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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53386	The opinions of certaine reverend and learned divines concerning the fundamentall points of the true Protestant religion, and the right government of reformed churches Wherein is declared the plaine path-way to a godly and religious life. Published by authoritie.; Good counsells for the peace of reformed churches.	T. I.; Davenant, John, ca. 1572-1641.; Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.; Morton, Thomas, 1564-1659.; Ussher, James, 1581-1656.	1643 (1643)	Wing O356; ESTC R216583	49,936	153

rule neither overthrowing that which they have builded by superinducing any damnable here●ies thereupon nor otherwise vitiating their holy Faith with a lewd and wicked conversation peace shall be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God THE OPINION OF SOME FAMOUS DIVINES OF the FRENCH Church THat which hath been the constant and earnest wish of all good men for these hundred yeares past and which by all wise men hath been esteemed worthy to be purchased at any rate and with any paines though never so great this we heare to the exceeding great joy of our hearts is at this day endeavoured by some worthy servants of Christ with singular zeale and not without good hopes of a happy successe to wit that the Protestant Churches which differ one from another about some Points of Religion laying aside or at least moderating on both sides their over-tenacious adhering to their own Opinions may now at length be united and made up into one body We being much joyed with this welcome newes first of all we render all possible praise and thankesgiving to almighty God the giver of all good things that he hath been pleased to put such good thoughts and intentions into the hearts of his servants and wee most earnestly beseech him that his blessing may goe along with this good designe crowne it with successe next we returne many thanks to those our reverend and worthy Brethren and fellow-Ministers who have put their hands to this worke and we doe highly applaud and admire their faithfulnesse zeale charity and singular magnanimity courage herein What a brave and noble spirit does it argue in them that they could once hope for an Unity and Peace of our Churches in these desperate and distracted times Or that they durst venter upon a matter of such difficulty which had so often been attempted heretofore by men of great abilities but could never be brought to passe What the event of this so great and good a designe will be is in the sole power pleasure of almightie God but surely the very endeavouring and intending of so good a worke deserve's no litle commendation for the bare purpose or having in one's heart and thoughts matters of great concernment and such as may make for the good of Christ's Church is a great and good worke never faile's of its reward from our bountifull God although there be good cause to hope that the paines which learned men take hereabout shall even with men too have its fruit effect For now that they have spent their spirits and heat of contention wearied themselves with long strife and variance it is more than probable that they will now at last entertaine those Counsells of Peace which they have hitherto out of spleene and passion rejected and set light by Besides that most sharp plowshare of God's judgement wherewith for almost these foureteene yeares he hath furrowed and plowed up the French and German Churches hath so subdued broken up men's minds on each side that never was there a more fit and seasonable opportunity for sowing and casting in the seeds of Unity and Peace than now Wee cannot chuse therefore but greatly approve commend and admire the purposes and endeavours of those worthy men who have imployed their paines in so necessary a worke but since we understand how that they are desirous to knowe more particularly what our Opinion is of this whole businesse let us proceed to set downe as breifly and plainly as we can our judgement herein Indeed it were much to be wished that they who professe themselves Christ's Disciples and followers would all think and speake alike of matters spirituall and Divine perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement as S. Paul exhorts his Corinthians But since there is so much weaknesse in man's understanding and so great difficulty in Points of Divinity that this perfect and absolute agreement betwixt pious men is a thing not to be had or hoped for in this world in the next place it were to be wished that they would agree and be of the same beleife about the maine principall Heads of Religion and for other matters which are of lesse moment and use and such as do not any way make either for holinesse of life or comfort of men's consciences consequently doe not necessarily pertaine to Christ's kingdome which consists in those two things that they would in such wise beleive them as to beare with others who dissent frō them about such Points For as we see in civill saecular matters the best States-men are not alwaies of the same Opinion concerning the affaires of the Commonwealth so likewise in the Church so long as the summe and substance of Religion is agreed upon maintained no matter though in some other Points the judgements of the Faithfull be various and different That this is lawfull both the thing it selfe loudly proclaimes it and S. Paul confirmes it who doe's not only permit but command us more than once to beare with such as differ from us in their Opinions and 't is the common and generall Opinion of all such Divines as have been of any note and esteem in the Church ever since our Saviour Christ's times downe to this present age Yet is not this so to be understood as if all manner of Differences in Religion were to be tolerated for even the same Apostle denounceth an Anathema against such as shall preach any other Gospell than that which he had preached and the most moderate amongst the Fathers of the Christian Church have alwaies constantly held that we are to shunne and avoid the company of Hereticks For there bee some Opinions of those men who differ about Religion which overthrow the very foundation of our Salvation destroy either that Piety or that Charity which wee are commanded by God's word to practise towards God and men such are the erroneous Doctrines of Romanists who will have that religious worship given to creatures which God hath reserved peculiar to himselfe who make our Faith to rely upon the judgement and authority of men who severall waies overthrow the Preistly office of Jesus Christ in a word who have with their own inventions so stained and deformed the whole Christian Religion that they have left no one part in it sound and untainted Such likewise are the Opinions of Socinians who to let passe their other Positions deny our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus to be truely God and if once you take away his Divinity it will necessarily follow that either wee worship a creature or else that we doe not worship the sonne of God both of which are manifestly repugnant to those Trueths which are delivered to us in holy Writ as absolutely necessary to Salvation We conceive therefore that no Peace in way of Religion can be had with these men nor with any others who maintaine any Errours of this nature till they shall

THE OPINIONS OF CERTAINE REVErend and Learned Divines concerning the Fundamentall Points of the true Protestant Religion and the Right Government of Reformed Churches Wherein is declared the plaine Path-way to a Godly and Religious Life EPHES. 4. 15. Speake the truth in love Published by Authoritie Printed for Ch. Downes 1643. To The godly and Christian Readers Grace and Peace AS there is nothing more pleasing to God than to be truly zealous for his glorie so no way better to attaine that zeale than to read and meditate upon Gods Commandements and strive to live in love and charitie with all men which that you may the better performe I beseech you peruse these ensuing Discourses and the Lord give you understanding in all things T. I. Psal. 120. WHen I was in trouble I called upon the Lord he heard me Deliver my soule O Lord from lying lips from a deceitfull tongue What reward shall bee given or done unto thee thou false tongue even mightie and sharp arrowes with hot burning coles Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech and to have mine habitation among the tents of Kedar My soule hath long dwelt among them that be enemies unto peace I labour for peace but when I speak unto them thereof they make them ready to battell THE OPINION OF THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IOHN DAV●NANT Bishop of Sarisbury To his learned and worthy friend Mr IOHN DURY T IS well worthy the consideration of all pious Divines which God speakes by his Prophet Zachary love the Truth and Peace With which that of the Apostle also suite's well {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} speake the truth in love Wee may not so hotly pursue after Trueth as that in the mean time we wholly neglect Peace nor may we desire such a Peace as will not consist with the Trueth Those Divines therefore who quarrell and contend so much for the Faith and Religion they may talke what they list but hee that love's not both Trueth and Peace love's indeed neither nor hath he any true affection or desire to either of them who desire 's them not both For if it be true which Philosophers tell us that each naturall body doth no lesse desire it's unitie than it 's being I see no reason why the spirituall and mysticall body the Church Catholique should not with as great a zeale study to preserve her unitie seeing if that be once dissolved and lost shee is so farre from being a Church that she cannot so much as be imagined one Let us then on God's name be as earnest and eager in desiring defending the Trueth as the best but withall let us not forget that of Saint Paul that if it be possible and as much as in us lie's we live peaceably with all men J say with all men in an externall and civill but with all Christian men in a spirituall and Ecclesiasticall peace This is the earnest desire of our Saviour Christ and 't is the joynt wish prayer of his whol Church that all they who professe themselves beleivers in Christ might be united and knit together into one body that they might be all of one heart and of one soule This being so surely those pious and peacemaking Divines are highly to bee commended who of late have imployed themselves and their endeavours about the reeonciling of the Reformed Churches For my owne part I would to God I were able to contribute any thing that might further and promote so good and godly a worke What I can I shall willingly at your request Sir doe it and shall impart unto you what my thoughts were when J lately meditated with my selfe hereupon In the first place therefore it would bee considered whether or no it be possible to establish such an union amongst all the Reformed Churches so