Power of the Prince and Patron by his grant Who but Physitians are fit to judge who is meet to be a Licensed Physitian p. 127. Of the 2d Defence § 4. In case of meer different Modes Circumstances and Order of Worship see that you give Authority and the Consent of the Church where you are their due Christian Directory Part. 3. p. 13. § 5. Conform your selves to all the Lawful Customs and Gestures of the Church with which you joyn You come not thither proudly to shew your selves wiser than they in the Circumstances of Worship nor needlesly to differ from them much less to harden Men into a Scorn of strictness by seeing you to place Religion in singularities in lawful and indifferent things but you come to Exercise Peace Love and Concord and with one Mind and Mouth to glorifie God stand when the Church standeth sit when the Church sitteth and kneel when the Church kneeleth in cases where God doth not forbid it Christian Directory p. 71. Part 3. § 6. Temples Utensels Lands devoted and lawfully separated by Man for holy uses are holy as justly related to God by that Separation Every thing should be reverenced according to the measure of its Holiness and this expressed by such Signs and Gestures as are fit to honour God to whom they are related And so to be uncovered in a Church and use reverent Cariage and Gestures there doth tend to preserve due reverence to God and to his Worship 1 Cor. 16. 20. Christian Directory Part 3. p. 167. § 7. Plain intelligible Church Musick which occasioneth not Divisions but the Church agreeth in for my part I never doubted but to be lawful For 1. God set it up long after Moses's Ceremonial Law by David Solomon c. 2. It is not meerly an Instituted Ceremony but a Natural help to the Minds alacrity and it is a Duty not a Sin to use the helps of Nature and lawful Art As it is Lawful to use the help of Spectacles in reading the Bible so is it of Musick to exhilerate the Soul to God 3. Jesus Christ joyned with the Jewes that used it and spake not against it 4. No Scripture forbids it 5. Nothing can be said against it but what may be said against Tunes and melody of Voices yea it is not a humane Invention as the last Psalm and many others shew which call us to praise the Lord with Instruments of Musick § 8. Let not prejudice against Melody or Church-Musick possess you with a splenatick disgust of that which should be your most joyful work if you know how much the Incorporate Soul must make use of the Body in harmony and the joyful praises of Jehovah Do not then Quarrel with lawful helps because they are sensible and corporal Christian Direct p. 72. Part. 3. p. 167. Harmony and Melody are so high a Pleasure of the Sense that they are nearest to rational delight if not participating of them and exceedingly fitted to elevate the Mind and Affections unto God We the Ministers who drew up the Worcester Agreement required our People to declare in these Words IAB do consent to be a Member of the particular Church of Christ in D. whereof EF is Teacher and Overseer and to submit to his Teaching and Ministerial guidance and over-sight according to God's Word Of the Doctrine of the Church of England As for the Doctrine of the Church of England the Bishops and their Followers from the first Reformation begun by King Edward the Sixth were sound in Doctrine adhearing to the Augustine method expressed now in the Articles and Homilies they differed not in any considerable point from those whom they called Puritans but it was in the form of Government Liturgy and Ceremonies that the difference lay The Independents as well as the Presbyterians offer to Subscribe the XXXIX Articles as distinct from Prelacy and Ceremony And when I was in the Country I knew not of one Minister to ten that are now silenced that was not in the main of the same Principles with my self Mr. Baxter's Reasons for Obedience in Lawful things Page 483. of his Five Disputations Sect. 1. Lest Men that are apt to run from one extream into another should make an ill use of that which I have before written I shall here annex some Reasons to perswade Men to just Obedience and preserve them from any sinful Nonconformity to the commands of their Governours and the evil effects that are like to follow thereupon § 2. But First I will lay together some Propositions for decision of the Controversie How far we are bound to obey Mens Precepts about Religion Especially in case we doubt of the lawfulness of obeying them And so cannot obey them in Faith § 3. Briefly 1. We must obey both Magistrates and Pastors in all things lawful which belong to their Offices to command 2. It belongs not to their Office to make God a new Worship But to command the Mode and Circumstances of Worship belongeth to their Office for guiding them wherein God hath given them general Rules 3. We must not take the lawful Commands of our Governours to be unlawful 4. If we do through weakness or perversness take Lawful things to be unlawful that will not excuse us in our disobedience Our error is our Sin and one sin will not excuse another Sin Even as on the other side if we judge things unlawful to be lawful that will not excuse us for our disobedience to God in obeying Men. 5. As I have before shewed many things that are miscommanded must be obeyed 6. As an erroneous judgment will not excuse us from Obedience to our Governours so much less will a doubtfulness excuse us 7. As such a doubting erring judgment cannot obey in plenary Faith so much less can he disobey in Faith For it is a known Command of God that we obey them that have the Rule over us but they have no Word of God against the act of Obedience now in quection It is their own erring judgment that intangleth them in a necessity of sinning till it be changed 7. In doubtful Cases it is our duty to use God's means for our Information and one means is to consult with our Teachers and hear their words with teachableness and meekness 8. If upon advising with them we remain in doubt about the lawfulness of some Circumstance of order if it be such as may be dispensed with they should dispence with us if it may not be dispensed without a greater injury to the Church or Cause of God than our dispensation will countervail then is it our duty to obey our Teachers notwithstanding such doubts For it being their Office to Teach us it must be our duty to believe them with a Humane Faith in cases where we have no Evidences to the contrary And the Duty of Obeying them ☞ being certain and the sinfulness of the thing commanded being uncertain and unknown and only suspected we must go on the surer
