take it for granted having so much Charity as to hope that whatever any rash and violent spirits amongst us may think and speak yet those who are Judiciously godly have more Charity then to disclaim us for such If they dare I wish they would speak out But so it seemeth it is that even this Bitter Root of rigid separation as a Reverend Brother rightly calls it begins to grow spring up again amongst us there wanting not some who stick not to maintain and justifie this their Separation from this ground because we are no True Churches of Christ For their sakes or rather for yours in defence of the cause of God agaainst them let mee speak a few words and but a few 1. are not our Congregations True Churches What are not here the Pillars of Truth Is not the Word of Truth the Gospell of Salvation here held forth and that in an ordinary and constant way even as the Edicts and Proclamations of Princes are wont to be held forth by Pillars to which they are affixed Now if so shall wee question whether here be true Churches of Christ or no Heare the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground or stay of Truth Where the Pillar of Truth is there is the House of God the Church of God Where the light of Gods truth is set up and held forth in a loving way to the guiding of passengers in the way to Eternall life are not here the Golden-Candlestick And if so shall wee question whether here be true Churches or no Let the spirit of truth decide it The seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches Revel. 1. So many golden Candlesticks so many Churches Here is a first evidence where the light of the Gospell is held forth ordinarily in a publick and Ministeriall way to a people that professes to walk by the direction of it can it be questioned whether there bee a Church a true Church or no Secondly where the Seales of Gods Covenant the Sacraments of the New Testament are for substance rightly dispenced according to the Institution of Jesus Christ can it be questioned whether there be a true Church or no Where the Seales of the Covenant are there is the Covenant it self the visible Covenant and where that is there is a Church To them pertained the Covenants saith the Apostle speaking of the Church of the Jewes Now who will deny these appurtenances to our Churches Here are the Seales of the Covenant and consequently the Covenant it self Arg. 3. And as the Covenant so the Glory To them pertained the Glory of the covenants so Paul putteth them together The Glory â—iz the Arke of the Covenant a Testimony of Gods gracious and glorious presence Now where this is shall wee question whether there be a true Church or no Where there is the presence of Christ in the midst of his Ordinances so as in an ordinary way they are made effectuall to the conversion and salvation of many where Christ sitteth walketh in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks displaying his Power and Glory can it be questioned whether there bee true Churches of Christ or no But that he hath done and doth this in some of our Congregations I think it will not be denyed It must be an envious hand that will dare to write Jchabod upon the dooreâ— of some of these houses Argu. 4. Where there are societies of visible Saintâ— all such by outward profession and some of them a considerable part of them walking in measure answerably to that profession can it be questioned whether there be true Churches of Christ or no To the Church of God which at Corinth to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesâ—â— called to be Saints It is the Apostles superscription to this Epistle in the sâ—cond verse of the Chapter where the latter clause is but an Exegesis an Explication of the former A true Church of God and a company of visible Saints are one and the same Ob. Why but wee are not all such Answ. No more were they in this Church of Corinth The incestuous person and many others amongst them they were strange Saints yet a Church a true Church A company of visible Saints joyning together in the Ordinances of God though there be an unapprovable mixture of some heterogeneous members amongst them maketh a Church a true Church Now as for these all these I think it cannot it will not be denyed but that they are to be found in some of our Churches Here are pillars of Truth golden Candlesticks the doctrine of the Gospel truely and purely preached here are the seales of the Covenant the Sacraments for substance rightly administred here is the glory the presence of Christ in his ordinances ordinarily concurring with them and giving efficacy to them for the begetting and nourishing up of Christian soules unto eternall life here are Congregations prefessing subjection to the Ordinances of Christ a considerable part whereof are visible Saints walking answerably to that profession Object True saith the Brownist for so I must look upon all those who