as that they shall account of one another not as friends only but as Brethren and exhibit mutually each to other the signes fruites and effects not onely of an outward and generall freindship but of a more intimate spirituall amity and communion For if this fraternall spirituall union we so much desire cannot be had we may then desist things impossible doe not binde us to the having or seeking of them but if it may possibly be procured 't were a great pitty and a shame that so good a worke and so well-pleasing to God as this is should be either opposed or delayed Now when I say that it would first be considered whether or no this Union we treate of be possible my meaning is whether or no such an Union may stand with a diversity of Opinions amongst private Doctors in these severall Churches touching those much-controverted points which have of a long time to the great greife of all good men much troubled the Germane Churches For although it were to be wished that Divines would fairely and fully agree amongst themselves about all those Controversies yet for so many different mindes to concurre all in the same Opinion is as I conceave a thing scarce to be hoped for much lesse to be effected in one age But that these said Churches notwithstanding such disputes as hang undecided may neverthelesse entertaine amongst themselves a Christian Charitie and correspondence is apparent from hence that as often as Divines of both sides have set themselves seriously about this work they still prevailed in it as much as they desired and they might no doubt have prevailed further if they themselves had not wilfully stood in their own way Witnesse Luther himselfe and the Helvetians betwixt whom though they differed in their opinions about the presence of Christs body a freindly agreement notwithstanding was made at Marpurge Luther there professing that he would not by any meanes permit the adverse party that honour to outstrip him in their desires of amitie and peace Which peace after that it had by I know not what mischeivous devices been somewhat disturbed and diminished was againe renewed confirmed by them whereat Luther himselfe rejoyced and upon a strict examination of the Helveticke confession held it very requisite that they should lovingly joyne hearts and hands together But here if any one think that this was no such entire and perfect Union as that which now I affirm to be possible I will grant him this but then I must adde withall that it was not any impossibility in the thing it selfe but rather the wilfull opposition of some amongst them possest with some jealousies and suspitions which was the cause why that godly and good worke was not brought to full perfection For as for Bucer and some other eminent Divines of the same opinion with him they did not only sue for an absolute and perfect agreement but besides they offered to make it appeare that it was very fit such an Union should be concluded neither did they omit any thing that might make for the furthering of it Moreover

duty It now remaine's that J proceed to set downe the way and meanes whereby such a Reconciliation may be compassed and the rents and distractions of the said Churches may with most conveniencie and speed bee made up which I shall doe rather to testifie that vehement desire zeale which I have to so good a work than out of any opinion that those famous Churches which alwaies have abounded with store of learned and pious Divines can any way stand in need of advice herein from me or any other forraigne Divine whatsoever Seeing therefore that the fore-mentioned Controversies may be agitated either betwixt severall and distinct Churches whereof one is no way subordinate to the other or else betwixt such particular men as are members of the same Church and subjects to one the same Prince J will speak first of divers Churches independent one upon another and afterwards of particular men in one the same Church and show how Peace and Unitie may be made and preserved amongst them For the first I conceive there 's no readier and better way for reducing of two different Churches to the same Communion than is that usuall one of procuring a faire and peaceable Conference amongst Divines of both sides authorised and appointed there unto by their Princes For if any one imagine that a Councell being once held of all the Reformed Churches there will out of hand within the compasse of some few moneths or yeares yea or in one age an end be put to all disputes whatsoever which have of a long time troubled and busied the Learned so as that they shall all joyne and agree in the same opinion about all such points of controversie this with submission to better judgements seemes to me very unlikely For so dull and dim-sighted is the eye of our understanding that it can hardly peirce into the depth of such subtle and intricate Questions no not when it is alone free and undisturbed in it's contemplations but being distracted by the stirs tumults of disputation so far unable are we to penetrate into the quick of them that many times we cannot so much as discerne and perceive them no not when we look upon them with a fixt and steddy eye And to speak plainly what I conceive in this matter the cheife use of Councells especially of Generall Councells is to maintaine and defend those necessary and plaine points of Faith against the oppositions of Hereticks rather than to discusse or determine nice controversies of lesser moment and use To returne then to that faire freindly Conference which but