honour will be best secured Ahabs humiliation which he instances in was a voluntary action he did it not by constraint but was thereunto moved by what the Prophet said unto him and makes not therefore against the drift of this Query And who doubts that if a stop were put to gross Schisms I mean what are truly such and not unduly so call'd and bare fac'd Atheism with other villanies that abound amongst us but it would be acceptable unto God and all good men As likewise the restrâ—ining of Seducers from propagating their contagious errors would this Answerer but vouchsafe a clear and positive Answer to the 6th Query and tell us who is Judge of Truth and Error in disputable Points of Religion and not always leave it to the strongest to determine And to talk of Lawless and licencious Practices being universally pleaded for when the plea is only for a liberty to serve God in Faith without doubting is a strain beyond the ordinary bounds of Truth and Honesty But says our Answerer If men are so perverse and incorrigible as not to be reform'd themselves yet the punishmeâ—ts that are inflicted upon them may prevent the like sin in others They may so in such things as any are convinc't to be sins But what any shall judge to be theirs and others indispensable duties the punishing of some for those things will not deterr others who fear God more then men from doing the like whatever they suffer for it But so something be said and Authorities cited it matters not how applicable to the present Question Query XI Whether Christ's Rule of his Disciples under the Gospel be not by a Spiritual Power and whether to use the Temporal Sword in Religious matters be not to make the Weapons of the Gospel not mighty through God but mighty through the Magistrates Power to Arm the Church with Weapons Christ never gave her and to make her a Military rather then a spiritual Society Reply to the Answer to this Query THough what is mighty through the Magistrates Power is as he says mighty through God as he is the original and Fountain of all Power yet the Apostle tells us The weapons of their Warfare are not Carnal whereby he distinguishes between the Carnal Power of the Civil Magistrate by which the world is Govern'd in all worldly Affairs and Concerns and the Spiritual Power wherewith Christ rules his Subjects under the Gospel which this Answerer seems altogether unacquainted with having possibly never felt the power and efficacy thereof in his own Soul and to talk to such of a Spiritual Power is like talking to blind men of colours But the Magistrate says he is Gods Minister and that to the benefit and welfare of mens souls as well as their worldly and outward Estates But how or in what manner to the benefit and welfare of their Souls he is not at present dispos'd to tell us But would have us to believe the reason why Christ never made use of the Civil Magistrates Power to recommend or obtrude as he phrases it his Doctrine on the world was because the secular Powers were in the days of his flesh in open Enmity and Hostility against him But does he think Christ could not as easily have converted Magistrates as others had he so pleased or does he not know that To him was given all Power both in Heaven and on Earth and that had he thought it necessary or expedient for the Interest of Religion he could as well have commanded the Magistrates Power as any other But he declin'd it as we may reasonably enough suppose to manifest to the world that the Gospel or true Religion was wholly founded upon Spiritual Power was compleat therein and needed not the aid and assistance of secular Force But the Argument against the Magistrates Power in matters of Religion is not so much from Christs not using it as from the nature of Religion which cannot be so forc't it being seated in those faculties to which outward violence can have no access So that the unsuitableness of the means to the end aimed at as well as Christs not serving himself of it for the propagation of Christian Religion with the sufficiency of that Spiritual Power in the gifts he gave unto his Ministers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of his Body Is that which renders the Magistrates Authority in matters of Religion not necessary not to say more And whereas this Answerer says That Christ was armed with such miraculous power from Heaven that he did not need any assistance from Empires or States Does he think his Arm shortned or that he now stands in more need of secular assistance then heretofore We argue not against the Churches making use of the Authority of Kings to protect herself against force and violence or the injuries or oppressions of any but against Magistrates imposing on her or on any in matters of faith and worship and yet we say with this Answerer That our Blessed Saviour in erecting his Church never intended to diminish the Power of Magistracy neither hath he it being the same now it ever was Magistrates having the same Power now that ordinarily they ever