them from all unpeaceable Opposition to what they dare not use or to the Government of the Church Mark it These should have been the Heads of your Petition for us Well but is this all No you should have remembred the good People somewhat too Only let not the People who scruple Conformity be therefore denied Church-Communion and Sacraments Let us now a little view the Particulars And first for the Ministers That the Door of Entrance be not barr'd by any other Subscriptions Professions or Oaths than what were used in the Churches of Christ for 600 Years or till the Exaltation of the Papacy We will not now dispute about that Calculation But this taken by it self might possibly exclude the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and Subscribing the Doctrine of the XXXIX Articles too for before the Exaltation of the Papacy there was no occasion of disclaiming it or declaring against it as there we do in sundry of those Articles Here therefore comes in the Exceptions ' Besides the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Understand it So far as they can stretch themselves to take them in their own Sence And the Subscribing of the Doctrine of the Church of England in the XXXIX Articles according to the Thirteenth of Queen Elizabeth The former gives the colour of Good Subjects this latter of good Church of England Men. But observe it carefully 'T is not all the 39 Articles which yet are the Doctrine of the Church of England they are but for some of them only called by them the Doctrine of the Church of England as distinguished wholly from all Matters of Discipline or Government as they sometimes explain themselves And therefore they add that other Phrase ' According to the Thirteenth of Queen Elizabeth to unriddle their meaning to some and at the same time conceal it from the Vulgar Let as consider briefly the Words of that Statute Declare his Assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments comprized in a Book imprinted entituled Articles Whereupon it was agreed by the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of both Provinces c. Now this it seems they construe thus or to this effect Only to those of all the Articles which concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments But the Words of the Statute run gramatically thus To all the Articles of Religion which only concern viz. all which Articles of Religion only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments And that this was the Intendment of the Law appears from what follows there That the Person thus assenting and subscribing shall bring from the Bishop or Guardian of Spiritualties in Writing under his Seal Authentic a Testimonial of such Assent and Subscription and openly on some Sunday read both the said Testimonial and the said Articles That is certainly all the 39 Articles the Book of Articles and what he is to read openly he is supposed to have first assented and subscribed to And again in the same Statute there follows a Penalty for maintaining or affirming any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles But if we explain it by currant Practice there can be no manner of doubt left about it We have seen briefly what they could swear and subscribe to let us mind next what they most stick at And one would guess by those words till the Exultation of the Papacy they should stick at nothing but what had some known tendency thereunto But the matter is otherwise the Door of Entrance is not to be barr'd by any other Subscriptions Professions or Oaths besides these by Name here excepted By a Review then of what else is enjoined by Law we must conclude what they cannot yeild unto First then They cannot declare their unfeigned Assent and Consent to the Liturgy and Ceremonies with the Form or Manner of making ordaining and consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons 2 dly They cannot declare that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King and that they do abhor that traiterous Position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or against those that are commissionated by him 3 dly They cannot declare that they do hold there lies no Obligation upon them nor any other Person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any Change or Alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom 4 thly They cannot take the Oath of true and Canonical Obedience to the Bishop in all things lawful and honest and so in like manner that against Simony and that for Residence on Vicarages without a Dispensation For neither of these are in their Exception All these Bars therefore to the Door of their Entrance must be removed And it concerns Authority to consider well what Judgment they proclaim themselves of both as to Church and State and what Propositions they yet maintain who profess they cannot do these things and what their Practice upon them in time is like to be that is ubi adsunt vires when ever they are able Which is more certainly to be gathered from the Observation of what it hath been in Times already past than such bare Words as are given for the present To whom therefore that of Salvian is but too applicable Parum est quod nudis assertionibus dicitis ipsi actibus vestris contra vos testes estis But then an Admission upon this their own limited Subscription will not serve unless those who dare not use the Liturgy and Ceremonies may have leave to preach in the Churches which use them A proper Expedient by degrees to worm out the Use of both Nor is the Salvo added Under Laws which shall restrain them from all unpeaceable Opposition to what they dare not use or to the Government of the Church extensive enough to prevent the Mischief For we must needs conclude that those who dare not use the Liturgy and Ceremonies dislike the Government and believe these things highly sinful For so we are told It is Sin and no small or tolerable Sin which their Consciences fear And what they so believe they will certainly upon all opportunities directly or indirectly bear witness and caution against and labour to withdraw others from How indeed shall they be faithful in their Office upon their own Principles if they should do otherwise To ' be silent and comply is to be cruel to the Sinner and hâ—mself And who can do it that believeth Death and Judgment So we had it even now How guilty are those Ministers of the Blood of â—ouls that will not tell Men of their Sin and Danger So elsewhere Next for the people