now I commended for the likeliest and fittest meanes of obtaining an Union if it could be undertaken with such an intention mannaged in such sort as it ought to be wee have good cause to hope that we shall in a short time see a blessed Peace and Union established amongst the Germane Churches This therefore must carefully be remēbred by all such as shall be present parties to such a Meeting that the end why they are called together is not that like Adversaries they should strive for the mastery but rather that they should like Brethren search out and make use of all lawfull and warrantable meanes for the setling of Peace and Unitie For if once they fall a crossing and contending one with another they will never be able to perswade much lesse to procure any agreement betwixt such Churches as are at ods and opposition Let them therefore carefully keep off and forbeare to enter the intricate Labyrinths of ordinary disputes let their meeting aime at this one end to make it appeare to their Churches how that there 's no just cause why they should any longer stand out and refuse to joyne hands and be united To effect this let it in the first place be set downe how farre the Church Catholike hath declared herselfe in each Controversie what hath been by her defined and required to be beleived generally by all sub Anathemate For about points fundamentall there may sometimes arise such doubts and disputes as are no way fundamentall and such as that the ancient Fathers of the Church had they been raised in their times would never have attempted a decision of them to the hazard of breeding or fostering a Schisme betwixt severall Churches For instance that God is One in Essence and Three in Persons distinguished one from another that the Sonne is begotten of the Father that the holy Ghost is the Spirit of both Father and Sonne that these three Persons are coeternall and coequall all these are fitly determined and reckoned in the number of Fundamentalls but now if any man should peremptorily affirme and maintaine that all those Schoole-nicities touching the manner of the Sonne 's generation and the procession of the holy Ghost are likewise fundamentall and of equall necessity with the former ought to be determined one way that man should deserve but litle thanks from Christ and his Church by such his rash and inconsiderate assertion So likewise that our Lord Jesus Christ is both God and Man that he hath both natures divine and humane inseparably united in one Person and that we have salvation onely by this God incarnate all this is fundamentall or rather 't is that firme immoveable foundation whereon the whole Catholike saving Faith is built but yet notwithstanding we must not think that whatsoever may be questioned and debated about the ineffable manner of that union betwixt the two natures or the manner how his body is present in the blessed Sacrament as also concerning the Communication of Properties unto the humane nature by vertue of its union with the Divinity or touching the actions and operations of his Humanity depending upon the said Union wee must not I say imagine that all these belong to Fundamentall Faith but rather to Theologicall Science or perhaps not so neither but onely to the vaine curiosity of some particular Divines Let them therefore make this their first and maine businesse carefully to distinguish betwixt fundamentall points and others that are not so and let them not think that whatsoever is appendant and bordering upon a fundamentall point must therefore forthwith be it selfe fundamentall When this is once done their next care must be that these fundamentalls be expressed and published after a breife and perspicuous manner and propounded to the publike acceptation and approbation of all the Churches Certa semper sunt in paucis saith Tertullian certaine and undoubted Trueths are not many and they are such as may be delivered in a few words whatsoever is necessary for a Christian man's salvation to be knowne by him and whatsoever is conducible to render us holy or eternally happy it is all of it plaine and obvious Here 's no use either of subtle acute distinctions or of any long and tedious explications which are oftimes used not for the building up of Christians in the fundamentall faith but rather to favour

Divines should be summoned and sought for by Invitatory Letters that the freindly laudable Conference which was begun at Li●swich should be reassumed and prosecuted with like modesty as it had formerly been be gun that all such Di●ines of note eminence as cannot be present at that meeting should send over their Opinions and advice that all the Fundamentalls of Religion necessary for Salvation should be determined and all other Points laid aside and turned over to the Schooles if need should require that in the meane time men's tongues and pens should be enjoyned moderation or else silence that lastly publike Prayers should be solemnly made in the Churches of both sides for the successe of this good worke Let but these things be done with an upright heart in the feare of God and wee need not doubt of a happy issue it is God's own Cause he will not be wanting to himselfe For you Mr Dury who have hitherto with such zeale such unwearied paines so many dangers so great charges prosecuted this Designe so well pleasing to God his Angells and men truly you have deserved so well of the whole Church as that all good men must acknowledge themselves much indebted to you Goe on worthy Sir with your great undertakeings and