Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n
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A40712
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Humble advice to the conforming and non-conforming ministers and people how to behave themselves under the present liberty / by the author of Toleration not to be abused.
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Fullwood, Francis, d. 1693.
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1673
(1673)
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Wing F2508; ESTC R19538
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34,515
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144
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false as do not preserve all Christian Communion with the Saints nor joyn with them in all duties of worship so far as they are able shall not have the benefit of this indulgence And to the end that these words so far as they are able may not stand for a meer Cypher and signifie nothing let each man particularly declare in what ordinances he is able to joyn that so all total Separation may be prevented p. 70. Indep Though we shall not joyn with we will not condemn your Churches as false And this no rigid Separation p. 71. Presb. The condemning our Churches as false doth little extenuate the Separation For divers of the Brownists who have totally separated in former times have not condemned these Churches as false Though you do not pronounce an affirmative judgement against us your very separating is a tacit and practical condemning of our Churches if not as false yet as impure eousque as that in such Admistrations they cannot be by you as Members communicated with without sin Indep However though we cannot communicate with you as Members of your particular Congregations yet we will preserve all Christian Communion with you as Saints and Members of the Catholick Church Presb. This is as full a declining Communion with us as Churches as if we were false Churches p. 72. Indep If this be called Schism or the countenance of Schism it is more then we have yet learned either from the Scripture or any approved Author p. 73. Presb. It gives manifest countenance to perpetual Schâ—sm should this be allowed you Not that we think differences in Judgment in this or that point to be Schism or that every Inconformâ—ty unto every thing is Schism so as Communion be preserved Or that Separation from Idolotrous Communion ex se unlawful is Schism but 1. We find that you desire not onely that you may be free from communicating as Members in those Parishes where you dwell but also that you may have liberty to have Congregations of such persons who out of tenderness of Conscience cannot communicate with us but do voluntarily offer themselves to joyn in separate Congregations of another Communion Which Secession of our Members from us is a manifest rupture of our Societies into other and is therefore a Schism in the body And if the Apostle doth call those Divisions of the Church wherein Christians did not separate into diverse formed Congregations of several Communions in the Sacrament Schisms much more may such Separations as you desire be so called 2. We find it not alleaged as a Cause of your Separation either that our Churches are false or our Communion exâ—se unlawful but onely Scruple of Conscience that you cannot without sin as to you partake in all duties and enjoy all ordinances which is no Cause of separating nor doth it take off Causless Separation from being Schism which may arise from errours of Conscience as well as carnal and corrupt Reasons Therefore we conceive the Causes of Separation must be shewn to be such as ex Natura rei will bear it out which hath not yet been done nor we think can be 3. And now we desire you to shew out of Scripture and approved Authors what you have learned concerning Schism For the breaking off Members from their Churches which are lawfully constituted Churches and from Communion in Ordinances dispenfed according to Gods word without just and sufficient Cause ex natura rei to justifie such Secession and to joyn in other Congregations of separate Communion either because of Causless Scruple of their own Conscience or because of personal failings in the Officers or Members of the Congregation from which they separate hath been accounted Schism and the setting up Altare contra Altare And concurrently do approved Authors say and we likewise conceive that it is the Cause of the Separation which gives both name and thing to Schism For if the cause be unjust or insufficient according to the Rule of the Word of God let our Brethren tell us what such Separation is It is our â—arnest desire and Prayer that our Brethren might enjoy the Ordinances with the Peace of their Consciences and of the Church also or that they would rather deny themselves of their full liberty in every point then redeem it at the price of so much danger and disqâ—riet to the Churches of God p. 74 5 6 7. Indep The Ministers of the Parish Churches are not such as we can comfortably joyn with and sit down under Presh We do not believe that you mean that onely such should be allowed to gather into your Congregations who live under bad and unprofitable Ministers though that be the onely medium there used against our Reason Where the Ministry is without P. 84 85. just exception we refer it to your own Conscinces and to the practise of your Congregations to say how fit it is that the Members should ordinarily much less constantly seek the Ordinances elsewhere We long to know what Reformation of our Parishes will satisfie your Consciences or how this Kingdom may be made the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ better then by dividing it into several parts by the bounds of their dwellings that all who give up their Names to Christ may be taught and governed and have all the Ordinances administred among them suitable to their Conditions p. 102. Indep But it seems you would have us for ever to want the Lords Supper which is not to be endured p. 102. Presb. 1. Why may not some expedient satisfie you in this to prevent so great an evil as Separation 2. We may not do evil for any good end If a man should be brought to such a Streight as that either he must want the Lords Supper or separate from the Congregation whereof he is a Member he may here want the Ordinance during this Errour of his Conscience with less danger than to purchase it by a sinful separation 3. This is a strange and dangerous way of arguing which may open a gap to as many Divisions and Subdivisions in the Church as the Errours are unto which the minds of men are subject And if this be allow'd we desire you to consider how long not our Churches onely but your own or any other Churches in the World shall be free from uncurable unquietness Indep It must be a prejudice to the Church we are in if we separate from her in the Lords Supper And yet you would have us live under their Government whom we prejudice which seems unreasonable to us p. 104 Presb. If your Errours cause prejudice against you is it unreasonable for you to be under the Government of that Church which is prejudiced by you may you with good reason Scandalize the Church by Separation and the Church have no reason to govern you then prejudicating or scandalizing Errours are a Supersedeas to all Government We do not then wonder that Errours and perverse opinions so much abound it may be
