to all that do outwardly submit to the Covenant Sir I will add no more at present these Arguments thus briefly set down you may consider of impartially I have left a margin for your Annotations and desire you to note what you allow and what you dislike and so return my paper that I may endeavour to satisfy you so far as it becomes one that is a friend to you and to the people among whom you are Minister I must not end till I have as I think it my duty admonisht you to review the Meditations you delivered yesterday and in your second thoughts judge whether it he right and charitable to preach 1. That the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church were heretofore imposed as necessary or equall to Gods Law See to the contrary in the preface to the Liturgy of Ceremonies why some are retained 2. That a Church of Saints might fifteen years ago best be gathered out of excommunicate persons 3. That God will add to your separating Church such as shall be saved as if salvation were not to be had elswhere 4. That Liturgy hath done much hurt among the people Remember the fallacy of non causa pro causa 5. That the Ministers that joyn not with you harden people in their sins and favour their wickedness 6. That the Apostle speaking of withdrawing from disorderly walkers forbids to eat the Sacrament with them though they were not excommunicate They might eat familiarly with Infidels not with the brother offending 1 Cor. 5. Herein I cannot subscribe to your doctrin though in any office of love I am your servant Postscript YOU were a little troubled me thought with that Text 1 Cor. 5. concerning not eating with the offending Brother and you held it lawfull to eat familiarly or at the common Table with him but not at the Holy Table Your reason because it was lawfull so to eat with Infidels Sir you are twice mistaken for it was clearly permitted to keep company and eat with Infidels though not with the brother Read the place And the Apostle doth not speak of eating the Sacrament but common bread A Christian must be so far from familiar converse with such a brother that he must not so much as eat with him No not to eat He must avoid his familiar company lest he partake in his sin whom he knows to be covetous a railer a drunkard c. But if they both chance to meet at the Lords Table the offender being not under publick censure of Authority there he may accompany him in that good Action and not be polluted by him for the Action is good and the inward unworthiness is his own guilt and hurts not another The end of this Aversation from the offending brother is for his good for his conversion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Th. 3. 14. That he may be ashamed The end of my Admonition to you is that you may not be ashamed but in the most hansome way you can amend your error and no longer rail ††Humfryes of Free Admiss p. 78. My Brethren there are some touches of the Law and Superstition on you You know what a sacred thing was made of the Communion-Table when the Rayl was about it Now I pray think how you refine and spiritualize your old superstition by putting a spiritual rail about the Sacrament when you debar poor sinners from coming thither Let us take heed there will be something of the Pharisee in these spiritual-proud hearts of men there will be setting a rayl stil about the Communion-Table about the Holy Table and fright the people from it Mr. Barksdale expected Mr. Helme should now shew himself an example of meekness in accepting brotherly Admonition which he had commended so much in his Sermon but found it otherwise for neither was the paper returned according to his request nor any Answer at all but the letter was shewed to his party and from one of them Mr. Barksdale received this loving Advice following A Letter of Mr. Tr. to Mr. B. Junii 1. 52. GOod Sir The good respect I ever bore to your industry learning peaceableness and integrity makes me having seen a letter of yours savouring of some sharpness to be bold to give you advice worth gold 1. That you would write no more such letters you know not what use may be made of it If you had the letter again I think you would never send it 2. That you will not think your self ingaged in conscience to contend against any particular form or disciplin tolerated by the Magistrate especially seeing I and the rest do by no means judge any man to be scandalous because he is not of our form but desire all brotherly love and fellowship with you and them Good Sir consider of this mine advice and if you cannot take it well yet do not take it ill because t is the advice of your assured loving friend The Answer returned Junii 5. WOrthy Sir Although my Letter written as I conceive on a very just occasion and in a friendly manner to Mr. Helm be not yet vouchsafed any answer yet have I this fruit of it that you upon sight thereof have been pleased thus far to shew your love to the Writer as to give me your Advice Advice led in by so favourable an elogy of your undeserving friend that were the Admonition sharper than any point of my letter yet should I think my self bound to take it well Monere Moneri you know the rest I do not only not take it ill but heartily thank you for it and will obey it preferring your judgment herein before mine own For truly