An Exhortation to Repentance and Union among PROTESTANTS OR A DISCOURSE Upon The BURDEN of DUMAH Isaiah XXI 11 12. He calleth to me out of Seir Watchman what of the Night Watchman what of the Night The Watchman said the Morning cometh and also the Night if ye will Enquire Enquire ye Return Come Math. 12.25 Every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every City or House divided against it self shall not stand Phil. 2. 1-4 If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done thro strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Look not every man at his own things but every man also at the things of others AMSTERDAM Printed for the Widow Swart near the Exchange Anno MDCLXXXVIII THE PREFACE THE Danger which threatens the Protestant Interest at this day is so visible to every Eye that 't were a needless Labour to prove it All the Symptoms that appear in the Reformed Churches seem to presage and signifie a dismal Crisis 'T is not possible I confess to make a certain Conclusion about the Event neither is it our Duty to attempt it But if the Cause of the Reformation from Popery be really so valuable and dear to us as we profess Every Protestant is obliged to afford his utmost Assistance for its preservation There are very many who think this is sufficiently secured by wise Laws and learned Disputations both which have their use but will never of themselves be sufficient to such an End. Inward Holiness and Purity are requisite to secure a Doctrine which bears those Characters If our Religion were of an Earthly Original and Constitution it might he defended well enough by Human strength and Policie and such methods as Rome Pagan and Antichristian have found Necessary for the support of their Hierarchy But a Doctrine which comes from Heaven and leads thither must have its chief support from thence and will be best maintain'd by a serious complyance with its Holy Design And therefore after all the Books of Controversie wherby the false Principles of Popery have been expos'd and baffled nothing but the Love of Truth and Obedience to it will be found an effectual Bulwark against the Corruptions and Designs of the Roman Church There is no wicked man but needs such an Opium as Popery to quiet his Conscience and reconcile a sensual ungodly Life with the Hopes of Heaven He hath already receiv'd many Errors for Truth and so is prepared to admit more He is destitute of that which should preserve him from Delusion He never had any Experience of the Efficacy and Certainty the Truth and Power of the Principles of Religion that should settle and establish him He hath not that Affection to divine Truth that should make him diligent in searching after it or that Purity of Heart which might enable him to receive the beams of Heavenly light 'T is only by the practical fear of God or the keeping of his Commandments that any can be assured to be taught of God. So that the most certain way to keep the Faith is to keep a good Conscience towards God and men On the other hand there is no such Preparation for Popery and other damnable Errors as a wicked Heart and Life When men receive not the Truth in the love of it God sends them strong Delusions to believe Lies If men are false and unfaithful to the Common Principles of Christianity if they resist the Light and rebel against it if they hold the Truth in unrighteousness and debauch their Consciences by a vicious practice they must needs disrelish and dislike Holy Truth and having forfeited the Assistance of God they are prepared for Sadducism Deism or Popery These Delusions do ordinarily enter at this back door Men are sensual not having the spirit and then the Doctrines of the Gospel are Foolishness to them This Consideration will both justifie the Providence of God in permitting so many to be thus deceiv'd and doth let us know what we are to expect concerning the Generality of Loose and Carnal Protestants how unlikely they are to hold fast their Profession if called to suffer much for it They are built upon the Sand and prepared for Delusion and no wonder if they are blown up and down by every wind of False Doctrine or tossed to and fro from one Religion to another as to their Profession when they have really none at all in the Practice This method the Romish Emissaries have taken in all the Courts and Kingdoms of Europe where they could have Admission After the same manner that the Devil leads men to Hell have they endeavor'd to bring men over to their Church viz. by gratifying the Lusts of men and promoting voluptuousness and sensuality that mens Vnderstandings being clouded they might not discern the Cheats and Impostures of their Vnscriptural Doctrines and Worship It is therefore the great Interest of all true Protestants who taking the H. Scriptures for the only Rule of their Faith desires and duty have the same objective Religion and are all of one Church to endeavor every one to live better and to promote serious Godliness among others especially if we are under any apprehensions and fears of the threatning Anger of God against us for the want of it An Union in this would make it easy for us to bear with one onother in Love notwithstanding all our lesser Differences This being recommended in the following Discourse when the substance of it was not long since preacht to the English Congregation here the Printing of it was judg'd might be of some use and to that end was desired by several For the sake of our Brethren in England I have enlarged the latter part as I did the former on another account I am sensible I have adventured the displeasing of many with the Hope that I may profit some however declaring my readiness and desire by further Light to be better inform'd and praying for the Peace of Jerusalem I recommend it to the Blessing of God. J. Shower Rotterdam Aug. 20 / 30. 1688. THE BURDEN OF DUMAH OR A Discourse upon those words of the Prophet Isaiah XXI 11 12. The Burden of Dumah He calleth to me out of Seir Watchman what of the night Watchman what of the night The Watchman said the morning cometh and also the night if ye will Enquire Enquire ye Return come THe great difference among Interpreters is whether by Dumah be meant the Country of the Ishmaelites or that of the Idumeans Gen 24.14 whether the Race of scoffing Ishmael or the Posterity of prophane Esau We read of one of Ishmael's Sons of that name and that part of Arabia where he seated himself was called Dumah on that account But the
