, this is little leſs than a neceſſary Deduction or Corollary from it. That our Miniſtry, generally ſpeaking, are ſo far entich'd with Furniture for their Work or Office as to be capable of anſwering the main deſigns of it, I preſume will be allowed me. And tho' as to their Call and Separation to it, ſome may think it not according to the order of the Goſpel, yet for my own part I'm not able to ſee thoſe things by Poſitive Laws or otherwiſe ſo Limited or Reſtrained there, to any particular Mode or Modes of them, as to doubt of the Lawfulneſs of them as Practiced among us, at leaſt under our preſent Circumſtances. As for the right of Nominating, Electing & Calling Miniſters to their Office, certain it is that in different Places of the World, and Ages of the Church it has been variouſly aſſumed and uſed; ſometimes by the Laity, p. 143ſometimes the Clergy, and at other times by the Civil Powers: and no doubt there may be caſes wherein either of them may rightfully do ſo. But I ſhall not here enter into this Controverſy, nor can I think it needful ſince I preſume there are few, if any, who will deny the Eſtabliſhed Miniſtry in the Country to have the Eſſentials of a true Goſpel Miniſtry.

3. Con The various Objections againſt this Miniſtry with which the Mouths of ſuch Seducers as would turn you away from it are fill'd, are Abſurd, of no Validity, nor can in any wiſe juſtify you in Deſerting of it. Among the ſeveral things which deprav'd reaſon (or ſomething worſe) in Seducers of all Ages has ſuggeſted as proper to turn Men from the Truth, one has been this, viz. Endeavours to load with Infamy ſuch as are the Teachers and ſet for the defence of it; and thereby bring them into Diſ-reputation with their hearers. According to which, as no Age of the Church ſcarce has been free from them, ſo the Miniſters of CHRIST have ever been the Objects of their Invectives and Railery. Thus it is in this our Day. He is a Stranger to the men of this Character among us who knows not that they have nothing ſo much in view, and in which they ſo much lay out themſelves as in Endeavours to bring an Odium p. 144upon the Miniſtry in the Land, and hurt their Reputation & Intereſt with their People. To which End they are daily ſpending their Invectives upon it; and ſuch Truths taught & maintained by it, as whereby their Enormous Opinions and Practices are Condemned. Of this Strain and Tenor, and little elſe but this, are the generality of the Harangues with which they entertain their Hearers. But how Abſurd and Senſeleſs their Objections are, and how unable to Apologiſe for a deſerting this Miniſtry you will ſee in the following view of them.

To Inſtance then,

1. From what is related in the fore-going Narrative, as offered on the Third Article, I can't but preſume you agree with me in this, viz. That Miniſters may of right Demand ſomething in way of Reward for their Work, & by Conſequence that its no Valid plea or exception againſt our Miniſtry that they do ſo. This every one knows is a main exception againſt it, eſpecially in the Mouths of thoſe Sectaries you are now Cautioned againſt giving heed to. Thoſe of the Eſtabliſhed Miniſtry in the Country they ſay are Hirelings, they Teach for Hire and Divine for Money, Mic. 3.11. — Yea and what is worſe, they are Greedy Dogs & Ravenous Wolves than devour their Flocks: Therefore come not p. 145nigh them. And what they think juſtifies them in this Opprobrious Language, is only this, viz. That Miniſters according to the allowance & grant of CHRIST their Maſter, demand & receive from their People, ſomething in way of Reward for their work. I grant, that in caſes where its evident that Gain is a Miniſters laſt or higheſt end; and that indeed the Teacheth for Hire & Divines for Money, in the ſenſe of the Prophet there, he is juſtly entitul'd to thoſe opprobrious Epithets. But in order to the conviction of any one in this point, ſomething more is needful than meerly his Preaching the Doctrine of CHRIST & Paul in this matter, and Practiſing according to it; i. e. His aſſerting his Right to partake and his actual receiving of the Temporal good things of thoſe, unto whom he communicates them that are Spiritual; this I ſay alone will not do it, ſince as there is a vaſt difference between Preaching for Money; or other Temporal good things, & taking them for Preaching; ſo this laſt is no more than his great LORD has veſted him with a Right to do, and is of abſolute neceſſity to all the deſigns of his Office. But I need not add here, conſidering what has been ſaid above on this Head. Nor,

2. Is it a valid Plea or Exception againſt our Miniſtry, that it is not furniſhed for, called to & p. 146aſſisted in their Work, in the ſame immediate & extraordinary ma…er the Apoſtles & others in the morning of Chriſtianity mere. This alſo is what we may often hear alledged in way of exception againſt it, by the Perſons but now mentioned. O…r Miniſters, they ſay, are not Conformed to thoſe Primitive Miniſters in theſe things; are not in that immediate, extraordinary manner furniſhed for, called to, & aſſiſted in their Work that they were; but as they Acquire all their furniture for it by on humane …ucation, ſo by the aſſiſtance of that only do what they do in it; they are therefore no true Miniſters of Chriſt, nor to be received & followed as ſuch. To which I ſay, that we own the truth of this Exception as to the …er of i…, but deny its Validity as to the end for which its made. We do not nor dare we pretend to ſtand upon a Level with thoſe Primitive Miniſters in theſe things, who freely …nſeſs we are not furniſhed for, c…lled to, & aſſiſted in our work in that ſame immediate, extraordinary manner they were: but do not ſee that this neceſſarily baniſhes … from the number of the true Miniſters of CHRIST, and that (as for other reaſons to be ſuggeſted by & by, ſo becauſe its certain it was never the mind of CHRIST to continue ſuch a Miniſtry to the End of the World as they were; nor was it needful p. 147to the deſigns of that Office that he ſhould do ſo, and that becauſe tho' its certain, 'twas neceſſary thoſe Primitive Miniſters in the Morning of Chriſtianity ſhould be furniſhed for, called to, and aſſiſted in their Work in that immediate, extraordinary manner, yet 'tis equally certain there is not the like neceſſity or reaſon that their Succeſſors in all Ages of the Church ſhould be ſo The Goſpel when firſt Preach'd by CHRIST was a new and a ſtrange Doctrine; a Myſtery that had been kept Secret from Ages and Generations then paſt; Rom. 16.25. the World underſtood it not, nor was there then any that were able to Inſtill or Communicate the knowlege of it to others, and thereby ſo far forth to qualify them to be Miniſters of it. 'I was neceſſary therefore at that time, that Divine Wiſdom and Grace ſhould interpoſe, & in an immediate & extraordinary manner enrich and furniſh ſome with the knowlege o… it. Again, As it was a new and ſtrange Doctrine, ſo in order to its being received in the World, '…was neceſſary it ſhould carry its credentials with it, i.e ſhould be attended with ſomething in thoſe that Publiſh'd it, that might be an evidence it was no impoſture or Cheat, but come from Heaven. And for this reaſon, that extraordinary Power of Miracles thoſe … five Miniſters were endued p. 148with was neceſſary. Further, This Doctrine being then to be Preached to all Nations, the time being come for the breaking down the Partition Wall between Jew and Gentile, & for extending the Bleſſing of Abraham (which till that …ne had been almoſt wholly confin'd to his natural Off-ſpring the Jews,) to Gentiles of a… Nations, 'twas neceſſary that thoſe firſt Miniſters of it ſhould be endued with the extraordinary Powers of Tongues. And Finally, They being deſigned by their Lord and Maſter CHRIST to ga…ner Churches & lay the Foundations of Chriſtianity, both among Jews and Gentiles, by Preaching this Doctrine among them, they being both Enemies to it; and it being evident the Apoſtles were like to meet with great Oppoſition from them, in their diſcharge of that Work, 'twas needful they ſhould have that Power of Diſcerning Spirits, and that an extraordinary meaſure and preſence of the Spirit ſhould go along with them. On theſe accounts 'tis eaſy for any one to ſee, thoſe extraordinary meaſures and gifts were neceſſary for and in them. But now theſe reaſons of thoſe extraordinary meaſures or diſpenſations toward them, not co…inning but …eaſing after a time, there was not a like neceſſity of their being continued to ſucceding Miniſters. When thoſe firſt Miniſters of CHRIST had Publiſh'd p. 149the Doctrine of the Goſpel, & thereby Communicated the knowlege of it to others, there was then among thoſe to whom they had ſo Communicated it, ſome that were ſo far forth furniſhed to be Miniſters of it too, & there was no neceſſity of an extraordinary & immediate Revelation of it to them. And when by Signs, Wonders and Miracles wrought by them, the Doctrine they Preached was witneſſed to from Heaven, and proved to be from thence, 'twas not needful that a like Power of Miracles ſhould be continued to their Succeſſors. And further, When in purſuance of their extenſive Commiſſion, they had gone into all the World, & Preached the Goſpel among all Nations, gathered Churches & Ordained Officers in them; what occaſion was there for the continuance of the gift of Tongues? And in a word, When by theſe means the Foundations of Chriſtianity were laid, and it had obtained ſome Reputation & Intereſt among men, thoſe who Succeeded them had not the like occaſion for that Extraordinary Preſence, Guidance & Aſſiſtance of the SPIRIT that was Vouchſafed to them.