Sober and Useful REFLECTIONS UPON A TREATISE OF Mr. RICHARD BAXTER'S STILED Sacrilegious Desertion of the Holy Ministry rebuked and Tolerated Preaching of the Gospel vindicated WITH A most serious PREFACE to the same Out of the said Mr. BAXTER Written about eight years since and not Printed but now made Seasonable to be Published by the Repetition of some Material Points which are here reflected on in Mr. Baxter's late Hasty Answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's Sermon Nonúmque premantur in Annum LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1680. To his Respected Friend Mr. R. C. BOOK-SELLER SIR THe ensuing Reflections were written about eight years since and then upon the coming out of a more particular Defence from the Worthy Person immediately concern'd call'd The Doctrine of Schism fully opened and applied to Gathered Churches 1672. were consigned by the Author to a perpetual obscurity But since this Daring Champion hath entered the Field again in his batter'd Armour and threatned to appear still further in the self-same Cause and Argument the Publication of these Notes is made seasonable to the intent that he himself and others may take notice what Advances have been already made by him and how notwithstanding the Flourishes of his Anger and Ostentation he hath really little afresh to offer unto the World but odious Repetitions only And to this purpose if you please you may print them And together with them this Honourable Character which one of his professed Friends bestows upon him That he never yet wanted Argument against the Cause or Rebuke against the Person of any Man that ever opposed him That he hath Troops of Propositions always at command and so many Yokes of Distinctions as to make good whatsoever he hath said be it never so bad That he hath one very strange and wonderful piece of Artifice that be the Controversy what it will he can make his Adversary differ with him about the Existence of a God and Christ an Heaven and Hell Nay that he can make him say any thing that he himself thinks he can most easily oppose or if he cannot make him say it affirm and prove that he saith it and then thunder out a Volume against him for saying so In a word That He is the Man of Art that can do and undo prove and disprove the same thing Which yet I had not added here but that it is so very agreeable to his new Attempts It would have look'd more modishly perhaps to have entitled the Book Speculum Baxterianum or Baxter against Baxter The truth is as it was said of Arcesilas He hath introduced Genus Philosophiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a self-contradicting Philosophy which if it prevail will fill the World with Scepticism and endless Disputations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And if there be any thing that seems severe in these Reflections he must thank himself for it who hath furnished the Collector with so many Materials So easy a thing it is for self-esteeming Men to talk to their own Reproach as he somewhere hath it But nevertheless I am for retaining still the more modest and less affected Title SIR I am Your Friend and Servant M. A. July 20. 1680. A most Serious PREFACE Out of Mr. RICHARD BAXTER To the Christian Reader IF I speak plainly of the Quality of the Author's Arguings I desire the Reader not to interpret it as if I had not the heartiest desire of Peace But Words are not answered according to their Nature when the Nature of them is not opened Plain-dealing is not the Sign of Enmity but Love The Law is open our Writings and Doctrines are easily tried If we say Evil bear Witness of the Evil. Mark that Preacher Conformable or Nonconformable who stirreth hardest for his own Honour and would raise it by dishonouring others and is most impatient of all that cloudeth him and is only for those that set him up and look out no further for a Mark of Badness but take that Man for one of the worst how wellsoever he preach or pray Art thou ready to censure the Doctrine of thy Teachers the Actions of thy Rulers and the Persons of thy Brethren Beyond doubt thou art a proud Person Pride hath seized on thy Heart There is too much Hell in thee to have any acquaintance with Heaven There is no more Heaven than there is Humility Certainly Pride is a greater Sin than Whoredom or Drunkenness and Humility is as necessary as Chastity and Sobriety Truly Brethren a Man may as certainly and more slily and dangerously make haste to Hell in a way of Profession and earnest Preaching of the Gospel and seeming Zeal for an holy Life as in a way of Drunkenness and Filthiness Above all see that you be Followers of Peace and Vnity both in the Church and among your selves He that is not a Son of Peace is nor a Son of God All other Sins destroy the Church consequentially but Division and Separation destroy it directly Building of the Church is but an orderly joining of the Materials and what then is Disjoining but pulling down Many Doctrinal Differences must be tolerated in a Church and why but for Vnity of Peace Therefore Disunion and Separation is utterly intolerable Believe not those to be the Churches Friends that would cure and reform her by cutting of her Throat Those that say No Truth must be concealed for Peace have usually as little of the one as the other Do not your Hearts bleed to look upon the State of England and to think how few Towns or Cities there be where there 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 Christian Name I differ from many in several Doctrines of Moment And yet if I shall zealously press my Judgment on others and seek to make a Party for it and disturb the Peace of the Church and separate from my Brethren I should fear lest I should prove a Firebrand in Hell for being a Firebrand in the Church And for all the Interest I have in your Judgment and Affections I here charge you that if God should give me up to any Factious Church-rending Course against which I daily pray that you forsake me and follow me not a step I thought once that all that talk'd against Schisms and Sects did but vent their Malice against the best Christians under those Names But since that I have seen what Love-killing Principles have done I have long stood by while Churches have been divided and subdivided one Congregation of the Division labouring to make the other contemptible and odious and this called the Preaching of Truth and the purer Worshipping of God I have seen this grow up to the height of Ranters in horrid Blasphemies and then of Quakers
