Pattern of order and unity will be the most confused body in the World every body will become his own Lord and Master and will live and do as he lift but how opposite is this to that command of our Saviour If he refuse to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican and to that of the Apostle obey them that have the Rule over you when at this rate no Man has any other Ruler but his own peevish will Our Saviour therefore to prevent this confusion as he had Authority immediatly from God so he gave his Apostles full Commission to send others with the like power of appointing new Bishops to the end of the World as fast as any should dye or the places become void And to this purpose he says as my Father sent me Joh. 20. that is with power of sending you so send I you with power of sending others And lo I am with you alwaies unto the end of the World accordingly we find Paul and Barnabas ordained by the appointment of the Holy Ghost Act. 13.2 3. and they again when they had received this power goe about ordaining Bishops in every Church where they were wanting Acts 14.23 and then Acts 20. the Apostle exhorts the Bishops to feed the Flock of Christ over whom the Holy Ghost had made them Bishops Thus Timothy was ordained by St Paul and he had power to ordain others but he is charged to lay hands suddenly on no Man 1 Tim. 5.22 Titas also was left in Crete to ordain Elders and set in order the things that were wanting So that Christ he first sent forth his Apostles the Apostles they ordained and sent forth Bishops they were to judge of their abilities and so to give them charge of Souls and the People were to hearken to them and obey them as appointed by the Holy Ghost Act. 20. and so other Priests and Officers that follow their orders and directions 2 Cor. 7.15 What method was observed in appointing Bishops and Governours of the Church after the Apostles dayes 'T IS not to be expected that the Names of all the Persons that were called to be Governours in the Church and the places and bounds within which every Man was to exercise his Authority should be set down in Scripture no more then the Names and Places of Kings and Printes and Civil Governours are The common rules of prudence and order are enough to direct in this as well as the other matters so that all things be done decently and in order and to the edification of the Church Now the Rules of decency and order do require that Persons should be appointed peaceably and therefore no Man must thrust himself into any Government till he be duely called and set apart for that Office neither must any one usurp anothers place and disturb him in the quiet discharge of his duty And then that all may be done to edification t is fit the Persons should be able and well qualified to do their Office so there must be Persons who have power to appoint and judgement to examine and discern the fitness of the Men who are to be called to so high a dignity as to be Teachers and Governours of the Church how they are for life and conversation that Magistrates and People can bear witness to and are allowed to except against ill Men. But whether they are sound in Faith and indued with knowledge and understanding rightly to divide the word of God and discharge their duty that was ever the Office of the Bishops to enquire as also to ordain and appoint them for they must lay hands suddenly on no Man 1 Tim. 5.22 but are to commit this Authority to faithfull Men who are able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2.2 again how shall they Preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 no Man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 Now that was after a solemn and orderly manner by Gods appointment he was legally consecrated and set apart for that Office Exod. 28. so were the Apostles so were those sent abroad by the Apostles and so Persons were appointed in all ages of the Church being first examined and tryed and then Ordained and sent forth by the Bishops according to certain Canons and the same order is observed at this day in all Churches that stand established in any setled Government And thô there be a dispute in some places whether Bishops and Priests be of the same order and upon that supposition that every Priest is a Bishop and has Originally in him fullness of all Authority and Power some do take it upon them to ordain thô meer Presbyters yet it is upon that principle and supposition that a Presbyter is equal to a Bishop and has Authority from Christ to ordain others by virtue of his Office and so still they maintain that Men must be examined and appointed by Bishops in a Regular manner before they ought to be allowed to take upon them any Office of Preaching and Governing in the Church And suppose a Bishop and Presbyter were one Order and a Presbyter had equal Authority originally to Ordain as well as Bishops which in the judgment of most Churches they have not yet what an unreasonable thing is it to make use of a power of Ordination which was never owned and allowed for 1500 years in the Church and which does create many doubts and disputes and great confusion in the Church when they may have Ordination from the Bishops which all confess is sound and valid and thereby Men may avoid giving scandal to many Churches and raising Scruples in the minds of People at home which all charity does require good Christians to prevent Now this Succession of Bishops down from the Apostles time to our dayes Luther T. 4. p. 6 7 8. Twenty years after his first appearing against the errors of the Church of Rome The Apostles were called by Christ himself the Apostles afterward called their Disciples as Paul called Timothy and Titus Who afterward called the Bishops the Bishops called their Successors and that Call continued to our times and shall continue to the end of the World and 't is a mediate call because it is by Men yet it is Divine and this is the generall call all over the World after the Apostles neither is it to be changed but highly esteemed by reason of some fanaticall Men which despise it and boast of another better call whereby they say they are moved by the Spirit to teach But such impostors lye they are moved by a Spirit indeed but not by a good but a wicked Spirit Wherefore we must not run into another Man's charge as the Devil does stir up his Ministers to run where they are not called has run as clearly and as evidently as the Succession of our Kings in England since William the Conquerour still one succeeding another as any died or