Theſe things are plain & ſufficient to convince any that tho' there was a Neceſſity thoſe firſt Miniſters ſhould be Extraordinarily Furniſhed, Called and Aſſiſted to and in their Work as they were, yet that there is p. 150not the like Neceſſity that their Succeſſ…rs in all Ages ſhould be ſo: And that for …to expect a Miniſtry to the End of the W…ld Furniſhed, Called and Aſſiſted as they were is Senſeleſs, Unreaſonable and what carries in it matter of Imputation on the Moſt …igh, God & Nature we ſay, do nothing in Vain; nothing without ſuch Reaſons and Ends as Juſtify the doing of it: This doubtleſs is as true as any Article of Our Creed; but how it can be ſo, Provided what theſe Enthuſiaſtick Objectors ſay, be true, viz. That all True Miniſters of Chriſt in all Ages are Furniſhed, Called and Aſſiſted as the Apoſtles were, I am not able to ſee. On this Ground alone, were there no other, we may, I think, ſafely conclude that if among the many Pretenders to the Character of the true Miniſters of Chriſt, any are to be found that are really ſo, as doubtleſs there are, they are in theſe Reſpects a ſet of men different from what thoſe firſt Miniſters were. But for further Conviction here, before I leave this particular, I would ask theſe ſilly Objectors what they intend when they ſay that all thoſe that are the true Miniſters of Chriſt are Furniſhed, Called and Aſſiſted in the ſame immediate, extraordinary manner the Apoſtles were? Do they intend that in all Reſpects they ſtand upon a Level with them in theſe p. 151things, or in ſome only? I think there are few, if any, of them now under ſuch a Degree of Enthuſiaſm or Madneſs as to pretend the former: As Blind as they are they ſee this will be in effect to deny that Chriſt has now, or in any Age ſince thoſe firſt Miniſters went off has had, any true Miniſters on Earth; ſince among the or…oy that pretend to be ſo, there are none to be found endued with thoſe Powers of Miracles, Tongues, and diſce…ning of Spirits which they had I Charitably believe they themſelves think that thoſe who in any time paſt have, or now may pretend to thoſe things, were and are V le deceivers. All that they can be underſtood therefore to intend, when thus they ſay, is this, viz. That what Furniture the true Miniſters of CHRIST have for their Work, is immediately from the SPIRIT; that by Him they are immediately called to it; and that what they do in it is by his immediate Suggeſtion and Aſſiſtance This as I take it, is what they intend, & this ſome of theſe ſilly Objectors, eſpecially ſuch as are Teachers among them, pretend to: And hence as they declaim againſt Humane Learning, as they call it, as what is no ways neceſſary to accompliſh any for the Miniſtry, wait not for a call from Man, ſo in Preaching, Renoencing all Previous Meditation or Study to prepare for it; they p. 152depend, as they ſay, entirely on the Suggeſtions and Aſſiſtance of the Spirit. But now ſuppoſing this to be the caſe with all true Miniſters of Chriſt, that they are thus furniſhed, called & aſſiſted, yet this comes much ſhort of what was Viſible in the Apoſtles; and it muſt remain a Truth even with theſe Objectors themſelves, that its no valid Objection or Plea againſt our Miniſtry, that they are not in all points ſuch as the Apoſtles were. But further, How do theſe Men prove that even this is the juſt or true Character of the Goſpel Miniſter? and that they themſelves, or ſuch as are Teachers among them at leaſt, who they ſay, are the only true Miniſters of CHRIST, are thus immediately furniſhed for, called to, and aſſiſted in their Work? Why we have but their Autos Ephe, their bare word for it, nor muſt we expect any thing more. Whatever ſome of them in times paſt, being under an extraordinary Infatuation, have done yet there are none of them now, I think, make any pretences to that evidence or proof of this, the Apoſtles, &c. of old gave, or any other that might be equally convincing and ſatisfying to ſuch as doubt of the Truth of what they ſay. And this to me, and I believe to all Men that are not given up to ſuch ſtrong Del…ſion as to believe Lies, is a convincing evidence theſe Miſerable p. 153Creatures are ſadly deceived, and that what ever they think and would perſwade others to think concerning the Spirit by which they are, as they ſay, thus furniſhed, called and aſſiſted, Yet that really & in truth it is no other than that fallen Spirit that of old ſaid reſpecting Ahab's Prophets, I'll go forth & be a Lying Spirit in their Mouths, 1 King. 22.22. For certainly were they immediately Furniſhed, Called & Aſſiſted, as they ſay, they would be enabled to give ſuch Proof of it as the Apoſtles did, or ſome other that might be equally ſatisfying; and we ſhould not be left to their Word only for ſatisfaction in that matter. Princes when they ſend their Embaſſadors on any Errand, expect not that thoſe to whom they are ſent ſhould depend on their naked Word only for proof of their Miſſion, but together with their Inſtructions, furniſh them with ſuch Credentials as may be an evidence of it: And can we think that the Moſt High in this affair, which all muſt allow to be of the Higheſt Importance, would leave us at ſuch uncertainty whom he ſends, as in that caſe he muſt do? Is this conſiſtent with his Wiſdom and Goodneſs? No furely, for how ſhould we know who to believe, or how to diſtinguiſh ſuch as thus came from him, from Deceivers! Contrary to this we find all along, that when he has thus furniſhed p. 154and ſent any Perſons on any Errand or Buſineſs, he has at the ſame time furniſh'd them with ſuch things as might be an evidence to all that they were ſo ſent. He is Blind that in Reading the Scriptures can't ſee this, and its needleſs for me to give inſtances of it on Record there. From whence I think we may, yea we muſt Conclude that neither is this the true Character of a Goſpel Miniſter, that he is not one immediately furniſhed for, called and aſſiſted to and in his Work and that as for ſuch as ſay they are ſo and therefore true Miniſters of CHRIST, they do but Lie and deceive us. And further, That if we would find the men that are ſo, we muſt look for them elſe-where, and not among theſe Vile pretenders to the things they are ſtrangers to. To Conclude, Tho' we find in Scripture, the appointment of a Miniſtry in the Church to the End of the World, yet we no where find theſe things mentioned as the Character of that Miniſtry, but on the other hand that it is a number of Men in ſucceſſion, who being by the ordinary Bleſſing of GOD on proper endeavours of their own, ſo furniſhed with Light and Grace as to be capable of the Ends of the Miniſterial Work, are by Man regularly called and ſet apart to it; and by the ordinary Influences of Grace Aſſiſted in it. And if p. 155this be ſo, as I think its not difficult to prove, its to be hoped the generality of our Miniſters have a fair claim to be accounted of this Number, & by Conſequence that its no juſt exception againſt them that they ſtand not upon a Level with the Apoſtles in the abovementioned particulars. Nor Finally.

