Malefactor before we have heard what he can say for himself and therefore though his flying for it might argue his guiltiness yet we shall patiently hear all that the Separatist can plead for himself and the crime is so great that he knows no ordinary Plea will defend him and therefore he pretends no less than a Commission from Heaven the Authority of God's own Spirit Having the Spirit is the pretence having not the Spirit is the charge sub judice lis est And we have our Saviour's Commission for tryal of any such pretenders though they think themselves exempt from all Ecclesiastical Judicature 1 St. John 4.1 Try the Spirits that is the Teachers and their Doctrines the Reason is For there are many false Prophets gone abroad into the World And if we are to try them there is doubtless a Law and Rule by which to proceed and that is the Word of God which being written by Holy Men as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost so is it able to make the man of God perfect seeing it was confirmed by God's own testimony in sundry Miracles as the Gift of Tongues and Prophecie of dispossessing Devils and healing all Diseases No pretence of revelation can gain equal authority with it unless it bring an equal testimony that is the power of doing Wonders Nobis curiositate non opus est post Christum Tertul. de Praescript c. 8. nec disquisitione post Evangelium Certainly they have not the Spirit in that degree that the Apostles had and therefore we do them no injury to bring them to such an authentick Judge as is the Word of God wherein there is not one sentence to countenance such as separate from any Church of God where the means of Salvation the Word and Sacraments are rightly administred although many corruptions be crept into it By the Example of Christ and his Apostles retaining themselves within the Communion of the Jewish Church notwithstanding their pollutions the error of such as in imitation of the Cathari of old and the Anabaptists now refuse to partake of the Lord's Supper if they see the same administred to such as they suppose wicked Men is for ever confuted and condemned saith * Contr. Anabap Spanhemius To him I add the judgment of ‖ Instit l. 4. c. 1. S. 18. Mr. Calvin If it was the religious care of the Prophets not to alienate themselves from the Church notwithstanding the many and great sins not of a few persons but almost of all the People We do arrogate too much to our selves if we dare presently to withdraw from the unity of the Church because the manners of all that are in it do not satisfie our judgments and are not answerable to their Christian Profession St. John gives us three Rules for tryal of the Spirits 1. By their confessing Christ to be come in the Flesh The 2d By cleaving to the Apostolical Communion v. 6. Whosoever heareth not us is not of God hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error 3ly By mutual love and charity v. 7 8. God is love and he that loveth not knoweth not God These two later testimonies utterly destroy the pretence of Separatists to that Spirit of God which spake by the Apostles for as much as they do act in opposition to it Estius in locum And the Ancients who according to the vulgar Edition do read the first note thus Omnis spiritus qui solvit Jesum that is Sermon of Concision as Dr. Donne paraphraseth it Every spirit that breaks Jesus in pieces and makes Religion serve turnes is not of God in which sense Estius thinks it may also be taken that not only they deny Christ that deny his Humane or Divine Nature or the Doctrine taught by him but such as rent and divide the Church which is his Mystical Body by making Sects and Divisions these have not the Spirit of God but of Autichrist When the Ancient Separatists pretended to extraordinary Operations of the Spirit the Plea was more plausible for the gift of Tongues and Prophecie of Healing c. was not fully ceased But if our Apostle denied it to those ancient Separatists some of which as Thendas and Simon Magus did very strange things lying wonders at least it will be a difficult task for later Separatists to prove that Divine revelations and immediate Inspirations of the Spirit are continued when all the other extraordinary gifts are expired Yet as Grotius observes Jactant se miras habere Inspirationes In locum They still boast of wonderful operations and inspirations of the Holy Ghost But to joyn in issue The gifts of the spirit are twofold either first for the edification of the Church or secondly for the sanctification of the particular members both of these are to be continued in the Church to the end of the World nomen Spiritualis pro eo qui spiritus dono se praedium jactat ad obeundum Prophetiae munus Those for edification of the Church in general are mentioned by the Apostle Ephes 4.8 When Christ escended up on high He gave some Apostles 1 Cor. 14.37 and some Prophets and some Evangelists for the edifying of the body of