and meditate upon the holy Scriptures and take pains to know and do their duty thô they do not conform to the Church of England Answ The Laws are made in generall for all that absent themselves from the publick Service for else all idle People would excuse themselves under that pretence of being Dissenters Besides many are Dissenters not out of Conscience but out of Pride Humour and for temporal advantage and so run into Heresie Schism and Destruction It is all the reason in the World that such carnall affections should be restrained and Men obliged to hear and consider the sober Instruction of the Church and the design of all punishments is to that purpose that men might not neglect their duty out of humour and laziness c. Obj. You will not allow then that the Church of England is a persecuting Church Answ No by no means no body can with any colour say that of Her she does advise all Magistrates to use that wholesome Discipline which God has appointed and which all Holy and Religious Magistrates have executed to oblige People to hear and consider For as all Parents are bound to teach and correct their Children if they be disorderly so all Christian Magistrates as they are common Fathers of their Countrey ought to see their Children instructed in the principles of true Religion and have a right to punish their unruly and disorderly Children accordingly there are Laws for that purpose which when executed as they ought to be bring Peace and Holyness to a Nation thô in the executing them there is great prudence and moderation to be used which the Governours are to take into their Consideration Obj. But why do you say the Church of England is the most moderate Church in the World Answ Because she like the true Mother is for correcting and not destroying her disorderly Children Obj. Surely those that now cry up Toleration and talk of liberty of Conscience when and where they had power were not for putting to death and exterminating those that did differ from them Answ Yes you may read lamentable Stories of the cruelty of the Anabaptists in Germany and I need not tell of the cruelties and Murders committed by others who would be representing the Church of England for a persecuting Church I shall not name particulars inquire and you will easily satisfie your selves that the Church of England does but advise such moderate discipline as Fathers ought to exercise over their Children when the Dissenters are generally not satisfied but with blood and destruction Obj. I cannot say but you speak a great deal of reason in the defence of the Church of England and I perceive many good Men think it no harm to joyn with her upon occasion but they think they may also goe and hear a good Sermon in a Meeting Answ But is not that to set up a Schism and plainly to make a fraction in the Church and it is encouraging Children to think meanly of and to despise their own Ministers Parents and Masters for what is it but the very case that St. Paul blames in the Corinthians that one was for Paul another for Apollos another for Cephas for thô a Dissenter may Preach well yet when he does it in opposition to the Church without any call and does draw People into parties it is that Schism which is condemned by the Scripture and will bring all those mischiefs that I have already spoken of and does plainly teach People to despise their Governours Ministers and fellow Christians Obj. But why do you say those Preachers have no call Answ Because most of them have no Ordination and if they had they have no Licence and Authority from the Bishops and Governours and so by the Law of Christ and the constant Rule of the Church they have no power to Preach for how shall they Preach except they be sent If they were Ordained they ought not to thrust themselves into another Mans charge Obj. Thô they have no outward Call from the Church yet they are sent by Jesus Christ Answ How do you prove that Obj. Because we find them endned with excellent gifts and Christ did not bestow such Talents to be hid in a napkin Answ Gifts are no Argument that a Man has a Lawfull call for a Heretick or a Schismatick may have Gifts and use them to divide and destroy the Church Therefore as none must Preach without a call so if any that are called turn Heretick or Schismatick he may be silenced again Titus 1.10 for besides gifts there must be a sober and orderly Conversation sound profession Obedience to the Orders of the Church and if this Method were not observed and Men tied to be Peaceable and Cuiet and subject to their respective Governours the Church would be the most confused Society in the World Obj. I confess Ministers ought to be quiet and peaceable Men and they ought to promote Love and Unity Answ But after this way of running into Conventicles there can be neither Love nor Unity nor holiness in the Church for one Preacher will be setting up in opposition to another and Sects and Divisions will daily increase And you see by experience Schismaticks differ one from another as they do from the Church and then fall a censuring and condemning one another as much as they did the Church and thence proceed Hatred Strife endless Quarrels and Contentions and Heresies Ignorance and Profaness overspread the Nation and all these mischiefs come upon us because Men will not submit to that Order and Government that Christ has set in his Church but after their own lusts heap to themselves Teachers having isching Ears 2 Tim. 4.3 Now the Scripture says Men that thus oppose the Peace and Order of the Church must have their mouths stopped Tit. 1.10 11. But if they are not stopped all good Christians ought to avoid having any thing to do with them Rom. 16. Obj. Then I perceive you would take away the liberty of Conscience granted by the Act of Parliament Answ The Act of Parliament is only to free you from the punishment that might be inflicted upon you by Law on your Body or Estate and is equally extended to Anabaptists Quakers and other Hereticks and almost Persons of all Perswasions whatsoever and to keep them quiet as to the State under their perverse humours and therefore was never meant to lead you to the way of Salvation or to warrant them to be good Christians and my design is rightly to inform your Conscience and perswade you not to use this liberty for a Cloak of maliciousness and to take this opportunity to run from the truth is the way to bring upon your selves everlasting destruction as many do that forsake the Church of England Obj. Do you think then we are in such a dangerous condition Answ It is not for me to pronounce Sentence upon any One as to the other World but according to the Rules of Gods Word and the constant
satisfied and you feel a great deal of comfort in the way you take to worship God and have the testimony of your Conscience that you do act sincerely and as you think for the glory or God But how easily may Men flatter and deceive themselves with such pretences Do not Jews and Mahometans all Hereticks and Schismaticks pretend the same And are not many of them fully as Zealous and consident in their way and do they not as much condemn you in their thoughts as you can them Nay those that killed the Apostles thought they did God service So that to rely upon an inward satisfaction Joh. 16.2 the pretence of Conscience without solid reason and foundation in Gods word is the common mistake that deludes the greatest part of Mankind If ever then you hope to appear with comfort before God you must lay aside fancy and perswasion and examine both your Faith and your Lives according to the holy Scriptures If we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel in part or in whole or neglect any part of This let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 When our Saviour began to preach this was the Summ of his Doctrine Repent and relieve the Gospel Mar. 1.15 When he sent his Apostles into the world it was with this large Commission Preach the Gospel to every Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.15 16. St Paul afterwards speaking of the Day of Judgment Says God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2.16 Again Christ Jesus shall he revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his power The Gospel does not only contain promises but precepts duties as well as rewards And therefore our Saviour when he is asked what a man should do to be saved gives this answer If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Again if ye love me keep my Commandments St James says whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 This contains all articles of our Creed and all other Christian duties we must not think then our Zeal for one duty will excuse our neglect of another we must not so much regard what we have done but supply that we have not done If through errour or mistake any have lived in Schism Heresie Disobedience or breach of any other command he must repent and amend for no confidence and self conceit can justifie us before God while we live in neglect of our Duty Obedience to Governours and love and unity with our fellow Christians necessary Duties of the Gospel AS our Saviour came into the World to reform the errours and vices of corrupt Nature and teach Men the principles of Peace and Vertue so in his Gospel he has given most severe commands of mutual love and obedience to his Bishops and Governours because without it there would be nothing but ignorance and errour quarrels and confusion and as it was in the Jewish Nation when there was no King in Israel every one did what was right in his own eyes so it will be in the Church where there are no Governours or none that are hearkened to or regarded every man will follow the devices of his own heart Therefore when he founded his Church the first thing he does is to appoint Governours with power not only to shut out of his Church but out of Heaven all those that contemn their authority and will not be governed by them Matt. 16.18 19. Vpon this rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdome of Heaven whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shalt be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven And though in this place it be promised to St Peter to shew that each single Bishop had that power in his respective charge whilst he lives in communion with and conformity to the Church yet Matt. 18. it is said whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and when our Saviour actually bestows this power John 20.23 he gives it equally to all the Apostles whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained Again he says he that receiveth you receiveth me he that rejecteth you rejecteth me and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me And when he was going into Heaven that he might fully provide for the order and government of his Church he gives his Apostles authority over the whole World to rule and to punish them as well as to teach and comfort them and this power is to last to the end of the World All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth go ye therefore into all the World make Disciples all Nations and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the World Matt. 28. The Apostle Hebr. 13. bids Christians remember them that have the Rule over you who have spoken to you the word of God whose faith follow v. 7. again Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls v. 17. And 't is our Saviours express command if he refuse to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen and a Publican and then he adds to shew whom he means by the Church that 't is the Bishops and Governours of his Church whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven Matt. 18.17 18. So that it is beyond all possible doubt that there are Bishops and Governours sent by Christ to continue to the end of the World and there is a Church that must be hearkened unto under peril of being shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven There must be a method and order observed in appointing the Bishops and Governours of the Church that Men may know whom they ought to obey and whose punishments they ought to avoid ALL Men confess in general that Christ has left Bishops and Governours in his Church but they are not all agreed who are those who have this Authority committed to them Now there must be some orderly method for our direction in this as well as other matters or else the Authority will signifie nothing and not attain that end for which it was appointed For if every body be left to follow whom he please then all censures and excommunications will come to nothing assoon as Men are shut out from one Pastor they will run to another if one will not comply with their humour they will go to another that will and so the Christian society which ought to be the
were removed by Ordination and orderly appointment to his Charge But yet farther to keep peace and prevent confusion there must be some Canons or Rules to retain every Man within the bounds of his duty that one might not disturb another or undoe what another had done Now about chusing of Bishops and about excommunicating Offenders Bishops may vary in their opinion as it is known they often have done one may be for this Man and another for that and unless there be some Rule to proceed by there will be endless Cuarrels and Disputes therefore the general Rule of Decency and Order must come in here and we must consider what direction the Scripture has given in this Case also Now besides the Rule of common Prudence that amongst Governours of all Societies if they cannot otherwise compose any difference they must sit down by the Authority of the major part the Apostle tells us The Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets for God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all the Churches of the Saints 1. Cor. 14. much more then particular Bishops and Ministers ought to be subject to the rest of the Bishops Then the general Rule of our Saviour is If he refuse to hear the Church let him be unto Thee as an Heathen man and a Publican not only no longer an Officer but not so much as a member of the Church Now all Bishops being Governours of the Church and Successors of the Apostles one as well as another has right to judge in Cases that concern the peace and welfare thereof but it is impossible they can all meet or be consulted in ordinary Cases and therefore as in the Civil state for better Order and convenience in administration of Justice or preserving Peace the World is divided into Kingdoms Provinces Counties Cities c. And the respective Governours have the certain bounds and limits of their jurisdiction and every one is to take care of all things within his own charge and not to intermeddle or thrust himself into another Countrey or Province So by direction from the Apostles the Bishops did by mutual consent set out the bounds of every Man's jurisdiction according to Cities and Provinces and Civil States have confirmed the same in after Ages Thus St James was Bishop of Jerusalem St Peter at Antioch St Mark at Alexandria St Andrew at Byzantium now Constantinople St Timothy at Ephesus and Titus at Crete c. And after them other single Persons did succeed in their places as we see it is at this Day as one Bishop dyes another is chosen and Ordained to succeed in his Office And as a City with the neighbouring Countries round it did make one Bishops Diocess so several Cities and their adjoyning Villages did make one Province under one Arch-Bishop And all matters that did concern the Church were to be determined by the mutual consent