3. Do we impoſe on our People, teach them to obſerve things unneceſſary, and Doctrines which we think Falſe and don't ourſelves Believe. The contrary to this, how much ſoever of Infamy it carries with it, yet is what may frequently be heard from the Mouths of theſe Men. Our Miniſters, they ſay, are Deceivers, walk in Craftineſs, impoſe on their People unneceſſary Burdens; and urge on them the belief of Doctrines they themſelves don't believe. To this effect, as is before obſerved, ſome of them Scrupled not to ſay of us before the Debate related above. To which Opprobrious Charge, not rendring Evil for Evil, nor Railing for Railing, I hope we can ſay with the Bleſſed Apoſtle in the like caſe, 1 Cor. 4.12, 13. That being Reviled, we Bleſs; being Defamed we intreat. We wiſh them more Charity, and beg of GOD to give it them; and further, that we can Appeal to Heaven for a Teſtimony of our Innocence in theſe points. I'm ſure I know not the Man of this Character concerning whom I p. 156dare think otherwiſe. Its not difficult to guets what theſe Objectors refer to when they thus Reproach us: They, or at leaſt ſome of them, think the Sacraments of the New Teſtament, Rituals of Religion, which like thoſe of Moſes's Law are now ceas'd and of no Obligation. This is what they Teach, and perhaps ſome of them, from the Ignorance that is in them, may Believe. But does it therefore follow that they are really ſo, & that we in Preaching another Doctrine do teach the Obſervance of unneceſſary things? Tis not long ſince ſome of them taught the ſame Doctrine concerning the BIBLE it ſelf, and ſcrupled not to load that Sacred BOOK with the moſt Opprobrious Epithets. And does it thence follow that that is unneceſſary too, & that we in Preaching otherwiſe teach unneceſſary things? To be ſhort, How Trifling and Unneceſſary ſo ever theſe men, (viewing theſe Sacred Inſtitutions of our LORD ſimply in themſelves and not conſidering at the ſame time, nor perhaps underſtanding, heir Relation to the Covenant, their Symbolical Nature, nor their deſigned End or Uſe,) may think them, yet we that know theſe things & conſider them, can't but look upon them as ſignal diſcoveries of the Wiſdom and Grace of CHRIST, very neceſſary to be retained and obſerved, p. 157and of great Advantage to the ends of Chriſtianity. And further, as for our Doctrine Reſpecting the Neceſſity of them we are ſure its among the things left in Charge to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, by Chriſt their Maſter in that Commiſſion by which we Preach.

Nor is it difficult to Conje…ture what they intend, when they charge us with Preaching Doctrines which we our ſelves think falſe & don't believe. To this head no doubt belong our Doctrines reſpecting the ſubject & Manner of Baptiſm. To which I ſhall only ſay, That as I have no reaſon to doubt that we all Believe as we Teach in thoſe matters, ſo on what Grounds we do ſo; I have in part, at leaſt, accounted for them in the foregoing Narrative. To the ſame head alſo, doubtleſs, belong our Doctrines reſpecting the Decrees of GOD, Original Sin, the Extent of CHRIST's Redemption, &c. In all which they are generally Oppoſite to Us, and Teach in thoſe Points what thoſe men of Great Renown with them (Pelagius & Arminius) before them have taught. To which I ſhall think it enough to ſay that as theſe things are deſervedly to be Rank'd among the Duſnoeta of Religion i. e. Things hard to be under… ſtood & determined upon, ſo theſe Objectors, when they talk of them, I'm well aſſur'd, p. 158talk of things they underſtand not; and which are utterly beyond their Sphere or Compaſs. And as it would better become ſuch Perſons to be more Modeſt, either wholly Silent or leſs Dogmatical and Poſitive in theſe matters, which indeed are a great deep, and puzzle the moſt Learned & knowing Head, ſo as for what we teach Concerning them, we Conceive it to be according to the Faith which of Old was delivered to the Saints; and being as ſure of this as Our beſt endeavours to be rightly informed in theſe things can make us, if after all we are miſtaken, we have reaſon to hope God will not impute it to us for Sin.

