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A49694
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The Visitation, or, Long look'd-for comes at last in the submission of Mr. Baxter, Mr. Jenkins, and others, to the several parts of the Act of Uniformity.
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R. L.
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1662
(1662)
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Wing L56D; ESTC R43335
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9,919
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33
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Churches which have received the Gospell and blame bitterly innumerable who were formerly counted worthy of all praise 2. Beza Exhorteth the Non Conformists in Queen Elizabeths time that laying aside all bitternesse of Spirit as long as the truth of Doctrine and purity of Conscience was safe they would bear one another with patience and obey the Queens most Gratious Majesty and all her Prelates heartily The things you contend for are not of so great moment 3. Zanchy I speak my Conscience sayth he before God that I can take them for no other then Schismaticks that will not submit to an Hierarchy as it is established in England 4. M. Bucer Therefore saith he I desire and beseech you by the Crosse of the Son of God by the Salvation of the Churches which are all this day overwhelmed with Calamities by the desired content that we should desire to raign in all Churches by the peace that is in Christ Jesus Again I desire and beseech you that you do nothing rashly in the businesse of Ceremonies 5. Peter M. If he were alive he would advise you to take heed least those things of lesse importance by our strife may be the means that those things which should be esteemed of greater force and value either cannot at all be brought into the Church either if they be once brought in cannot be established with continuance 6. M. Hilder If M. Hildersham lived how powerfully would he perswade men as he doth on 51 Ps lect 35. to satisfie weak Christians about the Surpliss and Crosse and to keep them from leaving the assemblies therefore 7. M. Baines How earnestly would holy M. Baines advise that whosoever lyeth not in our power to reform it shall be our zeal and piety to tolerate and patiently bear Bishop M. Baxter How much private advantage would you part with for publick good Baxter Truly the commands of the Magistrate the Unity of the Church and the avoiding of contentions and offences and other evils are a sufficient warrant to me to obey in inconvenient Circumstantials of Gods worship P. 487. that otherwise could not be justified Bishop So the Martyr g Fox p. 1367. Hooper who stumbled at some Ceremonies in respect of the publick profit of the Church submitted to them Bishop M. Brinsley You are wellcome I pray what think you of the Controversies that vex our Church Brinsley Some are so wedded to their own wills Discourse against Schism p. 17. as to take up resolutions before hand in case their opinions be medled with or their wayes be touched upon though never so tenderly Yet they will come no more at the publick Ordinance at least to hear such a Minister This is but too clear an evidence that they are but too willing to be deceived My Lord men should take heed how they before hand take up resolutions whether of opposing or not obeying Take we heed then how we entertain any thoughts that way Schisme p. 19. but rather prepare our Ears and Hearts to hear what the Lord will say to us by Superiors ordained over us by him Now I would prayse all my Brethren if they would remember to keep the Ordinances delivered unto them Bishop Would you own our Uniformity Mr. Bond Bond. Yes for I observe how Christ submitted to the Uniformity of worship established among the Jews Sermon at Savoy 55 Therefore I may very well submit to an Uniformity established among Christians Bishop I pray Mr. Ball what say you to the differences now on foot â—all It s true it s said to the desparagement of the Liturgy that it is taken out of the Masse-book Against Con. p. 8. but alas many precious truths may be taken out thence as pearls may be taken out of a dunghill P. 9. really there are such things in the Common-prayer such doctrines there taught and such practises there enjoyned that are so directly contrary to the Masse-book that both cannot stand together Most things in the Liturgy of our Church were in the ancient Liturgyes before the Masse was heard of I think we can prove the Religion and Worship of the Church of England with such undeniable arguments as the gates of Hell shall not be able to prevail against Bishop What say you M. Josiah Nichols will you now subscribe to that which you refused in the University Nichols 1. I willingly use the Book of common-Common-prayer and no other form Plea p. 10 unless sometimes upon extraordinary occasion by publick Authority some other Prayer be assigned 2. I subscribe willingly to the Book of Articles P. 3. according to the Statute Bishop Do you Mr. Randall own any Church power for imposing Ceremonies Randall I have in the 131. p. of my Church proved by Scripture and undeniable Arguments that every particular visible Church hath power from God to ordain some outward Rites and Ceremonies for the outward carriage of Gods worship 2. If we live in a Church where such things are ordained which are simply unlawfull Randall Church p. 148. we must take heed that we resist not this Power or the things thereby ordained We ought to bridle that dislike and refusall of things imposed which we are by Nature too much inclined unto 3. Ibid. That which must over rule the Conscience in the substance of worship is the Law of God That which must over-rule it in Circumstances of worship is the Law of Superiors 4. Ibid. Take we such a course whereby we may obey the Magistrate and the Church and yet not offend the weak This is Wisdome yet rather obey the Magistrate though with offence For here disobedience is the greater sin and so takes away the sin of offending the weak and indeed in this case I do no offence because my hands are bound and I have no liberty to do otherwise Bishop Truly Mr. Randall I am glad to hear thus much from you being informed that you disliked our Ceremonies and Impositions and that you were ready to depart from our Church upon that account Randal Really my own opinion and my advice to others hath been this 1. That we must resolve to bear with a great deal rather than make a rent for Schism is a great sin 2. That we should suffer our selves to be over-born in things indifferent by the Authority of the Church till we are able to prove them simply unlawful or to prove that there is a greater scandal in the use of them than in disobeying the Voyce of the Church or of the Christian Magistrate For I know that it is a sin to disobey the Christian Magistrate except that I know that God commands the contrary In things indifferent I do but feaâ—â— and shall I run into a known sin because that I would avoid a sin only feared Bishop Good Dr. I am glad to see you I hope you will not stand out against lawful Authority Dr. Gouge 1. Serm. visit p. 63. We are to allow the Magistrate power