Christ c. The distinct Offices of the Ministry are those gifts of which all are not capable Are all Apostles saith the Apostle that is in effect All are not Apostles but those that truly succeed the Apostles are to continue successively to the Worlds end till we all come in the unity of the knowledge and faith of the Son of God c. So Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you always How is Christ present but by his Spirit How with his Apostles but in their Successors And this is the import of that phrase used by the Church in the consecration of Ministers Receive the Holy Ghost wherein neither the power of Miracles nor the special grace of the Spirit but only an authority to administer holy things in the Church of God is to be understood And it is strange how they who are most forward to blame the Church for not following precisely the words of Christ in other Institutions can quarrel as her as they do for observing them in this when-as without these words that power cannot be duly and authoritatively derived It is true that the Church not seeing the hearts of Men may confer this authority on unworthy Men but so did Christ who knew all that was in his heart on Judas whose Ministry was authentick though his Person was vile he might be an instrument of saving others himself being a Cast-away If they that separate are partakers of this Holy Calling they are beholding to the ordinary Pastors of the Church for it from whom they now separate and this will but aggravate their guilt If they have a calling extraordinary they ought to evidence it not by an idle pretence to Revelations and Inspirations much less by swelling words of
Messengers of Satan by whom God doth prove you whether you are well rooted and grounded in the true faith and love of God and his Commandments and are not with every blast of wind to be turned out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in v. 5. The ways of God are ways of Peace and Holiness but to despise the Churches of God to disobey our Governors the Bishops and Pastors of the Church to hate and slander our Brethren to slight the Discipline and neglect the Prayers of the Church and our Lord's Prayer too hath been ever in the Church of God accounted Schisme and that Schisme Damnable And because it is a Rule among the Ancients that to reduce Schismes and Heresies to their beginning is a means to refute them I entreat you but to look so far back as the Year 1640. before which time our Union at home made us a terror to our Enemies and the glory of the Protestant Churches abroad and to give me your impartial Opinion of those Men who under pretence of reforming us in Doctrine and Worship and taking off evil Councellors from the King than whom if any Christian Prince had fewer yet none was less influenced by them to the prejudice either of the Church or State did involve us under such a Deluge of Confusion and Bloodshed Rebellion and Irreligion for Twenty Years together I grant that many of them might be Men of good affections that never thought of the events that would follow but then they should have thought of those Duties that were incumbent on them To fear God and the King and not to meddle with them that were given to change especially when they saw they were actually engaged in a most Unnatural War Let the Histories of Presbytery and Independency be read over and then tell me if the same things were to be acted over again Could you with a good Conscience be Actors in such a Tragedy Let me tell you then that it is your duty to beware of such Agents and Counsels as do tend to the like Disorders and Confusions lest notwithstanding the fair pretences of Men of the same spirit and it may be of some of the same Men notwithstanding the good intentions that you now profess which may make you abhor such practices as much as Hazael did Is thy Servant a Dog 2 Kings 8.13 that he should do such things you be by degrees drawn to the like impieties For Schisme is a fruitful evil it is always labouring in the birth of other mischiefs they that separate flye from the Church as the Parthians from their Enemies still shooting back their Arrows and maintaining War against them but they fight against a Rock under which they shall one day fall and perish The Heathen had this Notion of their Jupiter Quos perdere vult dementat prius Spiritual infatuation is the fore-runner of Destruction He that is perverse in his way despiseth the Lord Pro. 14.2 for as much as he despiseth that reproof and instruction which God sends him for his amendment This is a Brand of the Sons of Belial that are marked out for destruction as the Sons of Eli They hearkned not to the voice of their Father 1 Sam. 2.25 because the Lord would stay them 2ly For Counsel and Direction St. Peter exhorts us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is Sensuality that is the cause of Separation viz pride and Ambition Envy and Uncharitableness