4. In this way you bid as fair for …eaven at laſh, and are under as good Advantages for it (for ought I know) as you can be in any other; Yea far greater & better …han you can Ration…ly, hope to be in the way to which theſe Seducers would turn you aſide. In this way Our Fathers before us attained at length that Bleſſed Place. Here it was that they found thoſe Wells of Salvation from whence they drew the water of Liſe: Were nouriſhed up in the words of Faith, and at length made meet for the Kingdom; and ſo may you too if it be not your own …ault: Nor can you be under better Advantages for it in any other way that I know of: Beſure I think all Perſons p. 159diſintereſted and free from any Byaſs or Inclination to either way, being Judges, will ſay that a man muſt diveſt himſelf of all Reaſon, and become altogether one of a Reprobate mind or ſenſe before he can entertain any hopes of this nature in that way to which the Perſons I am now ſpeaking of would draw you aſide. Who in his right Wits can think thoſe that adhere to and follow them are exalted above you in this Reſpect, viz. That they are under better Advantages to attain that bleſſed Place and End at laſt than you? Have they better means of Inſtruction and growth in Grace? Are their Teachers more knowing than yours, or are they more Painful and Faithful? What, have they either natural Capacities, or other Advantages to ſearch out and know the Truth, beyond what we have, or are they more Studious, Painful and Diligent in the uſe of proper means for that end than we are? Who can think ſo, yea who knows not the Contrary to this to be truth? And that partly thro' the want of neceſſary helps for the obtainment of that Knowledge that is neceſſary to qualify any to be Teachers of others, and partly thro' an Avow'd Neglect and Contempt of them, they are Generally ſpeaking a Set of men extreamly Ignorant, eſpecially in matters of Faith or Doctrine, p. 160and ſo ill able to be Guides to the Blind and ſhew them their way, that indeed they know not their own. A little Converſation with them is enough to ſatisfy any one of this. Nor do I Remember any one (of the many I have Conferred with) that was able to account for even any of the more Eſſential Doctrines of Chriſtianity, with that diſtinct…eſs that might give any Reaſon to hope he might lead others to any tolerable Notions concerning them. And it being ſo, as its abſurd for any to pretend or hope for better helps for improvement in Knowledge with them, than in the good old way you are Counſelled to adhere to; ſo is it equally ſo, for any to pretend or flatter themſelves with hopes of better helps for progreſs and improvement in Grace; ſince its certain theſe two go together, nor can the latter be without the former. And as for Faithfulneſs in our work, tho' I'm far from thinking there are no Inſtances among us of the want of it; & inſtead of ſaying ſo, I will rather ſay, Would to GOD there were fewer of them; Yet I look upon my ſelf bound charitably to think this is not the Caſe with the generality, no nor with many of our Mini…ry; nor durſt I allow my ſelf to think otherwiſe than that there is upon the Spirits of the moſt of them, a Religious Concern to Approve p. 161themſelves to GOD: That it does not content them to walk in Craftineſs and handle the Word of God deceitfully, but that it lyes with Concern upon their Spirits by a manifeſtation of the Truth to Commend themſelves to every mans Conſcience in the ſight of God. When we pretend to be the mouth of God to our People, we can't think ourſelves faithful in only delivering to them an old Premeditated, and yet Incoherent, Senſeleſs, Unintelligible heap of Jargon, which perhaps we have gone over with ſcores of times before, and in endeavours to eſtabliſh ſome Extra-eſſential matters wherein we differ from others, and in ſpending ſome of our Gall in Invective and Railery againſt ſuch as diſſent from us; this indeed is all, I, or perhaps any one elſe, have ever heard from the mouths of thoſe Teachers I am now diſſwading you from; and this, they, and perhaps many of their miſerable, Deluded hearers think Merits for them the Character of Faithful: And verily when I can think ſo too, I'll agree with them and acknowlege they are bleſſed with the moſt faithful Teachers. No we can't think theſe things to be that faithfulneſs in this Article of our work, which our great Lord Requires, and therefore have no great Ambition or Zeal this way, but rather with Paul to declare p. 162to our People the whole Counſel of GOD, and to be to them like good Houſholders bringing forth of our Treaſury things New and Old, and ſo to divide the Word of Truth that every one may have their Portion and that in Seaſon. In a word, as we believe we are Embaſſ…dors of Chriſt, called and ſent by him, and from him have Receiv'd a Solemn Charge to be faithful in all parts of the Work he has entruſted with us, ſo we are not I hope without a due ſenſe that we ourſelves have Immortal Souls to ſave or loſe, as well as our People, and that as their Souls are in a ſenſe Entruſted with us, ſo a Day is before us when we muſt Account for them. We believe and have a ſenſe of theſe things, nor are we without ſuch frequent reflections on them as furniſh us daily with forcible motives to Faithfulneſs, and I charitably believe, leave us not without endeavours after it.

5. By going after theſe Seducers you'll be in danger of falling at length into ſuch Errors, and embracing ſuch Opinions as will render your Salvation altogether Hopeleſs. There are few, its probable, if any, of thoſe among us who do ſo, that have apprehenſions of any ſuch danger attending them, but certain it is, that the Inſtances of this have been ſo many as may ſuffice for an evidence in the caſe, and p. 163at the ſame time to warn and caution you againſt doing ſo. And that you may have a juſt ſenſe of it, and for the future be more cautious of coming nigh theſe men, I will here give you ſome Paſſages from that Excellent Man Mr. BAXTER, which you may find in his Book of Infant-Church-Memberſhip & Baptiſm, before mentioned, Pag. 147, 148—