Interest whose Destruction God hath promis'd and we expect And who can imagin that such great things as God hath foretold concerning the final Ruin of Babylon should ever be effected without great Commotions The last strugglings of Antichrist to support the throne of the Beast we may presume will be the fiercest We read of an Earthquake to precede the Raising of the Witnesses Rev. 11.13 and of another great Earthquake at the Fall of Babylon 16 ch 18. Blessed is he who shall be counted worthy to escape the things coming on the Earth and to stand before the Son of Man. Therefore he that hath Ears to hear let him hear not only what the spirit saith to the Churches but what the Providence of God speaks to the Professors of the Reformed Religion in Great Brittain Ireland and Holland He calls loudly to us by the Bonds by the Banishment by the Blood of our Brethren in other places which will be found in the skirts of Babylon by a Voice out of Hungary a Voice out of France a Voice out of Savoy and Fiedmont to consider our Ways and turn to the Lord and not to think or say that they were Greater Sinners than we but enquire whether the cup of Trembling be not like to go round Except we Repent Some of the grounds of our Fears with reference to an Approaching Night I shall now mention 1. Tho in the Evening time it may be Light yet the diminution of Heat by the declining Sun betokens Night to be at hand Such is the increase of Knowledg among Protestants and Blessed be God the Light is much greater than formerly that some are ready to conclude on that account that we have nothing to apprehend or fear But we have no such reason to be Confident considering the prevalency and spreading of many pernitious Errors against the Mysteries of Faith that a Flood of these is of late come out of the Mouth of the old serpent If withal we consider the Prejudices and obstinacy of the most for the Opinions they have blindly receiv'd against the Evidence and Conviction of farther Light. And the miserable neglect of Catechising younger persons in private and in publick to the shame of English Protestants in comparison with the Dutch or French so that multitudes have a Zeal for the Reformed Religion but not according to Knowledg and by ignorance of the grounds and Principles of Faith and Practice are prepared for Apostacy and of those who know the Truth the greatest part hold it in Vnrighteousness the Light shines in darkness and they have not received the Truth in the Love of it However granting that there is more light than formerly may it not be the last blaze of the Candle of the Lord gasping as it were a little flash of Light before it be quite Extinct and the Candlestick remov'd Because the Light of Truth is accompanied with little warmth of Devotion little love to God and fervor in his Service A spirit of Lukewarmness Indifference and Formality hath overspread all Churches and all Places And who almost is free from the Common Contagion When the Generality of Protestants grow Loose and Vain Covetous and Worldly Proud and Sensual in any particular Country may we not fear that God will spue them out of his Mouth Rev. 2.4 5. when they have lost their First Love that he will come quickly to the like severity against them as against the Church of Ephesus God departs by degrees from a People as he doth from Particular Persons First he is cast out of the Heart then out of the Closet secret Devotion is neglected then out of the Family he is not invok't and called upon there then out of the Congregation publick Ordinances are laid aside as useless and at last they are given up to a spirit of Prophaneness and Irreligion Any of those degrees have a threatning aspect as to a further progress The Tree is first Barren and brings forth no Fruit then no Leaves then no Bark and so is fit for the Ax and to be cast into the Fire Ezek 9. So a gradual Departure of the Presence of God from his Temple as represented in the Prophet's vision by five several removes threatens further and final forsaking For as it was not the Ark of God alone with the Mercy-seat covered with Cherubims but the Answers given immediately by God in the Holy Place that were the undoubted evidences of the Presence of his Glory with Israel so it is not the Doctrine of the Gospel alone and the publick Ministry of it in our days but the Powerful Operations of the Spirit by the Gospel on the Consciences and Lives of men that is the clearest demonstration of his Gracious Presence 'T is true there is much Light by Preaching but few hard Hearts are melted and softned few blind Eyes open'd comparatively but a few in most places The Word is a dead Letter for the most part preacht and heard without the Life and Heat and Power of the Quickning Spirit Isai 6.9 10 11. John 12.40 Thus it was with the Jews before the Babylonish Captivity and so in our B. Saviour's time before their final Ruin. 2. When Drowsiness a spirit of slumber and security doth generally obtain not only among the Foolish Virgins but even those who would be accounted Wise When Christians are more careless and confident than ordinary setled on their lees little concern'd for any thing but their own Repose and loath to be stirred up and kept from sleeping 'T is an ill sign when tho their Neighbours House be on Fire they are no more affected with it than men fast asleep on their beds such a spiritual Judgment doth commonly end in Temporal Plagues that they who are not sensible of the one may be made to feel the other For such a provocation God commands the Prophet to set the Trumpet to his mouth and proclaim war against Israel Hos 8.1 Especially when former warnings have been slighted preceding Judgments disregarded the word of God despised his Messengers mockt and his Ministers silenc'd in such a case we read that his wrath arose against them and there was no Remedy For this God threatned to search Jerusalem with Candles 2 Chron. 