of the Arch-Bishop and of all or the major part of the Bishops of each Province and this was the Order derived from the Apostles confirmed by the general Councils S. Cypr. Ep. 68. can A post concil Nice and generally observed through all Ages of the Church As for the Authority of Patriarchs and of late years the usurpation of the Pope these are all incroachments upon the Church and so are the Assemblies of Presbyters without or in opposition to their Bishops much more the root of all confusion an independencie of every Preacher in each single Congregation and deviations from the Ancient and Apostolical Order S. Cyprian Ep. 55. concil African can 28. The standing and generall Law and Tradition was that which best suits with the rules of Decency and Order that Christians should not be drawn from their own Country should not be put to long and tedious journies but have all Matters ended at home by the Arch-Bishop and Bishops of each Province amongst themselves who best know the state and condition of the People committed to their charge and are bound by interest as well as duty to consult the peace and welfare of their Dioceses 'T is needless to cite the Canons See the 6 gen Councils and particular Councils confirmed by them the case is known to all Schollars that look into the antient Councils and Histories of the Church And according to this universal Order of the Church 't is as easie for every one to know his own Spiritual Governours as 't is his Civil Every Ones charge is allotted and all within such bounds and limits belong to the Spiritual Government of the Bishop of the Diocess and his Assistants and Minister of the Parish where he lives and thus 't is in all Kingdoms and Countries where the Christian Religion is professed and this Order and Authority all sober Divines do own and acknowledge But still it is with this limitation provided they hold the Faith and Unity of the Catholick Church and keep within the Rules of the Gospel For all Bishops and others are members of Provincial Churches and must be subject to the Rules and Order of the Province and all Provinces are members of the Catholick Church and must keep the unity of Faith of Christs mystreal body In rites and ceremonies and private opinions in lesser matters particular Churches may differ one from another and each Province or Nation may consult and provide that which is best for themselves but then as to Faith and other necessary duties that must be the same all over the World and nothing must be done contrary to the Laws of Christian Charity and that mutual Love that we ought to have for all our Brethren in Christ much less ought we to do any thing contrary to that duty we owe to our Spiritual Fathers that are set over us by the Holy Ghost Acts 20. and to the peace and settlement of the Catholick and our own particular Church or Parish Now I cannot see what temptation any rational Man that wishes well to the promoting of the glory of God and advancement of true Religion can have to change this antient Apostolical Order of a Synod of Bishops governing according to the Rules of the Ancient Church and with the assistance of their Presbyters for a Synod of Presbyters only according to the late Modell of Mr Calvin invented at Geneva Or what benefit the People would have by it who must still be left to the Minister of their own Parish neither would they find themselves in a better but worse condition Much less should make a Schism to inforce and bring in such a novelty and invasion upon their Spiritual Fathers and Brethren in Christ or else to destroy all Church Govenment as the Independants Anabaptists and Quakers do who set up Plow men and Thatchers instead of Bishops and Priests All Persons in this Nation are bound to joyn in Communion with their Bishop of the Diocess and Minister of the Parish where they live and the great sin of those that neglect this
to read through and consider the meaning of the Scriptures so as to be able to satisfie themselves in all doubts and scruples that cunning Hereticks raise to pervert them from the Truth Therefore Christ Jesus left Pastors and Teachers and founded a Church to continue a constant Pillar and Monument to expound to us all difficult and hard places and to condemn and censure false interpretations and stop the mouths of Seducers from spreading abroad damnable Heresies to the ruine of your Souls and then that her Authority might not be despised Matt. 18. The Scripture says if any one refuse to hear the Church let him be unto Thee as an Heathen man and a Publican And for our better encouragement to hearken to her instruction our Lord has promised that the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it Matt. 16. And then to direct the unlearned and unstable he has set Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.11 12 13 14. for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ that we may henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive c. So that we do not take off from the fullness and sufficiency of the Scriptures if rightly expounded and understood but for the satisfaction of the unlearned and unstable which are the greatest part of Mankind we must remember that God has kept up a Church and constant succession of Bishops and Ministers in an Orderly way to teach us the true meaning of his Word and to keep up Discipline and Order and so to preserve us from the Heresies and false Interpretations of Schismaticks that lead Men unto errour and destruction While Men therefore keep within the City they are in no danger of being a prey to the wild Beasts but if they run into a Wilderness they may easily be destroyed by them While they keep within the Ship they are secure from drowning but if they forsake that and commit themselves to the unconstant Waves 't is Ten Thousand to One if they do not miscarry So while Men keep within the Communion of the Church and follow the guidance of those Pastors which God has appointed to keep them steady there is no danger of their Salvation but if they forsake the Church and run into Conventicles Psal 91.11 they go out of Gods way and so out of his protection and are exposed to all Heresie and Confusion If their Teachers do not Sin wilfully and lead them into Heresie yet they may mislead them through ignorance and unskilfullness WHO can tell how oft he offendeth nay the Heart above all things is deceitfull therefore 't is an easie matter for Men that follow the guidance of their own understanding and neglect the command of the Church to be deluded by the Devil who often appears as an Angel of Light and yet is still busie to seek whom he may devour Neither can they hope for the blessing of God and depend upon the promise of his direction when they go into by Pathes and pursue their own devices How many plain things may such presumptuous Men overlook how often may they misunderstand some parts of Gods word which want more care and attention Besides who can be sure that they come with all Languages and other helps to reading them or take such pains to read and compare all Texts as not to be ignorant in many duties of great necessity to be observed And if the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch And no wonder if People perish for want of vision when they wilfully run away from the instruction of the Church and follow such ignorant guides who had need to be