those Churches for those evils found in them So that the Scriptures give no countenance to total withdrawing from such Churches where many corruptions are whilst the essentials of Religion are preserved Some Scriptures iâ—deed are very impertinently alledged for this practice which may be cleared from the undeceiving of the weak in a few words such as 2 Cor. 6 14 15 16 17. Which speaks of separation from Infidels and Idolaters in their Idolatries and ungodly fellowships not of withdrawing from Christian Assemblies in the true Worship of God So also 1 Cor. 5.11 and 2 Thess 3.6 14. Which Scriptures shew it a duty to withdraw from private persons living in notorious scandalous sins for shaming the offendors and preserving the Churches but speak not a word of withdrawing from the true Worship of God in the publick Assemblies of the Church because of controversal practises yea for some real evils therein for this will tend to the destruction of the Church which is contrary to the end of all Church-censures being for Edification not for destruction 2 Cor 10.8 As for that Scripture Revel 18.3 Come out of Babylon c. It may warrant a withdrawing from the Idolatrous Worship of Rome and the Abominations of Popery from which we before shewed it 's the duty of every good Christian that loves his Salvation to depart but it 's grosly abused when it 's made to plead for Separation from any of the reformed Churches where through the mercy of God the Fundamentals of Faith and essentials of Worship are maintained so that we see the scriptures will not warrant such Separation 2. Or if you will Reverence the general suffrage of the Christian Church and of the most eminent Saints and Martyrs living therein ever since Christs time to us which surely however some slight yet there 's no smal weight in it else the Apostle would not plead 1 Cor. 11.16 We have no such custom nor the Churches of Christ The most eminent Servants of Christ in in all Ages have constantly held and practised Communion with those Churches where they lived although very often there were far greater corruptions therein then can be found this day amongst us as those that are acquainted with Antiquity know well and have ever blamed those that have left the Churches Communion for such causes as were above named witness the Censures past against the Novatians Donatists Audaeans c. As for our Separation from Rome our Protestant Divines plead the Fundamental errr found therein and gross Idolatries which they must necessarily communicate in if they withdraw not persecution c. and not lesser matters Did not those hinder they profess a readinesse to communicate with her and that they depart from her no further then she departs from Christ 3. Will you regard the judgment of the most eminent Divines of almost all perswasions amongst Protestants that have lived in this and the former Age speaking expresly concerning Communion with the Church of England Then know 1. That all forraign Divines of other Reformed Churches have approved of Communion with her and been ready on all occasions to give their fullest Testimony of their dislike of rigid Separation from her 2. All former Non-Conformists who did dissent in some smaller matters of Ceremonies c. desiring a forbearance as to their practice in those things yet have fully declared against Separation from the Church of England witness the writings of very many of them worthy a serious perusal at this day viz. Cartwright Hildersham Bradshaw Bayne Ball many Others and witness their practice formerly and at this day 3. Independents See Apol Narration of the five dissenting Brethren page 5.6 Who fully testify against the practice of the Brownists or rigid Separatists whose fatal miscarriages and Shipwrack they call Landmarks to forewarn of those Rocks and Shelves they ran upon And declare their sincere profession to God and the World that all that consciousness of the defilements they conceived to cleave to the true Worship of God in the Congregations of England or of the unwarranted power in Church-governours exercised therein did never work in them any other thought much less opinion but that Multitudes of the Parochial Congregations were the true Churches of Christ and the Ministry thereof a true Ministry much less did it ever enter into their hearts to judge them Anti-Christian for so they say they could not but see they should also condemn the Churches of Scotland Holland c. as no Churches which to imagine was an horrour to their thoughts Yea that they always professed and in those times when the Churches of England were the most either actually overspread with defilements or in the greatest danger thereof and when themselves had no hopes of ever visiting this Land in peace that they would hold a Communion with them as the Churches of Christ And yet they add further Besides this profession as a real Testimony some of them after they were actually in the Congregational way did Baptize their Children in the Parishional Congregations and occasionally admitted to the Lords Supper in their Churches some visiting them in their Exile upon that relation fellowship and Commembership they held in the Parish Churches in England It may be some will say they have more light now then those eminent Divines had in former times But they bewray herein too great ignorance and arrogance this point having been far more dissensed in former then in these present times in which the prejudice of most is such they have scarce considered what hath been said against their opinions 4. If you withdraw totally upon this Account you should then separate from all the Churches that now are or ever have been in the World for what Churches are so pure but they have some defects errors or corruptions For the Primitive Church even 1260 years agone and upwards there were as great corruptions in it as any you can finde here and greater also For the Churches of your own perswasion do you think them altogether perfect Wise and understanding men are able to finde some things amiss yea some of your selves have acknowledged all things are not according to their desire so as if you will bear with nothing but reject all parts of Communion because you cannot close in some things you must separate from them too and so turn Seekers or become Hermites or Anchorites and live alone and at length separate from your selves also because some things will appear blame-worthy in you also whither will this lead you 5. Have you no more love to and care of the publick solemn Worship of God then to cast off all publick Ordinances because you dislike some things in the Churches where they are administred It 's the greatest glory God hath in all the World to be solemnly Worshipped in the publick assemblies But if all should withdraw from them for such offence what publick worship should God have in this Nation seeing other perswasions are not permitted to meet nay