36.16 Isai 30.8 9 12 13. Zoch 1.12 and punish the men setled on their lees who say in their Hearts The Lord will not do good neither will he do Evil. The Security of Particular Persons is a presage of their Ruin when the slothful and wicked servant thinks his Lord doth delay his coming he will come Math. 24.50 and cut him asunder in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of when Agag said the Bitterness of death is past he was nearest Execution When the Rich Fool in the Parable said soul take thine ease the next news we hear of him is that the Pillow is pluckt from under his Head and he is cast into Hell. So
it will be easier to perform what the Apostle exhorts to Eph 4 3. To keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace For then there would be no opportunity or pretence of any ones shewing himself to be Religious but wherin true Religion doth Consist and no man would be able to bustle with any credit unless in the behalf of what tends to the good of the People of God and of all mankind To this purpose he adviseth That we all mind the fundamental Mysteries of Truth and Interest appertaining to the Kingdom of God § 27. p. 398. in opposition to the Papacy which he scruples not to say is the Kingdom of Antichrist or that City of Babylon wherein the People of God were held Captive We should leave no string or Tassel saith he of our Ancient Captivity upon us such I mean as wherby they may take hold on us and pull us back again into our former Bondage but look upon our selves as absolutely free from any tie to them more than in endeavoring their Conversion and Salvation Which we knowing so Experimentally not to be compassed by needless symbolizings with them in any thing I conceive our best Policy is studiously to imitate'em in nothing but for all indifferent things to think rather the worse of 'em for their using them As no Person of Honour would willingly go in the known garb of any lewd and infamous Persons Whatsoever we Court them in they do but turn it to our scorn and contempt and are the more hardned in their own wickedness Wherefore seeing that needless symbolizing with them does them no good but hurt we should account our felves in all things indifferent perfectly free to please and satisfie in the most universal manner we can those of our own Party supporting our selves on plain Scripture and solid Reason to use and profess such things as will be most universally agreeable to us all and do make most for the safety and welfare of the true Kingdom of Christ Such a Reconciling moderate spirit would do much to heal our Breaches And if we will not know the way of Peace on easier terms by uniting in the substantials of Religion God may be provok't to cure our dissentions about lesser matters by sharper methods to chain us together in a prison for the common principles of the Reformed Religion or soder us together with our own blood as Queen Mary ended the differences between the pious Bishops Ridley and Hooper who in Edw. 6 ths time could not agree about Ceremonies and Vestments The King could hardly get Hooper consecrated Bishop of Glocester without Conformity to the scrupled Ceremonies But Queen Mary composed their quarrel by a prison and a stake Now they were perfectly reconciled and wrote affectionate Letters to one another as the dearest Brethren and Ridley Bishop of London stoops with his Ceremonies to the others further Reformation telling him in a Letter when the one was a prisoner at Oxford the other at London Now my dear Brother forasmuch as we throughly agree in those things which are the grounds and substantial points of our Religion against which the world so furiously rages in these days how so ever in time past by certain by-matters and Circumstances of Religion your Wisdom and my simplicity have a little jarred now I say be assured Fox Martyr Dr B. Hist Reform part 2 lib. 2. An. 1552 and An. 1555. that even with my whole Heart God is my witness in the bowels of Christ I love you in the truth and for the Truth 's sake which abideth in us and I am perswaded shall by the grace of God abide in us for ever The sense they had of these Differences saith Dr. Burnet ought to inspire all others with more moderate thoughts in such matters It had been happy if the Fires that consum'd those Good Men had put an end to these Contests and if those that have been since engaged in the like will reflect more on the sense they had of them when they were now preparing for Eternity than on the heats they were put in concerning them when perhaps Ease and Plenty made their Passions keener they may from thence be reduced to have more moderate thoughts of such matters Considering withal as the same learned Person argues in his late Excellent Preface concerning Persecution To his translation of Lactantius of the Death of Persecutors the sublimity of divine Truth and what a poor low thing the mind of man is we shall see reason to blunt a little the Edge of our spirits if they are too sharp in such matters and if Education and Temper which prepare men for some opinions and prepossess them against others have hit together it will require a very