taught the first Principles of humility and understanding Thô therefore by good Words and fair Speeches they may deceive the hearts of the Simple and may gather many excellent expressions out of the Holy Scriptures yet 't is a great rashness and want of Judgment for Men to trust their Souls upon the skill and understanding of such private Seducers who by their ignorance may leave them without that sufficient instruction which is necessary to Salvation Objections and Questions against Conformity answered BUT some will Object that their setting up Conventicles in opposition to the Bishops and Ministers is no more then what the Bishops did in opposition to the Church of Rome and therefore if they are Schismaticks now the Bishops were also by Reforming the Church without the Authority of the Pope and Church of Rome I answer By the Council of Nice and all other general Councils and the constant Order of the Catholick Church all Provincial and National Churches have power to Govern themselves and reform any abuses or errours that have crept into their Communion And our Bishops and Clergy did in an Orderly way lay aside several errours that are maintained by the Church of Rome but still retain the Faith and unity of the Catholick Church and we do also particularly blame the Roman Church for breaking the Order and rejecting the Traditions of the Primitive Fathers and general Councils but do not at all break the Rule of Christian Charity to the Church of Rome or any other Church in the World we leave them to Reform and Govern their own Churches and do but use the same Liberty over our own Members which Christ has given and the Church has ever maintained which we allow them to use over those of their own Communion for they ought to Reform those abuses as we have done Obj. But is there not a plain rent and division made in the Church by this Reformation and those that were united before in One Communion are broken into several parties Answ That there are and must be Heresies and Schisms in the Church we are taught by the Holy Scriptures 1 Cor. 11.19 That they which are approved may be made manifest But we cannot answer for other Men it is sufficient we break Charity with no body we pay all Love and friendship and all that communion that one particular Church ought to pay to another but we do not intermeddle with their private affairs or disturb and embroyl their Communion and if the Church of Rome and other Churches that hold with her would keep the same temper that we have and still do we should quickly see an end of all our Divisions Can. 30. for we differ from none but where they differ from themselves and depart from the Primitive purity of those Ancient and Apostolical Churches from whence they had their beginning And as for that Obedience and Conformity which we require of our own Members it is no other and upon far
easier Terms then all Churches do require of those that are under their respective Jurisdictions So that we are neither the cause nor party in any Division Other Churches that break communion with us deny that Christian Charity that One Member of Christs Body ought to pay to another and those of our own Members that run into Conventicles set up Altar against Altar and divide themselves from our Communion go against the plain word of God which requires them to obey them that have the Rule over them See my Evangel and Cath. unity c. against the constant Order of the Catholick Church and general Councils and contrary to the Doctrine and Command of all other Churches in the World Obj. But are there no Reasons then for Men to refuse the Communion of their particular Church and Bishop and must every private Christian alwayes comply with their Governours whatsoever they say or do Answ They must obey their particular Church in all things Lawfull which are in all things not contrary to the word of God and the Catholick Church Obj. But who shall be Judge in this Case Answ The sense of the Catholick Church in Cases of doubt is to be consulted Obj. But is it not hard to know where she may be consulted and how to understand her Sense in any matter Answ God has promised that the way shall be so plain that a wayfaring Man though a Fool shall not err therein Isa 35.8 1 Tim. 3.15 and for our direction tells us the Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth And thereupon he has commanded us to hear and obey the Church and there is no doubt it will be an easie matter to understand what her Sense is in all Cases needfull for us to know Obj. But have not Bishops and Scholars themselves many disputes about the Church and about her Sense in several points and how then can People know the Sence of the Church Answ Men of some Judgment and little Reading are willing to despise that Authority which is above their capacity and Men of great Reading and little Judgment do not know how to reconcile the seeming differences in the Church but if you consult your Bishops and Ministers they will satisfie you concerning the Sense of the Catholick Church in all parts of your duty For since God has made it our duty to hear and obey the Churches he will order matters so that all People that are willing to follow her direction may be guided by it for God does not reveal any thing to us that we cannot believe nor command any thing which we cannot perform in the manner it is proposed to us Quest What plain Rule will you give us to go by in this matter for we would willingly know the Truth and hearken to the Church Answ First in all Lawfull and in most doubtfull matters it is your duty to follow the command of your particular Church Quest But what must I do in things that seem to me contrary to the Word of God when such are commanded by my particular Church Answ The second Rule then I would give you is that if you think or are credibly told you ought not to joyn with your particular Church in this or that Doctrine or practice before you make a Schism enquire of learned Men what was the Sense of the Primitive Fathers and generall Councils and what is the generall opinion of other Churches and most learned Divines about it and be sure you have good Reason and Authority before you depart from your own Church in which you live and were Baptized Obj. This is the way to put me upon a tedious endless work more then either I or the Persons I consult will be ever able to go through Answ No no such matter the Sense and Consent of the Scripture and of the Church is so clear in all points of duty that People are concerned to know and practice and the Controversies are so few when rightly stated and understood that want to be decided in Order to your doing your duty that it will be no hard matter to receive full satisfaction for they are either such that have been long agoe decided or the Church is wholly silent about them and there is no evidence of Scripture to oblige you to depart from your particular Church upon that account Now consider in how many matters all Churches are agreed and the Controversies long agoe setled First against the Arrians and Socinians Consess August which are long agoe condemned for Hereticks and the Three Creeds that expound the Catholick Faith See my enquiry into the means of a happy union contrary to their perverse interpretations are generally received by all Churches So likewise the Anabaptists and Quakers who deny Infant Baprism are likewise condemned