unjustly hurt and vex the godly without cause and good men through love by discipline do justly correct others for their miscarriages The discipline of the Church being as Cyprian saith the preserver of hope the guide to salvation the retainer of faith and cherisher of godliness The correcting voice of discipline oft doth and may do good to such who will not be moved with the sweet voice of intreating St. Augustine saith He who binds a frantick man and awakes him who is in a Lethargy is troublesom to both yet he loveth and helpeth both So to bind men with the cords of justice that they may not wrong themselves and others is a great good it being also far better to weaken some by justice than suffer them to go on to weaken others by faction Object But if I will complain for neglecting Communions and Chatechising why not of swearers and drunkards Answ 1. I hear no oaths I see no drunkards I see absenters from God's Ordinances and I preach against the one and the other 2. Most speak against swearing and drunkenness as gross sins the other go under the notion of goodness 3. Swearers and drunkards deny not our Church to be a true Church they deny not the Ordinances and they might be better wrought upon and reformed was it not for our divisions The other do little less than seek the overthrow of the Church 4. I hope I am a friend to no vice and such an enemy to all that if any will bring me as good evidence and will stand to it that such and such are incorrigible swearers and drunkards as I have that such and such come not to Communions if I then endeavour not their amendment by Church-censures if I cannot by perswasions let me be blamed I intend not to create any just offence or real hurt to any mans person for truly I know not the man living or creature breathing to whom I do not heartily wish grace mercy and peace My desire is to endeavour in this place to stop the current of opinionists blown by the spirit of error over many parts of this Land to the dishonour of God and endangering of many a mans salvation and staggering well-meaning people and drawing them to disobedience Schism and Faction And whilst I am so doing when I have done I hope to make it appear that as I never yet did shew the least malice nor discontent to them who formerly sought to ruine me and mine so that now I bear not any ill will either to the party or any other but that I do what I do in love and that if they make tryal they may truly say of me as it became a Proverb concerning Arch-bishop Cranmer Do my Lord of Canterbury a shrewd turn and then you may be sure to have him your friend for your labour whilst you live Thus you and I being men are subject to err and it being dangerous to live in error according to my Office and duty I have declared wherein you err that I may not be guilty of the same by my silence If you can bring me convincing grounds that I thus differing from you in judgment and in thus discharging my duty do err you shall soon perceive and see that I will not be obstinate in error And if what I have said contain convincing arguments to make it clear that you do err then I desire the same of you that you may not obstinately persist in error that so both I and you may follow this blessed counsel of the holy Ghost by the Apostle Saint James speaking to you and me in these words Do not err my beloved brethren Preached October 6 13 20. Certain sayings of Mr. Baxter in his Infant-Church-membership THe main scope of their endeavours in publick and private is to propagate their opinions and if they preach any wholsom doctrine it is usually subservient to their great design that the truth may be as suger to sweeten their errors Pag. 144. that they may be easier swallowed They perswade the people that Ministers are seducers lyars c. judge therefore 16. what good may people expect from Ministers How hath it grieved my spirit to see and hear men professing to be more godly than others to make it the business of their lives to disgrace the Ministers of the Gospel When poor people hear those despise the Ministry that 16. once were constant hearers Sure these men having tryed see some evil in that way c. O how it stumbleth and drives off the poor ignorant people 145. from Religion when they see those that have seemed Religious prove such And when they see us at such difference one with another and when they see so many Sects and Parties that they know not which to turn to They think that all strictness doth tend to this and so that the godly are but a company of giddy proud unsettled singular persons that know not where to step till they are besides themselves O! how are the Papists hardened by this I have spoken with some of them that once began to be moderate who now upon the observation of these Sects are generally confirmed in their way and say Now you may see what it is to depart from the bosom of the Church to make the Scriptures common c. The Episcopal Party are more