put a period to this good worke or rather may the great God of Heaven Earth doe this for you and us all and may he still preserve and prosper you in these travailes and labours of yours Farewell from Your loving freind JOS EXON THE OPINION OF THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IAMES USHER Lord Arch-Bishop of ARMAGH and Primate of Ireland with some other Reverend Bishops in IRELAND REverend and much respected Brother in Christ Wee had long since by common consent made ready an Answer to your former Letters which you writ unto us severally some Moneths agon but being desirous to have likewise a generall Subscription to it according to that agreement which should be betwixt fellow-brethren of the Clergy we deferred the sending of it somewhat the longer in hopes of a meeting You desire us now in your second Letter dated from London March 20. that we would give you our Opinion concerning the Conference at Lipswich the rather because that Conference is likely to have some effect and influence upon the busines you have in hand Thus therefore that meeting though it was called for other ends and reasons yet seeing it was holden with such good successe and that the cheife Divines of both sides had so faire freindly a Conference heard one another with such patience parted with such love and brotherly affection it is a very good signe that this matter is from the Lord and from this good beginning who can chuse but hope for a happy and successefull issue But yet notwithstanding they parted differing about three Points it is well that they differd but in three 't is better yet that even in those three Points they agreed in most things and such as are of greatest moment nor was their difference so much about the thing it selfe as about some Formes of expression which for the most part we cannot so easily forget and cast off after we have been long accustomed to them For seeing it is confest on both sides that Christ hath two natures in one person so inseparably united that neither can they be divided nor are they confounded but still remaine distinct and severall without all mixture or aequality so much as of their Properties to what end is it to quarrell about improper and figurative Propositions so likewise in the Eucharist seeing they both agree that the Faithfull doe eat not only the fruit and benefit but the very essence or Substance of Christ's body and that on God's part the Sacraments are exhibited entire perfect the thing signified together with the sign what doe they contending about Hypocrites and unbelievers 't is all one as if Physi●ions should fall a disputing about a dead man whether or no the Potion he tooke hath any operation upon him There remaines yet that other much controverted Question touching Praedestination and yet even in this too it would be no hard matter for them to be reconciled were but spleen and partiality laid aside and in the roome thereof a reverent and modest feare how we pry too farre into God's secret Counsells placed and planted seeing the best and ablest Divines of both sides acknowledge that in many Questions about this Mystery we must be faine to take up St Paul's exclamation O the depth and that 't is both lawfull sufficient for them to rest and hold together in those cleare undoubted Trueths namely that the Election of such as shall be saved was made in Christ that the destruction of all such as perish is from themselves that Salvation is from God that Faith yea even foreseen Faith is not from our selves it is the gift of God that we may not boast of any thing seeing we have nothing of our own all must be ascribed to God as S. Cyprian of old devoutly and pithily spake Thus you have both what we hope conceive of the Conference at Lipswich But the most principall and speciall thing which should be earnestly prest and inculcated is this that in Divine matters espocially in such high and difficult mysteries as these are which are rather to be adored than pried into we ought to have a certaine and set Rule to speake by as S. Austin sometimes prudently and piously counselled therefore it would be a very safe and good course for us to refraine from all novell and new-fangled expressions and to confine the liberty of Prophecying to such Formes and Phrases as the holy Scriptures doe furnish us withall It remaines that wee earnestly beseech the God of Peace to bruise Satan under our feet that shortly unto which God we heartily recommend you Reverend Brother rest May 14. Anno 1634. Your most affectionate friends JAMES ARMAGH WILLIAM KILMORE JOHN ARDAGH THE JUDGEMENT OF THE same right Reverend Father the Lord Arch-Bishop of ARMAGH delivered in a Sermon of his preached before K. IAMES at Wansted Iune 20th 1624. IF at this day wee should take a survay of the severall Professions of Christianity that have any large spread in any part of the world as of the Religion of the Romane and the Reformed Churches in our Quarters of the Aegyptians and Aethiopians in the South of the Grecians other Christians in the Easterne parts and should put-by the Points wherein they differ one from another and gather into one body the rest of the Articles wherein they doe all generally agree wee should finde that in those Propositions which without all Controversie are universally received in the whole Christian world so much trueth is contained as being joyned with holy obedience may be sufficient to bring a man unto everlasting salvation Neither have we cause to doubt but that as many as doe walke accorto this