had nor is there any thing in Christian Religion but what is not only consistent but highly advantagious to Civil States and Societies in that it reacheth conscientious obedience to Authority wheresoever and in whomsoever lodg'd and faithfull dealings between man and man Though the Church be as he says a Military she is still a spiritual Society the weapons of â—hâ—se warfare are not carnal but mighty through the Spirit of God not the Power of the Magistrate to the pulling down of strong bolds and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. If this Answerer can tell us of any other weapons belonging to her we shall own our obligation to him for the discovery Query XII Whether to say the Spiritual Power Christ hath given unto his Church for the right ordering and governing thereof is not sufficient unto that end without the aid and assistance of the secular Power be not to blaspheme Reply to the Answer to this Query WE were promis'd in the last Answer to be shown in this what were the weapons of the Churches warfare but instead thereof are there told the end only of Christs giving Power to his Church which none sure ever doubted to be for the edification not destruction of the souls of his People yet we still say with the Apostle the weapons of the Churches warfare are not carnal That Christ gave gifts and neither Swords nor Guns unto men for the perfecting of Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of his Body and that the Spiritual Power he gave unto his Church for the right ordering and Governing thereof is sufficient unto that end And
leave and forsake them 't is no very good sign or token of their Ministerial Gifts and Abilities But it is a presumptuous and too bold comparison he here makes between the Success of Christs Ministry while he exercised it in his own Person upon Earth and that of the Clergy of England For though taking on him the form of a Servant he was made in the likeness of men yet couâ—d he have Converted Millions of sinners as well as have commanded Legions of Angels if it had so pleased him The Cases of Elijah and of Athanasius he instances in are not at all to the present purpose for we do not say that Peoples leaving or forsaking their Pastors is an Argument of their having lost all spiritual Power and Authority But Pastors leaving or forsaking the Spiritual means by Christ appointed for the Rule and Government of his Church and applying to and using of other means than he appointed and commanded them to the subversion and ruine of his Discipline is an Argument of it And here I cannot but take notice of the great Pique our Answerer hath against liberty in Religion in that he would have the Prophets apprehension That the whole Israel of God had forsaken his Covenant to proceed from the general indulgence granted by Ahab to all kinds of Religion as well as Impieties when though there may be reasâ—n enough to believe he indulg'd all kind of Impieties in that it is said He did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that were before him there is not the least evidence of his indulging all Kinds of Religions in that though there were 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Ball the Prophet knew not of one true worshipper besides himself which is no great Argument of their being indulged among the all kind of Religions he talks of But to conclude whoever as he says shall seriously consider the depraved Nature of Man how much more prone it is to embrace Vice than Vertue Error than Truth and the Novel rather than the good old way of Religion will not be much startled or wonder that the greatest part of mankind should forsake the Truth and true Religion which have Persecution and outward sufferings usually accompanying them to embrace those Religions which not only indulge them in their Lusts but have the greatest worldly Interests and advantages attending them Query XXV Whether are not they Strangers to the Power and efficacy of the Divine Spirit or distrustfull of Gods Providence to be always with his Church who think Christianity which both began and spread it self over the world for several hundreds of years under Heathen and Persecuting Emperours cannot stand or continue supported by the same Divine Presence and Protection to the Worlds end without the Aid and Assistance of the Civil Magistrate Reply to the Answer to this Query WE do not say nor did we ever think the first Reformers of Religion in this or any other Nation were Strangers to the Power and Efficacy of the Divine Spirit or distrustful of Gods Promise to be always with his Church Because the whole Reformation was not without the Aid and Assistance of civil Magistrates But bless God rather for their Cooperating in so good a work And yet we shall not scruple to say They had been strangers to the Power and Efficacy of the Divine Spirit and its operations on the Souls of men had they believed the Reformation could not have been effected without them And to ask what Archbishop