perfect be thus minded Phil. 3.15 that is as it follows in the next verse Let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing And I must add to take away an objection that may arise from the words intervening it may be very justly expected that we should be so perfect as is there required for though some novices in the Faith who were then but newly crept out of the darkness of Heathenism or the shades of the Jewish observances though these I say might then expect some further Revelation to inlighten them more clearly in that which by reason of their ignorance or prejudice they were not for the present satisfied in yet we are to expeâ—â— no such matter we have already attain'd to the utmost we can expect of immediate Revelation a Gal. 2.8 9. Jud. ep 3. and it is our duty Divine Revelation and Command hath made it so in all doubtful matters to res ign our judgments up to the conduct of such Guides †Heb. 13 7 17. as God hath set over us and for the truth of this Position I appeal to the declared doctrine of Mr. Baxter for thus he saith * In his Unsavoury Volumn against Mr. Crandon or his Noâ—egay presented to Mr. Joseph Caryll page 83. ante finem Let me be bold to tell my opinion to my Brethren of the Ministry that though I deny them to have either credit or Authority against the known Word of God yet so great is their credit and Authority even as Teachers and Guides of the Church in Causes agreeable to the Word and in Causes to the people doubtful and unknown and in Causes left by the Word to their determination the Word determining them but generally that I think the ignorance of this truth hath been the main cause of our sad Confusions and Schisms in England and that the Ministers have been guilty of it partly by an â—ver-modest concealing their Authority and partly by an indiscreet opposition to the Papists errour of the Authority of the Church and I think that till we have better taught even our godly people what credit and obedience is due to their Teachers and Spiritual Guides the Churches of England shall never have peace or any good or establish'd Order I say again we are broken for want of the knowledg of this truth and till this be known we shall never be well bound â—p and healed Thus far Mr. Baxter And as many as walk according to this rule Gal. 6.16 peace be on theâ— and mercy and upon the Israel of God Amen Mr Crofton's Position Examined AND An Imposed Liturgy Justified THat 't is pride and an over-weaning Conceit of their own worth which makes men Non-Conformists I shall now give you a pregnant evidence out of the Pamphlet mention'd in the Title-page In a Postscript to that Pamphlet the Authour tells us of a Paper taken out of Mr. Crofton's pocket containing his high way thoughts which he committed to paper to communicate to a Non-Conformist Having procured a Copy thereof as he pretends with some difficulty he sends it to a friend with his leave to make it publick and thereby as he saith to capacitate our Conforming Clergy to resolve if they can one of the great scruples which he saith barreth Mr Crofton's Conformity and Ministration by a Liturgy The Position he lays down is this That A Minister of the Gospel cannot without sin receive a Liturgy generally and exclusively imposed But whaâ— is it the man contends for That an Order and regular Method of praying page 1. reading the Scriptures and administration of other parts of Worship in convenient time and order successively each after other in their proper place this he confesseth to have been used in all Churches of Jews and Christians and This he saith is dictated by all Rules of Order and Prudence necessary to humane Society so specified as to constitute an holy Convocation A Rubrick or Direction he acknowledgeth too as the genuine product of Ecclesiastical Politie and the Forma informans of that Uniformity in publick Order which is maintain'd without Unity of Words and Forms Terms and Expressions as the ornament and honour of any particular and circumscribed Church Such a Liturgy as this he allows of that is The Directory But stated Forms for the celebration of Solemn Publick Worship and the several parts thereof composed page 2. digested and for the very words terms and expressions thereof determined and prescribed by some others thâ—n the Parson or Minister who standeth to minister Gods Ordinances between God and his Church such an imposed Liturgy he cannot submit unto So that here we have a meer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6.4 2 Tim. 2.14 a strife about words terms and expressions say the Apostle what he will to the contrary And of what extraction is this quarrel then From whence come wars and strivings amongst you come they not from hence even from the lusts that war in your members The Apostle takes it for granted and the Wise man is positive in it Onely by pride cometh contention And it is so certain in this individuation of it That our Pick-pocket or pretended Mr. Crofton page 3. hath not artifice enough to dissemble it For he saith It cannot be denied to be a most base and slavish servility