ignorance and negligence to be well informed concerning our duties Mortifie therefore these and all other fleshly lusts study Christ and him crucified that you may Phil. 3.9 10. as St. Paul did know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death No such charm against Separation as a true mortification of fleshly lusts and desires Study therefore to exceed others in Humility and Charity in a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of more esteem than all those furious Zealots that know not what spirit they are of And in the words of St. Jude build up your selves on your most holy faith the Doctrine of Christ dying for your sins and rising for your Justification and still making Intercession for you In his Name pray unto God with such fervour and hope faith humility and perseverance that you may be kept in the love of GOD and a comfortable expectation of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life The wifest and best of us are but Men compassed about with many infirmities what through ignorance and interest passion and prejudice in many things we offend all and all the means and diligence we can use without the special grace of God will be too little to undeceive us and set us in the right way which grace he hath promised only to the humble and meek Psal 25.9 The meek he will guide in judgment and the meek he will teach his way 'T is the first Lesson that Christ teacheth his Disciples and that by his Example as well as Precept Learn of me for I am meek and lowly Mat. 11.29 and ye shall find rest unto your Souls I conclude with those Pathetical perswasions of Saint Paul which I beseech God to imprint upon all our hearts If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love Phil. 2.3 if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves And again Put on Col. 3.12 as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful FINIS POST-SCRIPT SInce this Treatise of Schism was in the Press I met with a Book of Miscellanies under Mr. Hales's Name in which was a TRACT concerning Schisme much applauded by the Separatists both Schisme and Heresie p. 191. to be as he calls them but two Theological Scarcrows but upon my first reading it I apprehended it to be so far from being unanswerable that it did sufficiently confute it self which I doubt not will appear to all judicious Readers upon this Analysis of the TRACT which followeth Q. WHat is the benefit of Communion Answ Communion is the strength and ground of all society Sacred and Civil whoever therefore causeth a breach if in civil occasions is guilty of Sedition or Rebellion if in Ecclesiastical
as it disposeth Men mostly to tamper with matters of Religion so the vehemence wherewith they are acted makes them believe themselves as hath been commonly supposed of eminent Poets and Orators and as the Turks at this day do think of distracted Men to be inspired Some Persons overcome with the passion of jealousie do believe and act as if all their imaginations and suspicions were true and will not be convinced by the most demonstrative Arguments to the contrary So in Melancholy Distempers as many have thought themselves Kings and Emperors so others have fancied themselves great Prophets sent from God to reform the World and they declaim against the Corruptions of the Churches and contrive new Models for rectifying of all that they fancy amiss For though Mahomet and some other Politicians were meer Impostors and pretended to inspirations meerly upon design yet doubtless others who have imagined very strange things as that they were the Messias sent from God that they were the very Spirit of God or at least had that Spirit dwelling personally in them have been fully perswaded that these apprehensions were true and have both acted and suffered lived and dyed in the attestation of them As that Learned Doctor of Divinity Francis de la Cruz. Acosta de Noviss Temporibus l. 2. c. 11. of whom Acosta gives us this memorable History That by familiarity with a mean Woman who pretended to Trances and Visions he was so seduced as to refer the most weighty Points of Divinity to her determination and to receive all her Answers as Oracles though she a simple Woman and he a Learned and religious Man at last this Man would take upon him to do Miracles So Commenius was deceived by Daubritius See Baxter's Cure p. 164. and vented strange Opinions and Prophecies pretending not only that he had an Angel but GOD himself familiar with him he affirmed that he should be a King and a Pope too that the Apostolick See should be translated to Peru where he lived that Holiness was granted to him above all the Apostles and Angels that as Christ was the Redeemer of the World as to sufficiency so he must redeem it as to efficacy That GOD had offered him Hypostatical Union and an Hundred such Vagaries he firmly held and yet this Man our Author says was as perfect in his Senses as to soundness of Brain