Family-prayer and ask Where are they bound to pray in their Family Morning and Evening and so keep no constancy in Family-prayer at all under pretence of denying only the Circumstances § 10. Reas 7. By this Disobedience in things lawful the Members of the Church will be involved in contentions and so ingaged in bitter Uncharitableness and Censures and Persecutions and Reproaches of one another which scandalous courses will nourish Vice dishonour God rejoyce the Enemies grieve the Godly that are Peaceable and Judicious and wound the Consciences of the contenders We see the beginning of such Fires are small but whither they tend and what will be the end of them we see not § 11. Reas 8. By these means also Magistrates will be provoked to take Men of tender Consciences for factious unruly and unreasonable Men and to turn their Enemies and use violence against them to the great injury of the Church when they see them so self-conceited and refusing Obedience in lawful Circumstances § 12. Reas 9. By this means also the Conversion and Establishment of Souls will be much hindred and People possessed with Prejudice against the Church and Ordinances when they take us to be but humorous People and see us in such Contentions among our selves To my knowledge our late difference about some such lesser things hath turned off or hindered abundance of People from liking the holy Doctrine and Life which we profess § 13. Reas 10. It will seem to the wisest to savour of no small measure of Pride when People on the account of lawful Circumstances dare set themselves against their Governours and Teachers and quarrel with the Ordinances of God and with the Churches Humble Men would sooner suspect themselves and quarrel with their own Distempers and submit to those that are wiser than themselves and that are set over them for their Guidance by the Lord. There may more dangerous Pride be manifested in these matters than in Apparel and such lower Trifles § 14. Reas 11. Consider also what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us How far yielded Paul when he Circumcised Timothy Acts 16. 3. And when he took the men and purified himself with them in the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the days of Purification until that an Offering should be offered for every one of them and this for almost seven days Acts 21. 26 27. with the foregoing Verses § 15. So 1 Cor. 9. 19 20. For though I be free from all Men yet have I made my self Servant unto all that I might gain the more And unto the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews to them that are under the Law as under the Law that I might gain them that are under the Law To them that are without Law as without Law being not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ that I might gain them that are without Law To the weak I became as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all Men that I might by all means save some and this I do for the Gospels sake c. Study this Example § 16. Read also Rom. 14. and 15. Chapters how much Condescension the Apostle requireth even among Equals about Meats and Days And 1 Cor. 8. 13. the Apostle would tye up himself from eating any flesh while the World standeth rather than make a weak Brother to offend Many other Passages of Scripture require a Condescension in things of this indifferent nature and shew that the Kingdom of God doth not consist in them § 17. And Matthew 12. 1 2 to 9. you find that Hunger justified the Disciples of Christ for plucking and rubbing the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath days And Hunger justified David and those that were with him for entring into the House of God and eating the Shew-bread which was not lawful for him to eat nor for them which were with him but only for the Priests And the Priests in the Temple were blameless for prophaning the Sabbath-day Now if things before accidentally evil may by this much Necessity become lawful and a duty then may the Commands of Magistrates or Pastors and the Unity of the Church and the avoiding of Contention and Offence and other Evils be also sufficient to warrant us in obeying even in convenient Circumstantials of the Worship of God that otherwise could not be justified § 18. Reas 12. Lastly consider how much God hath expressed himself in his Word to be pleased in the Obedience of Believers Not only in their Obedience to Christ immediately but also to him in his Officers 1 Sam. 15. 22. Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice c. Col. 3. 20 22. Children obey your Parents in all things that is all lawful things for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh c. And Obedience to Pastors is as much commanded 1 Thes 5. 12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and esteem them very highly c. Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they must give account c. So Verse 7. and 24. 1 Tim. 5. 