to prostitute the Office to which we are apted but not without humility and ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ unto the pleasure and prescriptions of men though the best for quality and authority But not so passionate good Mr. Crofton you may please to be so humble as to condescend to such an imposition for peace and order sake and that I prove by this Argument What I may lawfully be determin'd to by my own private judgment that I may lawfully be determin'd to by the judgment of my Superiours But to stated Forms for the celebration of Gods solemn publick worship composed and for the very words terms and expressions digested into method I may lawfully be determined by my own private judgment Therefore To stated Forms for the celebration of Gods solemn publick worship composed and for the very words terms and expressions digested into method I may lawfully be determined by the judgment of my Superiours In this Argument the Minor or Assumption cannot be denyed 't is that Mr. Crofton contends for for I hope he doth not exclude his judgment when he pleads for the liberty of his own Invention to Compose and Modifie his Forms of publick worship The Major is proved thus That which I may lawfully be determined to by a weaker judgment to that I may lawfully be determined by a judgment that is stronger But to stated Forms c. I may lawfully be determined by a weaker judgment viz. my own therefore to stated Forms c. I may lawfully be determined by a judgment that is stronger viz. that of my Superiours To deny the Major in this Argument were to
more use and therefore they were not only to be laid aside as dead and unsavoury but also to be avoided as pestiferous and destructive And especially it is to be most studiously avoided that they be not obtruded or observed out of any opinion of necessity according to that of the Apostle Gal. 5.2 Behold I Paul say unto you that if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing for that did imply that Christ was not yet come in the flesh and so overthrew the faith But for those other Ceremonies which were not typical but modes of decency instituted to adorn the solemnity of Gods publick worship being essential to the external beauty of it these are not to be condemned as unlawful upon the meer account that they were a part of Moses's Discipline Nay seeing God requires still to be worshipped in the beauty of holiness and will have all things in his Church performed decently and in order and yet hath not in the New Testament determin'd the particulars wherein that Order Decency and Beauty shall consist but hath left it to the Care Prudence of the Governours to whom he hath committed the Keys of his Kingdom how can they discharge their duty better in the particular determination hereof then by a compliance with the wisdom of God and the practice of Christ in his Institutions in holding an Analogy with such Laws and Directions as were given or at least allowed by God himself to his Church of the Old Testament so far forth as there is equity and a parity of Reason for it Upon these grounds we may safely conclude that the Tabernacle of the Christian Church wherein the Ordinances of the holy Gospel are to be preserved ought to have her Solemnities decent trimmings as well as that of David's pitching And what sort of these Solemnities are most suitable we have very fair insinuations in the Scripture of the New Testament in those frequent allusions to the solemn service of the Tabernacle as Rev. 21.2 3. where St. John's vision of the new Hierusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband is expounded in the next Verse by this remarkable acclamation Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Upon the whole matter therefore it is evident that it is not an Hierarchy that is a sacred Government consisting of Bishops Priests and Deacons setled in a state of inequality and subordination nor an establish'd Liturgy consisting of set Forms for the administration of the several parts of the holy Office nor a linen Ephod or Surplice nor a Quire with a pair of Organs nor reverend gestures in our attendance upon it it is none of these that will overthrow our present Church or drive away the Ordinances of Gods worship from us no more then the like did drive that Ark and Tabernacle from the people Israel If these be the gray hairs which some that pretend to be more quick-sighted discern upon the Gospel upon the matter Christ himself hath stuck them there and if the Bridegroom himself be pleased to see his Spouse wear these marks of Antiquity it becomes us who are her Children to reverence such for her gray hairs rather then reproach her for them Certainly whatever that means this is not a setting up of Gods Ark in the House of Dagon but in that decent Tabernacle which David out of a true devotion and by the direction of Gods Spirit hath prepared for it 2. But have we not other Prognostications of our approaching ruine and the removal of Gods Ark as a prolusion or preface to it what think you of the discontentments and divisions that are in the