as he himself when he wrote of him wherefore the Bishop of Quinto with Acosta and other Divines were appointed to dispute with him concerning his Opinions Who began to alledge that his Doctrine being above Humane Reason could not be proved but by Scripture and Miracles As for Scripture I have proved it saith he by more clear and pregnant Testimonies than those by which ever Paul did prove Jesus the true Messias As for Miracles he had done some so great as he pretended that the Resurrection of Christ was not greater in as much as he had been verily and truly dead and was raised again And in the Conference for two days time though he had not had any Book in the Prison where he was five Years his very Breviary being taken from him yet did he quote places of Scripture out of the Prophets the Psalms Apocalypse and other Books so many and so long that his very Memory caused Admiration As for Miracles he told them as by Prophecie that John of Austria was vanquished by the Turks That Philip King of Spain had lost most part of his Kingdome That Pope Gregory was deposed by a Council and another to be chosen at Rome all which he affirmed not onely to be true but to be known to them to be so though indeed they knew them all to be false And when for these things he was condemned to be burned and led out as a publick Spectacle he ceased not to look up to Heaven expecting as it seems the Devil had promised him that fire would come from thence to consume his Adversaries From this History we may argue concerning imaginations and perswasions less wild and strange and yet such as we know to be truly and really believed by them upon whom they are wrought and I need not instance in the Paroxysmes and perswasions of Enthusiasts and Quakers whether proceeding from Melancholy Distempers which may go very far or from Diabolical suggestions who are yet so confident of the truth and Divinity of them as that many of them would dye for that belief but in the confidence of other more sober persons who believe themselves the Elect People of God and to be as well assured of their Salvation as if they had read their Names written in the Book of Life who yet live in such manifest contradiction to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ in Envy Hatred Malice Disobedience Lying Slandering and are Implacable Unnatural Unholy that if the Scriptures be true their presumptions must needs be false The miscarriages of such as have pretended to extraordinary impulses of the Spirit have been so notoriously impious that it is easie to fill a Volume with such Relations I shall only give an instance or two in our own Countrey And whereas it hath been pleaded to the prejudice of the Magistrates who have exemplarily punished such Enthusiasts that they were distracted Persons and therefore deserved pity rather than such severe Penalties I do confess that in some of them as it is said of Swinckfield there wanted Caput regulatum a staid Head but in the most there was wanting Cor bonum a good Heart and a humble Spirit As in Coppinger and Arthington who came into Cheap-side and getting up into a Cart proclaimed that they had News from Heaven which was That Hacket their Prophet did represent Christ and was partaker of his glorious Body in his principal Spirit and that they two were his Prophets the one of Mercy the other of Judgment being call'd and sent of God to assist him in his great work when they were apprehended and examined by Persons of Honor and of great Learning they gave ready and pertinent answers to every question upon which they were examined by which it appear'd they were under no other distraction than what a violent Prosecution of the Discipline which they contended for had betrayed them into About the same time one Peter Bourchet was possest with an Opinion that it was lawful to slay any that did oppose the Evangelical truth as he called his own fancy and because Sir Christopher Hatton one of the Privy Council was adjudged an Adversary thereunto he resolved to murther him but by a mistake meeting with the famous Sir John Hawkins he struck at him for which he was committed to the Tower and being there finds an opportunity with a Fire-brand taken from the Hearth to knock out the Brains of one of his Keepers for which being condemned of Murther he had his right Hand cut off and dyed on the Gallows in a sullen and silent humor See Cambden's Annals p. 242. You see