extraordinary elevation to rescue a manfrom their force Among all those that differ some must be in the wrong and those who have the power in their hands may possibly be of the wrong side and in that case all their severity upon the account of such differences is turned against the Truth and those who believe it Our being subject to error ought at least to have this effect upon us as to keep us from being too ready to judge hardly of those who are of another mind or to use them roughly for it since they may be in the Right and we may be Mistaken at least they may have very probable Reasons for their Opinions which if they do not quite justifie their Mistakes do very much excuse and lessen them As to the great Controversy concerning the Obligation which lay on the Gentiles for obeying the Mosaical Law tho it were judged by the Apostles against the Judaisers yet how gently are they treated telling them that the Kingdom of God or the Gospel did not consist in those scrupulous distinctions of Meats and Drinks but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the H. Ghost and that every man was to endeavor to be fully perswaded in his own mind and was not to Judge his Brother in such things but leave him to the Judgment of God. With much more to the same Purpose Secondly Upon such Reflections as these what Counsel may be given as a means to continue the Light where it yet shines and render it more steady and glorious notwithstanding the threatning Tendency of any Dark cloud and likewise to help what we can to recover it again in those places where a Night of Darkness hath overspread our Brethren The Directions will principally concern English Protestants in such Duties as these First Thankfulness to God for past and present Mercies in our own Land with Sympathy and Compassion towards our Suffering Brethren in other parts of Europe God sent the Word of Life the Blessed returning Light of the Gospel to shine early upon these Nations by the Doctrine of the Reformation scattering the darkness of Popish Errors discovering the true Religion freed from the Corruptions and Impostures of men from a Burden of
for us who can be against us Rom. 8.31 we are apt to question the Power of God this is at the bottom of our unbelieving Fears were it otherwise See Numb 11.19 21. we should not believe and trust God least when Dangers are greatest When Abraham's faith had overcome that Difficulty about the Power of God he was able to triumph over all discouragements Hebr. 11.17 18 19. God can do more abundantly for us than we can ask or think and give Spiritual and Temporal Salvation at once that upon Mount Sion there shall be Deliverance and Holiness too Obad. 47. Let us not then be discouraged God rules over all the Kingdoms of the Earth and changeth the Government and Governours of them as he pleaseth He hath tossed up and down the Powers of the world by turns and can and will do the like again as shall best serve the ends of his Glory and the accomplishment of his word Sometimes almost all the Princes of Europe have been Protestants and on a sudden the scene hath changed and the most of them have given their Power to the Beast In one year Anno Christi 1619. See Rushworths Collect 17 Jacobi 1. when in Holland the Synod of Dort was called the King of England was a Protestant and the Prince Elector Palatine a Protestant was chosen King of Bohemia and four or five Princes in Germany were also Protestants insomuch that some were ready to cry out the Golden Age was come and the Glory of the latter Times But within one year all was turned again when the Bohemians were routed and their new King and Queen forced to fly into Holland being over-thrown by the Imperial Forces in the famous Battel at Prague Upon which the Protestant Union in Germany declin'd and most of the Princes of it reconciled themselves to the Emperor and only interceded for the Palatine but in vain We must trust in God and live by faith notwithstanding all the changes and revolutions of the world tho the Kings of the Earth should not be Nursing Fathers to the Church as well as when they are The last Counsel is mutual Forgiveness and Forbearance with serious endeavors in our several Places after Christian Concord And because of the seasonableness of this advice to English Protestants I shall speak of it under several Considerations which may enforce the duty and assist us in the performance of it First Consider the Common obligations we are all under as Christians to Brotherly Love and Charity and to endeavor the Unity and Peace of the Church These things were never discommended by any and therefore it will not be needful to say much in the Praise of them as that Love is the fulfilling of the Law the End of Faith the badge of a Christian c. that all Knowledge Gifts Utterance Sufferings are in vain where this is wanting But 't is Ignorance and mistake concerning the nature of Brotherly Love and Union and of the way and means that lead to it that hath made our Divisions and the Consequences of them so mischievous to the Church of God. For the Unity of the Church in Faith and Love may very well be preserved without having just the same Conceptions of all Revealed Objects Such an Union as that is morally impossible and can never be expected and therefore to endeavor the Peace of the Church on that Foundation is an hopeless and vain attempt As much may be said concerning an Union in doubtful unscriptural Rites Orders and Ceremonies None of our Lords commands of Unity or directions for it do either require or so much as mention this Many lesser Differences in opinion and practice are consistent with the nature ends and fruit of that Vnity recommended and enjoyned by the Gospel if such differences be but manag'd with a spirit of love mutual Forbearance and condescention Our great care must be to Remember our