And as Anabaptiſtry, ſays be, hath been no greater a Friend to mens Salvation with us, ſo every man knows that it is the ordinary inlet to the moſt horrid Opinions. Now few did you ever know that came to the moſt Monſtrous Doctrines, but it was by this Door? And how few did you ever know that entred this Door, but they went on further, except they Died or Repe…ted ſhortly after? I confeſs of the Multitudes of Anabaptiſts that I have known, at the preſent I cannot call to mind any one that hath …opt there. Moſt that I have met with are Separatiſts, Arminians, or Antinomians, or both; (for they have found out a way to joyn theſe extreams, which a man would think impoſſible;) Socinians, Libertines, Seekers or Familiſts. But becauſe men may refuſe to Credit my Experience of them, I appeal to the Writings of all of them that I can remember ever Wrote. Whither Mr. Denis arrived by this way, his Writings p. 164ſhew, & his late Confeſſion, when he was to be put to Death for Rebelling with the Levellers. What horrible things Collyer is come to, his Writings againſt Ordinances witneſs Mr Saltmarſh his Writings eſtify the like too openly. Paul Hobſon (one of the Subſcribers of the Churches Confeſſion) publiſheth himſelf a Socinian to the World, teaching that GOD was never at Enmity with men, but only men with GOD, & that CHRIST did not Reconcile GOD to Man, but only Man to GOD, and did not purchaſe Love, Life and Salvation, but was ſent to manifeſt them, &c. And a little below he adds, Whither Mr. Dell is arrived, let his Sermon againſt Reformation, & his Treatiſe againſt Uniformity witneſs, How far Mr. William in New-England went by this way, that Plantation can Sadly witneſs; but England far more Sadly, who giving him ki…dſier Entertainment than they, have received far more hurt by him, when he became the Father of the Seekers in LONDON. And a little after, 'What ſhould … tell you of all thoſe hideous Pamphlets againſt Ordinances & for the Mont…lity of the Soul, & that the Soul is GOD himſelf, & againſt the Truth of Scripture, and down right Familiſm, Libertiniſm & Paganiſm, ſuch as R. Wilkinſons, The Mad p. 165man's diſſection of the Divinity, &c. with a Multitude more, which all ſpring from this root of Anabaptiſtry. I remember four year ago when Anabaptiſtry had not been long in the Country, about Marſhfield and Trubridge and thoſe parts, they maintained that CHRIST took our Sins into his Nature, as well as our Fleſh, and ſo had Original Corruption as well as we; and that men's Souls are but a Beam of GOD, or GOD himſelf appearing in ſeveral Bodies, and when Men die the Soul is in GOD again. And a Line or two below, I will not ſtand to name any more to you, but only one, which being late is freſh in our Memory, & being not far off us, is nearer our Knowlege, and being moſt …eadful, ſhould be heard with Trembling, as one of GOD's moſt Fearful Judgments; and that is Mr. Coppe and his followers, called by ſome the Ranters, by others the High-Attainers: This man was a Zealous Anabaptiſt; when I was Preacher to the Garriſon of Coventry, he was Preacher to the Garriſon of Compton-Houſe in the ſame Country, and I heard of no Opinion that he vented or held but the neceſſity of Re-baptizing and Independency; and was a ſharp reproacher of the Miniſtry; (which is the common Character of all Schiſmatical ſubverters of p. 166the Church, they ſmite the Shepherds that they may ſcatter & devour the Sheep more eaſily;) this man continued a moſt Zealous Re-baptizer many years, & Re-baptized more than any one man that ever I heard of in the Country, witneſs Warwickſhire, Oxfordſhire, and part of Worceſterſhire, &c. till at laſt GOD gave him over to a Spirit of Deluſion that he fell into a Trance, & profeſſed himſelf that he continued in it three or four Days, & that he was in HELL, and that he received thoſe Revelations which he hath Publiſhed in his Book, in which he Blaſphemouſly arrogates to himſelf the Sacred Name and Titles of GOD, and cries down Duties and Godly Life, by the name of [Plaguy Holineſs,] & Sweareth moſt vilely, and profeſſeth that it doth him more good to run on Men, and tear them by the Hair, and Curſe like a Devil, and make them Swear by GOD than to join in Family Duties and in Plaguy Holineſs: And that he can Swear a full mouth'd Oath, and can Kiss his Neighbours Wife in Majeſty and …onour, which if a Preciſi…n do that knoweth Sin, he ſhall be Damned for it, …e pleads for Community & a …ainſt Propriety, and ſaith he went up and down London Streets with his Ha… Cock'd, his Teeth …naſhing his Eyes fixed, p. 167charging the great ones to obey his Majeſty within him. This & abundance more ſuch hideous Blaſphemies his o…n book contains. And his Practice is anſwerable to his Profeſſion, for he went up and down teaching this to the poor Profeſſors in the Country, and Sweareth moſt hideouſly in his Conference & …re…ching; & Curſing and Laſcivious Practices not to be named, are his Religion. It may be ſome will ſay that he is a Mad man; but it is otherwiſe, as may be known by thoſe that will ſpeak with him He is now in Coventry Jayl, where he was once before upon his Re…bapt zing, for which they were taken to be Perſecutors by thoſe that are now Approvers of his Sufferings: but doubtleſs he is worſe than Mad in his Deluſion But O the Dreadfulneſs of GOD's Judgments! Would any Chriſtian ever have believed that ſuch a man ſhould have any followers? and that Men and Women profeſſing the Zealous fear of GOD, ſhould ever be bro't to place their Religion in Revelling Roaring, Drinking, Whoring, open full mouth'd Swearing ordinarily by the Wounds and Blood of GOD, and the fearfulleſt Curſing that hath been heard; as if they were all Poſſeſſed with Devils, as for my part I think they are? Yet ſo it is: Many of his People p. 168fell into Trances as well as he, and go about like Walking Devils in this language and carriage. And a few …ines below he adds, And is not the Plague of Blindneſs upon his Underſtanding that will not ſee the hand of GOD in this? The LORD is known by the Judgments which he execateth, Pſal. 9.16. And is not that man a Second Pharaoh that yet will not ſee nor ſtoop to GOD? Is n…t the name of the Sin Legible in the Judgment? And doth not GOD teſtify from Heaven againſt Anabaptiſm plainly by all theſe? Are they …or even as viſible Characters of GOD's Diſpleaſure as the Monſters in New-England were? The LORD grant that neither I, nor any friend of mine, may be ever ſo blinded or hardned as to run upon the face of ſuch viſible Judgments, & to overtook the Apparent Finger of GOD and to ſtop our Ears when he thus ſpeaks from Heaven. Thus that Great and Good Man. And is not this enough to convince any man of the danger of what I am now diſſwading you from and to let him ſee what Obligations lie upon us all to take heed of theſe Men, which but too many are apt to make bold with and go in the way of? I my ſelf could give other inſtences of the like nature, of a later date and nea…er home; but theſe p. 169may ſuffice, and how Blind and Stupid are we, if by them we are not led to Apprehenſions of our danger from theſe men, who are ſo induſtrious to ſow the Seeds of Anabaptiſm, Antinomianiſm, Familiſm, as well as many other Error, among us. The LORD grant that hereby your Eyes may be opened, and that henceforth you may not look upon going to heas them in the places where they come; yea any unneceſſary Converſation with them, as things without Peril or Danger. Alaſs! Error is an Enſuaring thing, one of thoſe Snares with which this Sinful Calamitous World in which we live is ſilled, and by which our Buſie Enemy deſtroys Multitudes: And when once we ſtep aſide to it and embrace it, tho' it be of a more Trivial nature, yet we know not where we ſhall ſtop, and whith…r our Adverſary without us and Hearts within us, will carry us e're we have done. Let the Inſtances above mentioned, with others that might have been, and of which, many of you at leaſt, know, be as ſo many Pillars of Salt ſerving to warn and caution you to take heed.

6. Theſe Seducers who thus endeavour to turn you from this good old way our Fathers walked in, and the way they would gain you ever to an Embracement of, are but of Yeſterday. Novelty p. 170in matters of Religion has ever with reaſon been lo…ked upon as a thing rendring them ſuſpicious or doubtful, it being what alone carries in it no ſmall evidence of their falſehood; whereas Antiquity on the other hand, tenders them ſacred and venerable, as being what carries with is not a little evidence of their Truth. In the Morning of Chriſtianity when the Goſpel was firſt preach'd to the World, we find that the Novelty of it was by the Enemies of it look'd upon as a ſufficient evidence of its falſhood, & what excuſed them in their Conduct toward it Act. 17.19.