confirmed in their way by it and say You have mended the matter well c. yea those who were offended at the Prelates cruelty do now think they did well and that which was needful for the quenching of this fire whilst it When to whom was a spark And many who began to stagger at the Kings late Wars are now many thousands of them perswaded of the lawfulness of it from the miscarriages of these men And if report too probable do not lye thousands and And other grounds millions of Papists in all Countreys of Europe where they dwell are confirmed and hardened in their Religion by the odious reports that go of the miscarriages of these men in England These say they are your Reformers And this is your Reformation How many thousand Professors of Religion are quite ruined in their souls and turned into Monsters rather than Saints How many sad distracted divided Congregations What dividing and subdividing and subdividing 149. again and running from Church to Church and from opinion to opinion till some are at such a loss that they affirm Christ hath no Church c. How many distracted Families in England that were wont to worship God in unity and joyfulness One will pray and the other will not pray with him because he is unbaptized 16. and a third saith Family-duties are not commanded in Scripture One will sing praise to God another scorneth it as if it were singing of a Jig and a third will sing Psalms from the dictate of the Spirit only One will be of one Church and another of another Envying and strife hath taken place while
4. That they may be ashamed And (3) 2 Cor. 10. 8. 1 Cor. 5. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 20. to bring them to repentance So in regard of the Church that it may appear she maintains no vile persons that other members may be free from infection and that others may fear In Rom. 16. 12. there is a double duty commanded To mark To avoid The parties to be avoided are described from the effects Divisions and Offences they who cause these are to be marked avoided The rule to which they are contrary the doctrine they had heard namely of Salvation of Christ which they had learned in that Epistle or their first Converters False teachers then are to be marked so that we be not deceived by them they causing Divisions and Offences A watchful eye is to be upon all such Mat. 7. 14 15. Phil. 3. 2. who by their opinions or life cause divisions contrary to the doctrine of salvation Divisions and Scandals striking at the â—eart of Religion and of the Church The Apostles reasons to avoid such are The one Negative q. d. you think they serve Christ but they do not not submitting to his will not seeking to please him in all things The other Affirmative they serve their own bellies themselves their own turns their profit ease maintenance vain glory ambition carnal affections they aiming at their own gain and credit and not the glory of God Object We think they are good and honest men and their wayes good they being so successful they multiplying so much Answ 1. For their goodness and honesty I will give you Mr. Hodges answers in a Sermon upon 2 Pet. 2. 2. before the House of Commons March 10. 1646. You hear saith he what the Apostle sayes That many have a form and yet deny the power of godliness 2 Tim. 3. 5. The Wolf in the Fable that he might not be suspected but the more easily make his prey of the silly sheep put on a skin of theirs c. 2. Why saith he should you think to say he is an honest Pag. 58. or a pious man should be a foolish plea in case of abusing coyn theft treason or the like and yet should be of weight and force in this far greater business and more horrid mischief 2. For their increasing it is no argument of goodness 1. The Arrians did so overspread the Church that it was Miratur mundus se factum esse Arianum St. Hierom. a saying Athanasius against the World namely of Christians and the World against Athanasius 2. Popery did spread so fast and far that Papists triumphingly said and do Where was your Church before Luther and they make universality a note of the Church 3. Mahumetanism is so spread not only over the Turks dominions See Mr. Fox tom 2. p. 993. See Breerwoods Enquiry of Languages and Religions which are large and many in Europe Asia and Africk but in other Kingdoms and Countreys which are not under the Turk it having spread over Persia India China Tartaria c. Mahomet arose about six hundred years after Christ yet he hath bewitched so great a part of the World although his Alcaron contains such absurdities which are rather to be laught at then named Object But what need you to trouble us with such like things we being free from the one and the other Answ We living where and when errors do abound for we cannot all be in the truth holding contraries it is very necessary 1. Mr. Paget names about 143. errors and heresies which lately sprung up and shewed themselves not naming the Quakers of whom there was no notice when