preaching against the true Christ preaching against the Scribes and Pharisees and they affirming him to be a deceiver And I dare maintain that what they preach contrary to what we preach in publick if they do to be contrary to sound doctrine Object You say you do nothing but what is good you set open the great doors and little doors not caring who sees who heareth you Answ 1. Admit that what is preached is good yet it is not well done good things should be well done according to rule and order 2. The Tree is known by the fruits and by your such Meetings we see the publick Ordinances slighted neglected contemned 3. I cannot accuse what is delivered in your Meetings but if it is contrary to what we preach in publick it is not good doctrine And let me tell you that John of Leyden infused his dangerous opinions in private Meetings and how our Mr. Thrask in publick preached sound truths but in his private Meetings he did indoctrinate his followers with his pernicious principles Object They who preach to us in private Meetings are pious men the other are profane vicious scandalous Answ 1. If this be true that some of us are such we are sorry for it yea such we will not justifie and when was it otherwise nor is all done by the other justifiable 2. There are more sins than swearing and drunkenness who can forget the swarms of sins in our late Tragedies and who were actors of many of them in it 3. For the present Are not despising of Authority disobedience Cobler of Gloc. to wholsom Laws sins from which are these men free 4. Blessed be God although we all are proclaimed to be profane and naught yet there are very many as free from idleness drunkenness swearing and such like vices and as painful pious charitable and inoffensive as the strictest in your commanded company 5. But to be plain with you All professions whilst kept under it is their interest to be orderly but when these men of late had their liberty we are able to prove the profane excesses of some of them even to publick scandal by Epicurism intemperance and uncleanness to say no more For my part I cannot think but that the respect such who are in Authority bear to themselves their care to have their Laws and Religion upholden their obedient Clergy not vilified and people kept from Atheism and rebellion will awaken them in time strictly and by severity to do that which their clemency will not do You cry out much against Popery yet your doings endeavour to bring it in and set it up it is a Jesuitical plot to sow division amongst us to make our Religion odious and that they may fish in troubled waters From a good Author I will tell you a story which is this Before our troubles one Meridith an ancient Dr. Nicols and learned Jesuit told one reconciled to the Church of Rome that in England they had been long and industrious about the work of conversion but it went on slowly and so would do until they took a wiser course Two things there were that must be done before they should bring their business to a full effect they must first find a way to remove the Bishops and Ministers in whose rooms they must bring it so about that all should have liberty to preach Then secondly they must get down the Common-prayer-Book and suffer every man to use what prayer he list And we cannot but remember how far they effected this in our sad troubles Besides if you expect such priviledge why may not they expect the same They being Christians they being subjects they and some of you being Recusants why not they their Mass as well as you your Meetings Object Why Those you hear in your Meetings have rare gifts they are pious and precious men Answ I envy no mans gifts but bless God for other mens parts and piety 2. Comparisons are odious otherwise we could say as St. Paul of the false Apostles in his time Are they thus and so so are we 3. The forbidden fruit without doubt was excellent yet it had been good for our first Parents to have contented themselves with their allowed Trees and fruits Many mens Wives and Diet come short of other mens yet it is fit their own should content them 4. Blessed be God your allowance is large you may hear every week three Sermons in an approved way and none of them to be contemned And as for Popish Priests do you not think theâ— will say for their Priests and Jesuits the same that you do for your Preachers you say yours are rarely gifted men great Scholars pious painful and what you will more They will not conform to the Book of Common-prayer nor observe the Orders appointed by the Church of England they will not assent and consent They can and will say the same of theirs If you say yours will take no Livings they can say the same and add not Wives neither If you say that yours live by providence going about to do good they can say theirs have no setled abiding but are sometimes here and there to promote and spread the Catholick cause and are maintained by the peoples bounty We acknowledge that we and Papists are Christians agreeing in many things for we and they acknowledge unity in Trinity but we with them acknowledge no Queen of heaven to pray unto We and they acknowledge the Scriptures to be the Word of God but we with them make not the Apocrypha Canonical We with them make the Word of God the ground of faith but we with them make not unwritten traditions of equal authority We and they agree in admitting doctrinal traditions agreeing with Scripture or thence deduced yea ritual for order and decency left to the disposition of the Church although but of positive and humane right they not being childish nor accounted parts of God's Worship nor with opinion of merit nor burdensom for multitude But we with them believe not traditions obtruded as Articles of Religion grounds of faith and parts of God's Worship they not being deduced from Scripture by inference nor expresly commanded such we reject We and they receive and believe the three Creeds but we with them receive not the Creed of Trent We and they believe the true God is to be worshipped in Spirit and truth we with them believe not that he is to be worshipped by Images We and they believe that we are to pray with fervency and sincerity but we with them pray not in an unknown tongue We and they pray to God but we with them do not pray to Saints and Angels We and they acknowledge Christ to be our Mediator of redemption and intercession but we with them do not at all rely upon the intercession and merits of Saints and Angels We and they do honour Saints departed but we with them do not worship them We and they do urge to good works we as necessary effects of justifying grace they as causes we