Nation is not that an Omen that does boad as much for Christ himself hath said That a Nation divided against it self cannot stand But let me awaken your attention to consider how unjust how unreasonable some men are in their complaints and accusations First they themselves raise the discontentments make and foment Divisions in the Kingdom and then they make those Divisions the Prognostications of the ruine of it This is just like the practice of Barabbas make the insurrection first and then commit Murder in that insurrection * Mar. 15.7 Here lies all the difference there the Felony was committed but upon a single person here 't is upon Christs Church and three whole Kingdoms But if men were wise Ibid. Vers 11. if they would not cry out to have Barabbas acquitted and Jesus delivered up to be crucified if they were considerative and would obey the voice of God and hearken to their lawful Guides and Governours they might easily with Gods blessing prevent this mischief Take away the tale bearer saith Solomon and strife will cease you have heard of Sanctuary-sins of Church and Sermon-sins and such there are indeed there are Pulpit-tale bearers too that make it their design and practice to raise and foment jealousies to sow the seeds of discontent and sedition and if they may not be allowed to Act this part upon the publick Stage then they creep into houses and find it a matter of much advantage though of no great difficulty to triumph over such silly souls as are willing to be led captive But God hath provided for his Church a sufficient remedy against this mischief an Antidote against such infusions Now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.17 18. it is your part and duty as far as in you lies to apply this remedy and make use of the Caution 3. But is not the Ark in great danger of being lost amongst us upon another account is not that an unchurching of a people when they want the power of the Ministry a soul-searching Ministry when we want a faithful Minister to go before us I must confess we have extream need of such a Ministry such as will not draw a fair skin over our old sores but will take pains and be faithful to launce our impestum'd Ulcers and Probe them to the very bottom for there lies very much Pride and Hypocrisie Schism and Sedition Malice and Treason in our hearts it lies so neer unto our eyes we cannot see it it is so natural so customable to us we have no sense or feeling of it Away then with those false Prophets that have dawbed so long with untempered morter that have strain'd at a Gnat and swallowed Camels that have preach'd Placentia and sew'd Pillows under mens Elbows and cry'd peace or go up and prosper when the design was flat Rebellion and yet they humour'd the inclinations of the people calling them blessed â€
all inclosures should be thrown open and the worship of God no longer be confined as it had been to Jerusalem Joh. 4.21 yet to signifie that he would still for all that accept and own places dedicated to his solemn service all the world over in the fourth year of his Ministry he makes his claim and vindicates the honour of his own interest Mark 11.17 2. We must submit to this settlement in regard of the Authority by which it is setled here are David and the Elders and the Captains of thousands the King the Nobles and the Representatives of all the Commons of England what comes to us derived in so full a current of Authority not to speak of the miraculous restitution of this Authority should prostrate every private judgment and make the passions interests and opinions of all men stoop before it There is a necessity laid upon us yea and a wo will betide us if we submit not Let every soul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13.1 Nay ye must needs be subject and that not only for fear of wrath but for conscience sake Ver. 5. and there is another sake no less considerable to engage you the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Submit you selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as those that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well Time was when an Ordinance not so venerable as that St Peter speaks of did signifie something with you when lesse then one link of that threefold Cord of Authority would serve to engage and yoak you to draw the Ark aside if you will not now submit to the Settlement of it upon the obligation of those Laws which come to us in the greatest solemnity that a just and full Authority can recommend them by I shall say no more but this that your Consciences are strangely blinded and they are prodigiously perverse and obstinate And yet this is not all For 3. We must submit to this Settlement in regard of that Ministry under which it is sotled these are not like those false Prophets which come in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves We know them well enough by their fruits these are contented to subsist upon that portion which the Laws of God and man allow them and would not be Pensioners to your Purses lest they should be tempted to flâ—tter you and betray your