SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THE KEEPING THE Thirtieth of January AND Twenty ninth of MAY. Gal. 4.10 11. Ye observe Days and Months and Times and Years I am afraid of you least I have bestowed upon you labour in vain By J. G. G. LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ric. Baldwin at the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane 1694. SOME OBSERVATIONS Upon the Keeping the Thirtieth of January and XXIXth of May. EVERY Thirtieth of January doth yearly renew my Thoughts upon the occasion of the day We say it hath been appointed to be kept to mourn and humble the Nation for the Death of King Charles I. The thing hath two several Aspects for either it looks upon the Act of some Men against the Living or upon what others have done and do for the Dead both which I take to be ill the one because to me it seems Unlawful and the other as Contrary to True Religion I agree the Fact was an Horrid Murther Execrable as Black as Words can make it neither am ignorant how Blood defiles the Land what a loud and crying Sin is Blood-guiltiness according to other several strong Expressions in Holy Scriptures But when all is said after Justice hath been executed upon the Guilty after 45 Years there ought to be an end It were better more according to Charity and Christian Prudence to forget those things than to renew the Memory of them which continues Divisions for we know 't is too usual on that day to hear from the Pulpit about those who sold him of others that brought him to the Block and of those who cut off his Head which doth not restore to Life nor remedy that which is past and only Exasperates the Spirits of Men. This is too like the Italian Custom to keep and shew Handkerchiefs dipped in the Blood of those that were killed or such like Tokens only to infuse a desire of Vengeance and to make irreconcilable Enmities between Families and Parties after Acts of Oblivion for such things are passed the Memory thereof ought to be forgotten Such things do and must admit of a Prescription neither can I find any sound reason why such a Performance should be entailed upon us and our Posterity 't is enough once for all really and heartily to have done after that it degenerates into Formality and Bigoticism if I may so call it I know amongst us we have Men Zealous without Knowledge guided by Ignorance and as thorough-paced in their way as any Papist is in his who know not how to keep within bounds in many things they do Every one knows the keeping of this day was enacted after a Revolution amidst Heats and Desires of Revengefulness in some who looked upon themselves as having been ill used by others The Order for keeping that day was brought forth with some other things which by and by I shall have occasion to mention but because I do not intend to insist upon the Civil but the Religious part of keeping that day which is the principal thing of it and as the taking away of his Life was an ill thing so by the Grace of God I will shew that every Year keeping a day on that account is as bad if not worse in as much as the Honour and Worship of God are therein concerned What St. Paul saith to the People of Athens in general I may say to some amongst us in particular in this thing * Acts 17.22 You are too Superstitious For I am satisfied we cannot without Superstition whereof the very appearance ought to be avoided keep an Anniversary or a certain day every Year upon any Mans account and on the same day go to Church the place appointed only for God's Worship there to hear a Sermon preached on that Subject and to have a Collect Epistle and Gospel yea such a part of Gospel taken out of a Parable wherein our Blessed Saviour foretells his Death and this must be applied to a Dead Man Nay in that Service we pray to God he will be pleased to give us the Grace to follow that Man's Charity and Patience surely in this we are too Superstitious now Time Place and Service being appointed next thing for us to do will be to Pray to him Heathens had their Apotheosis of Men to make Gods after their Death Papists have their Canonizations or making of Saints but I think our Church ought to be free from such Errors and Abuses without Kalenders and Legends I am sure the best Reformed Churches beyond Sea admit of no such things let for brevities sake the Testimony of one serve for all * Festa autem hominibus divis instituta non probamus Helvet Confess cap. 24. de feriis We approve not of days dedicated to Saints Would to God we had not so many of these Relicks of Popery amongst us such as the Purification of the Virgin a Jewish Ceremony Annunciation Conception c. All Saints Michael and all Angels Innocents c. which as the already quoted Confession saith †Ibidem habent absurda inutilia minimeque toleranda have many things Absurd Superstitious and not to be endured It may be made a question Whether God will ever forgive it those who so stiffly retain such things and oppose a thorough Reformation keeping the Clogs of such Superstitions and Fopperies upon our Holy Religion whereof the Purity is thereby defiled What St. Paul saith to the Galatians You observe days c. I am afraid of you Gal. 4.10 11. least I have bestowed upon you labour in vain may justly be applied to many amongst us I know this enlargement will not be thought to deviate from our purpose But we are not satisfied of him to make a Saint but a Martyr too for that 's now the Name given him the Martyr by Excellency I confess here I am somewhat at a stand to see such a Name so much misapplied but before I proceed I declare I charitably believe God shewed him Mercy but withall 't is