Relation to the Vriversal Church of Christ upon Earth which is first in order of nature by our Baptism before our Relation to any particular Church and is both more noble more necessary and more Durable We must therefore take heed of confining our Love to any one Party of Christians because of our mind and way altogether as unreasonable as to love only those of our own Age Stature or Complexion lest the great and more comprehensive Interest of Christians and Provestants be forgotten and neglected lest a narrow Zeal for a small Party of Christians should prejudice the Interest of the Universal Church or cause of Christianity There is one God and one Lord one Head and one Saviour into whose name we are all Baptized one Covenant which all in Baptism make with this one God and Saviour One spirit whereby we are all Regenerated one New Creature in all Holy Christians begotten by this Spirit One Gospel the Rule of Faith and Life and Foundation of our Common Hope one Body of Christ both Mystical and Visible all real Christians are members of the former and all professing Christians of the latter by visible subjection to Christ as their Head one way of Faith and Holiness wherein all must walk one End and Happiness which all expect and one Heaven where all the Children of God shall meet and live forever however they fall out by the way with one mind and Heart in one Blessed work of Praising our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier From hence cannot but result an obligation to Brotherly love and Unity in seeking the Peace and Prosperity of the whole Christian Church not reproaching others as Hereticks and Schismaticks who are not of our mind in lesser things not partially excusing the faults of them who are and aggravating those of other Christians and Brethren whose salvation we should desire and endeavor and not lay snares before 'em much less hate and persecute 'em because in some things they do not think and speak and act as we do How unbecoming is it the Disciples of the Prince of Peace his Ministers especially to render the greatest part of Christians odious and tempt the weak to Slanders Judgings and Envies which are fruits of the Flesh If ever God will Heal his Broken Churches a spirit of Love and Unity and moderation must be reviv'd instead of fierce dividing zeal and the H. Scriptures alone be thought a sufficient Rule and no mens Confessions made the Test of Church Communion any farther than as plainly agreeing with the H. Scriptures Concord and Union upon such terms in which we are all agreed must be our Cure if ever we are cured But Healing Truths are never likely to be entertain'd among us till God give healing spirits to the Pastors and Leaders of the Church The Concessions of the moderate men of all Parties would be a sufficient foundation for Agreement in Christian love to one another for the Interest of the whole managing the lesser differences with mutual forbearance and condescention without endangering or troubling the Church Loving
those with whom we cannot in all particulars joyn corresponding with them in what we can praying for and with them Treating them as Brethren and subjects of the Kingdom of Christ pittying them in their Afflictions Sufferings Errors and Temptations relieving their wants as we are able having no aversation to their Persons not seeking their Hurt or rejoycing in it not judging or censuring them any otherwise than natural Reason and the Rule of Scripture will allow much less rejecting them from the Body of Christ by unchurching of ' em They who are thought to go farthest from the Church of England's Discipline while they all acknowledg the Doctrine of the 39 Articles however they may be accused have declared their Moderation as to their Brethren from whom they differ in as full and charitable Expressions as can well be desired * Mr. Phil. Nye hath wrotea book to prove the lawfulness of hearing the Preachers in Parish Churches and before him Ames against Johnson Treatise of Evang. Love and Unity p. 85 86. God forbid saith Dr. Owen that any such thought should enter into our Hearts as tho the Churches constituted in all things according to our light and the rules we apprehend apointed in Scripture for that purpose should be the only true Churches in the World and whilst we judge others to be true Churches we shall not be much moved or provokt by their Judgment who think ours are none because we differ from them and plead for Reformation beyond their measure We have the same thoughts of the Christian Churches in Europe called Reformed the same love towards them the same readiness for Communion with them as we would desire any Disciples of Christ in the World to have bear or exercise towards us We do not think that the things wherein they fail wherein they miss or out-go the rule are in their own nature absolutely destructive of their Church State. Dear Experience one would think should now call us to mutual forbearing one Another in Love. And whatever be the Reward of Reconcilers from men commonly to be ill thought and spoken of by many of the differing parties yet he that calleth to Love and union calls to Holiness All that is against Love is against Holiness against God against Christ against his Spirit his Church and the Interest of Mankind The want of forbearing one another in Love hath brought us more than once very near to Ruin. And how long and how often have we been warned of this Preface to his Interest of England The pious and Judicious Mr. Corbet told our Brethren thirty years ago That they who contemned All Overtures of Peace Union and Accommodation might come to see the need and know the want of it as well as others for who knoweth said he what God is doing or where will be the end of his working whose Judgments are unsearchable and past our finding out And how often hath the