Division who endeavour to disjoyne your hearts from the love of those whom God hath placed over you to be your Guardians and watchmen Ezek. 53.17,18,19 such among the Reverend Fathers of the Church are now God be blessed for it yet living to the terrour and griefe of our Adversaries such likewise yet breath though with much discouragements amongst the inferiour Ministers who are more famous for the Pulpit and Schooles then for the Presse and are able to weild the Sword of Argumentation to the confutation and confounding of Rome's factours who deale by us as the Haereticks of the former age by those propugnatores fidei defenders of the faith Basil Nazianzen Ambrose Augustine Hierome c. whom as * Praefat. in Panopliam Lindanus notes the other impudently called Haereticks Haeretici haereticos appellabant so they undeservedly and most uncharitably terme us To whom I shall onely reply to the words of S. Augustine to the Pelagians Aug. contr Pelag. Impetremus si possumus à fratribus nostris ne nos insuper appellent Haereticos quod eos talia disputantes nos appellare possumus fortasse si vellemus c. i. e. We wish that we might obtaine this favour of our Brethren that they would not call us Haereticks which we might if we were so pleased to breake the rule of Charity which loveth peace rightly call them c. 1 Cor. 13.7 As might be evidenced and proved by the former definition of Haeresie and description of an Haeretick To all which I shall subjoyne this to strengthen my assertion That as an errour in fundamento in any one of the forenamed fundamentalls so one that is circa fundamentum about or bordering upon the foundation joyned with Conviction after the testimony of the whole Church in word or writing to the contrary and that conviction back'd by contumacie these doe constitute an Heretick He that comes boldly in a mans face and cuts his throat and he that steales behinde his back and knocks him on the head are both equally guilty of murther and would be found so were they to be tryed So he that directly and manifestly destroyes a fundamentall Truth and he that obliquely does it teaching or obstinately maintaining those things which if they be granted by a necessary consequence overthrow the Doctrines of Faith both these Antiscripturists are to be reckoned amongst Hereticks although the former are farre worse then the latter Thus the Heresie of the * De his vid. Epiphan Aug. Philast de haeresibus Marcionites and Manichees who destroy the humane nature of Christ by allowing him only a Phantastick body is somewhat worse then that of the Popish Transubstantiatours who by consequent do that which is directly intended by others Cranmer Aâ—b Haeres for that with the defence of this their absurd opinion the Articles of the Incarnation Ascension and Session of our Lord Christ at Gods right hand all these will fall to the ground as the Reverend and most learned Bishops †Ep Mort. contra Missam l. 8. c. 2. Hall in his Treat called Rome irreconcil White against Fisher Q. 19. Dr. Crakanth c. 48. num 23. Morton Hall and White also the judicious Crakanthorp in his elaborat Defence of our Church against Spalatensis prove at large You may hereby collect what great boldnesse hath seiz'd upon the Tongues and Pennes of the proud Romanists who dare throw that dirt upon us which covers their owne faces whilst they with as much audacitie as falsitie stile us what they are indeed themselves judged by the learned to be i.e. Hereticks Thus the Arrians dealt by the Christians in the Primitive times as we finde in Salvian Salv. l. 5. de Guber Dei who complaines thus of them In tantum se Catholicos esse judicant ut nos titulo haereticae pravitatis infament which words would rightly fit our Tongues in reference to our Romish adversaries Papists falsly call themselves Catholikes who speaking and writing a meere contradiction call themselves Catholikes when as indeed they are not truly so it is a terme proper onely to the Vniversall Church of Christ dispersed and scattered over the face of the whole earth They are a particular Church and therefore whilst they stile themselves indeed it is stilo novo Catholikes they speake as much or in effect as if a man should say a particular Vniversall or Vniversall particular which is absurd and against the rule of Logick Therefore in that they appropriat to themselves the name of Catholicks they doe this as falsly as when they fasten upon us the name of Hereticks which is a terme disgracefull and odious Lord open their eyes