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A31656 An effort against bigotry, and for Christian catholocism being a discourse on Rom. 14, 17 / delivered at Andover in Hampshire by Henry Chandler. Chandler, Henry. 1699 (1699) Wing C1926; ESTC R32616 24,696 36

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Kneeling though Christ or his Apostles never so Administred it and though the Persons that would join with them think it would be sin in them so to receive it Others will not admit Persons to their Communion unless they will submit to be examined by Officers that are neither Preachers of the Word nor Dispensers of the Sacraments though the Divine Right of that Office be controverted by the Learned and the Persons refusing to be so examined verily think it is not an Ordinance of Christ Others will not admit Persons to their Communion except they will besides their declaring their Knowledge of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and professing their Belief of it and purposes of living in all things suitable to it be obliged to give an account of their Experiences to the Society or the Heads of them that they may judge not only of their Knowledge but also of the Sincerity and Truth of their Profession at least of the Credibility of the Appearances of their Sincerity and Truth Others will have no Communion at the Lord's Table with those that have been Baptized in their Infancy unless they will renounce their Baptism by being Baptized again All these are to be blamed Now I do not at this time blame-one Party or other for acting themselves according as they are respectively perswaded nor for Admitting others to do the like that are of the same mind with them and are Volunteers in what they do But that which is justly reprovable and which my Text and Doctrine directs me to reprove is Persons looking upon those that are otherwise minded and dealing with them as if they were meer impenitent Pagans denying to them the means of Salvation as if these things were of the Substance of Religion and a Man could not be a good Christian unless he was as to these Things altogether of their Mind This is but too like the hateful Cruelty of the Athenian Robber the condition of Lodging with whom was to be made just the length of his Bed by disjointing stretching if too short or by dismembring chopping off if two long Away with this Church Tyranny with this intrenching upon Christ's Prerogative and let 's be content with such Conditions of Church Fellowship as he in Wisdom and Goodness hath appointed Certainly what I am speaking against is a wicked Lording it over the Consciences of Christ's Disciples where-ever 't is whither in a Parish Church or separate Meeting and 't is directly contrary to that Precept Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye but not to doubtful Disputations 2. A second sort to be reproved are Factious Preachers Such I mean whose Business it is to commend themselves and Party measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves amongst themselves as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 10. 12. Such Ministers by what Names or Titles soever dignified or distinguished as under pretence of Orthodoxy Order or Decency employ their Wit and spend their Time and Vigor in justifying commending and magnifying the Expressions and Phrases Habits Gestures and Modes used by themselves and Party villifying and nullifying the Ways and Manners of those that differ from them O the Sin and Folly of such a Course it cannot possibly be the effect of a better Cause than base Selfishness Envy or Ignorance How absurd and foolish doth this appear when we consider the relation that Ministers stand in to the People They are Ambassadors from God unto Men in Christ's stead to perswade them to be reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. Their business is by all proper Arguments to perswade Men to take off their Hearts from this World whose Friendship is Enmity against God James 4. 4. and set them upon God as their chief Good and only Happiness in order hereunto they should with the best of their Skill display before Men the attractive amiable Excellencies of God as discover'd by the Works of Creation common Providence and Redemption and disgrace the World as a Competitor and Rival with God by shewing its unsuitableness uncertaintainty and insufficiency c. Now what madness is it instead hereof to be continually or frequently harping upon the Decency Comliness or Usefulness of such and such Ceremonies and the Excellency of such Churches as make use of them How absurd is it to be continually or frequently industriously crying of them down and applauding such Churches as use them not to be defending justifying and pressing such or such particular Modes of expressing the Doctrines of Christan Religion and thereby at least tacitly condemning and disgracing others that it may be are altogether as Orthodox neither being in terms the Expressions of Holy Scripture 'T is indeed a deplorable Case that the Ambassadors of the King of Heaven should so much mistake the Design of their Negotiation If the King of England should send an Ambassador to Treat with his Enemies his revolted Subjects and proffer them their Lives in case they will return to their Allegiance confess with Shame and Remorse their Rebellion would it not be abominable trifling in the Ambassador if he should spend his time chiefly in instructing them what Cloaths they should wear and what Gestures they should keep when they come into the King's Presence The Application is easie 3. Schismatical Dividers are to be reprov'd Such in Christian Societies I mean who if they cannot have their Wills as to little Trifles stick not at renting and tearing all to pieces by faulting the Ministers Methods and prejudicing the Church against him There are a sort of Men in the World who tho' they have hardly sense enough to apprehend the plainest Preaching are yet so conceited and proud as to think themselves qualified to be at least Sides-Men with their Minister in all his Acts of Rule and Government if not wise enough to go before and lead him These if every thing be not done in the Church according to their Capricio and Humour if the Minister do not Preach such a particular Doctrine as they think will be most Edifying and in such Words and Phrases as they think most sound if he proceed not in the Government of the Church according to their Model and take them not with him to judge of his Administrations they will never leave working like Moles till they have undermined him Though they cannot charge their Minister with Preaching or Ruling contrary to the Word of God yet if he do not these things just as they have seen and heard them done in some other Churches which they are pleased to pronounce the most Pure if all be not done according to the Dictates of such or such a Minister whose Person they have in Admiration they will withdraw themselves from the Communion buz about their Discontents till they have bred such a Schism as exceeds the Ministers Skill to unite and heal I dare not say that all such are of their Father the Devil but I will boldly affirm that his Works they do and that they are