Cranmer Hooper Ridly c. could have done to restore Religion to its Purity and Truth had they not been seconded and Assisted by the civil Magistrate would have better become a Turkish Mufti then a Gospel Minister Does he think the Power and Efficacy of Gods Spirit in the mouths of his Preachers not sufficient to convert the most obstinate and to bring into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ How then did not only Peter and Paul with the rest of the Apostles but the Primitive Christians for several Ages after them propagate Christianity and the Truths of the Gospel not only without the assistance but even against the greatest opposition of civil Magistrates And what can be more to the disparagement of the then Englishâ— Clergy and derogatory to the Spirit of God then to say as he does they might as well have attempted to have pull'd the Sun out of its Orb as ever to have Reformed Religion by the Aid and Assistance of the Holy Spirit without the Aid and Assistance of the civil Magistrate Does he think things were then amongst them as he would have them thought to be amongst us That the Presence of God and Assistance of his Holy Spirit were to be look't upon as miraculous concurrences with the Clergy in the management and Exercise of their Ministerial Office I trust they are not and that he judges both of the one and of the other but by himself But so far I agree with him That as Kingdoms and States so Religion and the Church are to be secured and npheld by the very same means and methods by which they were established And so the Church of England as founded in Prelacy by the Kings and Nobles of England as hath been shown must be secured and upheld by the same means and methods or it will not long so continue but as Christian wherein it was founded by the mouths of Preachers with the Aid and Assistance of the Holy Spirit it will I trust be so secured and upheld to the worlds end Yet that God will withal vouchsafe her so great a blessing That Kings and Queens may ever be her Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to protect and defend her from the rage and violence of wicked and unreasonable men since all men have not Faith is my hearty desire But our Clergy man sensible it seems how things are now amongst them is distrustful of Gods continuing his Church with us and therefore would have the Gentleman consider in what Scripture he hath promis'd that either Christianity in general or Protestantism in particular should for ever continue the Establisht Religion of this Kingdom We know indeed of no particular promise concerning the Establisht Religion of this Kingdom but this we know That where two or three are gathered together in Christs name he hath promised to be in the midst of them and that he told his Disciples while they taught the observation of all things which he commanded them he would be with them to the worlds end So that if Christianity continue not with us it is by oâ—r own default in forsaking Christ and disobeying his commands He is pleased to acknowledge here what could not well be denied That Christianity spread it self over the world under Heathen and Persecuting Emperours only by the Power of the Divine Presence and Protection without the Aid of the civil Magistrate But looks upon it as miraculous
l. 27. r. hers p. 11â— l. 9r and Superstition p. 118. l. 6. r. sayes p. 125. l. r. Churches obedience p. 127. l. 9. r. in no wise p. 132. l. 31. for Kings r. kindes p. 133. l. 7. r. aide p 135. l. 10. r. Nursing p. 136. l. 18. r. And so p. 138. l 3 r. Mahumatism l. 15. r. of others l. 16. r. i.e. such p 140. 25 26. r. gaudentem p. 142. l. 10. r. neatly p. 144. l. 17. r. their duty p. 151. l. 6. r. Authors l. 14. r. Murther p. 153. after l. 26. r. with a designe and purpose to ensnare the Consciences of Inferiours much less shall we take upon us to determine what humane Laws thwart c. p. 15â— l. 10 11. r. Instructions l. 14. r. the Kings p. 156. l. 21. r. these p. 161. l. 21. r. endear his l. 26. r. passed a p. 166. l. 9 10. r. Superstitions Query I. Whether hath Christ Instituted a Gospel Church Reply to the Answer to this Query CAvils at expressions tending only to an unprofitable strife of words ought no less to be avoided then foolish and unlearned Questions This Answer therefore who so early as in his Title Page caution'd his Reader against the one should not himself have so soon obtruded on him the other 〈◊〉 What Prerogative preceeding Ages had above the present to Coyn Phrases in Divinity we should be glad to be informed Or if no expression may be therein us'd we meet not with in the New-Testament we may no longer use Sacrament nor Trinity which are not to be there found And yet a Church constituted and Goverâ—'d according to the Rule of the Gospel may as properly be term'd a Gospel-Church as a Church Constituted and Govern'd according to the Laws of a Nation be term'd a National Church an expression frequently us'd by this Answerer though he meet not with it in the