he did write that Book Among this swarm he names Papists praying in an unknown tongue holding Transubstantiation Purgatory c. Familists blasphemously affirming they are Godified with God Anabaptists affirming Baptism to be the mark of the Beast from Antichrist Antinomians teaching no Law no sorrow such an easie way to heaven that many follow them concerning whom Mr. Baxter saith I do not sit down in Pref. to Inf. Chur. memb an Antinomian conceit that I have nothing to do but express my joy and thankfulness Independents pretending to have a model of Government revealed to them better than all reformed Churches Sabbatarians affirming the Jewish Sabbath is to be kept Anti-Sabbatarians teaching there is no Sabbath every day being a Sabbath to Christians Thraskites observing many Jewish Ceremonies Millenaries believing that Christ shall reign a thousand years on the earth Socinians teaching that Christ did not satisfie for sins Arrians denying Christ's Deity Soul-sleepers Divorcers and others He dedicates his Book to the Lord Major and some chief Citizens of London He tells them that he had lived almost fifty years amongst them He commends their care against the infection of the Plague he minds them that the plague of Heresie is greater he shews how Antioch was consumed being a Nursery of Hereticks how Nicomedia a meeting place for Arrians was swallowed up how the Anabaptists meeting in Conventicles surprized Munster and how hardly Amsterdam escaped them Then he gives from Mr. Calvin he from St. Augustine notes of them They are great boasters of their own worth and actions as Simon Magus and the Gnâ—sticks They are blown up with pride which drives some to Rome some to Amsterdâ—m They are deceitful slanderers Separatists in this equalling the Jesuits They are treacherously seditious not preaching peace but division They have a shew of austerity and holiness Then he shews the end of his writing to be to give warning to well-meaning people to avoid errors fore-warning them to this end to beware of private Conventicles and to keep close to the Ministry of the Word and Communion of Saints in the Church 2. Mr. Baxter saith there are Devils abroad in the shape of Angels of light and Wolves within as sheep without 3. Mr. Vines in his fast Sermon before the House of Commons March 10. 1646. saith Are not the errors which are â—ife amongst us either by infecting persons of place and quality grown into that boldness or by carrying away Barnabas also crept into that credit or by spreading far and wide risen to that strength that they do face if not seem able to put into danger of routing our common saith publick worship authorized Ministry long and much expected promised reformation This to the common enemy is the Cape of good Hope the sound part are afraid lest the truth should come to beg for poor quarter and be led captive following the chariot of triumphing liberty 4. Mr. Hodges in his fast Seâ—mon at the same time and place saith How sad a sight is it to behold the spreading of this infection the shoals that being perverted follow these pernicious wayes to see how fast these tares thrive this leaven spreads this gangrene frets The Kingdom looks like a lazar house or field fought in many places by reason of this how many are there of all ages insnared by them The
the Gospel 5. It contradicts the practise of Christianity 6. It is opposite to the calling of Ministers 7. It is contrary to common prudence to go in suspected ways 8. It dissents from the Rules of Humanity to fight against him who so long preserved us 9. It is against nature it self to consent to our own destruction 10. It is against reason to go in a way in which all who are gone before us have perished 11. It is against our Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy 12. And it brings in and sets up Popery and Popish doctrine For example 1. The doctrine of resisting Kings is Popery 2. To place infallibility of judgment in man as the Papists in the Pope These in the Parliament 3. Papists believe in the creature the Church These in the Parliament 4. Papists say faith is not to be kept with Hereticks These with Malignants 5. Papists believe it to be meritorious to die in their holy War as they call it These believe the same of those who die for the cause 6. Both consent in the doctrines of pious frauds 7. Papists press the precepts of men These the Ordinances of Parliament 8. Papists would have all to submit to the Pope These to the Parliament 9. Both agree in violence and cruelty in his hearing he saith he heard one say It was good to assist the Parliament way for if the King prevailed we should find favour if they prevail we shall have cruelty 10. Both have the spirit of Antichrist causing men to deny the truth they had learned and professed 11. And in the point of defamation they are as dexterous as Papists for upon a sudden they can do that against a godly Minister which the Devil in many years was not able to do making him seem scandalous so odious Thus he I know what is pleaded for resistance and taking up of arms namely Obj. 1 If subjects may not resist then they must obey unlawful commands contrary to Act. 5. 