threatning it proceeds to acting so that you are punished then you will do wisely to consider whether the cause of suffering-will make it persecution He who is persecuted takes up Christs Cross and follows him he suffers not as an evil doer It is saâ—d to pull upon 1 Pet. 4. 15 our selves self-created Crosses It is saâ—d to bear the Cross and not follow Christ If our Cross is Christs we then suffer for the same cause to bear witness to the truth In the same manner patiently charitably thankfully and for the same end as Christ to take away sin so we to further mortification and be stir'd to repentance How loudly do the Papists cry out of persecution when they are punished and do you think justly How do the Quakers glory much of their persecution for Christ yea and the Donatists and Priscilianists of old have defended their Heresies to death which they counted Martyrdom and Persecution yea the most of men molested for their opinions do the like all thinking they suffer for Christ for righteousness sake and so conclude they are persecuted It is good when we suffer to see for what it is that we suffer and so should it be as you fear or fancy for your Meetings Then consider seriously and conscionably whether in so doing you do well or ill or not well Authority languisheth where it is not feared But if you do well fear no persecution Scripture assuring us that Rulers are not a terror to good works that is works the effect for the cause but to evil works To understand Rom. 13. 3 4. what are good or evil works we are to know that works are so Theologically taken so a good work is that which is done of faith and of a sincere mind for the glory of God it is ill when not done so The Magistrate cannot judge of these because they are inward but of good or Mr. Parre evil civilly so which are according to or contrary to the Law divine humane positive municipal of Kingdoms Cities and Corporations whereby the necessary discipilne of every State is established Of these he judgeth Wilt thou not be afraid do good namely obey and resist not He doth not mean the profession of Christianity for that was then hated but such good which was so in the judgment of the Heathen a civil honest conversation agreeable to the Laws of the State wherein they lived Then he is the Minister of God for such mens good But if thou do evil ver 4. namely moral or civil evil contrary to the Decalogue or positive Law of the place where thou livest fear for he beareth not the sword in vain since we must be subject and their Laws obeyed not only for wrath 1. Of God who is angry with such who resist Authority 2. But also of the Magistrate whom we provoke by disobedience justly to punish but also for conscience sake namely conscience of our brother it being an offence to a peaceable and loyal subject to see any to take liberty to break the Laws of the Magistrates as of our selves lest we wound our own consciences every soul being bound in conscience to obey his lawful Magistrates every part of Gods Law binds conscience And to obey Magistrates is part of Gods Law As we are to render to all theirs so to Caesar his due to Caesar the things which are Caesars Well what saith the Magistrate what saith the Law Mat 22. 21 Do they allow of your Meetings Give me leave to tell you how St. Augustine commends a Law Imperial made against the Donatists and Schismaticks in his time which was That they who separated from the Church and had private Conventicles should be punished with pecuniary mulcts their Leaders with banishment the place wherein they met to be forfeited to the Emperor they should have no power to bestow their own Goods by will nor enjoy any Legacy bequeathed to them Object But you perhaps will say If there is any Law against such Meetings it is not good Answ 1. Will not Papists Quakers and who not object the same of Laws made against them 2. Is it tollerable that a Statute made upon long deliberation by so many wise men and such in Authority should be disclaimed for the private opinions of some novel Divines and unletter'd persons 3. We should be modest and not think our selves wiser than we are Rom. 12. 3. 4. A good subject examines not what is best but what is commanded and submits to it it being lawful 5. If in making Laws every mans fancy was to be regarded there would be no end nor order 6. If men doubt of the lawfulness of things commanded let them go for resolution to such who are peaceable and Prov. 24. 