HUMBLE ADVICE TO THE CONFORMING AND NON-CONFORMING MINISTERS AND PEOPLE How to behave themselves under the present Liberty By the AUTHOR of Toleration not to be abus'd LONDON Printed for James Collins at the Kings Arms in Ludgate-street 1673. ADVICE TO THE CONFORMISTS and Non-Conformists SOme that think I have sufficiently discovered both the sin and the danger of the present Separation desire I would further consider what may be seasonable to offer by way of remedy but when the foundations are out of course what can I say or do Our Church now suffers as the Church of Corinth did by Schism and prophaneness and we have noted that our Divisions and Separations are the cause of General the first which as I have shewn in another place can no way be fully removed but by our reunion in the publick Temple Worship as our prophaneness the other great mischief and disease of the time by a speedy and hearty and general reformation of life There is a comfort attending good endeavours even when there is but little hope of success wherefore if it be not a presumption to follow the example of one otherwise minded I shall venture to produce my direction and what I humbly conceive to be the present duty both of the Conformists and Non-Conformists in order to the securing the Church from total shipwreck in the present storm adding my petition also that both would lay it to heart It is a time of liberty and men are very apt to do what seemeth right in their own eyes and I could even wish that they would do so in earnest if they would first wipe off the dust of prejudice and passion For I doubt not but we are generally convinced by the Gospel which we all profess that it is indeed our duty and interest too to love one another yea to forbear and yield to one another yea to deny our selves in the little satisfaction of having our own wills and our own ways in small and indâ—fferent things for the publick good and to follow peace and holiness with a conscience void of offence towards God and all men But that I may be a little more More parcular particular I cannot believe that we indeed differ about the existence of Heaven and Hell or in our notions of true Godliness as some in their heats have intimated or that our wisest Adversaries think whatever they say that the Ecclesiastical Powers and Courts are meerly mercenary or do really and intentionally encourage Vice or discountenance solid and true picty yet my hearty and humble request to them in the first place is that they would consider 1. What the cause of their present Contempt may be and whether something be not too justly imputable to our selves which ought not to be carefully searcht and reform'd before it be too late Methinks 't is adviceable now you have so little to do with Schism that you so turn the edge of your power against prophanness as it may appear you are as heartily against this as that and that none may think any longer they have cause to leave us as enemies to God and godliness and good men I have reason to affirm that zeal was never guilty of a grosser slander then by saying that the present Clergy of the Church of England is generally ignorant The Clergy idle prophane and opposers of godliness under which guilt I heartily pray that none may die impenitent Sure if this zeal had any ground or love it would be more Regular and follow Mr. Baxter's good advice and by proper complaint and proof endeavour at least our Reformation or Ejection But 't is too too uncharitable and groundless I am confident it is nearer to truth to say that this Church hath not been blessed with a more Able regular and pâ—ous Clergy these hundred years and then I might say a thousand then at present which I mention not to flatter but to encourage my brethren to perseverance and continuance in Well-doing under all such haâ—d Speeches of ignorance and malice against them Yet it cannot be denied that Too many faulty the few ignorant and scandalous Ministers found here and there amongst us are too many and untill the power of the Bishops both as to the Admission and ejection of Ministers be more enlarged and better Countenanâ—'d by Law we may wish a through amendment in this particular till our hearts ake yet these slanderers might know that the Church is purged of some such notorious Scandalous persons daily where the power of the Church can do it and where it cannot we should pity and not clamcur Would the Patrons be pleased to Patrons consider their great trust a little better they might lay a foundation of better hopes for the fuâ—ure and O that the Lord of the Harvest would put it into all their hearts not onely to dispose of their gifts freely but wisely and first to take advice with able unconcerned persons before they present their Clerks to the Bishâ—p that there might be no temptation upon him to admit the unworthy for fear of a Quare impedit But my brethren I mean you who are not ashamed to be called Conformists may not conscience of our duty supply all the real or supposed defects in the Law why should any of our lâ—ves be a shame to the best profession why should Omission male-Administration of our Office cause the Philistims to triumph or blaspheme that holy Name by which we are called both as Christians and Ministers Do our Enemies strike us in Malice and is it not in our power to turn it to our benefit Let the Dagger that is intended to stab open our Impostume and let out our Corruption 1. Consider your Calling and Do your whole Office know that both God and man and the Souls of your People and the credit of Religion and and the present Security of the Church of God expects your diligence and faithfulness in the Duties of it and it is but râ—cason your Enemies being Judges One that is no great Friend saith of us They sâ—ould consider that Reflect on Toleration not to â—e abused â—3 the Declaration requires of them exact Câ—nsormity and indeed it is but reasonable saith he that those who will Conform should be exact in the doing of it Let not the abuse of Liberty in others wear out the Sence or abate the performance of your Office for you know you are obliged both to be Sincere and Intire wanting nothing either of Inward or Outward Worship required at your hands Thus you will fulfil your Ministry indeed and doubt not but Duty will ever answer it self to God and Man when little Arts and Devices for Sinister ends run into the dark to hide themselves 2. Why should it be said that Preach better the Non-Conformists do out preach us Have they better Parts or more Learning It cannot be said Hath Use procured them a better Habâ—t or Knack of Preaching as they call