of the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and labour and study not how to widen and gall and rankle but how to salve and heal these unhappy sores of the Church and State And as Mr. Calvin saith Epist ad Catech. Genev. When we shall come to that great Tribunal where we are to render an account of our Ministery There shall be no question concerning Ceremonies neither shall this conformity in outward things be brought to examination but the lawful use of our liberty and that shall be adjudged lawful that conduceth most to edification Let therefore all our care circumspection and diligence tend to this which we may know so far to succeed as we become Proficients in the serious fear of God in sincere piety and unfeigned Sanctity of manners I know you will all joyn with me to condemn those pitiful pretences which are still to be heard from the mouths of some profane persons to excuse their not frequenting of the Lords Supper a Sacrament which may assure them of infinite comfort and blessings if they did not obicem ponere make themselves uncapable They pretend a grudge against a neighbour on a punctilio of profit or reputation or perhaps a pet against their Minister for demanding his Dues or reproving their Vices and therefore they cannot come It is the very same that is pleaded against the Communion of the Church in whose Peace and Communion they might have Peace and Salvation they have some perverse Opinions of their Brethren or Minister some point of Reputation profit or trade lies in the way or some strange reports have been whispered in their ears by Schismatical persons the truth whereof they had never time to examine nor discretion to judge of and yet there are such invincible prejudices created within them that they cannot be reconciled Non amo te nec possum dicere quare that is they must keep at a distance and live in hatred and malice though they have no reason for it But when God shall call us to an account for our ignorance and uncharitableness and make inquisition for the Authors and grounds of all those divisions that obstinacy and cruelty that hath been practised among us what shall we answer him can we say as Saul did except it be falsly I have kept the Commandments of the Lord it will be replyed then what meaneth the lowing of the Oxen and the bleating of the Sheep that are gone astray if it be pretended that they are set a-part for a more solemn Sacrifice the Prophet demands hath the Lord as great delight in Sacrifice and burnt-offerings as in obeying the Voice of the Lord Behold to obey the Commands of God for Peace and Charity is better than Sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams Shall we say all our divisions were occasioned by misinformation that the Cause of God and the Kingdom of Christ were concerned or that it was done in opposition to a Ceremony because we would not receive the Sacrament on our Knees or see our Minister wear a Surplice or because we would not submit to the injunctions of our Rulers in matters of Decency Vbi ad summum illud Tribunal ventum fuerit ubi reddenda erit olim functionis nostrae ratio minima erit de Ceremoniis quaestio Cal. Epist in Catech. Genev. or which is as much as any of the rest because we would not eat with Publicans and sinners Consider if this be not contrary to our Saviours rule of preferring Mercy above Sacrifice when we sacrifice Mercy and Peace and Charity which are so strictly commanded to our own ignorance or interest or to the discontent and maliciousness of wicked men which are so peremptorily forbidden Remernber the Blessing pronounced to the Peace-makers by our Saviour and the Curse against them that are Contentious and obey not the Gospel and then think whether true Comfort and Piety do lye most in being instruments of Peace of Mercy and good Works Deterior est qui recedit ab Ecclesiae concordiâ in baeresin aut Schisma demigrat quam qui impurè vivit salvis dogmatibus Eras de Eccl. concordiâ p. 113. or in being Fire-brands in the Church of God instruments of Satan accusers of the Brethren enemies of Peace and authors of Confusion And think often that God hath made our following of Peace a condition of Salvation as well as of Holiness Follow peace with all men with all our Christian Brethren more especially without which no man shall see the Lord. The Plea of Templum Domini will but aggravate the guilt of such as do steal Jer. 7.4 and murther and commit Adultery and swear falsly Is this House which is called by my Name become a den of Robbers What greater dishonour can we do the Church of God than under pretence of Zeal for Reformation of things inconsiderable and doubtful to open a gap for the greatest impiety such as Rebellion and Schism a contempt of things Sacred and Civil which have been after mature deliberation and Primitive custom legally established in the Church of God If men do indeed desire the honour and safety of Religion and the whole Nation there is no better method of effecting it than by a hearty endeavour that we may all speak and mind the same things and keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace by this the power of godlinefs will appear as well as the form of it when that Dove-like spirit shall possess our Souls and banish all those proud and wrathful dispositions that do as much hinder the righteousness of God James 1.20 as love and charity to our Brethren What an honour is it to be a Repairer of the breaches of Sion to settle the Ark of God that hath been so long in a wandring condition to convert Thousands of Souls from the error of their ways and as the good Samaritan pour in Wine and Oyl to their wounds that have fallen among Thieves in their journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho If Christ will so graciously reward at the last day all those temporal and bodily supplies that we bestow on his distressed Members as himself hath expressed Matth. 