souls for they seek not yours but you These are nâ—ne of Jeroboams Priests the meanest Mechanicks amongst the people set up by an Usurper to entertain the devotions of the people in the worship of his Calves left bâ—â—aving recourse to Jerusalem to the Ark of God and the Priesthood that does attend upon it they should be invited to their duty and return their Allegiance to their Sovereign This Hierarchy that now attends the Ark and worship of God did not arise up of it self as the heads of Factions many times do or out of the bottomlesse pit which is no better a Pedigree but it derives its Mission and Authority as it should do in a visible line of succession from Christ and his Apostles and is most Consonâ—nt to the pattern in the Old Testament where as we are told by the Apostle the Synagogue was a Type or Shadow of the Christian Church Heb. 10.1 where likewise God did promise that for the service of this Church being made up for the most part of Gentiles He would take of the Gentiles and make them Priests and Levites to himself Isa 66.22 by which legal nameâ— of Priests and Levites what doth he understand but such as we call Presbyters and Deacons upon which grounds the Antient Fathers presum'd a correspondence beâ—ween that Hierarchy of the old and this of the New Testament And if we look into the Degrees of this Hierarchy we shall find they run parallel See Clavi Trabales p. 117. in their agreement wi h those designed of old to Minister untâ— tâ—e Ark of God There was Aaron answerable to Christ Eleazar a Numb 3.32 Neh. 11.10 11 14. to Archbishops Princes b Ezr. 8.24 29. of Priests b to Bishops Priâ—sts to Presbyters Princes c Neh. 11.16 22. of Levites c to Archdeacons Levites to Deacons Nethinims to Clerks and Sextons Is it not probable tâ—en that God will bless and accept of a Ministery of his own institution and allowance 1 Chron. 15.12 rather then one of our fond contrivance and â—eeing the saving efficacy of the Ministery depends wholly upon Gods blessing and gracious acceptation are we not highly concernâ—d to submit to that Ministry which derives its Original regularly from God and upon that account hath the fairest title to his blessing and acceptation if this be not inducement enough we have an obligation lâ—id upon us from his command Heb. 13.7 Remember your Prelates your guides which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation and Vers 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you 4. There is one Consideration more that should induce you to submit to this Settlement of the Ark and that is the solemnity with which it is setled Besides the Type and Pattern for it in the Old Testament there aâ—e four general Rules left upon Record by the Apostle for the direction of Prelates and other Superiours in setling the Ark of Gods solemn worship 1. That all be done to the glory of God a 1 Cor. 10.31 2. That all be done to the edification of the Church of Goa b 1 Cor. 14.26 3. That all be done decently and worthily c 1 Cor. 11.27 29. as becomes the service we perform and the Majesty we adore d 1 Cor. 14.40 4. That all things be done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to order e 1 Cor. 14.40 These Rules are observ'd in our Settlement 1. And first of the last of these It belongs unquestionably to the Office of Ecclesiastical Governours to set things in Order so St Paul in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 11. ult The rest will I set in order * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I come so Titus in Crete an Island that had 100 Cities in it for this cause I left thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things that are wanting or left undone Tit. 1.5 and it was not left to every mans choice whether he would submit such as did not observe these Orders were punished by the censures of the Church 2 Thes 3.6 14 15. Now we command you brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw
For he watcheth for your souls as he that must give account Epist. ad Trallian And a little after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is necessary that you do nothing that you attempt nothing without the Bishop And a while after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reverence your Bishop even as Christ according to the precept of the blessed Apostles For he that is within the Altar within the communion of the Church is an intire pure Christian and for this cause obey your Bishop and the Priests But he that is not within this communion he that acts of his own head without the Bishop not in conformity with him and the Priests and Deacons is polluted in his Conscience and is worse then an Infidel * 1 Tim. 5.8 thus Ignatius The Hierarchy therefore of the Church is by all means to be kept up and all due veneration and obedience is to be paid to it But this belongs chiefly to the Higher Powers and yet something you may all do towards it It is Recorded that when Chrysostome was to be banished from Constantinople the people were so affected with him that they all went to the Emperour and Petitioned for Chrysostome