shall deny the truth of our Churches as Separatists and that rigid ones Suppose all this be granted yet here are great defects and those no lesse then destructive making your Churches to be no true Churches But what are they Why possibly some of them will not spare to say that we have no true Ministery Answ. If not why then do they retain that Baptisme which they received through our hands Qu. But why have wee no true Ministery Here possibly some will cry out upon us as Antichristian charging us That wee have received our calling from Rome viz. by the imposition of the hands of those who had their Calling and Ordination from thence Answ. As for them I shall put them and the Church of Rome together to debate the point and so leave them The Church of Rome challengeth us that wee are no true Ministers Why Because wee have not received our Ordination from them The Separatist on the other hand hee cryes out upon us Wee are no true Ministers Why Because we have received our Ordination thence Sure both cannot speak truth I shall therefore here leave them to dispute it out whilest in the mean time I speak a word or two with those who are of somewhat more cool and 〈◊〉 Object Wee are no true Ministers say they Why Because wee have not received our calling from the people Wee are neither Ordained nor Elected by them Answ. To this charge take this Reply in breif First As for our Calling wee acknowledg we have not received it from them but from Jesus Christ our Lord and theirs His servants wee are and in his Name do wee execute our Ministeriall Offices and Functions not in the Churches
in admiration being taken with the gifts and parts of their Teachers some addicted themselves to one others to another making themselves their Disciples I am of Paul and I am of Apollo c. Take we heed of being taken in the same snare Let not our eyes be so dazeled with what ever eminency of parts or graces which we apprehend to be in others that we should set up their examples for our Rules This it was that drew many of the Jews and Barnabas amongst the rest into the Error of an unwarrantable Separation they saw Peter a leading man a prime and eminent Apostle going before them And surely this it is which hath misled many a well meaning soul in this Kingdom drawn them into the same error to separate from their Brethren because they have seen some prime leading men whose persons they honor and that it may be deservedly to go before them And this is the main Loadstone the principal attractive that inclines them to look that way No wonder in this case if they be subject to miscarry So hath many a ship done by following her Admiral which carried the Lanthorn in a dark night not heeding her own course as she should have done both have been bilged upon the same shelf A dangerous thing it is to shape our course by anothers compasse And therefore to draw to a conclusion take we heed how we look too much at man what ever he be It was Pauls resolution concerning those who seemed to be somewhat men of reputation such as the Apostles were for of some of them he there speaketh What ever they were saith he it maketh no matter to me God accepteth no mans person It is rule not example a divine Rule not a Humane example that we are to walk by Let this be our guide the Rule of the Word Being led thereby now are we in the way to peace and that both inward and outward with God our selves others As many as walk according to this Rule Peace shall be upon them and upon the Israel of God And thus I have at length dispatched the negative part of this Apostolical Obtestation or Charge Wherein if any conceive I have dwelt too long I shall make them amends in handling of the latter part of the Text the Positive part of this Charge which I shall passe over with as much brevity as possibly may be That ye all speak the same thing and that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgement We have here the Apostles Exhortation which in one word is to that which we so much at this day in this Kingdom want Vnity A threefold unity consisting in three particulars in Tongue in Heart in Head So Calvin and Beza distinguish the parts of this Gradation In Tongue That ye all speak the same thing In Heart That ye be perfectly joyned together in the same minde In Head And in the same judgement So the Apostle here placeth them in a retrograde Order Beginning first with that which in order of nature is last Tongue-unity floweth from Heart-unity and Heart-unity from Head-unity Men first agree in judgement think the same thing Then in Affection minding the same thing then in Language speaking the same thing The Apostle here goeth backwards ab imis ad summa from the bottom to the top from the stream to the fountain from the effect to the cause And in that method I shall follow him beginning with the first 1. Tongue-unity Such a unity should all Christians specially the Members of