21. not consult in matters of obedience with such who refuse to obey 7. In matters doubtful follow the safe Rule hold that which is certain leave that which is uncertain leave reasoning and obey the Magistrate that is certain It is our duty 8. Hear reverend Dr. Sibs who saith The Laws under which we live are particular determinations of the Law of God therefore ought to be a Rule unto us so far as they reach although Sib's souls conflict Edition first fol. 364. pag. 2. I note the Edition because later Editions have corrupted the Author so that what he speaks in general they restrain to some things of the second Table it be too narrow a Rule to be good only so far as mans Law guides unto yet love being the joynt reason and consent of many men for publique good hath an useful guidance of actions that fall under the same where it ☞ dasheth not against God's Law what is agreeable to Law is agreeable to conscience Object If any of you say as some do Authority will not save souls Answ Give me leave to tell them That the Religious commands of Authority such as of David Jehosaphat Josiah Hezekiah for the keeping of the Passeover and order in the service of God such as of our Kings and Governours for the observation of the Lord's day for the hearing and preaching of the Word with other such did and doth save souls and far more than your Meetings yea so much as a thing well and legally done furthers it more than a thing done illegally and disobediently Besides if all which is taught in your private Meetings is good and warrantable yet it is so far from converting that it perverts many souls causing them to judge amiss of wholsom Laws and good Government causing them to slight the Ministers of the Gospel whom they are to hear and obey making rents and divisions in the Church hardning Papists profane people in their unwarrantable ways and making many well-minded people at a stand not knowing what to do And as it is certain that the commands of such who are in Authority over us concerning matters of Religion tend to the conversion and edification of men so it is without all
England as unchristian and persecuting was constrained to mention as I have done 3. And in thus doing I imitate a good President St. Paul who names in his writings especially to the Corinthians his own sufferings and from them also For my self I was glad I had such a living to lose for so good a cause and an heart so willing to part with it I in so doing finding the truth of a saying Ministers portion p. 208. in Dr. Sclater Affliction is the best tutor to devotion And such experiences of Gods mercies to me and mine that I was as all who knew me can testifie patient content and cheerful And since my return which is eighty ears I have not shewed the least dislike to those who outed me and therefore now being scarce able to go and shortly to end my pilgrimage I hope I shall cherish no such hellish vermin as malice and desire of revenge in my heart but endeavour to live with such love and peace which are the furtherers to that future love peace and joy which are for ever Should any question why I make so much use of Mr. Ball and some old Non-Conformists of Mr. Bayly and other later Presbyterians most men without my telling may conjecture rightly â—ecause such mens sayings will sooner prevail with those I deal withal than of the Fathers and other Divines As also because men may see the vast difference betwixt them and those whose so lowers they pretend to â—e when in truth they are followers of Mr. Barrow Greenwood â—â—d such of the separation who had Mr. Ball Mr. Brinsly c. old Non-Conformists Mr. Edwards Mr. Bayly c. late Presbyterians their great opposers JAM 1. 16. Do not err my Beloved Brethren THE three last Lords dayes I preached unto you of conscience I shewed you what it is the kinds of it how it is God's Officer what its duty is and what its rule That we are not to take all for conscience which pretends to be so And since conscience is in every one and it will live with us for ever that we should be careful to have our consciences such that we and they may have peace and comfort and that for this end we should endeavour to have our consciences enlightned faithful lively and not blind slothful dead or erroneous therefore I purpose to shew you what it is to err the danger of error and in the words of St. James disswade you from it Do not err c. The Apostle having disswaded from thinking God to be the Author of sin an horrid blasphemy he perswades them Psal 119. 176. Isa 63. 17. not to err or wander a Metaphor taken from sheep going astray Errors are of two sorts 1. In practise going from the Word the Rule of righteousness erring from God's wayes 2. In judgment going off from the Word as the standard and measure of truth which we commonly call error To make way to what I intend I will lay down some few Propositions I. Proposition The first That error is common to man ever since the fall of man It is evident how Adam and Eve erred and how their posterity smart for it is manifest yea how their posterity were polluted with error we see in Cain and in the old world for which the Lord sent the Deluge After which errors so abounded that Languages were confounded Sodom and Gomorrha turned into ashes After the Lord chose Abrahâ—m and his seed to be his peculiar people they soon erred in Egypt in the Wilderness and in Canaan worshipping Calves and Baal yea sacrificing their children to Devils When our Saviour Christ was upon earth how oft doth he check for erring not knowing the Scriptures How oft doth he confute the errors of the Scribes Pharisees and Saduces What warnings and caveats doth he give to us Mat. 7. 15. Mat. 24. 24. Act. 8. 9 13 18. 2 Tim. 2. i7 Rev. 2. 14 15 20. 2 Cor. 11. 13. Gal. 3. 1. Phil. 3. 1. Rom. 16. 17. Eph 4. 14. 1 Tim. 4. 2 2 Tim. 3. 1 2. 2 Tim. 4. 