by all Churches and 't is the constant Doctrine of the Catholick Church and all Reformed Churches that to separate from their Lawfull Bishops upon the account of their requiring of them to joyn in stated Forms of Prayer and for enjoyning decent Ceremonies not contrary to the Word of God and thereupon to set up Altar against Altar and run into private meetings is that Schism condemned in the Holy Scriptures So that not only from the Holy Scriptures but from the interpretation of the Church it is most evident that they hold pernicious if not Damnable errours and in these points it will be an easie matter for every body to find satisfaction and to know the Churches Sense concerning them So that to joyn with such Dissenters and to profess their Doctrines is manifestly to oppose the Catholick Church as well as the Word of God Obj. But if you put us to enquire into the Ancient ways and consult the Sense of other Churches and give us that Rule for our direction in matters of Controversie we fear you have a design to lead us back to the Church of Rome for they talk much of the Church and the old Religion and tell us all the World is on their side Answ That is the great weakness of some to imagine so and by their speaking meanly of hearkning to the Authority of the Catholick Church make many Suspect indeed that the Church of God has been altogether corrupted and lost or else no where to be found for many Ages but in the Church of Rome Whereas if you will inquire of your Bishops and Divines of the Church of England they will tell you that the pretended Authority of the Pope and Church of Rome is contrary to the generall Councils rejected by the whole Church for the first Six Hundred Years and upwards and condemned by the major part of the Bishops and Christian Churches from the Apostles times to this very day nay the Church of Rome is the only Church by Name warned to take heed least she be Cut off from the Body of Christ as the Jews were Rom. 11. So that the Church of Rome is so far from being the Catholick Church that
she is a very corrupt part of it and those of that Communion that amongst us set up separate Assemblies do oppose the constant tradition of the Catholick Church the Canons of the generall Councils and follow a private Spirit and are as proper Schismaticks as any of our Fanaticks and Dissenters Obj. But those of the Church of Rome do not only charge us with Disobedience to the Pope but with Heresie and false Doctrine in rejecting many Articles of Faith and other Ancient practices of the Church Answ But if you will consult your Bishops and Ministers they will make it appear that the Points we reject are so far from being Articles of Faith and ancient practices that they are Moddern errours and corruptions not known to or else condemned by the Primitive Church and this we may see evidently made out by severall late Writings and Disputes Obj. I am glad to hear you say the Catholick Church does plainly condemn the Usurpations and Errours of the Church of Rome as well as the Scriptures which seem plainly against them and we think against many Orders of the Church of England also that are meer Humane inventions if not old Popish Superstitions which we cannot Lawfully joyn withall and therefore are forced to serve God in such a Manner as we can and which we think is better pleasing to Him thô in separate Congregations Answ Humane Inventions and Popish Superstitions are frightfull words indeed but so you must remember are Slanderers Schismaticks Hereticks and disobedient to Parents c. as all those are that accuse the Church and cannot prove what they say Obj. But our Preachers have told us that these Orders of the Church are Popish Anti-christian c. and therefore our Consciences would condemn us if we should comply with them Answ But will you run into so great Sins against the plain Word of God because your Preachers tell you so I thought the Word of God had been your Rule but now I perceive you follow your Preachers against the Word of God and will not obey your Governours according to it Obj. We think our Preachers are Good and Holy Men and Teach us the Truth Answ Why should you not have as good an opinion of your Bishops and Ministers But when the Preachers take upon them thus to draw you into Schism Disobedience and teach you to have uncharitable thoughts of your Governours and to condemn the Church and fellow Christians you ought to suspect if not their honesty yet their Judgment and Discretion for they are Men and may be transported by Passion and Interest or else through errour and mistake and lead you into heinous Sins For why should you think them wiser and better then all other Divines Obj. But I hope still they teach us right Answ But it is not enough to say you hope you must be sure the Governours of the Church are in the wrong or else you are in a most miserable condition to run your selves into so many Sins and dangers by separating from them Obj. But my Conscience tells me I am in the right Answ But 't is not your Conscience will excuse you unless you have some Command of God to build upon Now turn your Bible over and over you will not find any thing in the Scripture against any duty required by the Church Obj. But pray where have you any Command of God for your Common-Prayer and Ceremonies Answ We are commanded in Scripture to make Prayers and Supplications for all Men 1 Tim. 2.1 and to see that all things be done Decently and in Order and since the Words and Ceremonies are not determined in Scripture 't is better the Governours should consider and make Rules and Orders then to leave it to every bodies Fancy so that we have command in Scripture for what we do But pray where have you any command of God for your irreverent Prayers and disorder in Gods service Obj. Why do you call our Prayers and Service irreverent and disorderly Answ Because they are so and cannot be generally otherwise for when every Preacher is to follow his own heated and Rambling fancy and every Hearer is lest to Sit or Kneel or Stand or Lye along to put on his Hat or put it off what can commonly be expected but irreverence and disorder Obj. As for these Modes Gestures and Postures which you call Irreverent we matter not them Answ But thô you matter them not yet the Scripture does require all things should be done Decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14.40 and we find that our Saviour and his Apostles did kneel down and shew all outward Reverence and therefore we think the Church of England has good reason to require People to imitate their examples in behaving themselves Reverently and Orderly when they are in the House of God and not let their Service be more rude there then when they are at their houses at home so that nothing is commanded in this kind but what civility and good breeding would teach Men to observe and for which we have the command of God and the example of Christ and his Apostles and other Holy Men. Obj. Perhaps it would be better if People were more Reverent at their Meetings Answ But how can that be expected when all your Prayers and the whole Performance is left to the Arbitrary pleasure and discretion of every Preacher amongst you who are Men and those none of the ablest neither and may err and be ignorant Obj. But we think they Pray by the Spirit Answ What do you mean by Praying by the Spirit do you mean that the