not the Manner but the Cause of Death makes one a Martyr I know several kinds of Perswasions have their Witnesses and Martyrs but for us the Martyr who suffers for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus he is the true Martyr who loses his Life for the sake of Christ for his Person for his Attributes for his Offices for his Faith such an one was * Acts 7. St. Stephen such †Acts 12. St. James such ‖ Rev. 2.13 Antipas whom the Lord called his faithful Martyr and many others after for the same Cause and here by the bye I must take notice how the Apostolical Church appointed no day nor Rubrick to remember or mourn for their Death not so much as for that of our Lord and Saviour nor of his Birth only that of his Resurrection the first day of the Week which St. John calls the * Rev. 1.10 Lords-day But for Charles I. he must be a Saint and a Martyr of a new Coining but
rather no Martyr amongst true Christians except it be made to appear that he suffered for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus though otherwise never so unjustly Let those who took away his Life be as Wicked as can be imagined yet they were not professed Infidels his being a Christian was not the Cause or Pretence of his being put to Death the Pretence was how true or false I dive not into it his following Evil Council encroaching upon the Liberties carrying on Designs for Arbitrariness casting into Prison Men for refusing to lend him Mony raising Mony without Parliament as in the case of Ship-Mony for designing to bring in Popery and such other things as the whole Nation knows which the last excepted were all of a Worldly Concernment and no ways fit to qualifie a Martyr him who suffers for them As to this last I must say in his time whether or not of his own Contrivance I cannot tell a Design was carrying on to reconcile us to the Church of Rome whose Interest here did much thrive through the Queens Favour the Persecution of Puritans the Prayer-book sent into Scotland bringing in Arminianism setting up Crucifixes upon the Communion-Tables by them called Altars as Ministers were and are still by the name of Priests thus promiscuously bringing in Names and Things those and many more were Evidences of the Project then in hand which though it had been true and carried on by the King yet can never justifie the putting him to Death no more than his being put to Death can prove him a Martyr Suppose they were Murderers must we be Blasphemers If they were Villains must we be Idolaters or Superstitious Is it a Warrant for us to do Evil because they did so 'T is very bad Logick for after this we must follow evil Examples After the Light of the Gospel hath since the Reformation so clearly shined amongst us 't is very strange that some who might know better have as to the matter in hand carried things so far on in the way of Superstition A Medal of Bishop Laud a Man so noted in his days soon after King Charles's Restoration was coined in the Tower and consequently by publick Authority of which here are several and many beyond Sea with this Inscription Sancti Caroli Praecursor the fore-runner of St. Charles Here the business is not minced we speak it out plainly in England we have our St. Charles as Italians have theirs his name is entred into the List of Saints he hath his day only we have not builded him a Church as is done for Charles Borromeo in Rome But instead of that he is owned as such in every Church we have let Men honour his Memory but not to such a length as to run into Superstition if not worse for there is no less than Blasphemy in the case in the Medal Bishop Laud is compared to John the Baptist and consequently King Charles is parallelled with Christ for John Baptist both in his Birth and Death was fore-runner of the Lord Jesus This Comparison is come not only out of a Stamp but from Pulpits too a place very improper for such Doctrines some now alive have carried on the Parallel much beyond bounds others have been heard to preach that the Guilt of King Charles's Blood lies upon the Nation never to be washed off What upon Childrens Children and from Generation to Generation to the Worlds end yet God saith by two of his Prophets the Proverb shall no more be used Jer. 31.29 Ezek. 18.2 3. The Fathers have eaten a Soure Grape and the Childrens Teeth are set on edge To see the Blood of the Son of God lie as a Curse upon the Generality of the Jews is no wonder they all cried Crucifie Crucifie they all said Matt. 27.25 Let his Blood be upon us and our Children I hope our thorough-paced Papists in this Point will not have the Face to say that the Blood of Charles I. though never so Innocent can be compared with that of our Lord and Saviour though alas about the time of that Death some were possessed with such extravagant Fits of Superstition as to dye Handkerchiefs in the Blood to keep and use it to Cure Diseases work Miracles and such other things as made an Impression upon the Spirits of Credulous and Ignorant People which true Christians who make Profession of the Purity of the Gospel ought to be ashamed of Others upon the occasion of the day and that lately said Dr. Sherlock's Sermon The Evils and Calamities which we have now more than Forty Years in some degree or other and sometimes very severely suffered under are the natural Effects or just Punishment of that Sin which we this day lament Herein is a great Exaggeration but as to Cursing Swearing Perjury Covenant-breaking Injustice Shedding of Innocent Blood as of late there was too much Drunkenness Uncleanness these are but trifling Sins not worth God's taking notice of let such Preachers as much