Reverend Mr. Baxter told the world to the displeasing some of all Parties that what Party soever it be that endeavors a Union by the Extirpation and Ruin of the other part whether Episcopal Presbyterian Independent or Anabaptist is Schismatrcal and takes the way of Desolation Secondly Consider the impossibility of our agreement in things Dark Doubtful and Numerous and the unreasonableness of endeavoring it by ways of Violence The terms of Christian Vnion laid down by the Apostle 4 Ephes 1 2 3 4 5. are sew and sure plain and possible And after all the methods that have been tried by any to bring us to unite upon other terms than those of the Scripture we see they are as far from effecting it as ever Every one must endeavour to be fully persuaded in his own mind as to what he is to believe and practise in things sacred and Religious nor may he make his own understanding the Rule of Truth and Worship unto others Every Conscientious man ought to be determin'd by his own reason and Judgment regulated by the word of God concerning his duty as to the Edification of his Soul. For men to adhere to any particular Church or to refuse communion with any when opportunity offers on any other account than because they think it their Duty to do so is neither becoming Men or Christians And they wo are Conscious of their own Sincerity herein will be most inclin'd to judge favourably of Others who differ from them and to hope that they also Act sincerely upon the like Principle according to their Light. And will likewise be carefull how they fasten ill and odious Consequences upon those different Opinions which Others hold if they be such as they disown and would detest the Doctrines if they were convinc't that any such Consequences did belong to them After all that can be said or done to justifie the Severities which any have used in such Cases towards their Brethren I exclude none who have at any time been guilty the greatest part of Sober men will still believe that all Power from God to Christian Princes and Pastors is for Edification and not for Destruction that he never gave any against his own Laws and the Interest of the souls of men They will still think that they are most concerned it should be for the wellfare of their own souls and can best tell what they find to be profitable or hurtful to 'em and most for their edification and that if no Humane Authority can tye up a man to eat that which he cannot digest so neither to attend that Ministry only which they do not find so much to the Advantage and Edification of their souls as some other which God affords them The different Relishes of the minds of men may here be considered and the benefit of gratifying them in order to edification For I know of some and hear of many who profess that they are never more Reverent devout and serious and their Hearts more affected than in the use of the Common Prayer others profess with the like seriousness as to themselves that they Experience the Contrary And shall we think it reasonable that they should be obliged to the measures of the former or that either should censure the other as not belonging to Christ on that account Is there any Law of Christ any Rule of the Gospel any duty of Love to the Brethren that can require men to hinder their Edification or to joyn in ordinary local Communion there where they cannot attain the great ends of Church Communion Nevertheless we must be Careful not to have the Faith of our Lord I. James 2.1 Christ with respect of Persons For there is a culpable Partiality with respect to Ministers causing Envyings â— Cor. 3.3.4 Divisions and Strifes which the Apostle condemn'd in the Church of Corinth Were Ministers humble and self-denying and did we more Earnestly desire and seek the Honour of God the Advancement of Holiness and the salvation of souls we should rejoyce if the people
all the same tone of voice whereas Hannibals Army being made up of several Nations their shouting was less formidable by reason of the Variety of their voices it will not therefore follow that their success must be the less on that account Our opposition to Popery might appear to them and to the world more formidable if we were altogether of one speech and of one way and our shouts more uniform yet the Success may be as Great and the Victory as sure tho we are not if we are but wise enough to bear with one another in our lesser Differences Fifthly Since none of us do pretend to Infallibility we have all the reason in the world to bear with one another The principles of the Roman Church will better justifie them to demand a blind Submission to all that is required and to treat them severely who refuse it than any of the Protestant Churches with reference to one another We all acknowledg our selves liable to mistake and therfore should use gentleness and Compassion to our Brethren that we think do Err and pity them upon the account of Humane frailty and fallibility which all would be more disposed to do for others had they a deeper sense of their own What two persons in the world are just of the same Sise of understanding have the same apphrehensions of things or hold the same Opinions What man in the world but as he grows elder and without losing time doth also grow wiser but alters his Opinions in many points Do not various Educations callings Studies Company imployments interests conditions in the world make a mighty difference in the apphrehensions of some from others and of all men from themselves at different seasons Besides the various degrees of the grace of God to several Christians c. all which should incline us as fallible mutable Creatures to bear with one another The Papists teach that an implisit faith in the Judgment of the Clergy is sufficient to justifie the belief and practise of the People and so may better exact an Uniformity in Doctrine