17 c. § 19. As the general Commission to a Parent or Master or Magistrate to govern their inferiour Relations doth authorize them to many particular Acts belonging to their Office that were never named in their Commission so your general Command to obey them obligeth you to obey them in the said particulars And so it is also betwixt the Pastors and the Flock in Matters belonging to the Office of a Pastor § 20. If a Child shall ask a Parent Where doth God's Word allow you to command me to learn this Catechism or read this Divine's Writings or repeat this Sermon or write it c. doth not the question deserve to be answered with the Rod The general Commission for Parents to govern their Children is sufficient So if a School-master command his Scholars to come to such a place to School and to take their places in such an order and to learn such Books and do such Exercises c. the general Commission that he hath to Teach and Govern them will allow him to do all this Though it will not allow him to set his Scholars to any Artifice or Manual Operation alien to his Profession So if a Minister determine of the variable Circumstances of Worship as what Place and People shall come to and at what time to be Catechised Examined Instructed c. what Translation or Version of Psalms to use what Utensils to make use of about God's Service or such like he is warranted for this by his General Commission And if he miss it in the Manner by choosing inconvenient Circumstances or by unnecessary Determination of Points that should rather be left undetermined to Liberty
now Published by the Collector But I foresee it will be necessary to obviate two Objections that will be made against these Admonitions First That Mr. Baxter hath written plain Contradictions to them and the Separating Brethren will adhere to his First Sentiments which lead them to their Non-conformity to which I Answer That Mr. Baxter gave them this Precaution in one of his first and best Treatises charging them strictly that if God should give him over to any Church-rendring course that they would forsake him and not follow him a step Secondly That what they interpret as Contradictions were in Truth no other then Confessions of his former mis-apprehensions and passionate heats of his intemperate Zeal but these are the Results of his sedate and rational Deliberation The great Apostle St. Paul was not ashamed to record in Holy Writ what enormities a misgrounded Zeal had hurried him into while he was in an estate of Ignorance and Vnbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. and this doubtless was Mr. Baxter's practice for reflecting upon what he had said or done to countenance the Separating way he saw it had done more hurt than good for which reason he recanted them But these instructions of his are like the Coelestial Bodies which carry light and benign influences with them they are self-evident and speak home to the Judgment and Consciences of all unprejudiced Men who cannot resist the force of that Reason and Demonstration which inspires every part of them with so much Life and Power Beauty and Ornament Consistency and Symmetry as will render them highly Acceptable Amiable and Beneficial to such as shall embrace and practise them As for such Dissenters as have conceived any hard thoughts of Mr. Baxter or these his Admonitions I intreat them to consider whether they can answer or confute them to the satisfaction of their own Consciences and if they cannot then whether it be not rational and pious to walk by these directions which tend so much to the establishment of the publick Peace of this divided Church and Nation and to their own present and eternal welfare 2. Objection It may be said that these Amonitions are now become unseasonable there being a Toleration granted to Men of all Perswasions to Worship God after their several modes Answ To this I say that Schism is a Sin antecedent to all Humane Constitutions as being directly forbid in the Holy Gospel and consequently will continue to be sinful tho' all the Kings and Rulers of the Earth should indulge and tolerate them for the Laws of Men cannot make void the Law of God nor alter the nature of things and justifie or make that to be good which the only Lawgiver of Christians hath condemned as unlawful and as it is said of Poligamy among the Jews that the Law of Moses connived at it for the hardness of their hearts so it is for the hardness and uncharitableness of Mens Spirits that Rulers are constrained for a time to tolerate and bear with many things that are Offensive and Prejudicial to the prosperity of their Government For Toleration far differs from the approbation of a thing and implieth the unlawfulness thereof rather than the Justification of it Besides the present Toleration is far from intending or making an establishment of the Practises which are tolerated to the prejudice of the Church which hath for many Ages and now doth continue in actual possession of all its Powers and Priviledges as in time past So that as the present Schism and Separations is possitively condemned by the Laws of the Gospel so they have not any approbation from the Laws of Men but what the corruptions of Men and their ungovernable Tempers make tolerable on some pressing occasions and unhappy juncture of Affairs I beseech you therefore read the following Admonitions without Prejudice and judge of them by the end for which they were first written by Mr. Baxter and are now published by c. Mr. RICHARD Mr. RICHARD BAXTER's LAST LEGACY TO ALL Sober Dissenters Of the Church IN a Petition drawn by Mr. B. to be presented to the King He makes this a part of the Profession of his Religion I do willingly profess my consent to all the Holy Canonical Scriptures as the Word of God And to the Doctrine of the Church of England professed in the 39 Articles of Religion as in sense agreeable to the Word of God And I renounce all Errors or Heresies contrary to any