New-Testament Nor possibly in Antiquity at least to express a Christian Church But having given us the Queries meaning in his own words he acknowledges that Christ hath Instituted such a Church Query II. What is an Instituted Church of the Gospel and by what means do Persons become a Church of Christ Reply to the Answer to this Query AS in all Disputations 't is necessary the Terms be agreed upon so here what is meant by Church which in Scripture hath divers acceptations for by Church there is sometimes understood the Elect only or mystical Body of Christ by some called the Holy Catholick Church Sometimes again the universality of the Professors of Christianity commonly called the Church Catholick visible And sometimes by Church is meant only a particular Church or Society of Christians united for the performance of the worship of God in the same individual Ordinances according to the Order by Christ prescrib'd Such was the Church at Corinth the Church at Jerusalem the Church at Antioch the Seven Churches in Asia and divers others mentioned in the New-Testament and is the Church here inquired after To which this Answer in saying The Church or the Christian Church is God's Family or Houshold c. answers not the Question not being concerning the Church in the 1st or 2d acceptation of the word But had he said An Instituted Church of the Gospel or as he expresses it A Church Constituted and Govern'd according to the Rules of the Gospel is a Society of men joyning together in the Profession of the Christian Faith having right Pastors or Officers invested with Power to Guide and Govern them in the ways of God and to dispence unto them the Ordinances of the Gospel which none but a Church in the third acceptation of the word hath it might have past for an answer to the Query though not so full and clear a one as might have been given But whereas he says He hopes there may be as well such a National Church in England as there was for above fifteen hundred years in Palestine among the Jews If by such a National Church he means only a Church having National Church-Officers over it as had the Church of the Jews no man sure doubts it But if by such a National Church he means a National Church of Divine Institution we see not whereon he grounds his hopes since it hath not pleased God to Institute or appoint any such National Church under the Gospel Nor does the Church of England pretend to any such original as is evident by the Statute of the 25th of Edward the 3d. Where it is declared to be founded in Prelacy by the Kings and Nobles of England without the least pretence to a Divine Institution as had the National Church of the Jews There is no doubt but that Christ as he says would have his Church Catholick as well as Holy yet not always so Illustrious or visible as to be seen and owned by the world And though whole Nations were to embrace the Christian Faith and upon that account to Constitute the Christian Church or Catholick Church visible yet that doth not Constitute them National Churches such as was the Church of the Jews nor can they be so called upon the same account that a particular Church is called a Church And when Christ threatned the Jews to take the Kingdom of God from them and give it unto a Nation that should bring forth the Fruits of it he meant no doubt as he says more by a Nation then one particular Church for he meant a Nation or People that might have many particular Churches or Congregations of Christians in it but did not thereby Constitute or intend a National Church in his notion Neither yet did he confine the Christian Church to a Nation and consequently not within smaller bounds then the Jewish was when empal'd within the Land of Canaan But how will this Answerer prove it to have been as he says far from the mind of our Redeemer to crumble his Church as he words it into such minute and little Principles of being as Congregational Churches when the Scriptures give so great evidence to the contrary there being indeed no other Instituted Church under the Gospel then what is Congregational And when our Blessed Saviour Instituted those he commanded certainly the Demolishing an Established National Church even the National Church of the Jews the only National Church in the world of Gods Institution The second part of this Query does evidently enough intend a particular Church as before exprest which 't is not impossible but five or six Persons may Constitute notwithstanding his peremptory denyal thereof Christ himself having told us Where two or three are gathered together in his name he is in the midst of them which is the ground or principle of all Instituted Churches and we read of the Church in the House of Aquila and Priscilla which cannot reasonably be supposed to consist of any great number By what means Persons become a Church of Christ And how particular