and Worship than we who deny it and hold that every man must Judge for himself It may farther be considered that men cannot change their Opinions when they please any more than their Stature or their Taste You may as soon fill a mans belly with a Syllogism as alter his Opinion and Belief by Force Till his Reason be convinc't he will believe as he did If any are willing to know the truth and endeavor it and practise according to their light and desire to live peaceably with others of a different persuasion is it just and reasonable much less Christian that they should be persecuted and destroyed because they will not subscribe some doubtful Articles cannot sit within the little Circle of some mens Opinions that are uppermost or consent to worship God just after the same manner they would have them Especially they who stand out to their outward Disadvantage whose temporal Interest pleads strongly for a compliance in such a case there is ground for Charity that they are sincere There is hardly any man but some time or other will allow such Considerations to have some strength The word of God saith Bp. Saunderson Cases of Conscience lect 3. § 29.30 doth Expresly forbid us to subject our Consciences to any other or to usurp Dominion over the Consciences of any And there is no hope that Religion should be restored to her former Original and Purity till the wounds that have been made wider by our quarrels and dissentions being anointed with the oyl of Brotherly love as with a Balsom shall begin to close again and to grow intire into the same unity of faith and Charity Bp. Taylor hath much to the same purpose of moderation Part 3. p. 420 425. not to quote the many places in his Liberty of Prophecy in his Great Exempler or Life of Christ he saith We should ill dye for our Brother who will not lose a meal to prevent his sin or change a dish to save his soul And if the thing scrupled be Indifferent to us yet it ought not to be indifferent whether our Brother live or dye When the Evil occasion'd by the Law is greater than the Good designed or greater than the Good that will come by it in the present Constitution of things and the Evil can by no other Remedy be healed it concerns the Lawgivers Charity to take off such positive Constitutions which in the Authority are meerly humane and in the matter indifferent and Evil in the Event Sixthly Let us consider the Vnseasonableness of our Divisions and backwardness to Union and Forbearance at this Time. Neither the Church of England nor Protestant Dissenters are ever like to have such a time of Tryal again as this when mutual Interest doth so loudly call for an Accommodation of our unhappy Differences For not only doth the Heighth and progress of abounding Wickedness and Impiety require the utmost Union of Hearts and Hands and Tongues to promote Repentance and Reformation but we all do now see the mischief of our past Divisions all Parties in their turns have been sensible of it All have complain'd of a Spirit of Bitterness Persecution and Revenge and therfore none should imitate that which they condemn or be averse to that which sometime or other they have thought desirable 2 Kings 17. See Isai 9.21 The Divisions of Israel made them a prey to their Enemies and those of the Jews exposed them to Destruction by the Romans Which they might have prevented by an carly Submission or by uniting their Strength to defend themselves but by reason of their Divisions could do neither So the contest between the Greek and the Latin Church ended in the Ruin of the Eastern Empire And justly may God leave us to be destroyed of one another or by the Enemies of our Religion if we will not at last learn the way of Peace Who will pity us who can help us if having a prize in our hands we will not know it or improve it Ought we not to consider that next to the Displeasure of God for the sins of English Protestants this is the great strength of the Church of Rome and their most Considerable Advantage against us We need not otherwise fear their other Politicks for which they have been so cried up in the World tho principally because they scrupled nothing that would serve as a means to attain their end were we duly sensible of this one Policy of theirs to divide and exasperate us one against another The Preaching of their Monks and Priests will of it self do little to turn the Nation to Popery if we may Judge by their printed sermons they are not like to get much ground by their Preaching among a People who in most places have been used to so much better And as little need we fear their books of Controversie notwithstanding the noise that hath been made of
the Learning of the Jesuites their strength hath of late been tried to their irreparable shame if they are capable of any and as much to the Honour of the learned Divines of the Church of England Their Converting-books and Pamphlets have been so weak and the Answers to them so strong and so many that they are not like to prevail much that way neither if English Protestants would but bear with one another and not seek Revenge which the juncture of Time doth dissuade from as unseasonable as well as our Common Christianity doth forbid as unlawful which will appear if we consider Seventhly Whether it be not Improbable that the Leading men of the Church of England should hereafter commit the same Error again to molest and Persecute their Brethren for the Differences between us and them All the world now sees at what door a great part of the severity against Protestant Dissenters ought to be laid so far as it was the sin of others I hope God will let them see it and give 'em Repentance And there are very many Parish Ministers in England who are pious and peaceable who preach and live holily and never did consent to the Persecution of their Brethren but endeavor'd to hinder it I only