of these And I do hold that the Book of Common-Prayer and of Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth in it nothing so disagreeable to the Word of God as maketh it unlawful to live in the peaceable Communion of the Church that useth it Mr. Baxters Life Part 3. p. 161. Mr. Baxter in his Reasons for the Christian Religion p. 464. Sect. 2. The Church of Christ being his Body is but one and hath many parts but should have no Parties but Unity and Concord without Division § 3. Therefore no Christian must be of a Party or Sect as such that is as dividing it self from the rest causing Schism or Contention in the Body or making a rent unnecessarily in any particular Church which is a part § 8. Nothing will warrant us to separate from a Church as no Church but the want of something essential to a Church § 11. It is essential to particular Political Churches that they be constituted of true Bishops or Pastors and of Flocks of baptized or professed Christians united for holy Communion in the Worshipping of God and the promoting of the Salvation of the Several Members § 12. It is essential to a true Bishop or Pastor of the Church to be in Office that is in authority and obligation appointed by Christ in Subordination to him in the three parts of his Offices Prophetical Priestly and Kingly That is to teach the People to stand between them and God in Worship and to guide or govern them by the Paternal exercise of the Keys of his Church § 15. If a Church which in all other respects is purest and best will impose any sin upon all that will have any local Communion with it tho' we must not separate from that Church as no Church yet must we not commit that sin but patiently suffer them to exclude us from their Communion § 1. We do not say you are no true Ministers nor Churches nor that it is unlawful to communicate with you Apology p. 82. See also p. 87. 89. § 2. Where Parish Bounds are judged necessary all Persons living in the Parish may be constrained to hear Publick Teaching and to Worship God either in that or in some other approved or tolerated Church within their convenient reach or Neighbourhood Way of Concord Part 3. p. 139. § 3. The People are no Judges who is fit to be and shall be a Minister of Christ the Supream Civil Magistrate is Judge whom he must countenance maintain and tolerate The disposal of the Tithes and Temples is in the
thought this be his own Sin it will not excuse the People from Obedience unless the Errour of his Directions be so great as would frustrate the Ordinance it self or do more harm than our Disobedience would do which in Circumstantials is rarely found By long Experience I am assured that Practical Religion will afford both to Church State and Conscience more certain and more solid Peace than contending Disputers with all their pretences of Orthodoxness and Zeal against Errours for the Truth will ever bring or did ever attain to Holy Common-wealth p. 352. God never instituted Churches to be kept up in Disobedience to those Christian Magistrates which he Commands us to obey upon pain of Damnation Disobedience to our Rulers is in Ministers double Treason and Wickedness Page 30. of the 1st Plea Princes and Rulers may forbid all that preach Rebellion and Sedition and may punish them if they do it and may hinder the Incorrigible whose preaching may do more hurt than good from exercising their Ministry or preaching within their Dominions Pag. 32. They should see that their Kingdoms be well provided of Publick Preachers and Catechists And may by due means compel the Ignorant to hear and learn what Christianity is And Sect. 37. They ought to be Preservers of Peace and Charity among Churches and to hinder Preachers from uncharitable and unrighteous Reviling each other and their unpeaceable Controversies and Contentions Pag. 35. Sect. 40. They may make their own Officers circa Sacra to execute their Magistratical Power And if they authorize any particular Bishops or Pastors to exercise any such Power as belongs to the Prince to give not contrary to Christ's Laws we judge that the Subjects ought to obey for Conscience sake Christian Direct He that is silenced by a just Power though unjustly in a Country that needeth not his preaching must forbear therefore Let none perswade you i. e. the Magistrates that you are such Terrestrial Animals that have nothing to do with the Heavenly Concernment of your Subjects Bodily things Rewards and Punishments are the Means whereby you may promote it you are Custodes utriusque tabulae and must bend the force of all your Government to the Saving of the Peoples Souls The Mischief of Separation The Mischief of Separation lies not in the bare Errour of Judgment but in the Unchristian and Church-dissolving Division and Alienation which thence followeth contrary to that Humility and Love which is the visible Character of Christians and to that Oneness which is still in Scripture ascribed to the visible Church Alas that Pride and Ignorance should have such power among Believers that Men cannot be of several Judgments in lesser Points but they must needs be of several Churches God will make us value Peace and Union a little more before we shall taste of the perfect everlasting Peace and Union yea before we shall see the Blessing of Union in the Church Wounding is a dividing healing is a re-uniting a Building is of many Stones or Pieces orderly conjoyned a Church is an Aggregation of Individuals an Association of Believers What then is it to demolish but to separate and disjoyn and what is it to dissolve Churches but to break their Association to reduce them to the Individuals to cut them into shreds As for the Differences in way of Government between the moderate Presbyterians Independants Episcopal and Erastian I make no doubt but if Mens Spirits stood not at