as they please exalt and commend their Martyrs for such Vertues as are rarely found in mean Persons which in my weak Apprehension is no great Commendation for a King to say he had those Virtues that are rarely found in mean Persons as indeed 't is rare for mean Persons to be Conspicuous in great Virtues to find such Virtues we must go into an Hermit's Cell we must needs be at a great loss not to have where to search for them but those dark Holes or Places of Darkness this is to have a great Opinion of Hermits Lives as well as of King Charles's great Virtues we must not be wanting also to attribute great Merits to Hermits in their Cells However one could bear with such Stuff if the Preaching of the Gospel of Peace was not turned into the sound of an Alarm What mean these Expressions There is a Spirit of Zeal and Faction the Principles of which if not restrained will ruine the best Princes and overturn the best Governments Again The horrid Fact committed on this Day hath poisoned the very Springs of Government and so deeply tinctured the Minds of Men that I pray God we may not still live to see and feel the miserable effects of it These are Doctrines of a New Gospel to work Differences and Cause and keep up Division But to make our selves the more acceptable we must promise That those who under the late Reigns were for Passive Obedience will be so under this Another in a late Sermon of his doth screw up all his Wits and spend his whole Strength in making an unnecessary and improper Panegyrick I doubt very much whether upon our Saviours Passion-day he ever used Expressions so pathetical and delivered them with so much Zeal as he did upon this last Occasion I confess I never heard before a Prince's though never so good being called a Tyrant to be Blasphemy I thought to Blaspheme was against God and not against Man Then he proceeds to unhandsome and uncharitable
killed himself with his own Sword The News of this Overthrow being brought to David by an Amalakite 1 Sam. 31.2.3 4. and 2 Sam. 1. who thought to bring David acceptable News of the Death of his Mortal Enemy in hopes of a Reward told him a Lye How at his desire he had killed him Whereupon David commanded him to be put to Death which was effected and then made a Lamentation which was well and suitable with the present Occasion the loss of a Battle whereof the King's death was one of the bad Concomitants If the young Amalekite had killed him he had done that which Saul's Armour-bearer would not and therefore deserved to die for killing the King The young Man's Act we condemn but what is that to the purpose We do commend the Mourning upon the Sad Accident at that time but was an Anniversary appointed entailed upon Posterity upon a set day every Year to meet in the place of Worship to mourn for it No such thing David made at that time a Lamentation for the publick Loss and for his own in particular for it was not only over Saul but also over Jonathan his dear Friend I am distressed for thee 2 Sam. 1.17 26. my Brother Jonathan whom he tenderly loved But 't is pulled over head and ears to say David appointed a Lamentation or a Mournful Ditty as he calls it to be Sung by the Children of Judah in succeeding Ages Indeed 't is said in the eighteenth Verse of the same Chapter That he bade them teach the Children of Judah the use of the Bow and not to sing a Lamentation Herein lies a want of Sincerity and something of a Design to impose upon Hearers and Readers Now I conceive the Parallel between Saul and Charles the First lies in being anointed which we know was a Ceremony used under the Law to have Kings Prophets and Priests anointed which all related to Jesus Christ for those three Offices he was to exercise and that anointing signified the Oil of Gladness wherewith he was to be anointed above all his Fellows meaning the Graces of the Spirit of God represented by the Anointing Though the name of Anointed is given to those that were no Kings no Priests nor Prophets as afterwards explained as Abraham Isaac Israel and Family Touch not mine anointed Psalm 105.10 for there the Prophet speaks of them not of Kings And under the Gospel the Holy Ghost is called the Vnction the Anointing which God's People have received 1 John 2.20 27. and which abideth in us and teaches us all things In consequence of this the Lord Jesus who according to his Promise hath sent the * John 16.7 13. Comforter the Spirit of Truth is said under the name of a Lamb to †Rev. 5.10 have made us unto our God Kings and Priests So then all that have the Holy Spirit of Christ are the Anointed of the Lord The God of Truth hath said so and Men must not take upon themselves to teach him how to speak Why do poor silly Men go about as much as in them lie to deprive God's People of what he hath bestowed upon them And if all true Believers be made Kings and Priests Why should Man restrain it to an Order of Man and put asunder that which God hath joyned together Yet this I must say to those who so exceedingly are Admirers of King Charles the First that by what they do I have really a better Opinion of him than they have themselves for I hope he was a better Man than Saul therefore the Comparison they make between them is not very Judicious nor favourable to their King for the Parallel must run upon the Persons as well as the Office they both were Kings and anointed but Saul was not only chosen but also rejected of God from being King 1 Sam 13.22 23 26. who cared for Honour from Men more than Favour from God when he said to Samuel Honour me now Verse 30. I pray thee before the Elders of my People and before Israel In a word Saul is in Scripture branded for a breaker of the Covenant between Joshua and the Gibeonites Josh 9.15 16. and he cruelly slew some of them for which God sent a Famine three Years together and being inquired said It was for Saul and his bloody House He was a wicked Man 2 Sam. 21.1 guilty as Samuel upbraids him of Disobedience Rebellion Witchcraft Stubbornness Iniquity and Idolatry * 1 Chron. 