wish they had been more If it be said they are by consequence Partakers of such a guilt it hath been and must again be replied that if God should Charge undiscerned Consequences upon them and us none of us would be meet either for Church Communion now or for Heaven hereafter The past faults and miscarriages of some should not make us injurious to others Far be it from us to imagin that there are no Faithful Ministers of Christ in England but such as are of our principles and particular persuasion Let us not refuse to love those that are Good because many of their Church or Opinion are bad Is there any Kingdom or Country upon Earth where the greatest part are not bad Is there any place where the Religion countenanc't and encouraged by the Government hath not many who comply with it for secular Interest The Author of the late Apology for the Church of England as to the spirit of Persecution hath said many things to this purpose it will be good news to hear that the greatest part of his Brethren are of his mind that all Prot. Dissenters might believe that the wisest and most leading men of that Church do see their Error their sin too might be added if it be an essential Right of Humane nature as Dr. B. saith for every man to Worship God according to his conviction And we have great Reason to hope that they will not again use severity to their Brethren if it should ever be in Their Power but come to a Temper in the matters of Conformity as the seven Bishops have under their hands declared their disposition to do And in the mean time one of the Articles which the A. Bishop of Cantcrbury hath recommended to the Bishops under his Jurisdiction is a Tender Regard to their Brethren the Protestant Dissenters At the same time assuring us and all the World that they are really and sincerely Irreconcileable Enemies to the Errors Superstitions Idolatries and Tyrannies of the Church of Rome and that all the unkind Jealousies to the Countrary have been altogether groundless Let us not therefore be over sensible of past Injuries to the Hindrance of Concord for the common Good lest we wrong the Church of Christ and neglect the security of the Reformed Religion and the wellfare of the Nation and of Posterity because others have wronged us For however the Jesuites may now plead for Liberty of Conscience no Protestant Brittish or Irish especially but must needs know that of all Religions in the World the Romish by their avowed Principles is obliged to be the most Cruel Assoon as our divisions have made us weak enough we have but too much reason to expect it which God Prevent Lastly Consider that we Agree with the Church of England in great and many things and those things wherein we differ are comparatively few and small and therefore mutual forbearance and Concord is possible as well as desireable Yea those things for which they are Hated and struck at by the Church of Rome are not such Doctrines or modes of Worship wherein we differ from them but 't is for the sake of those things wherein we agree with the Church of England and therefore in prudence we are obliged to espouse their cause as our own The Reader may easily perceive that all that I have said relates to the Union of Protestants among themselves who tho of different Persuasions in some External and Circumstantial things do hold the Head 2 Coloss 19. and agree in the main and Essential Doctrines of Faith But as to the Church of Rome which perverts the Christian Faith maintains and practiseth Idolatry and false Worship and the declared Enemy to all Protestants and by her Constitutions doth oblige all her Members under an Anathema to root out and to destroy them as Hereticks how far those of her Communion may be tolerated in a Protestant Country without sin or Danger is a matter too large at present to dilate upon It would seem very strange and Irrational for any Party of Protestants to strengthen the Papists and contribute to their being set up in Power and Authority especially in the Legislative power in opposition to those of the Church of England as fearing that these will not establish and allow them Liberty of Conscience and imagining that the Papists will who depend upon a forreign Power and are not masters of their own Consciences but have subjected them to another whom they suppose Infallible Surely from the Members of the Church of England we ought the rather to believe and hope this because they have of late deserved so very well of all Protestants by a vigorous and learned opposition to Popery in a great number of select Discourses upon all the Considerable points in Controversie between us and the Church of Rome And having done so much to keep out Popery as to the Doctrine let us hope and pray and charitably believe that they will also do their utmost hereafter to prevent Persecution which is one of the worst parts of Popery in Practice I conclude with the pathetical Exhortation of the Devout Bishop Hall O Lord Passion Sermon p. 390 391. how long shall thy poor Church see the dear sons of her womb bleeding about these Apples of Strife The Enemy is at the gates of Syracuse How long shall we suffer our selves to be taken up with Circles and Angles in the dust ye Men Brethren and Fathers Help for God's sake put to your hands for the quenching of this Common flame the one side by Humility the other by Compassion both by Prayers and Tears Let me beg for Peace as for Life by your filial Piety and duty to the Church of God whose Ruins follow upon our Divisions by your love of God's Truth by the Graces of that one Blessed spirit whereby we are all informed and quickn'd by the precious â—lood of the son of God shed for our Redemption be inclined to Peace and Love. Tho our Brains be different yet let our Hearts be one Let us have Peace with our selves and War with none but Hell and Rome Amen THE END