a greater distance than their Principles they would quickly be united But of all the four sorts there are some that run so high in their Principles that they run out of the hearing of Peace or Truth For Anabaptism and Antinomianism God spake effectually against them by those wondrous Monsters in New-England but Wonders are over-lookt where the heart is hardned and God intends to get his Justice a Name The fearful Delusions that God hath formerly given them over to and the horrid Confusion which they have introduced where they have sprung hath spoken fully against both these later Sects The weeping Eyes the bleeding Sides the lacerated Members of these Churches the reproach of the Gospel the disappointed Reformation the hideous Doctrines and unheard of Wickedness that hath followed them the contemned Ordinances the reproached slandered and ejected Ministers the Weak that are scandalized the Professors are apostalized the Wicked hardned and the open Enemies of the Gospel that now insult all these do describe them more plainly to England than words can do and cry loud in the Ears of God and Man What will be the Answer time will shew but from Rev. 2. 14 15 16 c. we may probably conjecture He that is not a Son of Peace is not a Son of God All other Sins destroy the Church consequently but Division and Separation demolish it directly Building the Church is but an orderly joyning of the Materials and what then is disjoyning but pulling down Many Doctrinal differences must be tolerated in a Church and why but for Unity and Peace therefore Disunion and Separation is utterly intolerable Believe not those to be the Churches Friends that would cure and reform her by cutting her throat Those that say no truth must be concealed for Peace have usually as little of the one as the other Study Gal. 2. 22. Rom. 14. 1. Acts 21. 24 26. 1 Tim. 1. 4. 6. 4. Titus 3. 8 9. I hope sad experience speaks this lesson to your very hearts if I should say nothing Do not your hearts bleed to look upon the State of England and to think how few Towns or Cities there be where is any forwardness in Religion that are not cut into shreds and crumbled as to dust by Separations and Divisions To think what a wound we have hereby given to the very Christian Name how we have hardned the Ignorant confirmed the Papists and are our selves become the scorn of our Enemies and the grief of our Friends and how many of our dearest best esteemed Friends have fallen to notorious Pride or Impiety yea some to be worse than open Infidels These are Pillars of Salt see that you remember them Though of your own selves Men should arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Acts 20. 30. Yea though an Angel from Heaven should draw you to Divisions see that you follow him not If there be erroneous practices in the Church keep your selves innocent with Moderation and Peace It must be no small Error that must force a Separation Justin Martyr professed that if a Jew should keep the Ceremonial Law so he did not perswade the Gentiles to it as necessary yet if he acknowledged Christ he judgeth that he might be saved and he would imbrace him and have communion with him Paul would have him received that is weak in the Faith and not Un-church whole Parishes of those that we know not nor were ever brought to a just trial I ever loved a godly peaceable Conformist better than a
People commanded to do that which all should do lest it should be wholly left undone If all the Congregation will speak all that the Clerk doth it will answer the primary desire of the Church Governors who bid the People do it Of Bowing at the Name Jesus And of Priests Altars c. Q. 86. Is it lawful to bow at the name of Jesus Answ That we may lawfully express our reverence when the names God Jehovah Jesus Christ c. are uttered I have met with few Christians who deny nor know I any reason to deny it If I live and joyn in a Church where it is commanded and peremptorily urged to bow at the Name of Jesus and where my not doing it would be divisive Scandalous or offensive I will bow at the Name of God Jehovah Jesus Christ Lord c. My judgment of standing at the Gospel and kneeling at the Decalogue when it is commanded is the same Q. 122. May the name Priests Sacrifice and Altars be lawfully used Answ The New Testament useth all the Greek names which we Translate Priests Sacrifice and Altars and our Translation is not intolerable if Priest come from Presbyter I need not prove that if it do not yet all Ministers are Subordinate to Christ in his Priestly Office And the word Sacrifice is used of us and our offered Worship 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 15 16. Phil. 4. 18. Eph. 5. 2. Rom. 12. 1. and Heb. 13. 10. saith we have an Altar which word is frequently used in the Revelations in relation to Gospel times We must not therefore be quarrelsome against the bare names unless they be abused to some ill use The Ancient Fathers and Churches did ever use all these words so familiarly without any Question oa Scruple raised by the Orthodox or Hereticks about them that we should be wary how we condemn these words lest we give advantage to the Papists to tell their Followers that all Antiquity is on their side The Lord's Supper is by Protestants truly called a Commemorative Sacrifice Of the Communion-Table c. Q. 123. May the Communion Tables be turned Altarwise and railed in and is it lawful to come up to the Rails to Communicate Answ 1. God hath not given a particular command or prohibition about these Circumstances but only general rules for Edification Unity Decency and Order 2. They that do it out of a design to draw Men to Popery or to incourage Men in it do sin 3. So do they that rail in the Table to signifie that Lay-Christians must not come to it but be kept at a distance 4. But where there