3 to beware of false Prophets in sheeps cloathing and acquaint us with the danger of such After our Saviours ascending into heaven errors did abound notwithstanding the pains and piety of the Apostles Simon Magus bewitched the people Elymas also with Hymineus and Philetus Some in the Asian Churches held the doctrine of Balaam some of the Nicolaitans and some the filthy follies of Jezabel The Corinthians were drawn from the doctrine of the truth by false Apostles The Galâ—tians bewitched from the truth The Philippians in great danger The Romans staggered with such who caused divisions and the Ephesians subject to be carried about with every wind of doctrine The Apostle also foretels of swarms of errors which should be and how men will not endure sound doctrine but after their lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears turning their ears from the truth and be turned to fables Since which all ages shew how this was fulfilled for in the first hundred years after Christ many gross errors abounded as the Symoniani of Simon Magus the Hyminei of Hymineus and Philetus The Nazareni so called of the City Nazareth See opus Epiphanii de Haresib Augustin de Haeresib Tom. 8. The Menandriani of Menander Scholar to Magus The Ebionites of Ebion whom St. John confuted The Nicolaitans of Nicholas one of the seven Deacons The Cerinthii of Cerinthus whom St. John called the first-born of Satan The Saturniani of Saturnus The Basilidians of Basilides c. In the second century after Christ there sprung up above thirty several sorts of which number were the Maritae of Marus who called themselves perfect yea more perfect than Peter and Paul They denied Christ's taking humane nature and the resurrection of the flesh About this time also arose the Gnosticks so called because of their excellent knowledge in their own opinions although but vain By others they were called Barbaritae because of their wickedness and filthiness They fancied two souls in each good man one holy of the substance of God the other adventitious which is in man as in other creatures They taught the being of two Gods the one good the other evil That Martyrdom was not to be undertaken for Christ They worshipped the Images of Christ and had images in as great esteem as Pagans their Gods In the third Century there arose about twenty sorts of Heresies of which I will name two The Catharists so called from their sanctity in their own opinion they gloried of merits of their good works they denied repentance to such who fell through infirmity and condemned second marriages as unlawful The Donatists also of Donatus who affirmed the Church of God on earth to be without spot None to be compelled to live well Hereticks not to be repressed by Magistrates That the worthiness of the Sacrament is from the holiness of him who gives it That persons baptized by the Orthodox are to be rebaptized
That killing themselves to avoid punishment for their errors is Martyrdom They said the Son was inferiour to the Father the holy Ghost to the Son and they boasted of Revelations In the fourth Century arose above twenty of which the Pelagians was one of Pelagius who taught that Adam should have died if he had not sinned That Adams sin did hurt only himself That there is no Original sin That men have free will sufficient to do well and that God gives grace to the merits of works The fifth Century had some and the sixth brought forth as some others so those grand errors of Mahumetanism and Papism Mahumetanism of Mahomet which hath overspread many Kingdoms under the Turk and other Kings They deny the being of persons in the Trinity They say God is corporeal That Christ was not God but a creature yet a great Prophet That Christ did not suffer nor was not crucified That the Devil in the end shall be saved That Eternal Life consists in bodily pleasures They observe Circumcision Washings with some other Judaical Ceremonies They swear by Creatures and War for Religion to which they say men are to be compelled They allow of many Wives and Divorce without cause They hope to be saved by works They deny pardon for ever to them who forsake their Religion They hold venial and mortal sins They pray towards the East a set number daily but not for unbelievers And they take away the Sacraments ordained by Christ Papism arose under Phocaâ— the Emperor and Boniface the third Popes of Rome Luther was born at Isleben in Saxony Sleidan Anab. 1483. He when Leo the tenth sent forth pardons 1516. opposed them Preaching in Saxony there arose Nicolas Stocks and Thomas Muncer preaching that goods should be common Upon this fourty thousand rose in Suevia and Franconia plundering and killing but the Princes arming took Frantus executed Muncer Phifer and hundreds more The City Munster having received the Gospel John Becâ—ld a Taylor came from Leyden thither where keeping Conventicles in few months he gets a great party they obtain freedom for their Religion and after grow so strong as to drive all the Protestants out This John of Leyden is made King he gave leave to have many Wâ—ves himself took fifteen Being vanquished he with Knipperdoling were tyed to a stake their flesh pul'd in pieces with hot pâ—ncers he recanted his errors Knipperdoling did not but died like a mad man These Anabaptists maintained as Mr. Paget shews us ten errors not to be tollerated in the Church Four not to be suffered in a Common-wealth and three not in a Family as community of goods putting away of Wives of a contrary Religion and that Christians may have many Wives Thousands of these perished in Germany by the sword and in Qâ—een Elizaâ—eths time some of them in England recanted and some were burnt After these arose the Brownists called Separatists because Mr. Paget they separate from all reformed Churches then one from another Robert Brown School-master in Southwark preached in a gravel-pit neer Islington Mr. Fox refused to talk with him Mr. Greenham perswaded him but could not prevail so to little purpose for he led his company beyond Sea where seeing their divisions he left them returned into England took the Parsonage of a Church in Northamptonshire and died as I have been informed since the beginning of our late troubles He and his followers left our Church as they said for our many abominations The Barrowists following yet more they compared our Church to Sodom Babylon Egypt as Barrow Brewis Bois Rutter c. The Wilkinsonians went a step higher affirming they