25.34 much more bountifully will he recompense all that labour of love which we manifest for the preservation of those Souls which he redeemed with his precious bloud to reduce a sinner from the error of his ways by a mild reproof a seasonable instruction a peaceable and pious example This is to be as Moses was to Aaron Exod. 4.16 instead of a God and a Saviour unto them Great is the advantage and opportunity that those Men have who by their parts and reputation have an influence upon the spirits and consciences of their misguided Brethren if they would instruct them in this plain lesson of preferring works of mercy and charity above all external services whatsoever if they would convince them how hateful to God a Pharisaical temper is that disposeth Men
Loyalty which is one of the chiefest ingredients and ornaments of true Religion for next to Fear God is Honour the King and yet no Artillery Yard did ever discipline more Men for War nor any Magazine furnish them with keener Weapons than the Tongues and Pens of some Disciplinarians have done Thirdly I would willingly be informed what company of persons in any Age did openly separate from an Established Church wherein they might serve God without sinning by communicating with it and did not also trouble and disturb the State The multitude cannot look through the Vizor and see how they are acted by the ambition and covetousness of a few male-contents who under a seeming Zeal for the Truth have real designs against peace and do expose the Temporal and Eternal welfare of their followers for the accomplishing of their own ungodly Lusts not unlike the Ape that burnt the Cats foot in the fire to pluck out her beloved Nuts Fourthly Nor can it be otherwise thought but that Schismatical persons among us do drive Seditious designs if it be considered that there is no pious duty or laudable exercise of piety and devotion but it may be done more solemnly in the publick Assemblies than in any private Conventicles whatsoever * Non licet â—â—de sepaâ—are ubi â—â—iect in belius â—mmutaâ—â—g Aug. â—â—ontra â—â—resc l. 2. â— 28 〈◊〉 230. of â—chism And what Reason can there be as Mr. Hales says why they should do that secretly and suspiciously which they may do warrantably in the publick Congregations except they are afraid their Devotions will be less acceptable when they serve God with Reverence as well as with godly Fear It is beyond question that there may be such corruptions in Doctrine and such Idolatrous practices required in Worship as may justifie a Separation but neither of these can be pretended against our Church The Covenanters indeed did pretend a necessity of reforming our Doctrine but to this day have not mentioned any one Article that needed it but while the Covenant was warm upon their Spirits they required that all persons admitted into any Benefice should subscribe our Articles having first read them publickly and professed their consent to them as long as the House of Lords had the Power of admission committed to them and even now in cool bloud all parties that have any thing of Sobriety do make the Doctrine of the Church of England the Standard by which they authorize their own And if the present Dissenters were Christians indeed the great and uncontroverted Fundamentals of Religion wherein they agree with us in judgment might reconcile their affections in those lesser things wherein they differ Opinionum diversitas Opinantium unitas non sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hales of Schism p. 215. How unreasonable and irreligious a thing it is to contend for Ceremonies to the neglect of the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Mercy and Faith is I hope satisfactorily evinced in another discourse hereunto annexed Fifthly I shall therefore propose another Argument to prove that Schism as it is now practised among us is inseparable from Sedition because if men did dissent purely upon the account of Judgment and Conscience they would dissent soberly and peaceably and as the Nonconformists in Mr. Balls days joyn with us in somethings which they cannot but allow though they refused to communicate in other things which they suspected and concerning those things also they would in all humility and meekness seek satisfaction and distrust their own Opinions which they find to be contrary to the judgment of their Superiours whom they cannot but acknowledge to be very learned and good men For as Erasmus