Strife and Contention Schism and Division Faction and Sedition Defamation of God's Priests and speaking evil of Dignities Pharisaism and Hypocrisy Headiness and Rashness bitter Zeal and Giddiness Abuse of Holy Scripture and Superstition Rudeness and Vnmannerliness those Brats of Hell Pests of the Church and Incendiaries of the World which it is great cruelty to be tender of unto Infamy and Detestation And finally To admonish if any have private Persuasions of their own not to trouble the Church with the unseasonable divulging them or if they have Petitions to prefer unto Authority not to make them first to the People nor to mingle them with Reproaches Challenges and Threatnings or if they have Apologies and Defences to offer for Non-conformity briefly and cooly to give their Reasons with what nervousness they can but without vain and idle digressions needless multiplying of Controversies slandering the Laws and Constitutions or contumelious and provoking Language Rom. 14.22 Hast thou Faith Have it to thy self before God Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth Sober and useful Reflections c. IF it be demanded at our Entrance whence I conclude so positively Mr. Baxter to be the Author of this Book Sacrileg desert since there is not any Name affixed to it I answer As certainly as if both Name and Picture with a Nos quoque floruimus had been set to the Title-page of it It hath so much of his Likeness as to own the Father and so resembles others of his undoubted and declared Off-springs as to leave no room for hesitancy about it to any one that is but a little conversant with his Way and Writings But to satisfy the Reader that I have not wrong'd him I will suggest some matters here of easy observation And First I note in the General the Imperious Stile of the Man assuming to himself as Head of the Non-conforming Brotherhood speaking in their Name and upon every occasion charging and counselling of them But more peculiarly I observe what he tells us of himself Apt to speak sharply against the Humors and Weakness of Religious People Which is a Commendation hardly to be given to any other of the Way besides 2 dly What think you of this In the Preface to his Cure of Church-divisions he hath it thus If the Fierceness of any contradict what I say I only add that it is not an unexperienced Person that speaketh it and one who through the Mercy of God hath long kept a numerous Flock in Love and Vnity and Peace by such like means and hath seen the lamentable Effects of the contrary Way In this other Book thus I think those many Religious People I have had the Over-sight of are as ready to be ruled by me and as undivided as any I have known And I can confidently say that when I had a Pastoral Charge where I needed many Assistants if I had known where that Man lived whom the People would have loved honoured and profited by more than my self I would have rid night and day to get him to be the Man And yet for all that it seems he needed not to have rid many Miles neither for it follows immediately And when I have heard my Neighbour-Ministers that were younger Men I can scarce forbear naming of them preach much more affectionately and profitably than my self I have sat under them with Tears of Joy Now if much more affectionately and profitably the Godly People doubtless would more profit under them and consequently for their Work-sake love and honour them But I quote this here by the way because I find a like Observation dropp'd from Dr. Pierce on Mr. Baxter upon such an occasion That you are below some of your Brethren it is enough that you have told me I am not concerned to contradict you yet some may say you contradict your own self because you add you would presently quit your Place if a probable Evidence could be given you of a better Supply Every Usurper may say as much if he be but qualified with an haughty Opinion of himself 3 dly Scarce any Man hath boasted more publickly and possibly with less reason of his own Study Wisdom and Experience or betrayed a more arrogant Conceit of his own Abilities and Performances So that we might have known him without that Confession For my own part I am conscious of Pride and Selfishness As he hath also formerly acknowledged Mark his Vanity and Ostentation in an Instance or two ' in Print To the Praise of God I speak it O Lord I thank thee that in those ancient common disturbing Controversies between the Arminian and Anti-arminian Lutheran and Calvinist Jesuit and Dominican I have discerned those Principles which quiet my own Mind and which I am confident were they received according to their Evidence would quiet the now contending World I have shewed you I think the true Mean in the Doctrine of Justification and Redemption c. In like manner for Discipline as well as Doctrine touching the Differences about Church-Government and Worship in a fawning Preface to Richard Cromwell he adds In this Book and one of Confirmation which I lately published I confidently affirm is contained much of that reforming reconciling Truth which must heal us if ever we be healed Did ever any sound the Trumpet louder to summon all to take notice of him Did ever Quack offer more to recommend his Pills or Balsam And after this who can doubt whom he means that the younger Ministers should look upon as the Extraordinary of this Age If God endow here and there one Man with an extraordinary Judgment it is the Wisdom and Happiness of the Times to know him and to kindle their Torches at his Fire So did one Luther one Mâ—lancthon one Calvin one Erasmus one Jewel Whitaker Reynolds Davenant c. profit many You may go a hundred Miles among the less judicious Sort and miss of that Light which one Amesius one Strangius one Le Blanc c. could shew the World And it is the Plague of corrupted Nature that Ignorance keepeth Men from knowing it self and not one of a Multitude even of Religious Men who are injudicious will believe that they are injudicious but every Man is so much the more confident that he is in the right and others err by how much the more he erreth himself So that few ignorant Ministers are teachable because by Office they undertake to teach But through God's Mercy My own Converse hath been with an humble Sort of Ministers which was the Occasion of our Vnity and Peace Do you not see here the one Baxter of the Age whom it were the Wisdom and Happiness of the Times to know better and kindle their Torches at his Fire The Gamaliel at whose Feet the younger Ministers Ay and Bishops too should all sit down and approve their Humility by learning of him and