were the Apostles and denied Communion to all who would not give them that title Mr. Paget The Lemmarists maintained a monster of Heresies Mahumetanism denying the Trinity and the eternal Godhead of Christ Judâ—ism affirming Christ to come shortly to reign on the earth Papism affirming a meer creature may be worshipped Lutheranism maintaining consubstantiation Anabaptism affirming that Christ took not flesh of the Virgin Mary Libertinism holding no visible Church on earth Brownism holding separation separating from all Churches excommunicating and cursing on another Mr. Paget also tells us that the begining of the Independents was thus Mr. Robinson leaving Norwich in discontent became a rigid Brownist but after by conference with some learned men he recanted his opinions yet derived this his way of Independency to his separate Congregation at Leyden and part of that Congregation did carry it to Plymouth in new England where the ashes of Independency did break out into a burning flame And Mr. Bâ—yly sets down the fruits of Mr. Bayly this Independency in new England in the opinions of some for I suppose he speaks not of all there being amongst them many sober Ministers and Magistrates who opposed and overthrew those opinions And they refusing to own the late powers is an Argument of their sobriety Besides there hath been great conversion of the Indians in so much that the Bible is translated and Printed in their Tongue as I am informed How it placeth many thousands of Christians in the condition of Pagans how it marr'd the conversion of Pagans to Christian Religion how it brought forth the foulest Heresies that ever yet were heard of in any Protestant Church to the number of fourscore and eleven That their piety seemed singular their malice was singular against all who opposed them especially Orthodox Ministers That their contempt of Magistrates was grievous their errors in opinion did draw on such seditious practises which did well near overturn both their Church and State That their proud obstinacy against all admonitions was marvellous that in the midst of their profession of piety the prophanity of many of them was great Of these particulars he speak largely and shews his warrant for what he saith in many particulars In Queen Elizabeths time Mr. Barrow Greenwood Percy and some others were executed Studly Billet and Bowly had judgment to be so The first Proposition is clearly evident That men yea the best of men are subject to err humanum est errare and have need to be called on not to err for they who have most light here have much darkness in them and we are more prone to follow the darkness of our spirits than the light of Gods Spirit He who thinks he cannot err reckons himself more than a man for whilst there remains corruption in the will the understanding cannot be wholly free from corruption The wills affections and understandings of Saints on earth have some corruption remaining in them as their practise so their opinions are soyld and faulty yea oftentimes good men continue long in error Jobs friends did multiply but not mend their answers for as it is hard to part Job 21. 34 with an evil practise so and much more with an ill opinion c. error in opinion because that reflects on the reputation of the best faculty the judgment And
hoary head that is ready to descend to the grave and your hopeful spring that seemed to promise life and happiness to the Church and State And in his Epistle he saith The Prince of flies hath raised such swarms of flies in every corner of our Land that many of our Congregations and Families are miserably fly-blown with heresie and corrupt tenets Also in his Sermon he hath this passage Did ever former ages produce more hideous monsters than we have risen up amongst us in this poor Island Are there not Arrians who Valenâ—inians who Gnosticks who The Nazareans opinions The Corinthians form the Carpocratians improbity and the Christians profession 5. Mr. Bayly hath discovered and numbred swarms of errors and heresies amongst us and saith that the greatest hazard of the Church this day comes from the evil of errors 2 Tim. 2. 17 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. it eating up the soul as a gangrene the body and bringing destruction 6. The Parliament which was 1646. were so sensible hereof that they appointed a Fast to be kept March 10. for the suppressing and preventing of the growth and spreading 2 Pet 2. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 2. of Heresies and Blasphemies the forenamed Mr. Vines and Mr. Hodges preached before the House of Commons their Text in the Margent 7. Mr. Edwâ—rds hath Book after Book to this purpose discovering the swarms of gross errors maintained in our times to the number of above an hundred and seventy He gâ—ves us a Catalogue of their many blasphemies of strange passages in their prayers and then parallels them with the Donatists in St. Augustines time The Donatists complained of persecution so do these The Donatists were violent against those who opposed their way so are these Donatists were great flatterers extolling their parties for gifts and abilities so do these Donatists condemned that in others they practised themselves so do these Donatists were unwilling to have their writings examined by judicious men but kept them in the dark because they cannot agree together or amongst themselves because they know not how long they shall be of one mind and how far they shall go because they would not offend their own party and because they would not discover their own weakness so these The Donatists did much wrong to Authors misquoting them so do these He parallels them with Jesuits affirming that Separatists and Jesuits agree so that both send out emissaries to spread their errors both use pious frauds to propagate their cause both infinuate