10.4 13. a Self-murtherer and who died for his Transgression one whom God would not have ‖ 1 Sam. 16.1 Samuel to mourn for when alive and when as much as Man knew there might be hope of God's Mercy and Pardon to him How likely is it then that God would have approved after his Death that David had appointed a Lamentation to be Sung by the Children of Judah in succeeding Ages Hence it appears how sometimes Comparisons and Parallels do not answer the end for which they be made use of but on the contrary like one who blowing his Nose presses it so much as to squeeze Blood out of it Such Comparisons ought discreetly and warily to be used or else they will confute that which thereby was intended to be proved Thus the Candle being turned upside down that which made it burn will put it out The second President is that of Josiah 2 Chron. 35.24 25. after whose Death all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him Jeremiah lamented for him all the Singing-men and Singing-women speak of Josiah in their Lamentations to this day All this very true and well but not to their purpose except they can make it out that there was a certain set-day every Year upon which on the occasion of this Death People went into the Temple to renew the Memory of and mourn for it had a Service appointed for the same end which I think none will say or affirm This Comparison is much better between Charles and Josiah than between him and Saul and would be more to the purpose if it might well be fastened When we consider what manner of Man Josiah was 2 Kings 23. to verse 25. what a Reformer what an Enemy to Idolatry and Superstition who put away all the Abominations that were spied in the Land of Judah purged the Worship of God of all Abuses of whom the Spirit of God bears this witness Verse 25 And like unto him was there no King before him that turned to the Lord with all his Heart and with all his Soul and with all his Might according to the Law of Moses neither after him arose any like him A Prince whose Birth by his name God by ‖ 1 Kings 13.2 a Prophet foretold so many years before it happened the Death of such a Prince as this could never enough be lamented yet without Superstition This was in Man's Eye an irrepairable Loss and I dare say this Nation hath some cause upon occasion
Authority so neither would St. Peter Christ had certainly given him Authority too but he doth not impose any thing upon or command others but only exhorteth The Elders which are amongst you I exhort 1 Pet. 5.2 who am also an Elder to pronounce Anathema and Curses upon those who will not believe and do so and so is a Character of Antichrist which ought not to be imitated Though heretofore Poor Dissenters were not Cursed but with several Penalties Plagued Indeed Ministers being deprived of the Exercise of their Pastoral Office and the People of the Fruit and Benefit of their Labours instead of keeping up Authority or stretching it as they do and stand too much upon it with Paul they should be chiefly for edifying which he so much presseth in Rom. 14.19 and 1 Cor. 14.12 Though they should not strike at Religion or take away Christian Liberty yet at last it might prove a Snare which St. Paul avoids to cast upon the Corinthians to the Weak and Ignorant who form such Notions in their Heads as may happen to degenerate into Idolatry and Superstition Wherefore let us cast off these Dregs of Popery these Relicks of Superstition and tend to a Perfection study after Soundness and Purity in Doctrine Simplicity in Worship and Holiness of Life and Conversation of which last we have excellent Rules 2 Cor. 7.1 Ephes 5.3 4 5. Coloss 3.8 9. and Chap. 4.6 take the pains to read the words and you will find most of the Epidemical Sins of the Times And though there be a great Difference of what now wants Reformation to what it was when we Reformed from Popery it will be found there is still great need of it At that time the great Mountains of Errors in Doctrine were thrown down let us now level the Hills that remained in Worship or are grown again or come in since in Doctrine No Man is to be blamed to desire to see a Warrant in the Word for whatsoever he doth as a Worship of God or for being afraid to do that which he can see no Warrant for in the Word of God in nothing are we so precisely tyed to the Direction of Gods Word as in the Matter of his Worship The charge that is given us What things soever I command you Deut. 12.32 observe to do it thou shalt not add thereunto nor diminish from it That is neither more nor less than I commanded you that charge I say concerneth chiefly the Matters of God's Worship and how highly this pleaseth God when we do nothing to Worship him by but that only he hath given us Directions for in his Word is evident by reason of the Second Commandment where the Lord calls them that will observe that Commandment and worship him only according to his own Directions and not after the Will and Inventions of Men which is indeed the whole required in that Precept he calls them that love him and promiseth to shew mercy unto them Exod. 20.5 6. even unto the thousand generation And on the other-side he calls the Transgressors of that Commandment such as dote on Will-Worship and on that Service done unto him according