on Romans 14. Dignitatis ratio poscit ut imperitior peritiori obtemperet We owe so much to the Authority and wisdom of our Superiours that in things doubtful and suspected and he instanceth in things far more obnoxious than our Ceremonies they who have less knowledge ought to obey him that hath more and he gives this reason because if it be a crime of Arrogance to despise the Superstition of the weak and of him that erreth in Simplicity of how much more intolerable Arrogance is it if he that is more weak in Faith and Knowledge do judge and condemn them that are better than himself according to the vulgar rule of unlearned persons who judge all unjust which themselves do not practise and the Apostle tells such that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink i. e. the spirit and temper of the Gospel consists not in being solicitous about such things which are left to our Christian liberty but about the promoting of righteousness and peace Ro. 14.17 and joy in the Holy Ghost which are indispensably injoyned so that sober and conscientious Dissenters would rather according to the Will of God suffer patiently for well-doing than studiously promote discord and division and all those evils which the Apostle says do accompany it I cannot forbear to commend that excellent advice of S. Augustine to such persons Epistle 56. If thou art questioned saith he concerning points of subtilty and controversies tell them thou knowest not what to Answers because thy Learning lyeth not that way if thou art urged to declare what thou knowest and wherein thy learning lyeth Responde to nosse quomodo sine istis homo possit esse beatus Answer thou I have learned how a man may be happy without the understanding of such points And Mr. Hales observed that when scruples of Conscience began to be made or pretended then Schisms began to break in Treatise of Schism p. 217. And now let any indifferent man judge concerning such as instead of dissenting peaceably and seeking satisfaction meekly in such punctilio's of the nature of which they may be safely ignorant and as the Jews say of some of their questions refer the resolution of them until Elias come do not only renounce all Communion in the established Worship but contrary to the known Laws of God and the King disturb the publick peace rail at their Brethren defame and resist their Superiors are deaf to all arguments and will not be perswaded when they are over-convinced but instead of patiently enduring what is not in their power to amend as S. Augustine adviseth do with equal pride and impatience attempt the casting off of all Government whether such are men of tender Consciences or of carnal and by consequence of Seditious principles Sixthly Which will yet more evidently appear if it be considered that Schisms are ordinarily contrived and abetted by discontented and ambitious persons whose seditious and Traiterous designs against the State do want the Midwifry of Schism to give them Birth and Maturity The Vow at Hebron was a means to form an Army against David 2 Sam. 15.7 and Come see my zeal the Motto of Jehu's standard 2 Kings 10.16 which drew many after them who went in the simplicity of their hearts to their own destruction
And if mens practises may be judged of by their principles the doctrines that are infused into the spirits of the people at such meetings will sufficiently prove that their designs are seditious For when men do extol their new Discipline as the Kingdom and Scepter of Christ and affirm that all the Scepters of the Earth must bow to it or be broken in pieces that Dominion is founded in grace that wicked men are Usurpers and have forfeited all that they have and it is no more robbery to deprive them of it than for the Israelites to rob the Egyptians when they assert the nullity of former Oaths for obedience to lawful powers by framing New Covenants and imposing on the subjects contrary to the command of their lawful Prince that good intentions may justifie unlawful actions and they may do evil that good may come thereof that Christian liberty doth free the Believing wife from the unbelieving husband the godly child from his ungodly Parents and the faithful servant from his Infidel master When their preaching is of cursing and lyes despising Dominions speaking evil of Dignities vindictive groans against their Brethren complaints of the decay of Religion of oppression of the Godly cursing all Neuters that do not help them against the Lords Anointed or that do their work negligently and withhold their Swords from bloud How spiritual soever such men may be thought the weapons of their warfare are carnal i.e. they are seditious such men are not Ambassadors of the Gospel of Peace but of the Evangelium Armatum every line whereof as Draco's Laws is written in bloud When King Richard the First had taken prisoner a Bishop that was in Arms against him the Pope sends to him to deliver his Son but