things that there seems nothing more requisite to be said by way of reply thereunto Thus much was needfull to be certifyed because some have slighted Mr. Balls Book not deeming it worth reading because sufficiently answered by Mr. Cotton whereas indeed this Book may serve for a sufficient reply to his Answer CHAP. IX Wherein are laid down some general Rules of Caution to preserve Christians from rash and unjust separation The Conclusion of the Discourse ALthough the answering all objections and satisfying every scruple that may occurr about this point of Communion with the Congregations in England is a work too large to be undertaken in these Papers and indeed needless in respect of that abundant pains taken therein by those Writers before referred to yet because I may not leave the sober and humble Christian altogether without help that is desirous to find something here that may satisfy his Conscience about the premises I shal lay down some general Rules of caution which being duly considered and improved may through the blessing of the Lord much conduce to prevent or heal rash and unjust separation which are these that follow 1. Do not rashly separate for such things as have been found in almost all the Churches of Christ upon Earth both in former and latter times the reason is because though we say not the Church is so absolutely Infallible that it cannot err in the least particular yet we may easily defend That the Universal Church in all places and ages cannot err so dangerously so as good Christians ought not to keep communion with her but are bound to make separation from her for this would inferr that she hath wholly fallen from Christ and her bond of Union with him is dissolved and he is no longer present with her for till then Christians are not wholly to separate from her yea that Christ hath no Church in the World c. And if so what will become of the promises of Christ that Hel gates shal not prevail against her that he will be with her to the end of the World that he will send his Spirit to lead her into all Truth and it shall abide with her for ever which promises though directly and primarily they were made to the Apostles who had the special presence of Christ and the guidance of his holy Spirit in the most eminent manner yet were made to them for the behoofe of the Church Universal and shal be verified to it This duly considered would much prevent the scandal taken at Bishops at forms of Prayer c. For who is there if acquainted with the State of the Church that knows not that Bishops even in a superiority of power and jurisdiction over other Ministers have been in the Church of Christ almost universally from the Apostles times to our dayes and that set Forms of Prayers have been of exceeding long continuance in the Christian Curches through the World Therefore such as separate for these things now must have been led by the same principle to have separated from almost all the Churches of Christ upon Earth which thing how dangerous it is needs not much to be spoken to her to manifest the same 2. Let not inconveniences defects additions or errors Circumstantial cause you to withdraw Communion wholly from the Churches of Christ in the substantial duties of Gods Worship where the essentials are preserved though some lesser evils may be found do not utterly refuse Communion there The Lord Jesus wil not reject such Churches therefore do not you Ames eas Lib 4. Cap 24. This hath passed for good Divinity generally amongst Non-Conformists who acknowledge Communion may be maintained where some divine institutions are wanting and some humane additaments meerly extrinsical are joyned to Divine Worship Commis papers p. 3.12 They say that where the substantials of Worship are preserved Bayne on Eph 2.15 though the external forms and modes be more inconvenient disorderly and defective Hilders on Ps 51. Lect. 35. yet it s lawfull yea a duty to offer such Worship to God rather then none at all That what ever is not in our power to reform it shall be our zeal and piety to tolerate and with patience to bear in such Churches there may be more cause to rejoyce then to grieve Indeed the contrary practice would lead to separation from all the Churches of Christ upon Earth for which of them all is perfect 3. As Christians should fly from what is really Idolatry Will-worship Antichristianism Popery c. So let them not be affrighted with those names when imposed on things without good grounds lest they be scared from necessary duty and Worship for these terrifying names have been abusively applyed to deterr weak people from the true Worship of God E. G. Idolatry Will-worship imagery hath been charged upon set forms of Prayer and they have been censured to be forbidden in the second Commandement But what Christian not prepossessed beforehand with prejudice against them can finde them therein condemned or in any of the Commentaries of the Prophets or Apostles or in any Exposition of antient or modern Writers till some few of latter times May not any simple plain hearted Christian to whose apprehensions the Scriptures are suted in all necessary duties Psal 19.7 profess he is not able to see any such thing but on the contrary he findeth set forms not onely used and prescribed in the Old Testament but also in the New he finds Jesus Christ giving a form to his Disciples as John did to his and how can he then resent those charges of Imagery Idolatry Superstition but as meer Scare-crows The like may be said of the charge of Popery drawn up by some against the present forms of Prayer by Law established that they are taken out of the Mass Book are Popish Prayers c. which affrights some poor weak Christians they are afraid to come near them When as it cannot be denyed that 1. they were compiled by sundry godly men of the Reformed Religion some of them afterwards Martyrs in Queen Marys dayes were ever highly valued by them 2. The Papists have ever had them in detestation Queen Mary is reported to have razed them out of the Parliament Records so as it could not till some hath late Acts passed be well known which was the authorized Book and Harding their great Champion saith of it in his dispute with Bishop Jewel on Art 3. That it 's such a service as their good Catholicks cannot joyn with us in not only because it is in the vulgar Tongue but because saith he many necessary things are wanting in it and many things repugnant to the Faith and custome of the Catholick Church 3. Popery cannot return upon us whilst the said Common-Prayer-Book is kept unaltered how can their proper Sacrifice Communion in one kind Prayers to Saints c. come in whilst this is kept up and observed and as for the taking these Prayers out of the