are no such ends but only to imitate the Ancients that did thus and to shew reverence to the Table on the account of the Sacrament by keeping away Dogs keeping Boys from sitting on it and the professed Doctrine of the Church condemneth Transubstantiation the real Corporal-presence c. in this case Christians should take these for such as they are indifferent things and not censure or condemn each other for them 5. And to communicate is not only lawful in this case where we cannot prove that the Minister sinneth but even when we suspect an ill design in him which we cannot prove yea or when we can prove that his personal interpretation of the Place Name Scituation and Rail is unsound for we Assemble there to Communicate in and according to the professed Doctrine of Christianity and the Churches and our own open profession and not after every private Opinion and Error of the Minister Whether we shall receive the Lord's Supper at a Table or in our Seats Whether the Table shall be of Wood or Stone Round or Long or Square Whether it shall stand on the East or West side of the Temple or in the middle Whether it shall have Rails or no Rails All these are left to Humane Prudence As for standing at the reading of the Gospel Page 148. he says If I live where Rulers peremtorily command it as a signified consent to the Gospel I would obey them rather than give offence And for kneeling when the Decalogue is read That the thing it self is lawful is past doubt and if it be commanded and the omission would be offensive I would use it though mistaken Persons were present because I cannot disobey nor differ from the whole Assembly without a greater hurt and scandal than seeming to harden the mistaking Person and because I could and would by other means remove that Persons danger as from me by making him know that it is no Prayer And the rather because in our times the Minister may in the Pulpit tell the People the contrary We must not lightly differ from the Churches where we live in such things I like best to kneel in Prayer and Confession of Sins To stand up in Praises to God at Singing and Reading Psalms of Praise and other Hymns to set at Hearing the Word because the body hath necessity of some rest Of the Creed Q. 139. What is the Use and Authority of the Creed Is it of the Apostle framing or not Answ It s use is to be a plain explication of the Faith professed in the Baptismal Covenant And for the satisfation of the Church that Men indeed understand what they did in Baptism and professed to believe 2. It is the Word of God as to the matter of it whatever it be as to the order or Composition of the Words 3. It is not to be doubted but the Apostles did use a Creed commonly in their days which was the same with that now called the Apostles and the Nicene in the main 4. And it is easily probable that Christ composed a Creed when he made his Covenant and instituted Baptism Matth. 28. 19. 5. That the Apostles did cause the baptizable to understand the Three Articles of Christ's own Creed and Covenant and used many explicatory words to make them understand it 6. It is more than probable that the matter opened by them was still the same when the words were not the same 7. And it is also more than probable that they did not needlesly vary the words lest it should teach Men to vary the matter And Lastly No doubt but this practice of the Apostles was imitated by the Churches and that thus the Essentials of Religion were by the Tradition of the Creed and Baptism delivered by themselves as far as Christianity went long before any Book of the New Testament was written And the following Churches using the same Creed might so far well call it the Apostles Creed Of the Apocrypha Q. 150. Is it lawful to read the Apocrypha or Homilies Answ It is lawful so be it they be sound Doctrine and fitted to the Peoples Edification 2. So be it they be not read scandalously without sufficient differencing them from God's Book 3. So they be not read to exclude or hinder the reading of the Scripture or other necessary Church duty 4. So they
Foundation and Form of Government which being wholly in the Bishops and Clergy who in Convocation have the sole Power of making Canons for the Government of the Church and there being no Censure to be inflicted but according to those Canons the Lay-Chancellor are but inferior Officers intrusted by their Bishops with some part of the Executive Power the Bishops themselves as well as their Chancellors having the Canons to direct and over-rule them in the Execution and if there be any extra-judicial Process there lye Appeals from them both Moreover the Chancellors being bred up to the Study and Practice of the Canon and Civil Laws are most fit for Executing the Canons being acquainted with the Nature of Evidences Probations and judicial Process which meer Presbyters cannot be presused to understand so well and this Office of Chancellors being allowed by the Laws of the Land they may be submitted to as they are the King's Officers by Mr. Baxter's own Concessions This may satisfie the impartial Reader against those bitter Invectives of Mr. Baxter against the Species of Diocesan Bishops as being Anti-Christian and the Military Instruments of the Devil Those that treated with the Bishops 1660. did yield to such an Episcopacy as the old Nonconformists would scarce generally have consented to i. e. to Bishop Usher's Model Episcopacy is not such an upstart thing nor defended by such contemptible Reasons as that the Controversie is like to die with this Age undoubtedly there will be a Godly and Learned Party for it while the World endureth And it is a numerous Party All the Greek Church the Armenian Syrian Abassine and all others but a few of the Reformed For Denmark Sweden part of Germany and Transilvania have a Superintendency