the same Church strive after and labour for A unity of tongues This is that which Paul wisheth for his Romans Rom. 15. where he prayeth that they might with one mouth glorifie God And this is one thing which here he so earnestly begs for from these his Corinthians {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} That ye all speak the same thing {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The same thing both for Substance and Expression Christians should have an eye to both 1. For substance that they may speak the same thing though it be in different Language So did the Apostles at the day of Pentecost Acts 2. They spake divers Languages but the same thing A remarkable difference betwixt that division of Tongues at Babel and this at Jerusalem At Babel they spake different things as well as different words One speaks of Brick another answers him with Morter But at Jerusalem the Apostles however they spake different Languages yet they all spake the same thing all Preached the same Gospel delivered the same Truthes O that there were such an happy unity amongst us at this day in this Kingdom That there were but one Language to be heard in this Iland One Language amongst Ministers amongst people Ministers they are by their office speakers as it is said of Paul he was the cheif speaker Gods Mouth to his people Thou shalt be as my mouth O that this mouth might still speak the same thing having but one Tongue in it A mouth which should have more tongues then one in it we would look upon it as a strange monstrosity O let it not be said or thought that the Mouth of God should have so One Mouth So runs the phrase of Scripture As he spake by the mouth not mouths of all his holy Prophets And one Tongue One Tongue for one man It is one of Pauls qualifications which he requires in a Deacon he must not be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Double-tongued speaking sometimes one thing and sometimes another A foul blemish to a Minister of Christ to be so to speak one thing to day another tomorrow to say and unsay to have more tongues then one If all should speak the same thing then much more the same man But that by the way One tongue for all That all the Ministers of Christ might speak the same thing the same Truths for substance so as though they deliver several points of Doctrine yet they may be such as are no way repugnâ—â— to another or to the Truth Truth we are sure is but one Error be various And the Word of Truth as Saint Iames calleth the Gospel Preached it is no more It is but one Word One Faith one Baptism saith the Apostle one Doctrine of Faith How is it then that amongst us there should be more then one How is it that not onely Parlors but Pulpits and Presses ring with such a contrariety of Doctrine And that not onely in some smaller differences as in the Interpretation of an obscure Text of Scripture or the like wherein men sometimes may safely disagree each abounding in his own sense but in points if not of yet neer the Foundation Surely a sad hearing presaging no good to the Church or cause of God in this Kingdom This it was as I have said which hindered the building of Babel And
to the not onely present breach and interruption but unlesse God be the more merciful to the utter endangering if not destroying of Church-peace and unity in this Kingdom And if a bare connivance at these divisions have already occasioned such a combustion what do we think would a Toleration do A Toleration of all sorts of Sects and Schisms and Heresies and Blasphemies which is by some and those more then a good many under the abused notion of Liberty of Conscience so earnestly pleaded for For my own part should this be once yeelded which I hope their eyes shall first fail who look for it I should look upon it as the Passing-bell to the Churches peace and glory if not to the true Religion of God in this Kingdom Surely blessed Paul was of another minde otherwise he would not have been so earnest with his Corinthians for unity in judgement as well as in affection Never had he any thought of such a politike principle for the according of his Corinthians to indulge every of them their several opinions and Wayes No this he knew well enough was the high way to confusion And therefore he presseth upon them unity in judgement as well as in affection As we desire the one endeavor after the other Obj. Why but it is a thing impossible that there should be such an agreement among Christians Such a general consent in judgement that all should be of one opinion It never was so it never will be so Paul himself tells us expresly There must be Heresies Answ. True so there must be It is an unavoidable evil through Satans malice and mans corruption I but so there ought not to be So as this is no plea no just excuse either for the broaching or contenancing or tolerating of them 2. Neither in the second place is it a thing