wherein doth this permit men to renounce the common Christianity c. as this Answerer very impertinently objecteth And 't is left to the Judgement of all rational men whether they who insist upon the sufficiency of the Spiritual Power Christ hath given unto his Church for the right ordering and governing thereof and the Scriptures being the sole rule of every mans Faith and Obedience in all Gospel duties and Administrations or they who allow unto every national or Provincial Church a Power to Decree Articles of Faith and compose Forms of Divine worship to be imposed by civil Magistrates upon Christians are the more likely to lead into the Paths of Heresie and Schism and to destroy the Vnity of the Church and consequently whether these or those do gratifie the old Serpent in his malitious wiles and methods and give leave to his Instruments to accomplish their Hellish designs in destroying Christianity and the Churches Government at one blow I say again let every rational and unprejudiced person considering the nature and essence of Christianity and by what ways and methods it hath been corrupted and destroyed judge Gods name is not indeed blasphemed as he says when his Institutions are made use of to uphold his Truths c. But he hath no where Instituted the civil Sword to force any to the Christian Faith much less to uphold whatever is taught or pretended so to be And if his name be blasphemed when mens minds are alienated from the Christian Religion They will be found guilty thereof who use such means and methods for its propagation as they pretend as beget an aversion in many towards it and those that use them And who is it that would make the profession thereof Arbitrary They who say the Spiritual Power Christ hath given unto his Church for the right ordering and governing thereof is sufficient unto that end cannot reasonably be said so to do And wherefore doth he here talk of every beâ—ted Brain and Sulpherous Male-content being left to serve God or serve him not to believe in Christ or openly to deny and blaspheme him When all we Pray and Plead for is but That the word of the Lord may have a free course and that his name may be glorified in the free exercise of all Religious duties without ever denying it the Magistrates duty to punish Blasphemy and the like evils and impieties But 't were worth knowing from this Learned and Judicious Answerer how far any are obliged to ad here to the Church in which they were Baptized that we may not have too hard thoughts of our first Reformers for forsaking the Church in which they partook of that Sacrament It is as he says One thing to Convert Pagans and Infidels to Christianity and another thing to keep them within the bounds of their duty who already profess it and yet are both effected by the same means and the Magistrate can no more compel unto the one then to the other But when men give up their names to Christ 't is certainly as he says the duty of Church-men to use all lawfull and proper means to prevent their Apostacy from him But who are the incorrigible offenders he speaks of Or what occasion doth this Query administer To ask why the Magistrate may not be requested to save a soul from death c. The Magistrate may certainly be requested to punish sin and wickedness it being the great end for which God committed the Power of the Sword to him But he can no more save a Soul from death and Rescue him out of the snare of the Devil then he can give grace or faith which are the gifts of God alone yet this hinders not but that Magistrates and Ministers ought to use all due and lawful means To reduce men to Christianity and prevent their Apostacy from it There is no more need now then in the primitive Ages of the Church that its Acts and Censures should be seconded by the Sword of the Secular Power our Blessed Saviour who is faithfull having promised to be with his Disciples Teaching what he commanded them to the worlds end And that there is so little of Power and efficacy in in the Acts and Censures of some who would be accounted his Disciples is not that Christ hath withdrawn any of that ordinary Power he gave unto his Ministers for the perfecting of the Saints and the edifying of his body but their failure in the condition annexed to his promise in not teaching what he commanded but setting up their own inventions and devices in the place of his Institutions were the Censures of the Church as orderly and regularly pronounc't now as heretofore they would have the same effects now as then upon the Souls and Consciences of believers what effect they had upon their Bodies we are rather told then Convinc't of for the Intestuous Corinthian's being deliver'd unto Satan was no more then as hath been already said his being cast out of the Church the Kingdom of God into the World the Kingdom of the Devil nor were the deaths of Ananias and Saphira with the blindness of Ellmas the Sorcerer the effects of any Church Acts or Censures but of that extraordinary Power Christ conferred on his Apostles to manifest his Power and Authority to the unbelieving world and to say it was to supply the defect of the Magistrates