as high as that I plead for p. 11. If you know no Godly Persons of the Episcopal way I do and as my acquaintance increaseth I know more and more and some I take to be much better than my self I will say a greater word that I know those of them whom I think as Godly Humble Ministers as most of the Non-conformists whom I know p. 12. And I believe there are many hundred Godly Ministers in the Church of England and that their Churches are true Churches And I am confident most of the Ministers in England would be content to yield to such an Episcopacy as you may find in the Published Judgments of Bishop Hall Usher Dr. Forbes Hodsworth and others Preface to the Five Disputations p. 9. Christ Direct the Second Edition p. 189. Part 3. Q. How doth the Holy Ghost set Bishops over the Church Answ By making the Office it self so far as the Apostles had any hand in it Christ himself having made their Office The Holy Ghost in the Electors and Ordainers directeth them to discern the fitness of the Persons and so to call such as God approveth of and calleth by the Holy Ghost in them which is done by the ordinary help of God's Spirit in the wise and faithful Electors and Ordainers the Holy Ghost doth qualifie them for the Work by due Life Light and Love Knowledge Willingness and Activity and so inclining them to it and marking out the Person by his Gifts which was done at first by extraordinary Gifts and ever since by ordinary special and saving in some common and only fitted to the Churches Instruction in others so that whoever is not competently qualified is not called by the Holy Ghost when Christ ascended he gave gifts to Men some Apostles c. Eph. 4. 78 c. Of Sacriledge Q. 171. What is Sacriledge Ans It is a robbing God by the unjust alienation of Holy things As deposing Kings silencing true Ministers the unjust alienating of Temples Utensils Lands Days separated by God himself and justly consecrated by Man Mr. Vines his Letter to Mr. Baxter p. 35. of the 5 Disput concerning Sacriledge As for your Question about Sacriledge I am very near you in the present Opinion The point was never stated nor debated in the Isle of Wight I did for my part decline the dispute for I could not maintain the cause as on the Parliament side And because both I and others were unwilling it was never brought to open debate The Commissioners did argue it with the King but they went upon grounds of Law and Polity and it was only about Bishops Lands for they then averred the continuance of Dean and Chapter Lands to the use of the Church Some deny that there is any sin of Sacriledge under the Gospel and if there be any they agree not in the definition Some hold an Alienation of Church-goods in case of Necessity and then make the necessity what and as extensive as they please The most are of Opinion that while the Church lies so unprovided for the donations are not alienable sine Sacrilegio If there were a Surplusage above the competent maintenance it were another matter It is clear enough the Donors wills are frustrated and that their general intention and the general use Viz. the maintenance of God's Worship and Ministers should stand though the particular use might be superstitious I cited in my last Sermon before the Parliament a place out of Mr. Hildersham on Psal 51. touching Sacriledge it did not please If his description of it be true then you will still be of your own mind I dare encourage no Purchasers c. Mr. Baxter's Advice to separating Brethren Mr. B' s Epistle to separate Congregations Consider this It is the judgment of some that Thousands are gone to Hell and Ten thousands on their march thither that in all probability had not come there if they had not been tempted from the Parish Churches for injoyment of Communion in a purer Church Pag. 21. Of Defence The Interest of the Protestant Religion must be much kept up by means of the Parish Ministers and by Doctrine and Worship there performed and they that think and endeavour contrary shall have the hearty thanks and concurrence of the Papists And I am perswaded that all the Arguments of Bellarmin and other Books that have been written have not done so much to make Papists in England as the Multitude of Sects among our selves Defence p. 21. In The Second Admonition to Bagshaw p. 78. It is Lawful to hold Communion with our Churches having but tolerable Ministers notwithstanding the Parochial Order and the Ministers Conformity and the use of the Common-Prayer-Book and that we ought to do so when some special reason as from Authority Scandal c. do require it A Ministers personal faults do not allow a People to separate from the Worship of God nor all Ministerial faults but only those that prove him or his Ministration utterly intolerable Answer to Dr. Stillingfleet p. 50. The word Schism signifieth any sinful Division among Christians there may be a Schism in a Church when no party divideth from it as when one says I am of Paul c. 1 Cor. 3. 3. A Man may cause