so absolutely impossible for Christians to attain to such an agreement in the Truth A thing in one Congregation very possible and orâ—â—nary why then impossible in many 3. However in the third place though there be some difference about circumstantials in some points of lesser consequence and concernment yet in the fundamentals the chief heads and principles of Religion there may and ought to be an agreement amongst the Churches of Christ This we are sure in a true Church is not onely possible but necessary Such an agreement there was in the last age betwixt the Church of England and other Reformed Churches as also betwixt her own members in her own bosome Some differences there were about Order Government Discipline Ceremonies but for Substantials matters of Faith they were agreed witnesse the sweet harmony of their confessions And O that there were but the like concord and agreement to be found amongst us at this day That our differences were confined wholly to the Hem of Christs Garment Such were the divisions of the last age in comparison of ours And yet even those divisions were then thought sad enough What would not the godly party on both sides have given to have bought them of O what then shall we do for the healing of our present Breaches All of us implore the help of the great Physitian that he would undertake the cure which if he do not vain is the help of man the Church of God among us is in a lost condition For this mercy let the Favorites of Heaven ply the throne of Grace with their prayers all of us second them with the best of our endeavors striving after a holy unity in judgement as much as others do after division To that end Whereto we have already attained as the Apostle adviseth let us walk by the same rule Truths upon good ground received and beleeved by the Churches of Christ and our selves hold them fast In other things if we be otherwise minded differing from our Brethren in some points of inferior concernment let us carry these our differences in a humble and as much as may be in a quiet and peaceable way rather somthering our private opinions in our own brests then to suffer them to break forth to set the Church on fire to the disturbance and breach of the publike peace which ought to be more dear to us then many of the children of our own brains So waiting upon God until he shall further reveal his Truth to our selves or others And thus I have with as much brevity as I could dispatched also this latter branch of this Apostolical Charge Concerning which I shall now onely pray that God by his Spirit which is the Spirit of peace and unity would imprint it upon your hearts and upon the hearts of all his people in this Kingdom Amen FINIS a Luke 1. 3. Acts 1. 1. b In personâ Theophili fidelibus omnibus sua scripta dedicavit Lucas Aret in Luc. Theophilus vir Senatorii Ordinisâ— ibid. Doctrinam omnium communem privatim suo Theophilo destinat Calv. ibid. Neque enim ideò minus ad omnes pertinet Pauli doctrinaâ— quia â—x suis Epistolis alias certis urbibus alias etiam hominibus dicavit Idem c Nathan Homes Animadversions upon Mr. Tombs Exercitations Preface to the Reader d Hâc lege Evangelium suum Theophilo nuncupat Lucas ut fidelem ejus custodiam suscipiat Calv. ibidem Introduction Josh. 7. 10. 13. Divisions Pauls affection insinuated Huic morbâ— exulceratisâ—imo primuâ— malagâ—â—ata quaedam adhibet Pareus ad Loc. Observ. A fit preparative for sharp Reproofs A threefold Argument here couched Each considered first simply 1. The Obsecration Estius ad loc. Obs. P. Mart. Com. ad loc. A language peculiar to the New Testament Phâ—l v. 8 9. Obs. The sweetnesse of the Gospel above the Law Applicat What language Ministers are to use to their people They may command 2 Thes. 3. 6 1 Tim. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 7. 10. And Rebuke 2 Tim. 4. 2 Cum auctoritate summa tanquà m Dei Legatuâ— Beza ad Loc. But sometimes beseech 2. The Compellation Gen. 29. 4. Brethren a word full of affection 1 King 20. 32 33. Obs. Christians should look upon each other as Brethren Loving as Brethren 1 Ioh. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 8. Performing Brotherly offices each to other Deut. 25. Vid. Aynsworth ad loc. Prov. 17. 17. Obs. Ministers must look upon their people as Brethren Though not deserving so to be accounted 1 Cor. 4. 15. Applâ—c A patern for Ministers in these dividing times 2 Cor. 12. 15. Isai. 1. 2. Hoses 6. 4. How Christians should stand affected towards their separating Brethren Gen. 45. Ipsum fraternitatis nomen utcunque Donatistis fastidiosum est tamen Orthodoxis erga ipsos Donatistas necessarium Optat. lib. 3. 3. The Adjuration Eos per nomen Christi adjurat ut quantum ipsum amant tantum studcant concordiae Calvin ad loc. The name of Jesus what Estius Com. ad loc. 1. For Christs sake A prevalent Argument 2 Cor. 5. 14. Col. 3. 17. 2. By Authority from Christ