when I consult with my self give me an ingenuous liberty to speak a little boldly with you I can see no cause but I may write more such letters That letter hath two parts one defensive of many Ministers for their life and learning well approved the other admonitory desiring a revisall of some points deliverd by that Preacher my friend In the Defense I have certainly said somewhat that cannot be refuted by silence nor as I think by words And in my Admonition I have touched that which ought to be retracted or at least excused Why am I not answered by letter if I am wrong to be reduced or informed if I am right to be confirmed To give no Answer in such a case I confess I cannot reconcile with the Rules of humanity which I have learned and which I did believe my friend would not transgress The true use of a letter is thereby to understand the writers mind and so to give him answer what other use may be made of it as you say truly I know not but I esteem it not worthy to be seen by Superiours against whose command I am so far from contending that I will not publickly condemn what they publickly commend But to speak to your second it hath been esteemed heretofore very conscientious to contend against some things tolerated by
Baptism and from the Orders and Ministry of that Church wherein they were Baptized than to charge the Worship thereof as corrupt when the corruption is only in themselves 2. Whether any People can have enjoyment of all Gods holy Ordinances that have not any Minister among them Ordained after the Apostolical manner 3. Whether Ecclesiastical Power be grounded in the People and not derived from Christ and his Apostles by a succession of Church-men 4. Whether it be not Schism to cast off obedience to the antient Apostolical Government of the Church And to be of these new Congregations to communicate in Schism 5. Whether Schism be not a great crime when as every Christian is bound upon his Salvation to maintain the Unity of the Church 6. Whether any example or pattern of a Congregation without dependence upon some higher Ecclesiastical power can be found in any Age till this last 7. Whether mutual Admonition and all that is good in this Covenant may not be practised keeping our dependence still on the lawful Guides of the Church 8. Whether they can be said to walk humbly and inoffensively toward All that take upon them to condemn the whole Church as corrupt and renounce Communion with all that joyn not in this Covenant Another Letter to Master H. about the same time SIR ALthough I have promised to write no more Letters such as the former wherein it seems you have found some dislike that you will not tell me of nor will I oppose your new Church-State any further than in modesty and charity I may yet having missed of your Company to day and having understood by Mr. Tr. that you have had a report brought you concerning your Orders and Me I desire you not to believe it before you hear me and the like I desire concerning any Report you hear of my Preaching One thing more Whereas I am informed that the last Lords Day you were much in confuting my Interpretation of 1 Cor. 5. 11. and brought consent of Interpreters that no not to eat is not as I understand it spoken of common eating I have here transcribed Diotat's note No not to eat Namely in common course of life shun all manner of voluntary sweet and friendly conversation with him The same shunning of Infidels was not required and therefore you must acknowledge your proof weak They might eat with Infidels Therefore much more with Christians I will trouble you with his note upon v. 4. When ye are He speaks to the Pastors and Conductors of the Church The meaning is Being gathered together in Ecclesiastical judgement having this my Declaration c. Whereby you plainly see your foundation for an Independent Congregation taken away Pray Sir weigh this and if you please the former Letter with the same quietness of mind wherewith I wrote it and return me two lines of Answer that I may know my friendly Office is not lost and take you the same liberty of correcting me who am your Christian Friend No Answer was returned to the former Letters and so there was a Cessation till the next year But in the mean time this following Paper came to my hands supposed to be written by Mr. B. out of a desire to have somewhat done in the way of Reformation by the neighbouring Ministers to take away somewhat from the grievous Criminations Mr. H. and such others usually cast upon them as hinderers of piety and hardeners of the people in their Sins This Paper I believe the pious Reader will take kindly from me intitled A Reformed Congregation 1. WE do in thankfulness acknowledge the great Mercy of God in not giving us up utterly to confusion and desolation but preserving us under any Government wherein Law and Justice is so administred that we may if we be not wanting to our selves lead a quiet and a godly life And we content our selves with the present State not seditiously seeking after changes 2. We do much honour the Church of England wherein we have been Baptized and bred and notwithstanding any small faults in the Constitution and Disciplin or great faults in the late Officers and Governours thereof we insist upon the same Grounds and adhere to the same Church as