professing they could no more miss Chrysostome then they could miss the Sun out of the Firmament and yet which I desire you to observe and carry home with you Chrysostome was not the peoples mercenary Curate or flattering Heb. 13.17 Lecturer but the Bishop of the Diocess and his See was Constantinople And I suppose this might be one reason why Mr. Calamy as he saith was so loth fully to tell that story But 2. There is a second Admonition directed to all that are concern'd herein to take care that this Hierarchy be really such as the name importeth A Holy Order or Governance Holy in their persons and conversation and holy in their ministration and address Lev. 10.3 God will be sanctified of all those that draw nigh unto him Be ye holy ye that bear the vessels of the Lord upon the bells of the horses Zach. 14.10 saith the Prophet shall be holiness to the Lord. But there must be holiness not upon Aarons Bells only in the purity of his Doctrine but the inscription upon his forehead must be so too Holiness to the Lord Psal 132.9 let the Priests be clothed with righteousness he must be white and pure in his conversation as well as in his vesture And 2. Because Sancta sanctè holy things must be performed after a holy manner therefore a special sanctification is requisite unto the address if a beast should rush in to the holy Mount Heb. 12.10 he should be transfixed with some dart or other for it hereupon the Psalmist I will wash my hands in innocency Psal 26.6 and so will I compass thy Altar O Lord. And now for Directions to the people All the mysteries of the Ark are comprehended and unfolded in the Festivals of the Church and such as do constantly frequent them can be ignorant of nothing that is necessary to their Salvation But your address must be duly qualified that it may find a gracious acceptation You must approach with Humility with Alacrity with Unanimity with Uniformity These four will make your approach welcome to the Ark or Ordinances of God 1. It must be with Humility and Reverence There are some that bear no more reverence to the Ark of Gods worship then if it were but an Ark of Bull-rushes But holinesse becometh thy house for ever saith the Prophet Ye shall observe my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Lev. 19.31 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him Psal 89.7 Psal 89.7 and Psal 68. O God thou art terrible out of thy holy places Psal 68. ult c. therefore serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling Psal 2. We will go into his Tabernacles we will worship at his footstool Psal 132.7 and Psal 99.5 Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his footstool Psal 132.7 And as that expression had reference to the Ark then * See Josh 7.6 so hath it to the holy Sacrament now as we are taught by St Ambrose a De Spir. Sancto l. 3. c. 12. and St Austin Per scabellum terra intelligitur per terram autem caro Christi quam hodie quoque in mysteriis adoramus By footstool we are to understand the earth and by the earth the flesh of Christ which at this very day we adore in the sacred mysteries And St Austin b In Psal 98. to the same purpose Quaero quid sit scabellum pedumejus dicit mihi Scriptura terra scabellum pedum meorum not to do it at his name nay at the holy Mysteries c. Bishop Andr. Serm. 9. of the Resur Fluctuans converto me ad Christum quiaipsum quaero hic invenio quomodo sine impietate a loretur terra sine impietate adoretur scabellum pedum ejus Suscepit enim de terra terram quia caro de terra est de carne Mariae carnem accepit Et quia in ipsa carne hic ambulavit ipsam carnem nobis manducandam ad salutem dedis NEMO AUTEM ILLAM CARNEM MANDUC AT NISI PRIUS ADORAVERIT inventum est quemadmodum adoretur tale scabellum pedum Domini non solum NON PECCEMUS ADORANDO sed PECCEMUS NON ADORANDO I demand what is his footstool and God in the holy Scripture tells me the earth is my footstool But being in some fluctuation and doubtfulness I turn me unto Christ for him I am to seek here and in him I find how the earth may be adored without any impiety how without any impiety I may adore his footstool For he took earth from the earth for flesh is of the earth and of the flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary he took flesh And because in that flesh he conversed here amongst us and gave that flesh to us to eat for our salvation AND NO MAN EATETH THAT FLESH UNLESSE HE HATH FIRST ADORED We have here found how such a footstool of the Lord may be adored and we should not only NOT SIN IN A DORING but WE SHOULD SIN certainly IN NOT ADORING Thus St Augustine And above all others the Apostle expecteth that this service should be worthily perfomed 1 Cor. 11. otherwise sad effects did many times follow for whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord Ver. 27. He eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body Ver. 29. and for this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep that is they are struck dead Ver. 30. It is considerable in the Bethshemites they took notice that the Ark of God had been in Captivity