Holy Ghost does put all those words immediately into their Mouths and so they use no other Prayers but what are dictated by the Holy Ghost Obj. We do think so and our Preachers keep us up in that belief Answ But how do they prove this For if that be true all their Prayers are as Divine and Infallible as the Word of God it self For the Holy Ghost is as Infallible now as when he did guide the Apostles to write the Holy Scriptures But it is evident to all the World that these Prayers are often so far from being Divine that they sometimes are such as scarce become a sober Man Therefore you may see what Men your Preachers are that abuse you in this manner and cheat you with false stories if your Preachers are dictated by any Spirit 't is generally by the Spirit of delusion for it is not to be thought that the Holy Ghost will work a Miracle at every Conventicle to inspire every dissenting Preacher when ordinary gifts are sufficient not only for such but much more excellent Prayers And any One that will but attend those Meetings and weigh their Prayers with Judgment will find more of the errour and weakness of the Man then of the least evidence of the Holy Spirit Obj. But we have heard other Men Pray and Preach but could never find so much satisfaction and comfort as
Sense of the Catholick Church in all Ages and of all particular Churches at this day for Men to set up Altar against Altar and separate from their lawfull Governours without just reason is that Schism condemned by the Gospel and that there is no reason to separate from the Church of England I have sufficiently shewed by taking off all the Objections against her Communion Mr Baxter's Apology pag. 8. I know how unable the Separatists were to answer the many Arguments of the Famous Arth. Hildersham J. Paget W. Bradshaw Brightman John Ball and other old Nonconformists for the lawfulness of Communicating with our Parish-Churches in the Sacraments and the Liturgy I was exceedingly moved against Separation truely so called by considering 1. How contrary it is to the Principle of Christian-love 2. And how directly and certainly pernicious to the interest of the cause of Christ and his Church and of the Souls of Men and how powerful a means it is to kill that little Love that is left in the World 4. I was greatly moved in thinking of the State of most Churches in the World if I travelled into Ahassia Armenia Russia or among the Greek Churches I durst not deny to hold communion with them When I go to God in Prayer I dare not go in a separate capacity but as a Member of the Universal Church nor would I part with my share in the Common-Poayers of all the Churches for all the World And having perused all the Forreign and Ancient Liturgies extant in Bibliotheca Patrum I doubt not but our own is incomparably better then any that is there And consider what Mr Calvin says in this Case who does also own Bishops Liturgies and Symbolical Ceremonies as ours are no just Cause of separating from the Church viz. Institut l. 4. c. 1. n. 10. I have set down the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments for the signs whereby to know the Church For where the Preaching of the Gospel is reverently heard and the Sacraments are not neglected there for that time is a certain face of a true Church and 't is lawfull for no Man without punishment to despise her Authority reject her Admonitions be refractory against her Counsels or mock at her Corrections much less may he separate from her and break her unity For our Lord does so highly esteem the Communion of his Church that he does reckon him for a Renegado and desertor of Religion that does obstinately separate from any Christian Society that does hold the true Ministry of the Word and Sacraments from whence it does follow that to depare from the Church is to deny God and Christ but how much the more ought we to take heed of such a wicked Schism for while we go about as much as in us lyes to destroy the Truth of God we deserve that God should thunder against us with the greatest force of his Wrath to break as in pieces If some Men of better understanding by their diligence get to a knowledge of the principal parts of their Duty yet the generality of People Children and Servants will be exposed to all Ignorance Errour and Profaness IN the constitution of the Church the very Order of the Service and the solemn times set apart to bless God for the particular dispensations of the Gospel such as the Incarnation of our Lord at the Feast of Annunciation commonly called our Lady-day his Birth at Christinas and so his Passion Resurrection Asconsion sending down the Holy Ghost the Feast of the Holy Trinity with other particular Seasons are a standing Catechism and with a little help will easily bring even Children to understand and remember all parts of their Duty and for their fuller instruction and admonition the Minister is to Catechise in the Afternoons and to teach those that are ignorant of these things and to put all others in mind to think upon and observe what they do already understand So that Persons that live in the Obedience of the Church must be stupidly careless of themselves if they want any thing necessary for their edification in Faith and Love and finally to attain Salvation and if any generally are ignorant of these things they are such who run away from their Governours and either through sloth or faction would not give themselves the trouble to hear and receive the sober advice of their Ministers and commands of the Church Then under the Churches discipline the admonition of the Bishops the reproof of their Minister good Neighbours and fellow Christians did reform many of these abuses and stir up others to a diligent attendance upon the publick Service But now all sorts of temporal punishments are in a manner Suspended if you by running into Conventicles teach your Children and Servants your Neighbours and Acquaintance to despise the Authority of their Bishops and Ministers and all the Spiritual discipline of the Church you will be a means to encourage Ignorance and Profaness and in a short time our People will fall into Atheism and Infidelity For many from your example taught to contemn the reproofs and censures of their Governours will not only neglect the Communion of the Church but all sort of exercise of Religion and so turn Pagans if not live altogether like brute Beasts Others that have as yet some sparks of the Sense of Religion in generall left in them yet running up and down from Place to Place from one Sect to another will be far from receiving that firm and setled understanding of the Grounds and Principles of Religion which is necessary to keep them steady in their Duty and to bulld them up to an Holy and Heavenly conversation So that you that withdraw your selves from the Communion of your Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England besides the great Sins of Disobedience Schism and contempt of the Church and the danger you run of Heresie and damnable errour you do by your pernicious example expose your Children and Servants and multitudes of your fellow Subjects to Ignorance Profaness Infidelity Atheism and so instead of advancing purer Religion you will bring the greatest part to no Religion at all and these things we could in a great measure prevent if you by running into Conventicles and despising the directions of your Governours did not give them occasion and encourage them to run away from the sober instruction of the Church Let me therefore in the Name of God and as I have the generall care and charge of your Souls and shall be ready to give any assistance and direction you stand in need of in your passage to Heaven prevail upon you to take these things into your serious consideration Religion is not a politick Engine to be used at pleasure only to serve Mens turns upon occasion and gratine their humour and keep up the interest of a party but 't is the revealed and unchangeable Will of God concerning our Salvation and therefore must in all things be