into great mens houses both are full of equivocations saying one thing meaning another both are active restless spirits never without plenty and fine designs both work by instruments unsuspected getting their work done by others both will run great hazards being daring to effect their ends He parallels them with divers others amongst whom with Julian the Apostate as Julian was a scoffer of Christ of Christians of Scriptures so some Sectaries of Christ some of the Trinity some of the Ministry some of the Oâ—dinances Julian was a great enemy to learning so these He was a Patron of toleration which these seek for Then he sets down 28 of their evil practises of which these are some They ascribe all good done to be by their party They call themselves the godly and well affected They pretend one thing and mind another They strive to have the Church without Ministers They would have no Church Government or if any with a toleration Some of them put down all singing of Psalms and keep on their hats at prayer Some of them pretend to miracles visions revelations for their way to confirm their Doctrines When Books come out confuting them they tell the people they are or shall be confuted and â—nswered to delude the people Some of them have strangly abused Baptâ—sm dressing a Cat and in scorn and contempt of the Ordinance baptized it When they print they give their Books glorious titles as Innocency and truth triumphing The storming of Antichrist c. They will seem to be what they are not until they have served their turn waiting opportunity to make void all they seemed to grant They are restless to promote their cause observing all tempers and humours They desperately judge of the estates and actions of all men who are not for them unsainting them as fallen from grace They walk more loosly and at large over what they did before they turned Sectaries and in comparison of Presbyterians doing He was one many things under the name of Christian liberty which Professors formerly did not nor durst do when they have set to their hands to many things they have desired to see the papers and would not restore them They upbraid Presbyterians for former conformity as time-servers to make people believe the Presbyterians are not consciencious only time-servers whereas these were Conformists forward Episcopal men thrusting others out who would not be so naming seven yea some of the chief of them went further in conformity then Presbyterians naming three Thus he Although the words of these men shew abundantly the swarming of errors yet they forget that some of themselves and of their party were the parents of these spurious births by opposing and destroying the worship of God and Government of the Church which whilst vigorous did curb and suppress them with good success We living therefore when and where errors abound I desire you not to take it ill that I use mine endeavour that neither you nor I may live or die in error and as beloved brethren to desire you not to err I am a man therefore subject to err but such a one who desire not to live in any error but erring to be reformed And since you and I do err in somethings being so contrary in our opinions I will shew you my grounds perswading me that I am in the right and that it is you not I that do err And in doing this I aim at no mans prejudice I shall shew no passion although I have been chollerick and passionate yet I have been so long a Scholar in Christs School as to know my self my duty and not to be overswayed by such corruptions I beseech you therefore in meekness in cool blood as you and I shall answer at the great day the great Judge of the world to consider conscientiously a few following particulars The First I did and do think I was and am still perswaded that the taking up of arms lately amongst us as for King and Parliament but indeed against the Kâ—ng was unlawful and a rebellion to be repented of As many others so some of you did and perhaps still think otherwise one of us must needs be guilty of a gross and grievous error I am confident that I in this err not since as I judge we may not take up arms against a lawful Soveraign should he be vile wicked unjust an Idolater and that ours against whom arms were taken was neither My grounds are 1. The sacred Scriptures
Paul another for Apollo another for Cephas 1 Cor. 1. 1 2. Was the blame in the Preacher or Hearers when they would not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts did heap to themselves Teachers having itching ears turning away their ears from the truth being turned to Fables 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. Was the fault in Manna that heavenly food or in the men a murmuring generation when it was loathed Let people hear without prejudice with better affections and more preparation and then see if the Word is unprofitable 5. But if the many hundreds as well as I who by word and hand have approved of me and of my preaching as not unprofitable if we all do err that I am so unprofitable at Broughton I desiring your good and profiting I can God permitting me and perhaps will make tryal whether some other can profit you being assured that I can preach in many places where my preaching will be esteemed acceptable and profitable 6. But take heed to your selves for if we be but the savour of death we do our Masters work we do what we are sent for And if we cannot give our account with joy but 2 Cor. 2. 15. Heb. 13. 