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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A34264 The Conformists reasons for hearing and joining with the Nonconformists 1691 (1691) Wing C5805; ESTC R30271 8,987 10

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The Conformists Reasons for hearing and joining with the Nonconformists 1. THE same Reasons which oblige Persons to hear and join with us oblige us also to take all Opportunities of hearing and joining with the Nonconformists they being Ministers of Christ having due Call and Authority from him to preach the Gospel The Church hath real need of their Labours their Ministry is hated by Satan and Saint-hating Men they are duly subject to the higher Powers and are protected by the Law of the Land in the course of their Ministry and are a considerable part of that same Church of England which their present Majesties under God are Supream Governours of according to the old Oath of Supremacy and the 37th Article of the Church of England 2. Those Words of our Saviour's take place here He that is not against us is on our part Mark 9. 40. The Nonconformists really are not against us therefore they are on our part The Scope and Drift of their Ministry is to win Souls not to this or that Sect but to Christ to teach them their Duty to God and to their present Majesties as sole Supream under God and the common Center of Catholick Unity in these Nations They are truly tender of our Ministry rejoice in our Labours and in the Gifts and Graces of able and faithful Conformists rebuke Backbiters and Vilifyers of our Ministry and as they have opportunity hear and join with us and our Churches 3. In the time of the late King James the Church of England did confess its Error in being severe to the Nonconformists This is plain from a certain Pamphlet published in the late King's Reign intituled A Letter to a Dissenter upon occasion of his Majesties late gracious Declaration of Indulgence The Words thereof pag. 8. are these following The Church of England convinced of its Error in being severe to you the Parliament whenever it meeteth will sure be gentle to you the next Heir bred in the Country which you have so often quoted for a Pattern of Indulgence A general Agreement of all thinking Men that we must no more cut our selves off from the Protestants abroad but rather inlarge the Foundations upon which we are to build our Defences against the common Enemy so that in truth all things seem to conspire to give you Ease and Satisfaction c. This is to be looked upon as the general sense of the conforming Nobility Gentry Commonalty and Clergy in the time of the late King's Reign for so really it was as is well known Now here the Church of England doth confess its Error towards the Dissenters and to have erred not in some slight and trivial Matters but in Matters touching the Foundation and sees a necessity of inlarging its Foundations and consequently of taking in the Nonconformists and making them constituent Parts of the Church with her self Either then the Nonconformists are upon one and the same Foundation with our selves or they deserve to be and it is through no fault of theirs that they are not being upon the same Foundation we cannot be against their Ministry and Meetings but we must needs be against our own and overthrow the Common Protestant Cause Religion and Interest in this Nation and consequently in all other Nations and Countries what in us lies and in being for their Ministry we are for our own 4. These Scriptures set together prove it a Duty viz. Hear and your Soul shall live Isa 55. 3. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ preach the Word be instant in season out of season 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Though I be free from all Men yet have I made my self Servant unto all that I might gain the more And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law to them that are without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law To the Weak became I as weak that I might gain the Weak I am made all things to all Men that I might by all means save some And this I do for the Gospel's Sake 1 Cor. 9. 19 20 21 22 23. 5. The Communion of Saints is a principal Part of the Catechism and of the common Creed of Christendom it is a Fundamental in true Religion most frequently repeated in all Conforming Congregations Now we do not duly believe and practise this Fundamental unless we hear and join with the Nonconforming Brethren in the Word and Prayer and Sacraments as we have Call and Opportunity they being visible Saints and there being nothing in their way of Worship but what is either laudable or tolerable God doth own and approve their Ministry and Meetings and is graciously present with them Objections Answered Obj. 1. The Presbyterian Ministers refuse Subjection to the Governours of the Church of England and therefore it cannot be safe for us to hear and join with them Answ This is plainly not true for under God their present Majesties are sole Supream Governours of the Church of England ruling all Estates according to Laws enacted by common Consent in Parliament witness the old Oath of Supremacy and the 37th Article of the Church of England in these words The King's Majesty hath the chief Power in this Realm of England and other his Dominions Vnto whom the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all Causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any foreign Jurisdiction The Presbyterians generally subscribe this Article and it is notorious that they are duly subject to their present Majesties pray heartily for them pay Taxes bear all legal Charges keep the stated monthly Fasts strictly and solemnly and are more upright and cordial to the present Government than many of the Conformists are If you deny their present Majesties to be chief Governours of the Church of England you then bring in the Papacy and unhinge the Government Obj. 2. Though the King be supream Governour by the Sword yet Bishops are supream Governours of the Church of England by the Word Answ Bishops have no Authority but what is ministerial and subordinate and therefore they cannot be supream Governours they are under Law to God and they are under Law to the King as God's Vicegerent If you suppose them supream Governours of the Church of England you suppose them Popes that is Antichristian Prelates exalting themselves above God and above the King his Vicegerent Abiathar the High-Priest was not superior to nor coordinate with King Solomon but his Subject and therefore for his Crime was justly deposed by him and Zadok put in his room Obj. 3. The Presbyterian Ministers have not just and valid Ordination as being