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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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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-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
Bishop What say you Mr. Jacomb Jacomb Nobis obsequii gloria relicta est Our glory is to obey Sermon May 29. Religion was planted by obedience by that it is continued Bishop What say you Mr. Meriton Sermon Jan. 30. Meriton Curse not the King in thy heart for a Bird of the Air will tell the matter Bishop What say you Mr. Ley Ley. It is a common scandal raised upon our profession as if it were inconsistent with Government Sermon taken March 9.60 as one pretends whereas none can have a more real allegiance and sincere obedience than good Christians Bishop Mr. Jenkins There are strange things reported concerning your Principles in reference to the present Government Jenkins It 's true my Lord I teach a liberty but not such as may be an occasion of the flesh or a cloak of maliciousness Jude v. 8. v. 11. c. nor indeed is any thing further from truth than that because of Christian liberty men should not be subject to the Civil power Bishop Do you think a man may under any pretence resist the lawful power Jenkins No for 1. It is a sin against Gods Ordinance Jude v. 8. Prov. 8.15.2 It s against the publick welfare p. 278. They that are weary of Magistrates are weary of all the comforts and blessings of peace 3. It s against our own happiness An evil man seeketh only rebellion therefore an evil messenger shall be sent against him Eccl. 10.8 I do not remember that God suffered any godly man to put another out of Government or to put himself in p. 300. Good men will not be bad Subjects neither can evil men be good Subjects v. 12. Fear thou God and the King p. 108. and meddle not with them that are given to change their calamity shall come suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Mr. Manton Bishop Mr. Manton will not you subscribe that it is unlawful to resist Authority under any pretence Manton By all means Jude 81 p. 355. let us obey every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake The publick welfare is concerned in our Obedience Religion too both which should be very dear to those that fear God Better bear any Inconvenience than bath the Country in warr and blood Bishop Whence comes it that men resist the Magistrate Manton Vain man would be free and yoakless p. 347. neither would he have his heart subject to God nor his actions to mans censure Some men will not have their Consciences stand in the way of their lust nor the Magistrate in the way of their sin but every Christian desires to live under the Magistrate peaceable and quiet lives p. 348. in all godliness and honesty SECT IV. Concerning Subscription to the Book of Ordaining Priests and Deacons Bishop What think you Gentlemen of subscribing to that Book of Ordination Mr. Ball. We may subscribe to the Ordaining of Ministers Mr. Ball against Canne â— 89.90 which are essentiall allowed by Gods word though as to some circumstantial order whereby in this or that society the Minister is to execute that function he hath received from God he is not expresly allowed of in the word of God 2. If they be not lawful Ministers who receive their Ordination from Bishops Mr. Ball part 1. p. 25. the Church throughout the world hath been destitute of a lawful Minister this 1500. or 1600. years Bishop What say you Mr. Baxter to this Baxter So eminent in Gods graces and gifrs were the Bishops that their names will be precious whilst Christ hath in England a Reformed Church 2. Our Jewel our Usher our Davenant hath done so much against the Roman Usurpers Baxter Disp Church Government p. 4. that they will not be able to claw it off them to the last Moreover who knoweth not that most of the godly able Ministers of England since the Reformation did judge Episcopacy some of them lawful and some of them most sit for the Non-conformists were but few and that before these late troubles and warrs c. the most through the Land did subscribe and conform to Episcopal Government as a thing not contrary to the word of God so that it is very evident Baxter Disp ibiâ— that it is very consistent with a godly life to judge Episcopacy lawful and just or else we should not have had so many learned and godly men of that mind Bishop Gentlemen I am very glad to see and hear so unanimous a consent to the several parts of the Act of Vniformity I am told Mr. Calvin himself would conform Calvin I pray let there be one Form of Prayer Ep. ad Protect Selden Not in Eutycho and of Ecclesiastical Rites from which it may not be lawful for the Pastors in their function to depart That 1. thereby provision might be made for the simplicity of some 2. That the consent the Churches have amongst themselves may more evidently appear 3. That the extravagant Levity of some that affect novelties may be prevented Bishop Notwithstanding all this there be some tender Consciences that cannot submit to Authority what shall we do with these Mr. Edwards Of Tolerat l. 1. It s against the Conscience of the Magistrate to tolerate the erroneous Conscience of the Subject Mr. Case Sermon before Parliament A toleration is the abomination that makes desolate Mr. Nalton Sermon at Pauls 1659. on Jude p. 403 404. Toleration is intolerable Mr. Manton Believe not Seducers when they come in sheeps cloathing it is but that they may get the power to play the Wolves the better And when Libertines increase let the Magistrates look about them There are clouds gathering together towards a dismal storm and though they seem to be meek and full of love while their party is contemptible yet when they grow considerable Mr. Manton on Jude 403. they appear in their colours Many fear a second deluge of Anti-Christianism but that is not so probable as the seditious Insurrection of Sectaries The perilous times Mr. Manton ibid. 2 Tim. 3. are not from the Anti-Christian or Popish party so much as from the Libertines who are heady high-minded trayterous c. Our danger is not from a Popish party that carrieth things on by power and greatness so much as from a party that creeps into houses and leads captive silly women having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof Bishop Beloved If there be any consolation in Christ if there be any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercy fullfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same lâ—vâ— being of one accord Phil. 2. 1 2 3. of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory Amen FINIS ADVERTISEMENT ☞ Lately Published 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or CONSIDERATIONS on the ACT of UNIFORMITY For the SATISFACTION of the CLERGY within the Province of CANTERBVRY Sold by H. MARSH