17. with grief I am sure that will be unprofitable to you I had thoughts not once to mention such things not to shew one disliking word or look to such who endeavoured to ruin me and mine but to prevent greater inconveniences into which I see some running imitating St. Paul writing to the Corinthians I play the fool in his sense The Third A third particular in which you and I much differ is about persecution concerning which you or I do greatly err some of you complaining of persecution and one of your Articles against me being thus He hath been and still is an enemy to all those that profess the power of godliness in his Parish and hath persecuted them as far as possibly he could and estranged himself from the society of all the faithful and godly Ministers about us and upon all occasions would give reproachful speeches against them Thus your Article And I think I was persecuted and by some of you and as for your selves you yet never knew what it meant That you or I may come out of this error let us first see what persecution is Persecution is more than affliction many afflictions have no persecutions in them but every act of persecution hath many afflictions in it Afflictions many arise from irrational yea from inanimate creatures persecution is the act of a Act. 9 1. rational creature reason abused or clouded being the spring of persecution One wicked man may vex or afflict another to death but none are said to be persecuted but the good evil men are punished good men persecuted And if an evil man is persecuted it is because he makes shew or profession of goodness Persecution in a large sense signifies to trouble Job 19 22 strictly taken it is the actual opposition of any man for the cause of God for righteousness sake proceeding from an enemy like zeal against his person or peace it is mental when the spirit of man riseth up and opposeth another verbal when men give hard words and uncharitable censures and real mentioned Mat. 10. 18. To do thus or to persecute Act. 9. 5. is exceeding sinful it opposing another for doing of good for holding the truth yea it is such a sin as to persecute Christ And a persecutor is a great offendor yea one of the greatest sinners Paul confesseth hâ—mself to have been a chief offendor because a great persecutor As it is one of the highest acts of graces to be persecuted so it is 1 Tim. 1. 15. one of the highest acts of wickedness to persecute it opposing Christ See therefore whether you or I were persecutors or persecuted it being a matter of great concernment even of salvation I think and affirm that I was persecuted which I prove from what I suffered from the manner how and the cause why See what I suffered the loss of four loads of goods of above seventy sheep twelve swine and six kine driven away at one time And August the fourth July 15. 1643. following not full three weeks the loss of my living the gift of it to another bearing date that day although the place was supplyed by my care until the uncivil and unchristian carriage of some of you forced for bearance I lost my reputation so far as credit would be given to malicious and false reports and accusations of being a Malignant an enemy to the cause of God yea such a one that all the godly in Broughton refused to hear my preaching and went to Northampton some saying nothing only to make number and so to make me more noted for a vile person and when some have seemed to compassionate my condition then such base back blows If you knew him as we do c. the manner therefore with all the disgrace and violence that could be And why all this for what cause I could tell you what some said I might be quiet if I would do as you did I could tell you what some of your great ones said I should be quiet if I would take the Covenant But I neither durst do as you did nor take the Covenant I had taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and so had many of your leading men I saw the Word of God the Laws of the Land and the practise of the primitive Church against you which made me more willing to suffer than sin my sufferings being for righteousness sake for doing my duty I am bold to say and conclude it was I who was persecuted and some of you were persecutors Object But what can I say to your Article Answ Your own consciences can tell you that there is not the least truth in it that it is a fardle forced full of falshoods stuft almost with as many gross lyes as words and those as false as ever came from hell You know in those dayes I was most intimate with such who were said to be persecuted you know that before I was forced away I never molested man woman or child to the value of a farthing surely then no persecutor notwithstanding that lying Article And since my return I complained of one for not coming to the Communion but prosecuted it not and if I had it could be no persecution being for disobedience and for to reform Another for tryal of right both which I may do again and be no persecutor As for your being persecuted I as yet never knew nor heard that any of you was molested although some of you have even dared authority to use severity by your rash indiscretion The Fourth Object Perhaps you will say you are threatned for such and such Meetings and is not this persecution of good men Answ 1. Surely if one is threatned and no more that afflicts not much 2. But suppose from