the King sends the Pope the Bishops Armour and asketh him if that were his Sons coat I would fain know of them that profess themselves the children of Peace if these be the garments of their Ghostly Fathers that begat them The great sorceress Medea perswaded the daughters of Peleus that the way to recover their aged Father to youth and strength was to cut him in pieces and boyl him according to her Art None but a people that have been bewitched could be perswaded that the way to restore our Church to strength and beauty was to divide it into so many seditious Sects And now I suppose that I have given the World and you Honoured Sir sufficient Reason for this address to so eminent a Magistrate seeing they that murmur against the sons of Aaron that they take too much upon them are found to have Rebelled against Moses also and the same persons that renounced communion with the Church of which they were once Members and withdrew into Conventicles cryed out We have no part in David 2 Sam. 20.1 neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to his Tents O Israel As St. Augustine observed of the Donatists Quid est Imperatori cum Ecclesiâ aut quid nobis cum regibus seculi quos nunquam nisi invidos sensit Christianitas August l. 2. ad Peril c. 92. If the Magistrate may punish murther oppression robbery and sedition why may he not restrain such practises as give occasion to all these unless we would have him do what God says he ought not i.e. to bear the sword in vain Clamate si audetis saith St. Augustine puniantur adulteria puniantur homicidia sola Sacrilegia volumus impunita There is great reason then that the Ministers of the Gospel should apply themselves to the Ministers of the Laws Israel will never prevail against her enemies except Moses's hand be lifted up as well as Aaron's those Royal Oaks must support our feeble Vines or they will be trod under foot by unreasonable Men. You are Custodes utriusque tabulae under God and the King Defenders of our Faith as well as our Laws Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes But who shall protect them that should protect us against the obloquies and strivings of an unruly People even that God who having set Joshua over the murmuring Israelites assured him Joshua 1.5 6. As I was with Moses so I will be with thee I will not fail thee nor forsake thee Be strong and of a good courage And now if ever our Magistrates ought to be Men of courage as well as fearing God when the execution of the Laws is termed persecution and such as will not tamely permit their Religion and Liberties to be invaded are accounted enemies to the Godly Party Chap. 4. of tumults But as the Royal Martyr observed Nothing doth more portend Gods displeasure against a Nation than when he suffers the confluence and clamours of the Vulgar to pass all boundaries of Laws and reverence to Authority I say not this Honoured Sir to provoke you to greater activity for the publick welfare who have not onely done more and better than others but have prevailed beyond expectation I onely pay a grateful acknowledgment for what you have already done and exhibit a Noble example to others of one who prefers the publick Peace above his private interest and doth his duty to God and the King with as much resolution as others neglect or oppose it and if there were but five such Magistrates in a County they would through God's blessing redeem an unworthy Nation from those flames which threaten a Conflagration like that of Sodom and Gomorrha I cannot omit Great Sir your constant respects to men of my Profession without respect of Persons you love a Clergy-man eo nomine not only the worthy Dignitaries of our Church but I may say it in a better sense than a great Lawyer was wont to say you love a poor Clergy-man with all your heart and have deservedly acquired among us the Title of Deliciae Cleri the Clergies delight And now it is time to beg your pardon for this and many other Troubles by which I have trespassed upon your Patience beseeching God to preserve the Peace of our Jerusalem and that You and yours may Prosper as you Love it I am Sir Your Humblest Servant Tho. Long. Exon April 1677. THE PICTURE AND CHARACTER OF A SEPARATIST SHEWING That Sensuality is the Ground OF SEPARATION Vt nihil aequè arguit Ingenium Spiritûs Christi ac studium conservandae socictatis unionis in quo charitas elucet Sic etiam nullum est evidentius argumentum pravitatis humani ingenii unde etiam inter carnis opera contentiones nominantur quà m tumultuandi rixandi studium Cameron de Ecclesiâ Cap. de Schismate I differ from my Brethren in many things of considerable moment yet if I should zealously press my judgment on others so as to disturb the Peace of the Church and separate from my Brethren I should fear I should prove a Fire-brand in Hell for being a Fire brand in the Church I charge you if God should give me up to any factious Church-rending course that you