Certain it is that that Sect, Party, Faith & Way which is according to GOD is very Ancient, and can deduce its deſcent from the Earlieſt times; whereas that which is not ſo, is of a later Date. And this certainly is the caſe with that …ect (or thoſe Sects) I am now ſpeaking of, and the way they would gain you over to. Tis Novel and but of Yeſterday. When thoſe of the Romiſh Communion demand of us Proteſtants, ſaying, Where was your Religion (your Faith, Worſhip and Miniſtry) before Luther and Calvin? We not only tell them it had a being before thoſe worthy Reformers lived but ſhew them it had ſo, by tracing it even to the Earlieſt times. But ſhould any man thus demand of the Perſons I'm now ſpeaking of, whatever p. 171they might reply, yet certainly they would find themſ…lves utterly …nable to do the like; ſince its a moſt certain Truth their Religion, i. e. their Faith, Worſhip and Miniſtry never had being in the World before Luther's time. (Unleſs we ſuppoſe, as ſome do, that it lived before in the Gnoſticks, Manichees, or Mont aniſts, & ſome other Hereticks of a more Ancient date.) Germany was the place where this Sect (or theſe Sects) firſt made their appearance in the World, and it was not till the Sixteenth Century, (about the Twenty ſecond Year of it,) when the Glorious work of Reformation was begun, that they did ſo. About this time and ſoon after, it was that Nicholas Stork, Thomas Muncer, John Becold, Balthaſar Hubm…ir, David George, Caſpar Swenchfield, Henry Nicolas, with many others, were inſpired and raiſed up by the INFERNAL SPIRIT to obſtruct the work of Reformation, and what Curſed Blaſphemies and Damnable Errors they endeavoured to infect the minds of men with, and what oppoſition Luther and others in his day, and after him, met with from them in carrying on that Bleſſed Work, the Writers of thoſe times give us to underſtand.

They ſtiled themſelves the Family of Love, but by others they were called Anabaptiſts, Antin…mians, Libertines, Familiſts, Swenchfieldians, &c. Calvi… wrote a Treatiſe againſt p. 172them, which in his Dedication, he ſays, he did for this end, viz. To admoniſh all Godly men how mortal a Poiſon the Opinion of the Anabaptiſts is, He begins it thus, If I, ſays he, ſhould write againſt all the Errors and falſe Opinions of the Anabaptiſts, I ſhould undertake a Long work, and enter into a Deep from whence I ſhould have no p…ſſage out: For this Puddle doth herein differ from all other Sects of Hereticks, that they do not only err in ſeveral things, but are as it were a vaſt Sea of Stupendious Dotages, ſo that there can ſcarce be found the head of one Anabaptiſt which is not poſſeſſed with ſome Opinion different from the reſt; therefore there would be no end of my work if I ſhould diſcuſs, yea, or but rehearſe all the Wicked Doctrines of this Sect, &c. He goes on, and ſhews they were then divided eſpecially into two Sects, one more Moderate & Simple, that Boaſted of Scripture, & were wont to plead it with great Confidence for their Tenets; two of which were, that Infants are not to be Baptized, and that there ſhould be ſtricter and popular Diſcipline in every Church, and the Wicked more ſeparated from Sacraments and Communion. The other ſort, he ſays, were called Libertines, who pretended to be ſo Spiritual as to be above Scripture, & had a Myſtical, Ambiguous p. 173way of ſpeaking proper to themſelves, Confounding Good and Bad, God and Satan, & Darkning all things. Thus that Holy man. And in this ſhort account of thoſe Hereticks, have we not a lively deſcription of the Perſons (of this our Day) I am now ſpeaking of? Are there not two ſorts or ſects of them, one of which, ſhew ſome regard to Scripture and Ordinances and will plead for them; the other are ſo Spiritual (or at leaſt its not long ſince they were ſo) as not to ſtand in need of either of them, & accordingly were wont to ſpeak of them not without Reproach and Contempt!

But though theſe men at firſt were known only in Germany and parts Adjacent, & unknown to all the World beſides, yet it was not long that they were confined to that. In the year 1575 I find they had found the way over into England; for in that year they Publiſhed there a Confeſſion (I ſuppoſe) of their Faith, but ſo lax & general, ſays Mr. Rutherford, that it was hard to know or ſay what it was, Vid. Rutherford's Survey of the Spiritual Antichriſt, pag. 168 Theſe were thoſe whom Henry Nicolas (that firſt Illuminated Elder of the Family of Love, as he ſtiles himſelf) had ſeduced and infected with his Errors, it being, as far as I can learn, a little before this time that he went over from the Lower p. 174Germany (where he had ſpread his …ereſies) into England. vid Survey, &c. pag. 55. In the year 1604 together with the aboveſaid fraudulent Confeſſion, they preſented a ſupplication to King JAMES the Firſt, which was Printed at Cambridge, Anno 1606, in which they concealed their …oul Tenets, ſays Mr. Rutherford, Survey, &c. pag. 168. & 343. And what dreadful effects followed their coming into that Land, how much the Intereſt of Religion, as well as the civil Peace, ſuffered by them, he is a Stranger to the Hiſtory of the times following that is inſenſible. From thence it was that this Sect or Sects, came over into theſe American parts, and Sowed the Seeds of Familiſm, Antino…ianiſm and Libertiniſm here Nor were the Churches of CHRIST ſcarcely ſettled here, before thoſe Seeds began to ſpring up. The firſt whom Satan employed in that work, were Mr. Wheelright with ſome Adherents of his, and Mrs. Hut…hinſon, the Wife of Mr. William Hutchinſon of Boſton, and Daughter of one Mr. Marbury, ſometime Miniſter in London. This Woman has been wont to be ſtiled by ſome, & that deſervedly, THE AMERICAN JEZABEL; ſhe was, ſays Mr. Rutherford, Survey, pag. 176 Haughty, Bold, Active in Wit, Eloquent Vain and Self-conceited, would not ſeruple to Lie, and brought her p. 175Errors with her from England. She drew after her many godly People, & many that were looſe and profane, by the means of a Weekly Lecture ſhe held in her Houſe, under a pretence of Repeating Sermons. She was wont to reproach Miniſters as Legaliſts, and ſaid ſhe was fore-warned by GOD in Old England, that ſhe ſhould Separate from all Miniſters becauſe legal men, except Mr. Cotton and Mr. Wheelright; that ſhe ſhould come to New-England and ſuffer for the Truth, and ſhould be delivered as Daniel was from the Lions. Among thoſe ſowers of Tares in thoſe early days of New-England, there was alſo one Samuel Gortyn or Gorton, a predeceſſor probably of that Stephen Gortyn or Gorton, who is now a Teacher among our Anabaptiſts and Familiſts in the preſent day. What their Tenets or Opinions in particular were, you may ſee at large in the above-mentioned Survey of the Spiritual Antichriſt; and that they well accorded with the Abominable Doctrines and Blaſphemies of Swenchfield, Muncer, Becold, David George, Henry Nicolas, the Theologia Germanica, and the Bright Star, with the reſt of that Curſed Gang, every one not ignorant of them will ſee.