are two chief moderators 1. General namely charity directing us when and where to use our liberty the thing being indifferent to us this made St. Paul to say he would eat no flesh whilst the world stood rather than offend his brother 2. Special as lawful authority abridging a man of this liberty For example It is indifferent for a man to take to and follow this or that trade yet the Magistrate for common good limits this liberty so that no man shall follow such a Trade until he have served such a time nor in a corporation except or until he be free of the same For Merchants to transport commodities is indifferent The Magistrate for publick good limits this liberty and forbids the transporting of some things for a certain time To â—ate fish fowl or flesh is indifferent The Magistrate limits so as before See the rubricks after the Communion for kneeling at it And whereas it is lawful to pray standing or kneeling to receive the Communion sitting standing or kneeling the Magistrate to maintain uniformity and order moderates and limits this liberty appointing all in publick prayer and receiving the communion to use the gesture of kneeling as most decent orderly religious and tending to uniformity which determinations of authority are to be obeyed because There is a certain ignoto called they say who affirms that if the Magistrate enjoyns liberty is lost And when we reply grant that and confusion will follow in families in Kingdoms To this this Ignaro answers in civil and temporal matters the Magistrate may command and we lawfully obey not in Ecclesiastical and religious but alas this pitiful single umbra either knows not or foâ—gets that the actions of Gods worship are either essential or circumstantial essential are principal as piety holiness or subordinate as helps to the better performing and declaring of such worship as prayer preaching Sacraments concerning which we may consider That they as prayer preaching Sacraments are necessarily to be performed because instituted of God 2. Circumnantiaâ— which shew the manner how they are to be performed concerning the place time gesture c. these are left to the Church 1 Cor. 11. 24. St. Paul would order such things when he came and saw what was convenient Act. 15. 29. the Church then enjoyned things long since abrogated Titus must order things in Creet and St. Peter enjoyns 1 Pet. 2. 13. to submit to every Ordinance of man submit therefore honour pay all duties to every humane Ordinance humane because proper to men and by some humane act for the Lords sake namely under God of God from God to every to all Governours good and bad in all things which do not cross Piety and Religion our obedience is to go so far as their commission is to command not to civil causes only but to religious also and wherein their precepts may not be followed our obedience must be passive But whatsoever lawful thing is appointed by the Church for order and decency may with a good conscience yea ought to be obeyed lawful and commanded And I desire such who think the command of a lawful thing makes it unlawful to apply it to your own occasions as after this manner your man may yea he ought it is his duty to saddle your horse and do any other such thing but in case you bid him do it then your command makes it unlawful Apply it thus to your selves and you will see the fondness of such fancies The old Non-Conformists in their modest confutation of Separatists answering their objections concerning using stinted commanded prayers say The peoples understanding and memory is better helped by that they are acquainted with than with other pag. 14. And that it is lawful to use such good forms which are imposed by authority And we ought the rather to do good things that are agreeable to the Word when we know them to be also commanded by the Christian Magistrate pag. 15. Obj. 1 But by so doing we shall offend our weak brother which we are forbidden to do Answ All are not weak in their own opinions who plead for such 2. Weak are to be informed not to be nourished in their weakness and wilful are to be opposed 3. By obeying you shall offend some by disobeying you shall offend many by obeying you will offend some private persons by disobeying you shall offend publick Whether are we to prefer the few or many the private or publick Obj. 2 Christ condemns the traditions of men Mat. 15. 9. Things enjoyned are such Answ Christ condemns those of the Pharisees for they were enjoyned as parts of God's Worship contrary to God's commandments and preferred before them and upon opinion of merits by them Mat. 15. 6. as necessary to salvation Ours are not so but only for decency common order and uniformity Obj. 3 But I think others to be better and such to be needless Answ 1. Some must determine else so many men so many minds so many wayes 2. They who determine cannot may not be every one but such whom God hath set over us 3. And admit some things in our conceits might be amended is not peace better than contention about them they being lawful who in his wits will pull down a fair building because he thinks a tyle doth not lye well to his mind Obj. 4 But such and such are superstitious Answ Many talk much of superstition and against it who know not what it is and themselves in refusing some things are oftentimes more superstitious Superstition properly taken is too much strictness about extremity in Religion and it is It is meticulosus numinis timor as Theophrast hath it in his characters or as others Nimia circa sacra Religio Superstitiosum est quicquid institutum est ab hominibus ad sacienda colenda idola pertinens vel ad colendam sicut Deum creaturam partem ve ullam creaturae vel ad consultationes pacta cum daemonibus c. Decretal 2. p. caus 26. q. 2. c. illud sometimes joyned with idolatry Act. 17. 22. They were more superstitious than others worshipping more Heathen God's than others or were more devout in Heathen Worship than others Take superstition for a nimity or overmuchness in the inward and substantial parts of Religion so no man can be superstitious namely too much truly religious no man can pray to the true God too fervently or hear his Word too reverently or attentively Object But is it not superstition to ascribe holiness to times places and things Answ Ignorance will fault things causelesly for no more is meant than that such are set apart from common to holy uses But we are to know that superstition may be as well in placing piety in the Negative as Affirmative in not kneeling as kneeling in abstaining scrupulously from things commanded as in using them scrupulously Negative precepts are as perfect in forbidding things unlawful as affirmative in requiring things necessary or permitting