Coercive Power in the Church as if the Churches Power were defective without the Magistrates Sword is highly derogatory unto that Spiritual Power and Authority Christ hath given unto the Ministers of his Gospel for the ordering and Governing of his Church unto the worlds end 'T is as one hath well observ'd much of Christs glory to rule his Subjects under the Gospel by a spiritual Power 't is that Power makes a man a Christian 't is that Power in all Gospel Institutions that keeps men in their due obedience unto Christ and 't is that Power carries the sting of the punishment when men are cast out of the Church 'T is indeed that Power does all under the Gospel and to bringin the Temporal Sword is to make the weapons of the Gospel not mighty through God but mighty through the Magistrates Power and wholly to alter the nature of the Gospel and all its Institutions 'T is to Aâ—m the Church with weapons Christ never gave her and to make her a Military rather then a Spiritual Society What he says of Dissenters being pâ—nisht for indangering the Peace of the State by disobeying the Laws of the Church shall be spoken to when he tells us what Laws and what Church he here means Nor can we till then say How the Interest of those Societies are twisted and united But do very well know it to have been one of the greatest Artifices in the mystery of Iniquâ—ty so to twist the civil and some pretended Religious Interests as to preswade the world The Oak cannot subsist without the Ivie but as well Reason as Experience
charge not this on the Church of England nor have we said That they who serve God according to her Liturgy were false-worshippers These are but the uncharitable Inferences and Surmises of a strangely ignorant or immeasurably malitious Person who wanting strength of Reason or Argument to oppose the Truths he likes not thus loads them with Reproach and Calumny And to what purpose does he tell us it being nothing still to this Query That there is no Congregated Independent Congregation in England but the respective Pastor of it assumes to himself more Power and Authority to Govern and Conduct the sworn Members of it in the ways and duties of Religion then the greatest Prelate in our Church does in his Province or Diocess unless to manifest how difficult it is for him to write one true Period there being amongst them no such sworn Members as he mentions and whether of them exercise most Power and Authority to Conduct and Govern their respective Members in the ways and duties of Religion let those concern'd determine But this he says He will not prove from their Practices the thing being apparent from the very Principles of Independency which aim at little else but Tvranny and Pre eminence as appears by the Independant Pastors excluding whom they please from the means of Salvation and making that a condition of their Communion which is impossible I hope he does not mean here that in making the conditions of their Communion impossible they exclude whom they please from the means of Salvation as if there were no Salvation out of their Communion and yet I know not what else he means by it and if that be his meaning they do not yet exclude any from the means of Salvation in making that a condition of their Communion which is impossible for if the condition were impossible the Communion which depended on it would be so too but the contrary is very well known and so in good time will the credit of this Reporter likewise be But as a farther instance of their Tyranny and Praeâ—eminence he tells us They pry into the very secrets of mens Souls Lives and Actions by severe Scrutinies and Examinations If they do it is not by the Oath c. we have heard much talk of But they will not he says admit of any to be Members of their gather'd Churches till they have satisfied the curiosity of their guides That is they will perhaps have no Communion with unbelievers nor Fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness a great Crime and worthy this Answerer's rebuke But is it more then probable as he politickly observes That this and not meanness of Trade impoverishes City and Country or supposing they who having been made partakers of their Spiritual things should according to duty administer unto them in carnal things How should this occasion the Nations poverty What do they receive which they give not again Or which of them hath such plenty as to enable them to hoard up any thing No no we are told by a wiser and more pious Politician That a fruitfull Land is turned into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein And the Holy Prophet tells us The Land mourns and the Herbs of every field wither not for Peoples meeting together to pray for a blessing upon themselves their Governours and the Land of their Nativity but for the wickedness still of them that dwell therein thus we see how persons differ in Judgement according to the diversity of their spirits and passions But to return to the Query charged in the Rear