it was in Queen Elizabeths time defended against the Roman by Jewels Apology and against the Innovators by Hookers Ecclesiastical Politie 3. Yet do we not think all the forms and rites thereof so necessary but that we may as discretion shall require omit them upon occasion and in their stead without coutempt of the former use some that are different and serve well for order and decency in the service of God 4. To rest in any forms and rites whatsoever and to serve God only externally we hold a very imperfect and unacceptable serving of God who requireth chiefly the heart But as God hath made both our Bodies and Souls and Christ hath redeemed Both so do we desire to glorifie Him with Both. And as we would express the power of Godliness in our lives so would we also preserve a decent form of it such as is for edification in our Assemblies 5. The Litury of the Church of England for the substance and main of it we heartily embrace but in the use thereof shall not retain any thing offensive and opposite to the present Government but in all our Religious exercises shall be as careful to shew our due submission to the Magistrate which all good Christians have ever done as our reverence to the Antient Church 6. That Sum of Religion contained in the old Catechism we do especially commend for the education of Children And we shall then think our selves good proficients in Christianity when with the profession of the necessary Articles of Faith and due participation of the Sacraments and frequency of the Word and Prayer we joyn the careful daily practice of Gods moral Law and of those excellent Evangelical precepts of our only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 7. Difference of opinions in lesser points and matters shall not make a breach in our Charity and Communion with one another Nor shall we for any such difference be alienated so much or estranged from any Christians in the whole world but that we shall be glad to communicate and close with them in all that is good and lawful 8. That we may for the present supply the want of publick Church-Government as well as we can we resolve to put into more diligent practice that command of Christ concerning fraternal Admonition First by one in private then by two or three and lastly by the Church or Congregation or those that represent it And whosoever shall obstinately stand out against the last Admonition with such a one we will have nothing to do but avoid him so far as the Law of Nature and this Nation will permit 9. This our Congregation shall be guided by one or more lawful Ministers assisted with such Officers as our Necessities shall require and the Church by common consent shall elect
service for the third day On Monday I communicated the enclosed which now I return to D. We do so exceedingly approve it and the compiler of it that we heartily desire you who are so prudent a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the young society either to bring the same Paper with you on the first Tuesday of the next Month or another Paper with Additions as you shall think fit though in point of Laws as in Cases of Conscience the excess of determinations may be offensive to be communicated to New College so contrived that to prevent any possible exception we may impart the view of it to him that sits at the Helm and if not desire yet give way for his concurrent society in the innocency and industry of the design We think when we do hunc lapidem movere we do amoliri omnem God direct and prosper you and us It was not long after this time when Mr. B. having celebrated the Holy Eucharist at Sudeley Mr. H. as his manner had been before crys out Murder in his Pulpit and withall makes shew of a readiness to confer with any body and make good his charge Which news was brought Mr. B. by one of the Baylifs and by the same hand a few lines were presently sent by Mr. B. signifying to Mr. H. that he was glad to hear now of an offer of Conference and that he would be ready to wait upon Mr. H. at his time and place before some discreet Auditors of his choice to answer his charge and give him account of his doings at Sudeley To this note after three weeks interval had Mr. B. answer brought him to his house in these words of Master H. to Master B. Octob. 19. 1653. MAster B. I received your Chalenge which you sent by Baylif T. and am willing to answer it in the strength of God and because you give me liberty to choose time and place and Auditors Sir I do choose Nov. 9. next following for the day and the publick meeting house of Winchcomb for the place where I shall not fail God assisting to be ready to prove That such a mixed Administration of the Sacraments that is usually practized in the Parishes of England is unlawful in the Administrators in giving and the People in receiving As for the persons before whom this Conference shall be held I shall choose my despised Brethren who are Pastors of the Churches and those simple Disciples as you call them over whom the Holy Ghost hath made me Overseer You have the liberty to choose what sober persons you please Sir if you resolve to maintain this unchristian practice in your self and others you shall meet at the time and place aforasaid an opponent of Your loving friend C. H. Your chalenge is so triumphantly reported about the Country by your friend that I believe here will be many Godly persons of the places adjacent Master B. to Master H. Octob. 