carefully performed according to the Rules of his Holy Word neither must we have an eye only to this or that particular Duty but have regard to all his Commandments Now Satan does often appear with strong delusions like an Angel of light and his instruments do with good words and fair Speeches deceive the hearts of the Simple and put many cheats and fallacies upon unwarie Souls to bring them into destruction But there are scarce any more weak and manifest then those that you have been hitherto abused withall and many of them now evidently false by your own confession as that we were all Papists we did worship Stocks and Stones were only morall Men without any dependance upon the Grace of God and the direction of his Holy Spirit And now these slanders are fully confuted they turn to other devices altogether as groundless and unreasonable as that 't is indifferent what manner of Governours Men live under in matters of Religion so they live Holy lives and that they in separating from the Church of England doe no more then she did in Reforming from the Church of Rome as if it were the same to have a publick Service that they do understand with having a publick Service they do not to have the use of their Bibles or not to have them to worship Images pray to Saints and Angels be content with half the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or not when our Lord requires the whole To omit many other errours And not only our Bishops and Clergy but Princes and Parliaments did all agree to Reform these abuses and settle our Church upon the sure foundations of Truth and Holiness according to the Word of God and constant Law and Order of the Catholick Church and there is not one duty of Piety to God Charity to your Neighbour and Obedience to the Catholick Church but you may better practice in the Church of England then in any other Society or Communion Deal seriously with your own Souls and Consciences What can you learn and practice in any Meeting that you cannot as well observe and be taught in the Church Will you then merely for Fancies and Humours expose your own Souls your Wifes and Children and the whole Nation to the danger of all Heresies and Schisms and bring so great a guilt and distraction upon your selves and Country If you are offended at the evil Lives of some of our Members do you come in and joyn with us and give them better example and by your Holy and Orderly conversation so strengthen our hands to their shame and amendment that we may all follow Peace and Holiness in this World and Reign with Joy and Glory in the World to come but if you still continue obstinate in your Separation consider how you will acquit your selves at the great Day of the guilt of Schism Contempt of Christ and his Ministers Disobedience to Parents and from being the sad occasion of those Heresies Profaness and Confusion that have been brought into the Church of God and that I do not say this as my own opinion only but that which was the fear and apprehension of Queen Elizabeth and the Parliament in the beginning of our Reformation we may learn from their Words wherein they did as it were by Prophesie foretell the miseries which since fell upon our Nation and were chiefly brought upon us by this Sin of Schism and neglect of resorting to the Church All and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm or any other of the Queens Majesties Dominions 1 Eliz. 1. shall diligently and faithfully having no lawfull or reasonable excuse to be absent endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish Church or Chappel accustomed or upon reasonable let thereof to some usual place where Common-Prayer and such Service of God shall be used in such time of let upon every Sunday or other days Ordained and used to be kept as Holy-days and then and there to abide Orderly and Soberly during the time of the Common-Prayer Preachings or other Service of God there to be used and ministred upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church And for the due execution hereof The Queens most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and all the Commons in this Parliament now assembled do in Gods Name earnestly require and charge all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Ordinaries that they shall endeavour themselves to the uttermost of their knowledges that the due and true execution hereof may be had throughout their Dioceses and Charges as they will answer before God for such evils and plagues wherewith Almighty God may justly punish his People for neglecting this good and wholesome Law Thô the mit ward Penalty be suspended in some Cases yet the Duty still remains and the reason is the same and we may mind Men of it But what miseries and calamities our Nation has suffered by the neglect hereof since that time need not be told the Men of this generation wish the hinderers of the due execution of this Law formerly that are left alive would in time consider and repent A Postscript to the CLERGY Reverend Brethren in Christ THE great business of our Lives as Clergy Men is so to instract and Rule our several Charges that we may be able to say with the great Apostle I am pure from the Blood of all Men Acts 20.26 27. for I have not shunned to declare to you all the whole Councel of God that will require a great deal of Care and Diligence but it is a Duty ought to be performed with our utmost endeavour and saw will it be if any should perish through the Ministers neglect 'T is true the Spiritual power Christ has given his Church is little understood and all her Authority is much slighted by too many in this Age and the many Divisions and Schisms will the rease this disesteem therefore 't is more necessary it should be vigoroussy asserted and maintained and the dangers and mischiess that are like to follow upon it should be discovered and laid open while in some measure they may be prevented For thô it may seem plausible to some and that there can be no harm now and then to hear a good Sermon at a Conventicle as well as in the Church yet in the end it will prove fatall to Religion to say no more what other evils will follow from such a practice if once espoused by Men of Interest and Quality as God be thanked commonly as yet it is not These things I have represented to you my Brethren at our Visitation and I doubt not but you have often urged the same to your several Charges but because things Read may be better weighed and considered and I can with the same pains inform all as a few I have sent these Papers the good effect whereof will in a great measure depend upon your further Discourses and Management in more fully enlarging upon and explaining the several particulars in your Catechising