29. Answ Active obedience is to be given to their lawful commands Passive when they command things unlawful So we are Dan. 3. 17. 6. 7. alwayes to obey by executing their will actively or by submitting to the punishment passively If an Emperor be a Nero or Caligula what warrant then to take up arms against such a King against whom envy it self could not fasten any aspersions Obj. 2 They said they took not up arms against the King but against his evil Councellors Answ This is a new coyn'd distinction to cover the ugly face of rebellion And it is a vain distinction for to oppose his Councellors is to oppose him And it is certain Governours are not to be resisted But why then were not these 1 P â— 1. 2. 3 evil men named why not demanded that they might be legally punished Why The sequel shew'd it was against the King himself Mr. John Blackleach in his endeavours Printed 1650. justifieth John Goodwin for justifying the murder of the King Pag. 53. and pag. 54. he affirms that they did not take away the life of the King but of one that had been King and hoped so to have been again And G. W. in his Resp Anglic. pag. 32. saith That the Parliament finding him the King the evil Councellor a settled and obstinate Tyrant And pag. 41. for a Parliament and State to call a Tyrant to an account is not unlawful Obj. 3 That they did was in obedience to publick command Answ Obedience is due and to be yielded to authority but then the Authority must be lawful not like Sheba's And 2 Sam. 20. 12. the thing commanded lawful They had neither who resisted the King Obj. 4 If subjects may not resist then it seems Kings may do what they will Answ Shall we reject the Word of God for seeming inconveniences God commands us to obey and shall we pretend inconveniences Besides Kings are not at such liberty but accountable to God And subjects have many remedies exhortations disswasives and reproofs by their Nathans to their Davids prayer flight Obj. 5 But if Kings command to worship Devils should we not resist should we obey Answ Devil-worship was commanded by Emperors yet Christians took up no arms for the matter they betook themselves 1 Cor. 10. 20. 1 Pet. 4. 12 13. to prayers and patient suffering according to Scripture Obj. 6 But what if the Government is in danger by evil managing Answ We are enjoyned obedience upon a great penalty let us in obedience perform our part and leave the ordering of all to God there coming many and greater inconveniences by Rom. 13. 5 taking liberty to resist making inferiors to over-rule their superiors the subjects their Prince Nor can there be greater inconveniences in a family or a Kingdom than when there is no obedience but to what seems good in mens own eyes Our Saviour shews what follows the dividing of a Kingdom against it self The self of a Common-wealth is the Maâ—k 3. 21 Law thereof the common surety between Governour and governed The self of a Kingdom is the Religion of a Kingdom The self of a Church is doctrine and discipline the one as the Corn the other as the Hedge which like body and soul must not be divided Resisting lawful Authority in lawful things makes such divisions brings strange inconveniences I will conclude this propounding five things to your considerations 1. That the same God who commands children and servants to obey in all things which are lawful their Parents and Masters commands subjects in all lawful things to obey Kings if not more since such may command both us and ours both Parents and Children An houshold is a little Common-wealth and a Common-wealth is a great houshold Governours of houses may and do expect obedience from their inferiors so Magistrates from them We are to do as we would be done by 2. That Christian obedience doth greatly adorn the Gospel Tit. 2 5 â—0 1 Pet. 2. 15 16. of Christ and by it we do profess an acknowledgment of Gods Ordinance 3. That we have a great advantage by Government by Rom. 13 4 Governours they are for our good whereas Anarchy opens a window to confusion Government is for our good natural that our life and safety may be preserved for our Mr. Parre good moral that we may be brought from vice to vertue for our good civil that we may enjoy possessions and that publick honesty may be defended and for our spiritual good having God's worship established Some perhaps say good men are molested But let such know that good Magistrates are good mens nourishers bad are their tryers so for their good And if any good men are punished for good it comes from the abuse of the power However it is certain Obedience Rom. 13. 3 brings praise is a doing of good and is a good work in an high degree Tit. 3. 1 2. As if the Apostle should say no good work can be expected from him