as the first and that they must wait for the coming of new Apostles and so they dissolved and turned Seekers The case of the Summer Islands as related by Mr. Vaughan a worthy Minister come from thence upon discouragement would make a Christians heart to bleed To hear how strict and regular and hopeful that Plantation once was and how one godly Minister by Separation selecting a few to be his Church rejecting all the rest from the Sacrament the rejected party were dolefully estranged from Religion and the selected party turned Quakers But our own case is yet a more lamentable proof what Separation hath done against Religion so that it is my wonder that any good man can over-look it Above all things I intreat the dividing Brethren if they can so long lay aside partiality to judge of the reasons of their separation The defects of the Liturgy and the faults of those by whom we suffer are easily heightned even beyond desert But when many of us vent untruths and slanders against our Brethren and multiply publick untruths we never make scruple of communion with such Suppose one should say that a People guilty of such sins as are condemned Exod. 23. 1 2. Psal 15. 3. Rom. 1. 30 c. i. e. raising false reports reproaching our Neighbours strife and debates should not be communicated with especially when not one of those offenders is called to repentance for it what answer will you give to this which will not confute your own objections against communion with many Parish Churches in this Land As to Popery The interest of the Protestant Religion must be much kept up by the means of the Parish Ministers and by the Doctrine and Worship there performed and they that think and endeavour contrary to this of which side soever shall have the hearty thanks and concurrence of the Papists Nor am I causelesly afraid that if we suffer the Principles and Practices which I write against to proceed without our contradiction Popery will get by it so great advantage as may hazard us all and we may lose that which the several Parties do contend about Three ways especially Popery will grow out of our divisions 1. By the odium and scorn of our disagreements inconsistency and multiplied Sects they will perswade People that we must either come for unity to them or else all run mad and crumble into dust and individuals Thousands have been drawn to Popery or confirmed in it by this Argument already And I am perswaded that all the Arguments else in Bellarmine and all other Books that ever were written have not done so much to make Papists in England as the multititude of Sects among our selves Some Professors of Religious strictness and great esteem for Godliness having run from Sect to Sect and finding no consistency turned Papists themselves 2. Who knows not how fair a game the Papists have to play by our divisions Methinks I hear them hissing on both Parties saying to one side Lay more upon them and abate them nothing And to the other Stand it out and yield to nothing hoping that our divisions will carry us to such practices as shall make us accounted Seditious Rebellious and dangerous to the Publick Peace and so they may pass for better subjects than we or else that they may get a Toleration together with us And shall they use our hands to do their work We have already served them unspeakably both in this and in abating the odium of the Gunpower-Plot and other Treasons 3. It is not the least of our danger lest by our Follies Extremities and rigors we so exasperate the common People as to make them readier to joyn with the Papists than with us in in case of competitions invasions or insurrections against the King and Kingdoms peace The Papists account that if the Puritans get the day they shall make great advantage of it for they will be unsetled and all in pieces and not know how to settle the Government Factions and Distractions say they give us footing for continual attempts To make all sure we will secretly have our party among Puritans also that we may be sure to maintain our interest Let the Magistrate cherish the disputations of the Teachers and let him procure them often to debate together and reprove one another For when Men see that there is nothing certain among them they will easily yield saith Contzen the Jesuit Of Toleration Shall the meer pretence of Carnal Liberty be thought an Argument for a wicked damning Liberty a Liberty to destroy and deceive as many as they can will merciful Rulers set up a Trade for Butchering Souls and allow Men to set up a Shop of Poyson for all Men to buy and take what they will yea to proclaim this Poyson for Souls in the Streets and Church Assemblies Saints Rest p. 133. Could I have believed him that would have told me five years ago that when the Scorners of Godliness were subdued and the bitter Persecuters of Church were destroyed that such should succeed them who suffered with us and were our intimate Friends which we took sweet councel and went up together to the House of God should draw their Swords against each other and seek each others blood so fiercely O what a potent instrument for Satan is a misguided Conscience when it is set at Liberty Of Spiritual Pride Proud Men will not grow in the same Field or Church where Tares do grow but will transplant themselves because God will not pluck up the Tares especially if any Ministerial neglect of Discipline be conjoyned and instead of blaming their own Pride lay the blame on the corruptions of the Church The Pharisees Liturgy is frequent in separate Assemblies God I thank thee I am not as other men But this is very remarkable that it is a pretence of our impurity and a greater purity with you that is pleaded by such as first turn over to you and that this height of all impieties should be the usual issue or a way pretended so exact and clean doubtless it is not Gods mind by this to disâ—ouragâ— any from purity and true Reformation but to shew his detestation of that spiritual pride which maketh Men to have too high thoughts of themselves and too much to contemn others and to desire to be further separated from them than God in the day of grace doth allow of Consider this it is the judgment of some that Thousands are gone to Hell and Ten Thousands on their march thither that in all probability had never come there if they had not been tempted from the Parish Churches for injoyment of communion in a purer Church He that causeth differences of Judgment and Practice and contendings in the Church doth cause divisions though none separate from the Church If you may not divide in the Church nor from it then you may not causelesly divide from it your selves And commonly Appearance Advantage