with blind Leaders and Followers he wishes the Gentleman would not make such sly and unworthy reflections upon the conformable Laity and Clergy of this Kingdom And the Gentleman wishes likewise this Answerer would also forbear applying to particulars what is indefinitely spoken and was not by him intended to one party more than another But 't is a shrew'd sign of some very sore place in the Ass that kicks and winches upon every approach before he is touch't Query XX. Whether it be not most unreasonable in the concerns of Eternity to tie men by Temporal penalties to fallible guides whom to follow may be their Eternal to forsake their Temporal Ruine Reply to the Answer to this Query HE hath nothing it seems to say against it and therefore very advisedly sends his Reader he knows not whither for satisfaction in he knows not what Query XXI Whether the main inlet of all the Distractions Persecutions and Divisions in the Christian World hath not been by adding and requiring other conditions of Church-Fellowship and Communion than Christ or his Apostles did Reply to the Answer to this Query THe enquiry here is only into the original of the Distractions Persecutions and Divisions which have been in the Christian world i. e. among Christians or such as have made profession of Christianity not of the Persecutions raised against them by Heathens and Infidels The Ten Persecutions therefore against the Primitive Christians and the Inroads of the Goths and Vandals into Italy come not within this enquiry But says this Answerer If it be understood in this sense there are very great mistakes in it for that severe proceedings of Christian Emperours against Hereticks and of Hereticks against the Orthodox Christians were not for Innovations brought into the Church as conditions of Christian Communion but for the Truths of Christ c. That 's the Query and wherein â—y the great mistakes in asking it But he may be pardon'd this for so ingeniously professing himself Ignorant of any Distractions Persecutions and Divisions that were ever raised in the Christian World upon the account of adding and requiring new or unheard of conditions of Church Fellowship unless it were the difference between the Western and Eastern Churches about the Observation of Easter So that it seems he is ignorant of the Persecutions and Divisions that were amongst Christians in the Reigns of Constantine Constantius and some following Emperours upon the imposition of differing if not contradictory Creeds For it was not the Doctrine of the Trinity Three Persons and one God as exprest in Scripture that caus'd the breach of Communion and Church-Fellowship between the Arians and the Orthodox Christians but the Orthodox forcing the Arians to subscribe to their newly invented Homoousian as did afterwards the Arians where they prevailed requiring the Orthodox to subscribe to their Homoiousian whereas as a Learned Prelate hath well observ'd had both parties acquiesced in the very Scripture expressions without their own additions they might have lived peacably and quietly together and the Arian Heresie probably have soon expired Error divested of Secular Force and Support not being long able to withstand the â—ower of Truth He is it seems likewise Ignorant of the great Divisions which after arose in the Church about the Procession of the Holy Ghost whereas as the said Learned person likewise observes had they acquiesced also in what the
Rule of Practice as to himself and must direct him with whom to joyn and not to joyn in the performance of all Religious duties nor may he therein do ought against his Light But what means he in saying here They will submit to no Law nor admit of any Discipline but what is erected and Executed by themselves a thing never known for Criminals to make choice of their own Punishment For do they not submit to the Laws of the Land in all civil things and concerns and what Law of the Gospel submit they not to in the duties of Religion but to talk here of Criminals making choice of their own Punishment is very extravagant And lastly they will he says have no publick Acts pass among them without the free consent of all as satisfied in Conscience that what is decreed is Gods will And is it for this he elsewhere so boldly avers There is no Congregated Independent Communion in England but the respective Pastor of it assumes to himself more Power and Authority to Govern and Conduct the sworn Members of it in the ways and duties of Religion then the greatest Prelate in our Church does in his Province or Diocess or is this one of the principles of Independent Tyranny But some are said to have need of good memories and our Answerer seems to be of them Yet he would be thought to have reason for what he here says telling us The thing is impossible in nature for if all are satisfied they are not men there being among all men difference in Judgement How unreasonable then is it to require of any such an Assent or Consent as must render them either Beasts