20. 1653. SIR THat which you are pleas'd in your military language to call a challenge which yet you have been so wary as to answer after three weeks space was indeed a friendly Civil request that I might wait upon you at your appointed time and place in the presence of some discreet witnesses that is in some neighbours house as the bearer could and did assure you to answer your charge against me for my Ministring at Sudeley Your publick meetings I do not approve they tend to faction in the Church and perhaps will end in sedition against the State if you be not the wiser See Sleidan's Commentaries of the disorders of Germany But Sir if you please to meet me on the Lords da next at night at Mr. F's He was waited for in one quarter of an hour 's but he came not discourse possibly we may contrive some way for your satisfaction Your servant C. B. Mr. B. to Mr. P. Mr. Tr. Oct. 20. 53. WOrthy Friends I have some reason to think that you are misinform'd by Mr. Helme concerning me wherefore I trouble you with these few lines to assure you that I am so far from despising you that I do not use to mention you sine honoris praefatione and in my heart do much value your learning and piety yea I do reckon you in the number of my honor'd friends Non eadem sentire bonos de rebus iâ—sdem Incolumi licuit semper Amicitiâ That first Next whereas I am required to answer at the publick meeting place at Winchcomb Novemb. 9. before a confluence of those that are called by my opponent the Godly and am named the Challenger I truly profess unto you that in my note to Mr. Helme about three weeks agoe I only desired him in humble manner grounding my request upon what the bearer told me of his readiness to conferr with any man of a different way and to make good his cause to appoint a time place and some discreet persons to be witnesses and I would wait on him Let him shew you my Note I never heard of any good order at any late-publick popular disputes and it is against my peaceable disposition and Studies to engage my self to the noise factions of such meetings 'T will be better sure first to corfer in private I will meet Mr. Helme at Mr. Freemans house if he will The sooner the better Let him chuse some â—eâ—ect friends of judgment and I shall be glad to have both of you present to keep us within the Laws of Academicall Disputation Upon which meeting if we can agree upon any publick orderly way of Tryall that may tend to a good effect with leave of Superiours I shall God willing be ready and either answer or oppose so far as it concerns me I most desire to confer by letters with any sober Divine Nec quenquam fugio Your very humble Servant C. B. That same week was sent to Mr. H. a paper conteining three false Doctrins to be confuted at Gods house in Winchcomb by some neighbouring Ministers Novemb. 9. with an Epigram to the erring Brethren Papists look one away c. See it immediately before the Dispute Mr. H. to Mr. B. October 31. 53. SIR There was a nameless paper sent to me with three questions and a Libell at the end of it directed to the erring brethren the Messenger said it came from you I desire to know who those erring Brethren are The question I propos'd takes in the substance of what is in difference between you and me And I shall be ready the day and hour appointed viz. 10. of the clock on the 9. day of November next at the Meeting-house at Winchcomb which you Idolatrically call God's House to justify through Grace that assertion I sent to you and I do desire your positive Answer whether you will be there or not to answer as you first proposed my opposition Your friend so far as you are for truth C. H. Mr. B. to Mr. H. November 1. 53. SIR I am very prone of
And as we cannot like of those that factiously draw away people after them that belong to other Assemblies so shall we be careful not to offend in the like manner by trespassing upon any lawful Minister or distracting and disturbing any other Congregation whatsoever 10. Our great Business shall be by Gods grace to live soberly righteously and godly That being the end of the Gospel and in all external and indifferent matters we shall conform our selves to the Law of the Land and to such Rules of Civility and good order as we can learn by our selves or by the examples and directions of the most prudent 11. And lastly we shall be in preparation of mind to conform unto any Church-Government which the Supreme Power shall settle over us according to the word of God And in case none be setled we shall endeavour to join with other neighbouring Congregations and receive what influence we can from some Overseer of the Primitive and Apostolical temper THe last Spring Master B. encreased his diligence and doubled his pains at Sudeley considering how many of his friends and acquaintance at Winchcomb and of his most Honourable Patron 's Tenants were become almost like Sheep without a Shepheard some frequenting that Parish-Church indeed but bringing home their ears tingling with the strange doctrins and uncharitable censures and reproaches of the Preacher others absenting themselves from the Church and contented with their private reading