THE VISITATION OR Long look'd-for comes at last IN THE SUBMISSION OF Mr. BAXTER Mr. JENKINS and others to the several parts of the Act of Uniformity RABBI BUSIE Pigg may be eaten exceedingly well eaten B. John LONDON Printed in AUGUST If one WON'T another MUST 1662. TO THE READER READER WHen Lawes cannot prevail Authority cannot awe favours cannot oblige reasons cannot convince some persons otherwise minded It s our Last refuge to presse upon them their own words that if they will not hear us they may hear themselves hoping that they will be unwilling to be of their number who as the Apostle saith Condemn themselves If our hearts condemn us not God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things This little Book hath cleared this great Truth for the use of the present age and posteritie viz. That there is nothing imposed by the Act of Uniformity but what hath been owned by Mr. Perkins Mr. Dod Mr. Ball Mr. Baxter Mr. Vines Mr. Jeakins c. and other Non-Conformists that writ since the Troubles at Franckford as appears by their own words faithfully recited from their several Books and Pages to the impartiall to whose reading the following quoted places in the Authors are Commended By your Old Friend R. L. THE VISITATION OR Long look'd for comes at last Bishop Mr. Baxter Bishop MR. Baxter I pray tell me seriously Whether you think in your Conscience that Ministers ought not to submit to an Act of Uniformity Mr. Baxter 1. We must obey both Magistrates and Pastors in those things that belong to their Office Dâ—sp Ch. Government p. 44â— 2. It belongs to their Office to command the Modes and Circumstances of Worship for guiding them therein God hath given them generall Rules 3. We must not take the lawfull Commands of our Superiour to be unlawfull 4. If we do through weaknesse or pervesnesse take lawfull things to be unlawfull that will not excuse us in our disobedience Bishop What do you think concerning a Liturgy Mr. Baxter My Lord I have proved by seven or eight undeniable Arguments 1. a Ibid. p. 359. That a stinted Liturgy is lawfull 2. b P. 380. That it is lawfull to use a Liturgy that is not taken out of the Scripture as to the words 3. Christ hath not commanded in what words I shall pray whether imposed by others or not whether with a Book or a preconceived form or not yet I am sure he hath commanded obedience and peace 4. c P. 365. I think that a stinted Liturgy in some parts of holy publick Service is ordinarily necessary 1. In reading the Word 2. In singing Psalms 3. In Baptism 4. In administring the Lords Supper 5. In blessing people in the name of the Lord 6. In confessing our saith and sins in Marriage Confirmation Absolution Excommunication 7. In Prayer 5. d P. 367. I have declared that a form of Prayer at some times may not only be submitted to but be desired when the peace of the Church doth accidentally require it and that he is far from the temper of a Christian that sets so light by the peace of the Church that he would not use a lawfull means for the procuring of it when Paul would become all things to all men to save some Bishop What do you think I pray of our Liturgy Mr. Baxter For the Book of the common-Common-Prayer Disput Ibid. though I have read exceptions against divers passages I remembred not any thing that might not receive a good Construction if it were read with the same candour and allowance we read the writings of other men against which I hate to be peevishly quarrelsome when God hath blessed this Church so wonderfully with a cautelous and a moderate Reformation yet effectuall the more pitty it is that the very Modes of Worship and Discipline should be the matter of such sharp and uncharitable discords which must one day prove the grief of those that are found to be the causers of it and of the sufferings of the Church upon that occasion Bishop I pray what do you think of the Ceremonies of our Church Mr. Baxter To deal plainly with you my Lord e P. 359. I think significant Ceremonies are lawfull as the Surplisse and sign of the Crosse as a professing signal action P. 405. standing at the Creed and adoring with their faces towards the East which were used by the Primitive Christians as significations of their minds instead of words in all which cases its no Usurpation or Diminution to the word or Institution of man thus to determine It is but an obeying of Gods commands for my part I did obey the imposers of such Ceremonies and would do it if it were to do again ☞ rather then disturbe the peace of the Church and be deprived of its Communion Bishop Do you think really between God and your own Conscience that the Scripture hath provided so exactly for all circumstances in Worship that there is nothing left for Superiors to impose Mr. Baxter No Because Christs Law is an Universal Law for all Ages and Countries but these circumstances cannot be of an Universal determination For example God hath commanded us to read the word c. which must necessarily be done in some time and place gesture and number of words but he hath nor commanded what day what hour what Chapter P. 8. Disput c. These things belonging to Superiors to prescribe for common union and concord amongst men Bishop I pray what think you will be the issue of mens disobedience to such lawfull things imposed Mr. Baxter Hereby the Members of the Church will be involved in Contentions Disp Ibid. and so engaged in bitter uncharitablenesse and censures with Persecutions and Reproaches one of another which scandalous courses will nourish Vice dishonour God rejoyce the Enemies grieve the Godly that are peaceable and judicious and wound the Consciences of the Contenders We see the beginnings of such fires are small but whither they will tend and what will be the issue of them I know not Bishop Whom do I see behind you Mr. Baxter Mr. Baxter Mr. Jeanes Bishop Mr. Jeanes you are a person I know not whether more eminent for your parts or your opposition to the Church What are your thoughts of the things now in controversie Mr. Jeanes I have expressed my self f Appear Evil p. 3. That the Church may be secure and regardlesse of any Calumnies and groundlesse Exceptions against it for there hath been so much spoken and ☞ written concerning this subject as that the pretence of weaknesse is quite taken away from those that are capable of information Bishop I must confesse I have allwayes thought that if the Ancient Martyrs and Confessors were raised from their graves they would all submit to an act of Vniformity I pray here what they say 1. Peter M. If we hold on in diswading from these indifferent things we condemn withall very many