to the Inventions of Men he calls them Such as hate him and threatens to visit that Sin of the Father upon the Children to the third and fourth Generations I know 't is usual with some to Traduce and Asperse those who upon this account make Conscience of their Ways on this manner 'T is true say they every man makes Conscience of the Thing he thinks to be amiss But this is their Hypocrisie that they make more sins than God hath made they must be so Precise and Scrupulous in Things Indifferent and Lawful in such Things as Godlier and Wiser Men than they make no Scruple at all This Judging and Condemning by their Example the Practice of other Men is the Thing that proves them to be Hypocrites and makes them odious to all Men. To this I have these things to answer First The things they are so scrupulous in and which they dare not to do may in their Nature not be Indifferent but Sinful and well known unto them to be so though both thy self and others no whit inferior to them but far beyond them in Knowledge and Grace do think otherwise of them There may be difference in Judgment even between Godly and Good Men and one may see that to be a Sin which another as good as he cannot be perswaded to be so St. Paul and those that joyned with him Gal. 2.12 13. knew it was an unlawful and sinful thing to withdraw and separate themselves from eating and conversing with the Believing Gentiles in the Presence of the Jews for fear of offending them though neither Peter nor Barnabas Men no whit inferior to them in Grace and Knowledge could discern it to be so Christians must not Judge nor Condemn one another to be Hypocrites for their difference in Judgment in those smaller matters Who art thou saith the Apostle Rom. 14.4 that judgest another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth Secondly It may well be that some even good Men are through want of Knowledge and weakness of Judgment Righteous over-much and make scruple of those things which no Law of God bindeth them to make scruple of else Solomon would never have said Eccles 7.16 be not Righteous over-much neither make thy self over-wise Such an one was he of whom the Apostle spoke Rom. 14.2 Another that is weak eats Herbs As if he should say it was his Ignorance and Weakness of Judgment that made him so scrupulous and fearful to eat any thing which by the Ceremonial Law now abrogated had been forbidden But no Man must be despised or judged to be an Hypocrite because of this for that 's directly against the Apostle's Rule Rom. 14.3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not Thirdly There is no just cause why we should judge or think the worse one of another either for using or not using our Liberty in this case because the thing that is in its own Nature Lawful and also lawfully used by one Man it may be in another Man a damnable Sin to do it and that upon these two Grounds First Because one is perswaded of the Lawfulness of it which the other is not but doubteth it to be a Sin Rom. 14.14 I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus saith St. Paul that there is nothing unclean of it self but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean What will you say can the Opinion of one Man make any thing Clean or Unclean Lawful or Unlawful No not in its own Nature but to himself it may for a Man to do a thing that he doubts to be Unlawful is a damnable thing Rom. 14.23 He that doubteth saith the Apostle is damned if he eat because he eateth not of Faith For whatsoever is not of Faith
now they are upon the Stage of another side would be as forward as most to renew and prosecute former Courses So far doth Interest sway with some Men when over-rul'd by it they know better than what they do or would do What else is this Rom. 1.18 than to speak in St. Paul's words To hold the Truth of God in Vnrighteousness All such persecuting Men I may compare to some who being upon a Journy instead of mending and going on their way fall out with beat and abuse their Fellow-travellers in words and deeds And though I love not to renew the Memory of these sad Divisions and Miscarriages yet they cannot so soon be out of mind We meet from Brethren with the like Usage as the Children of Israel did from Pharoah Exod. 5.17 Ye are idle ye are idle therefore ye say let us go and do Sacrifice to the Lord Ye talk of Reformation go and Conform not to the Gospel but to the Canon and Ceremonies of the Church as by Law established How have they who spoke for it been traduced as Innovators Disturbers of and Enemies to Church and State Such was the Lot of the first Reformers from Popery there hath been and there still are those who hate the very name of Reformation it hath commonly been the Custom of the Enemies of God's People to pick out a ground of Quarrel and to engage the Superior Powers against them the occasion is either Religion or State or both 1 Kings 18.17 The Prophet Elijah is by Ahab called he that troubleth Israel and his Enemy Chap. 21.20 Hath thou found me O mine Enemy that is to Kings In the case of Daniel Dan. 6.5 7. We shall find no occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God said the Princes of Media And then caused the King to make this Decree mentioned in the place Psal 94.20 Thus sometimes Mischief is framed by a Law Wicked Men and Persecutors do prosecute their Designs under Notions different from the Truth Thus the Jews not only called our Blessed Saviour a Friend to Sinners a Samaritan who had a Devil but also accused him before Pilate Luke 23.2 of having by them been found a Fellow perverting the Nation forbidding to give Tribute to Cesar and calling himself