and devotions at home others looking about where they might find a more comfortable Ministry Upon this consideration Mr. B. not consulting with flesh and bloud not fearing the threats of those violent men not seeking any profit to himself but meerly the glory of God and the good of Souls opposes his endeavours against the separation shews the danger of faling off from a true Reformed Church exhorteth to Communion with Pastors of a regular Ordination reproveth the license of the times wherein so many without lawfull call without commission venture upon holy Ministeries The people hereby erected and as I have credibly been informed being publickly told by Mr. Helme that if they could not comply with his way they should not dissemblingly come to hear him but provide otherwise for themselves they in great numbers frequent Prayers Sermons and Sacraments at Sudeley This pierced Mr. Helme and although he would not answer what Mr. Barksdale had written to him he inveighs against him in his Pulpit condemnes his Preaching and his Sacramenting and this in no milder language than of murdering Christ and the souls of men This was the occasion of Another Letter to Mr. Helme Maii 23. 53. MR. Helme I have this long time much desired some friendly conference with you but no yet finding the opportunity I take the liberty to send you this Letter after my former letters which I suppose you received though you returned no answer I would not divert you from your better thoughts by troubling you to give any long answer a few lines shall be sufficient to me Only be pleased to let me know the reasons of that vehemence you have often used in condemning your neighbours Minister and people particularly for the Holy Sacrament administred among them Must we forbear that part of our Ministry because some are unworthy receivers Then it seems we may not preach for fear our Sermons may prove the favour of death to some The accidentall evill following by reason of some not known defect in the recipient is no discharge to the Minister nor need it deter him from doing his part But we must not admit the unworthy Nor do we admit any but upon an apparent worthiness that is upon profession of Faith and repentance and newness of life But they make not good their promises The more are they to blame that do not Let not their falsness be laid upon the Minister for he 's not guilty of it no more than a Magistrate that gives an oath to Jurors which they through their own negligence do not performe or than a Minister that offers an Engagement or Covenant to people when yet some of them are found afterwards to have entred into it not sincerely Sir I cannot see how you can secure your self at any time so that your Ministrie may not be employed on those who may possibly turne it to their hurt Those bloody words that are reported to have fallen from you in publick concerning people in Hel crying out upon Ministers for damning them by giving them the Holy Mysteries cannot be excused Nor are you to censure any for unworthy receiving unless you know them to be such and if you do know them to be such I think you are rather to admonish them in privat and pray for them than publikly to rage against them I will not trouble you with more of this Yet one word more I must take leave to add and ask of you Why you complained to the Justices at Winchcomb Sessions last that you had malignant Neighbours Sir you are not to endanger any man's name or estate by such a character that is a professor of that Religion which Christ hath taught that submits to the Higher powers that desires to live peaceably with all men Such a one particularly doth he profess himself to be in truth who also is Your friend to serve you C. B. May 23. 53. A Reply presently upon receipt of Answer to the letter of May 23. Jun. 8. 53. SIR To shew my respect unto you and the desire I have you should have any fair satisfaction concerning my doings I shall give some touches upon the severall parts of your letter passing by the ill language in it proceeding not from your reason but passion and being very well assured that many pious and learned men equall to the best of your Approvers doe concurre against you in the charge of uncharitableness and do not think fit to conform themselves to your example Ad. 1. The wicked men cannot be said to be hardened in their wicked wayes by us that promise them life onely upon Gods terms if they repent and believe the Gospell Nor have they that are convinced of sin by you at Winchcomb any other salve from me at Sudely to cure them but the promises of the Gospell upon their Conversion Yet do not I confess that every thing you call sin is so How many good things have you called evill That of Ursin is not pertinent unto me for none are acquitted Verbo visibili that are not also Verbo audibili Both wayes are they acquitted that are truly that which they profess 2. This Ordinance is no otherwise prophaned than others are by unworthy partakers Prayers of wicked men are abomination why do you let them prophane your prayers at Winchcomb As to Ezec. 44. And other places elsewhere I must confess you have an unhappy skill in making the Scriptures look kindly upon your selves and with an ill aspect on such as are not of you Before that Text will serve your turn you must