or not men But so it seems it is and must be for he tells us In the enacting of all Laws the lesser part is determin'd by the greater which is true in all civil things and concerns which are in a man's choice and at his own disposal and it is for the publick good and benefit it should be so But 't is otherwise in matters of duty and obedience unto God in which every man ought to be satisfied that what is Decreed is the will of God for that none may follow a multitude to do evil nor in the neglect or omission of the least known duty Whether the Church of Eâ—gland or Dissenters are the Schismaticks I shall nowise take upon me to Determine but leave it as he doth to the Rational Reader to judge and only take leave to say That what his eminent Prelate says proves not Dissenters to be Schismaticks If there be any who as he says account the King and Parliament or Clergy of England Hereticks and Schismaticks for maintaing the Essentials of Christianity and doing what they can to hinder and diswade men from offering the most insufferable affronts to Gods Being and Majesty They ought not certainly to be tolerated much less countenanced in a Christian Commonwealth Query XXIV Whether they who in the exercise of Church Discipline never cease calling on the civil Magistrate to assist them with his Secular Force do not therein give an evident sign and token that all true Ministerial and Spiritual Power is dead in them Reply to the Answer to this Query THâ— Question here is not whether these or those give the greater evidence that all true Ministerial and Spiritual Power is dead in them But whether such practices in any be not an evident sign and token of it And had all Orthodox Bishops in all Ages of the Church relied upon the Spiritual means by 〈◊〉 appointed in the Gospel for the suppressing and â—ooting out of Heresies and 〈◊〉 withâ—ut applying themselves to the 〈…〉 for his assistance therein Christian◠〈…〉 had not suffer'd as it afterward◠〈…〉 Hâ—reticks using the same means for 〈…〉 faith And yet we say not But 〈…〉 and ought to call upon the 〈…〉 do his duty in the Protection 〈…〉 by supporting and 〈…〉 in the due exercises thereof 〈…〉 of wâ—â—ked and unreason◠〈…〉 not faith Neither do we 〈…〉 or extinction of the function of Bishops if they use all due and proper means to accomplish and bring about lawfull and charitable ends nor that any end can be more generous and Christian than to secure People in the performance of their duty to God to man and to themselves But we do say that Secular Force and Compulsion are not the proper and due means to effect all these And whatever sense some may have of Moral Honesty and Justice or of Piety and Religion the Civil Magistrate ought not certainly to permit them to express or declare their scorn or contempt of either I will not say with this Answerer That 't is since men have assumed so great a liberty in Religion as not well understanding what he thereby means but agree with him There is less regard had to those externall Rules of right and wrong Vertue and Vice by some persons who make high pretences to Christianity than hath been observ'd in many Pagan Nations but who those Persons are their Professions and Practices will best declare But he tells us 'T is Presumption and not Faith for the Clergy of England as things are now amongst us to expect Gods miraculous concurrence with them in the management and exercise of their Ministerial Office when there are ordinary means at hand c. What may this Answerer mean here by Gods miraculous concurrence with them His continual presence with the assistance of his holy Spirit he hath promised unto them who observe his commands unto the worlds end as the ordinary means to render their Ministry effectual for the Conversion of sinners and the calling of those who are yet Aliens and Strangers to the Covenant of Grace And our Blessed Saviour when he ascended up on High gave Gifts unto men for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. But if this Answerer who is of the Clergy be conscious that things are now so amongst them that the presence of God and assistance of his holy Spirit are to be lookt upon as miraculous concurrences with them in the management and exercise of their Ministeririal Office he is to be excused for having recourse unto other means to render his labours so considerable as to make him see some fruits of the Travel of his Soul though possibly it may prove but bitter fruit in the end The Gentleman I can assure him never thought as he intimates That the Peoples forsaking of any Assemblies was a certain Prognostick that the Ministerial Power was quite extinguisht in all that were so forsaken as knowing there are and may be defects and faults on all sides But this the Gentleman thinks That where-ever any People manifest a desire and thirst after knowledge in the things and ways of God as God be thanked very many within these Nations at this dâ—y do and after trial and experience of the Ministerial Power of any do yet