a King And he was Crucified not as the Son of God but as an Enemy to Cesar and as a Malefactor John 17.20 Acts 23.1 St. Paul was persecuted not as a Man who had lived in all good Conscience before God until the day he was brought before the Council Phil. 3.6 Acts 21.28 and not as touching the Righteousness which is in the Law blameless but as one who taught all men every where against the people against the Law and the Temple and as a pestilent Fellow a mover of Sedition amongst all the Jews throughout the World Acts 24.5 6 14. one who had prophaned the Temple An odious Charge indeed but false as that of Heresie which he clears himself from Such false Aspersions and evil Practises should be left for the Father of Lyes the Slanderer and for his Children But let those who profess themselves Christians study to be such indeed and put on Bowels of Charity laying aside all Malice Anger Divisions which so much discredit our Holy Religion and give our Adversaries very great Advantage In God's Name and for the sake of the Lord Jesus let all former Animosities and Miscarriages be forgotten and forgiven and let Men put to themselves this question Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now or ought to be ashamed and let all and every one in their Station joyn Hearts and Hands to carry on a thorough Reformation where it is wanting and therein let the Word of God be our Rule nothing of Humane Invention Willfulness Passion Prejudice or Self-ends in the carrying it on To lay such a Stress upon their As by Law established is no great Commendation for a Church and the Religion it doth profess 't is not good to stand too much upon it the Stamp of any Humane Law makes it never the better Christian Religion was not a jot the worse for not being by Law established in the Apostles time nor afterwards in the time of Persecution under the Roman Emperors neither was the Heathenish Religion or rather Idolatry the better for being then by Law established Neither is the Protestant Religion the worse in those Popish Countries where it is not setled by Law nor the Popish the better for being so setled This Argument used here against Dissenters is the same as was by Papists at the beginning of Reformation and by Jews against Primitive Christians 'T is not any Humane Authority that can make any Religion either better or worse and Dissenters may not be called Upstarts or Innovators for from the very beginning of Reformation we found those who wished for a thorough Reformation in Worship as well as Doctrine according to the Purity of the Gospel whence they were called Puritans and declared against retaining of those Ceremonies which ever since were the occasion of Dispute and Division I hope here we do not set up for a Catholick Infallible Church and that the words Church as by Law established are not an equivalent to it such a Doctrine is proper for a Church of Rome but not any Reformed Church We know this was the Exception against St. Paul Acts 18.13 This Fellow perswadeth Men to worship God contrary to the Law Yet the Apostle was in the right and they in the wrong as well as those others who called him and Silas Disturbers of the publick Peace Acts 17.6 Those who have turned the World upside down come hither also Our Reformation at first was good but in this World nothing so good but it may admit of some additional degree of Goodness and Perfection commonly the best things do not come all at once but by degrees As to our Reformation we may say as Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20.32 33. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord Howbeit the high places were not taken away for the People had not yet prepared their Hearts unto the God of their Fathers Still something was wanting which was supplied by Hezekiah for then the high places were thrown down 2 Chron. 31.1 The like Brand was by the Spirit of God put upon Jehoshaphat's Father's Reign King Asa who did many good things and his Heart was perfect all his days 2 Chron. 15.16 17. but the high places were not taken away We ought at last to throw them down we are seriously and earnestly exhorted to remove that Idol of Jealousie set up in the House of God I mean particularly bringing a Dead Man into the Church upon the Thirtieth of January Jude 9. We know Michael the Arch-angel contended with the Devil about the body of Moses which he would
our Dross then there will be Peace and Plenty within Honour and Safety round about and God will humble our Enemies abroad To bring this good Work to an happy End Prejudices about controverted Matters must be laid aside Stumbling-blocks removed the Vail rent the Partition-wall pulled down that we may go all together into the House of God joyn in his Worship and make but one Sheep-fold And let this be taken notice of That amongst the Diffenters from the Church who own and have a Ministry by way of Office who Administer both Sacraments and are for Order and Government in the Church there is nothing whereby those who are called Church-men may justly be offended But in the Church by Law established there are several things which Dissenters think they have cause to except against So that the Ground of Church-men disliking Non-conformity is Negative that is They have not and do not act that which they would have them to do and have But the Ground of Dissenters not liking Church-mens Practice is positive that is They do and have things which they think they ought not to do nor to have And this is the State of the question between Protestants and Papists for these do believe all we do believe but we do not believe all what they believe I shall