Thus I have given you the true Genealogy of theſe men from whom you are now counſelled to turn away; they are the off ſpring p. 176of the Abominable Sect or Sects above-mentioned; and though ſome of them may be and I charitably hope and think are in ſome meaſure reformed, and diſ…laim ſome of, the Abominations of their Progenitors, yet cartain it is that they ſtill retain ſo many of them, as loudly call upon every one to take heed of them. And it being as I have now ſhewed, viz. That they are but of Yeſterday, … were not known in the World till about two Mundred Years paſt, how can it be that the way of Truth ſhould be with them? Have we not in this an irrefragable Evidence of the Contrary? What, was there no true Church, Religion, Worſhip, Miniſtry in the World all the time down from CHRIST and his Apoſtles, to Luther's. Days, when as I have ſhewed, this Sect, or Sects, firſt appeared in the World? Did GOD hide the Truth from the World all that long ſpace of fifteen Hundred Years, and then Reveal it to thoſe men? Who, that is not under a worſe & more grievous poſſeſſion than that Miſerable man ſpoken of Luk. 8.30 can think ſo? Yea, who in his Wits durſt think a tho't carrying with it ſuch matter of Imputation on the Moſt High as this does? Finally,

7. The Sect, or Sect, you are now cautioned againſt, have never ſerved the In…ereſt of Religion, but have done much to the Diſ-ſervice of it in p. 177all Plac…s where ever they came. This is what the Learned & Godly have obſerved of them ever ſince they made their firſt Appearance i… the world. For Evidence of this I will give you here ſome further Paſſages from Mr. Ba…ter, whoſe Teſtimony, I preſume, none will ſuſpect. You may find them in his Book before cited, from Pag. 1…9 to 147. In the firſt mentioned Page he begins thus, viz.

What a hinderance the Anabaptiſts were to the Goſpel in Germany, by reſiſting the moſt Painful, Godly Miniſters, & reproaching and vilifying them, by their Wick…l Lives, by their Hardening the Papiſts, and Scandalizing the Ignorant, and hindering the Converſion of Multitudes that begun to have ſome liking to the Goſpel, is too evident in moſt of the Writers of thoſe times, there being few Divines of Note who do not bear Witneſs of it frequently in their Writings; as Luthen, Melancthon, Illericus, Zuinglius, Bullinger, Leo Judah, Calvin, with Multitudes more. How they hindred the Goſpel at Limburge againſt Junius, you may read in his Life. How they hindered it at Auſpur…e, and what ſtirs and oppoſitions they made againſt Urbanus, Regius, and Muſculus afterward, and other Miniſters, is to be ſeen as in the Hiſtory of the Lives of the ſaid Divines, ſo in many others. Sleidan's p. 178relation of their carria… in well known; and how they have helped on the Goſpel wherever they have ſince been entertained as in the …o…. Countri… or … where …, is commonly known. Thoſe few that formerly wo…e in England we know did more againſt it than for it. And page 143 …d the cloſe o…it, he adds, I have ſays h…, …ad too much opportunity to know very many of th…ſe c…lled Anabaptiſts, and to ben …an…iliar with them; and having firſt examined my Heart, leſt I ſhould wrong them out of any di…ffection through difference of Judgment; as I clearly diſcover that I hear no ill will to any one man of them, …or ever …d, nor find any Paſſion, but Compaſſion moving me to ſay what I do fo… I do impartially, and truly affirm concerning the moſt of them that I have Converſed with, as followeth, viz. That I have known few of them ſo much as Labour a…er, the W…ing of Souls from Sin to GOD, and bringing them into Love with CHRIST and …olineſs, and Heaven; but the main ſcope of their endeavours in Publick and Private is to Propagate their Opinions …and if they do Preach any plain wholſome Doctrine, it is uſually but Subſervient to their great deſign, that the Truth may be as Sugar to Sweeten their p. 179Errors, that they may be the eaſier Swallowed. And ſo ſtrangely are they tranſported with a deſire to bring men to their Opinion, as if they were never in a happy condition till they are Re-baptized, or as if there were no hope of the Salvation of the Holieſt men till then, and as if there were little more than this required to make men Happy. For this is the Doctrine that they moſt eagerly preſs; and if they can get the Pro…aneſt Perſons to embrace their Opinions, and be Re-baptized, they uſually make much of them, and ſhew more affection to them, than to the moſt Godly that differ from them. Nay more, They are the greateſt hinderers of the Work of GOD in the Converting of Souls, and Reforming the Church, that I know in the Land. What others have done, I will not ſay, but I know none of the moſt Profane or Malignant, that are half ſo bitter Enemies to the Miniſtry, & ſo great Hinderers of the Saving of Souls. Alaſs! How often hath it Wounded my Spirit with Grief, to ſee and hear men profeſſing to be more Godly than others, to make it the very buſineſs of their Lives to Diſgrace the Miniſters of the Goſpel and make them Vile & O… us to the People! If they come into company of the Profane, that hate a Godly p. 180Painful Miniſter for ſeeking their Salvation, theſe men will harden them in it, and ſay far more againſt the Miniſter than the moſt Notorious Scorners were wont to do; and that not in a bare Scorn, which is leſs ſticking, but in ſerious Slanders, perſwading the poor People that their Miniſters are Hypocrites and Belly-gods, and meer Self-ſeekers, that ſtudy but to feed their own Guts, and to make a Prey of the People, and to Advance themſelves and be Maſters of all men; and that they are Cruel, Blood-thirſty Perſecutors, Baals Prieſts, and Antichriſtian Seducers, & that they preach Falſhood to our People, & tell Lies in the Pulpit, with the like Accuſations. O how this Confirmeth men in their Enmity to the Doctrine of the Goſpel and the Preachers of it! When poor People hear thoſe deſpiſe the Miniſtry, that once were conſtant hearers, & hear thoſe deride Family Duties, and Holy Walking, & the Lords Day, who once ſeemed Godly, they may think that ſure theſe men that have tried this ſtrict way, ſee ſome Evil in it, or elſe they would never ſpeak againſt it ſo much. Nay, I never heard any of the old Scorners that would Scorn half ſo bitterly and reproachfully as ſome of theſe men. Read but the Books called Martin, Mar: Priests, p. 181and then Judge. And uſually when they run up into a Pulpit or Preach in Private, the chief ſcope of their Doctrine is to perſwade the People that the Miniſters are Seducers and Liars, and falſe Prophets, &c. as if the poor People were in the ſure way to Salvation, if they could but have baſe thoughts of their Miniſters; and as if the firſt thing that they have need to learn to make them Happy, were to Scorn their Teachers, whom the Holy Ghoſt commands them to Obey, Heb. 13.7.17. and highly to eſteem them for their Works ſake, and know them to be over them in the LORD, 1 Theſ. 5.12, 13. How could all the Devils in Hell have found out a more effectual means to make all the People deſpiſe and diſregard the Goſpel, and ſo to Periſh certainly and ſpeedily, than by thus bringing them to Vilify the Meſſengers of the Goſpel, and think it a vertue to reproach and forſake their Guides. And pag. 146 you have theſe words, In my own experience I never knew the Labours of any Zealous Anabaptiſt that ever GOD Bleſſed to the true Converſion of many Souls; but many they make meer talking, cenſorious Opiniatiſts, and uſually there leave them. Nay, I deſire any ſober Chriſtian but to look impartially through all the Land, and tell me p. 182wherever any ſuch Teachers lived, but the place in general was much the worſe for them. Where the Goſpel before Proſpered, and Chriſtians ſpent their Time and Conference in the Edifying of each others Souls, and in Heavenly Duties, and Mutual Aſſiſtance, and lived together in Unity and Love, according to the great Command of CHRIST; they ordinarily turn all this to vain Janglings, and empty, windy, unprofitable Diſputes, which he that is moſt Gracious doth taſte the leaſt Swee…neſs in: And they turn their Unity into Diviſions and Factions, and their Amity into Jealouſies and Contentions: one is for this, & another for that; and they ſeldom meet, but they have Jarrings and Contendings, and look on one another with ſtrangeneſs, if not with ſecret heart burnings and envyings, ſtudying all they can how to Undermine each other, and every man to Strengthen his own Party. And theſe are the uſual fruits of the Doctrine of Anabaptiſtry where it comes.