in their patrimony saith Bucer then in their opinion Besides they may undergo the heavy charge of Apostacy Ep. to Jo a Lasco and deserting the Truth and changing their Religion c. and this deterrs many from wayes of truth and Sobriety But it would be considered it 's no discharge for the wisest holyest and most learned Men to retract in some controversal opinions or practices Augustine who was esteemed the most learned of the Fathers Writes several Books of Retractations and Jerome to Ruffinus saith never blush Man to change thy opinion for neither you nor I nor any Person living are of so great Authority as to be ashamed to confess that they have Erred And as for the charge of Apostacy and changing your Religion in such a case as this is it 's a great mistake to affirm this for if you search the Scriptures Apostacy is a falling away from the main Fundamental confessed Doctrines of the Gospel and duties of godlyness into manifest heresie or wickednesse not the changing a mans judgment or practice in some points disputable amongst the godly and Orthodox saith Mr. Baxter in his Catholick Vnity Be it known to all the Papists in the World that our Religion is not changed at all our Worship is the same whether within Book or without our Prayers are the same for matter with those in the Common Prayer Book and if I shold one day use the Common Prayer Book and another day forbear it I should not change the Worship of God to pray is part of his Worship but whether it be in a Book or out of it is no part at all but a mode or circumstance which may be altered as occasion serveth Elsewhere the same learned and pious person sheweth what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us from the example of St. Paul Five Disp p. 488. when he circumcised Timothy Act 16.3 And when he took the men and purified himself with them in the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the dayes of Purification c. Act. 21.26 27. So also from what he saith 1 Cor. 9.19 20. I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some and this I do for the Gospels sake XI I add but one Rule of Caution more against a very common but dangerous mistake which is an occasion to many of running in to Error and Heresie as well as into Schism and Separation viz. Take heed of setting up your own apprehensions and conceits of the sense of Scriptures about controverted points as infallible Oracles that you trust so confidently to that you will indanger the Churches peace and your own safety for the maintaining of them where you have not all those necessary helps and means that are requisite to the finding out the minde of God therein Some that have their minds fore-stalled with an opinion or perswasion getting a Bible into their hands presently conceive what ever they meet withall to make for their opinion and begin to be more confident then an hundred wiser and more discerning persons dare to be who know their own darkness and ignorance and the mysteriousness of the things controverted though they have far greater evidence of Scripture and reason for them This carries men into such wilde fancies strange delusions sometimes as bring them under the just censure of Fanaticism a name which is too unjustly applyed to others more sober and pious Christians Though the Fundamental and necessary Doctrines and duties of Christianity are so plainly laid down in Scripture that the weakest Christians may understand them and therefore have much profit by holy and humble Meditation in the Word of God day and night yet Points controverted are oftentimes hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and customs of the Church and other advantages of learning that its ordinarily impossible they should find out the minde of God therein It 's a vain delusion to think that the Spirit that some pretend to more confidently then they have cause should discover all deep mysteries and obscure points of controversie to those that have but ordinary understandings and are wholly destitute of outward necessary means and hopes for the gaining knowledge thereby the Spirit of God teaches not by such immediate Enthusiasmes but by irradiating the minde and elevating the reason that is exercised in searching the Truth in all Gods appointed means and doth also help the weak to understand savourily all those plain and necessary Truths that tend to godlinesse and to conform their hearts and lives to the love and obedience of them It were more becoming weak Christians in matters disputable to consult with the Writings of able and learned Expositors that have al those advantages which themselves want and not to presume too much on their own understandings in such things which would be accounted unsufferable presumption in other Arts and Sciences and cannot be less in Divinity wherein the greatest mysteries are contained Other Rules of Caution might here be laid down which to avoid prolixity I forbear to enumerate recommending the serious consideration of these things to the sober and humble Christian as greatly conducing to keep him from the by-paths of unjust separation and here conclude with my hearty Prayer to God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant to the Professors of Christianity in all Nations both Rulers and People to minde more and to be more zealous for the great and Fundamental points of Faith and Worship necessary to Salvation and to contend less about things not in their own nature necessary that high impositions might not occasion violent oppositions nor these again produce further impositions But we may love one another unfainedly for the great things we are united in bear with one another mâ—re in things wherein difference is tolerable and all may seek the unity peace and welfare of the Church and the good of one another c. Then should Religion flourish the Gospel be advanced the fame of God be honoured the Souls of men edified and all may walk in the fear of God and comfort of the Holy Ghost unto which let every good Christian say Amen FINIS