not say much about the Matters in dispute so many things having already been said and written about it only shall in few words modestly lay down some reasonable Grounds of an Agreement and Union First As to the Common-Prayer-Book under two Notions I st As to the Matter of it 2d As to the Manner of using it As to the Matter Out of it a good Liturgy could be made taking away many Superfluous Repetitions and altering several Expressions Dubious Dangerous or otherwise liable to Just Exceptions There is some Gold I mean Good things but they must own there is also Dross which ought to be purged What these things are hath been said and named at many and several times though we have some amongst us who out of Ignorance or Obstinacy take the Prayer-book to be of an equal Authority with the Holy Bible and that to read and hear it read at the appointed times is sufficient Performance of Christian Duty Nay * Abbot against Church-forsakers one of some Note hath written That all the Wit of Angels and Men can find no Fault with it A bold Assertion too positive for any Humane Book Several other things in that kind which I omit have been said by others not willing to press too far upon the Subject and I think there is enough said by the by upon the Matter of the Common-Prayer-Book only I add That the Preference therein given to the Apocrypha before some places of the Canonical to be read when the others are to be lest out is not at all to be approved Several Exceptions are taken against the Order and Distribution of several parts of the Book out of several lame and maimed parcels of Scriptures as three or four Verses of one Chapter as many of another especially in most places the leaving out that excellent and comfortable Clause of the Lords Prayer For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory which in us raises Hopes and Confidence of being heard and that God will give us what we ask him in the six Petitions First Because he is our King Now a King grants the Just Petitions of his Subjects Secondly Because he is able to give what we ask according to Christ's direction And Thirdly Because what we ask is for his Glory Then dividing the Matter of the Prayer-book into Gospels Epistles Collects or Prayers is after the Pattern of Popish Missals and Rituals and clear out of the way of Liturgies of all Reformed Churches Secondly Several things are said against the Manner of using it as in a certain Tone or Singing way which is the Popish of the very Prayers in Cathedrals Then as to the place some at the middle of the Church others by the Altar as if there was in the Church one place Holier than the other or that God will hear us there better than here Then as to the Posture sometimes sitting then standing as if the Epistle was not the Word of God as much to be heard with a Reverence if standing be a more reverend Posture than sitting as the Gospel being both the Word of God Nay Gospel is made different from Gospel for in the first Lesson a whole Chapter being read People sit but at the second Lesson when few Verses of a Chapter of the Gospel are read then every one stands up Herein is too much of Formality and I could almost say too mimical for Christian Reformed Churches Thus the Liturgy ought to be mended so to be imposed as not to exclude Extemporary Prayers of Ministers As to the formal Ties called Church Ceremonies they ought wholly to be abolished as introducing Superstition under the name of Decency and being contrary to Christian Liberty Such is the use of Surpliss so abominably abused in the Church of Rome where 't is thought necessary when they perform their Idolatrous Worship of the Mass at the very act of Idolatry and some amongst us have been so Superstitiously inclined as to say Angels have appeared in it But let them look how they can prove out of Scripture that the * Matt. 28.3 Angels Raiment as white as Snow †Mark 16.5 that the long white Garment ‖ Luke 24.4 and the shining Garments of the two Men were a Surpliss And to say as some do that that colour is a Sign of Purity and Candor which is of it to make a Sacrament I would have those who are so much for the Surpliss to remember how fine Linen as well as Purple and Scarlet is reckoned among the Merchandise of Babylon Rev. 18.12 As to the Sign of the Cross in Baptism it is an Addition to the Sacrament None but he who hath right to Institute Sacraments may make any Addition Diminution or Alteration thereunto without Impiety or committing Sacrilege And it were to have a mean Opinion of the Lord Jesus's Divine Wisdom to think he left with his Church an Imperfect Ordnance in the Institution and none may institute Sacraments but he that can bestow the Graces thereby signified Bowing towards the Altar For so some call Improperly the Communion-Table as the Minister a Priest is very unfit for Protestants and Reformed Christians when Papists from whom 't is derived do it 'T is according to their Principle they believe Transubstantiation to be made upon such places and therefore they give them such Signs of Religious Worship But 't is very odd for us so to do who do not believe one place in the Church to be Holier than the other And what need in Cathedrals and some Chappels of Candle-sticks and unlighted Candles upon the Altars in the day-time As for bowing at the Name of Jesus it is of the same