Much more of the ſame ſtrain or tenor I might have cited from the Pages above mentioned, but this is enough to ſatisfy any man how greatly diſſerviceable to Religion theſe men have been in other parts of the World, what dreadful effects have attended p. 183or followed them wherever they have come, and how much it ſtands every one in hand to take heed of them, and of giving the leaſt Countenance or Favour to them.

Nor can this ſeem at all incredible to any one that takes a view of the Condition of Religion in ſuch places of this Land, as in which this Sect (or Sects) have obtained, and have not been favoured with better helps to further that Intereſt in them When Mr. Wheelright, Mrs. Hutchinſon, before mentioned, and others of their way that firſt ſowed the Tares of Antinomianiſm & Familiſm in New-England, were for their Sedition and Blaſphemies Baniſhed the Government of the Maſſachuſetts, they (or at leaſt many of them) went into the Neighbouring Government of Rhode-Iſland; where they and ſome who in Succeſſion have imbibed their Errors, have ever ſince been almoſt the only helps (if I may call them ſo) that miſerable People have had to help forward among them the great intereſt of Religion, till of late Years: And who viewing the Condition of it among them, can think theſe men have been of any ſervice to it? Yea who can think otherwiſe than that they have been very Prejudicial to it, have been ſo far from helping men forward in the Poſitives of Religion, that they have even almoſt utterly p. 184Ras'd out the very Naturals of it. For certainly that People (at leaſt the moſt of thoſe I have had opportunity to obſerve) had been far better, had had much more of Religion than they have, had they been left purely to the dim light of Nature, without any further advantage or help. They are not ſuch moral Pagans as the light of Nature alone ordinarily ſuffices to make men, but what is much worſe. And as to Principles what Calvin in the place before cited ſays of the Familiſts and Antinomians of his day, is true of them, viz. That they are a Sea of Dotages and Errors, there being few of the Hereſies perhaps advanced by any ſince Chriſt's Day, that are not taught by one or other among them.

And if we look into any other Places where theſe men have made entrance and gained Parties to themſelves, what can we find that may give us reaſon to hope they have ſerved the Intereſt of Religion in any one Soul? Among thoſe that follow and adhere to them where ſhall we find a Watchful, Prayerful, Painful Chriſtian that makes it his Care to walk with GOD, and ſhew forth the power of Godlineſs in his life? For my own part among all thoſe of them I now do, or ever did know, I never knew one concerning whom there was reaſon thus p. 185to think. No, this is not what they endeavour to bring Perſons to: If they can but gain them to their Senſeleſs Opinions, furniſh them with ſome Objections againſt the Eſtabliſhed Religion of the Country, render them Prompt and ready at Invective and Railery againſt Miniſters, and prevail on them to forſake our Aſſemblies, neglect Family Prayer, Prophane the Sabbath &c. 'Tis enough, and there they leave them, they are now Good Chriſtians. Perhaps what I have now ſaid may be look'd upon by ſome as ſavouring too much of an Ʋncharitable Spirit, & the effect of Paſſion and Prejudice; but GOD that knows my Heart, knows otherwiſe, and that I owe none of them any, Ill will, nor have they ever given me any ſpecial Occaſion or Reaſon to do ſo that I know of. And as by theſe things you to whom I now direct myſelf, may know what to expect in caſe theſe Men, their Opinions, &c. obtain among us, ſo that you may do ſo, it is that I have here mentioned them. And GOD of His Infinite Mercy grant that You may take Notice of them, & by them be Admoniſhed & Warned; may be led to juſt tho'ts of theſe men, their Errors, &c. and a ſenſe of your Danger from them; and henceforth, as much as in you lies, keep out of the way of them, may not be Seduced or turned aſide, but continue in the Things you have Received & Heard.

p. 186To Conclude, Its much to be Lamented that, as in other Parts of the World, ſo in this Land, thoſe who profeſs Chriſt are divided into ſo many Parties and Denominations, eſpecially when its Conſidered what mutual Heart-burnings, En…yings, Contentions, and endeavours to ſuppiant each other there are among them. This calls upon us to weep day and night in Supplications before the Lord for the down-pouring of the Spirit of Truth, Unity and of a ſound mind upon us, by which alone we may expect to ſee an end of theſe things. Now much is the Intereſt of Religion by them hurt among us? How many are Confirmed in their Irreligion and made to Blaſpheme? How many offended, & made to ſtumble & fall? O that our Heads were Rivers, and our Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that we might weey Day and Night for this diſhonour to God, hurt to Religion, & the Souls of men! But thus it is, & for the preſent muſt be. It muſt needs be that Offence Cometh; but yet Wo to thoſe men by whom it cometh, it were better for them that a Mill-ſtone were hanged about their N…cks, and they caſt into the depth of the Sea. And Happy is he that is not Offended in CHRIST.