Stamp Sometimes God may happen to say to those who are so fond of those Will-worship Ceremonies who hath required this at your hands Isaiah 1.12 And to uphold this Practice they must pull it over Head and Shoulders out of the Text of the Epistle to the Philippians 6.2 10. I do not so much wonder that Papists who seldom make use of Scriptures but to wrest them would make use of the place But for Protestants who pretend and ought to know better I admire they would make use of it It is plain the Text is not literally to be understood or else Men should bow at the Name of Jesus Son of Nun or of the Son of Sirach or of Jesus called Justus then 't is said the Knee not the Head Then there is no Knees in Heaven nor none that can bow under the Earth 'T is there spoken of an Honour due to the Divinity Person Attributes and Works especially as he is our Redeemer and Saviour which is signified by the name of Jesus and if we must kneel or bow when we hear that name the like must be done when we see it written The Apostle doth not mean the Letters of the name but a most humble Submission and Obedience with a giving Praise and Glory to the Person and Commands of the Lord Jesus As to kneeling at the Sacrament I know there must be a Posture that of the time of Institution or as near it as may be must be used several Protestant Churches have different Postures when they receive it and a Care ought to be had of avoiding Superstition and keeping as far as we can from Appearances of Idolatry I confess I would not for all the World if ever beyond Seas where Papists are in a full Liberty and where Protestants receive it not on their Knees I say I would not because my Conscience would not give me leave receive it kneeling which is a Posture of Adoration for fear it were thought I partake of their Idolatry in worshipping a piece of Bread for the true natural Body now sitting at the Right Hand of the Father which thing I abhor more than Death it self But here though with a safe and even Conscience I could receive it kneeling yet may be another could not Must my Will and Practice be the Rule of another Man's Will and Practice Every one is bound to seek for the best Information he can have but when all is done every ones Conscience must be the Judge of what he doth in indifferent things that is which are neithe commanded nor forbidden in the Word of God And the true Christian Prudence is to leave such things at liberty and administer it to those sitting or standing who make scruple to receive it kneeling for 't is no Rule of Charity or Christianity for the sake of Uniformity to break Unity and the Bond of Peace And Ministers ought to have a great care not to become Instruments of Damnation to any for they who receive kneeling Rom. 14.23 and doubting as St. Paul saith are Damned Such Practices must be left for the Wicked Communion of Rome which with Fears Threatnings Sword Fire and every violent way forces People to do things contrary to their Conscience as of late in an high degree it was practised in a Neighbouring Nation and for what they did they gave this reason We know they must be Damned and as good they should be so within our Church as out of it Let them come in and believe what they please Indeed a great Evil there is amongst us That the Posture of receiving the Holy Sacrament an Ordnance of God to Seal the Pardon of our Sins and strengthen our Faith is made use of for a Trial of those who are qualified for Worldly Employments to turn it to Temporal Ends is an unaccountable Prophaneness of that Holy Institution And though without such a by Consideration I could receive it kneeling I declare if I should receive in that manner upon the account of such a Trial I could not avoid believing I had eaten and drank my Damnation All foresaid Lets and Hindrances being laid aside and a Blessed Reformation of all Abuses set a-foot and by every one in their several Stations carried on then upon good Grounds we might hope for Peace grounded upon Truth and for an Happy Success especially if in our different Capacities we would propose to our selves the Glory of God the Salvation of Souls and the Good and Advantage of Church and Country The good Laws we have to encourage Piety and Virtue and to discountenance and punish Ungodliness Vice and every unjust and sinful Practise being renewed put in execution and if any thing therein wanting supplied with new ones good Instructions good Examples good Rules in Families and Care taken by Parents and Masters to see them well observed this would take away Evil and Cursed things from amongst us The Prudence of Officers in Church and State should remedy old Inconveniencies and as much as 't is possible endeavour to prevent new ones Amongst the old ones I shall name a very palpable one which concerns both Church and State and hath been and is every day cause of Grievance and great Inconveniencies and as much as any Destructive of common Society 't is Clandestine Marriages stealing and trappanning young People into Marriages without Advice or Consent of Friends which as yet the Wisdom of our Law-givers hath found no effectual Course to prevent though daily Complaints have at several times put them upon consulting about it He who steals my Goods shall be Hang'd and he who steals my Child shall go Free And if once they be Married according to the Practice of the Church though by reason of young Age and other Considerations unable to bind themselves with such a Tie What is in part or chiefly the cause of this is the Abuse of selling Bonds of Matrimony the Dishonesty and Covetousness of a Minister to get some few Guinea's And Privileged Places by Law or Custom whereof there are too many in and about the City there People are Married in Secret let the Disparity Inconveniency Tricks and Cheats be never so great so visible or so many which to prevent it requires the Prudence Study and Authority of both Civil and Ecclesiastical Powers FINIS