that they may see the Truth and enflame all our hearts with a greater love of it that knowing what we believe and practising what we know we may at the last be crowned amongst those who with that invincible * Athanasius cont Mundum Raimund cont Athanasium vid. Ribadin in vitâ ejus Athanasius have contended earnestly for the Truth even to the losse of their lives and liberties This is enjoyned by S. Jude ver 3. and a cleere description of such heroick Spirit we finde Heb. 11.37 It. c. 10.34 which things were written for our instruction that we being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses should Heb. 12.1 verse 4. resist even unto bloud and strive against Heresie and Hereticks men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the Truth from such separate your selves 1 Tim. 6.5 Converse not with such pestilentious persons This too was the wise Councell of the blessed Martyr Ignatius who as we read in * Euseb l. 3. c. 30. Eusebius used to go from house to house through all the Churches in the Diocesse admonishing and entreating the Christians to abstaine from the Society of knowne Hereticks who like Eccl. 13.1 pitch defile the weake with the least touch of private conference Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets c. The third QUERE Whether it be lawfull or allowable by the word for any to frequent Conventicles forsaking the publike meetings of Christians in Churches AS there is a peevish industrie in wickednesse to finde or make Associats So * Si pertinacia insuperabiles vires habere conatur quantas debet habere constantia c. Aug. Ep. 167. Festo it is a commendable and industrious piece of vertue or goodness to oppose the attempts of wickedness especially those of Scismaticks who not contenting themselves with the bounds of their owne impieties never rest till they have corrupted others with the poyson of their ungodly Tenets And I cannot but grieve to see the once brave spirits of our Nation shewed in the subduing the Genevising Scots such in with greedinesse the positions of the new Jesuitising Englandians who are infected with the venome of old moth eaten Heresies which have lain asleep for a long while but are now awakened and revived by the Prince of
mistaken ones in the County of Bedford who little dreame that they are now plowing with the Jesuites * Judg. 14.18 Heister who have closely contrived those Petitions and incensed the Countrey-men against Church-men and Scholers For shame worke not any longer in this bloody Field be not Dayes-men to these men of Darknesse what they have covertly contrived do not thou attempt openly and in publick Believe it if the Pipes be cut from the two Fountaines if the revenews and meanes which flow from the Springs of Benefactours for Learning's maintenance if they be taken away which God I hope will prevent by his mercifull and over-ruling providence Then I trust this then will never be then wee shall see I hope wee shall never see it Psal 8.14 Cant. 2.25 2 Cor. 10.13.15 Mat. 7.15 These Wild Bores coming out of Rome's Wood and Wildernesse These Foxes deceitfull workers Ministers of Satan Wolves in Sheepes clothing They will when they meete with no opposition when the walls and watchmen are gone breake with violence into the Vineyard destroy it 's pleasant branches devour it's Grapes and like those Wolves in the Fable when the Doggs at their perswasion were sent away They will prey upon the poore sheepe teare their fleece from their backs devour their flesh In a word when they want their Guard and watch i.e. Orthodox Pastours and sound Doctours or Teachers the one to instruct the Churches the other to traine up Students in the Schooles Then will the people be left as a prey to Hereticks 2 Tim. 2.17 whose Doctrine will eate like a Gangrene i.e. Speedily Incurably Mortally They will infect their Soules with poysonous Opinions and as they have begun with damnable Heresies to speake in S. Peters Language 2 Pet. 2.1 which S. Paul reckons amongst the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.20 and exclude men from the Heavenly inheritance Of this Opinion was Ignatius a Scholar of the Apostles Ignat. Ep ad Ephes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. who assures us that both seducing and seduced Hereticks shall perish for ever and that with as good reason as Theifes amongst men are put to death Hereticks rob mens Soules of God and the Truth They shut men out of Heaven and drive them into Hell To prevent all these fatall mischiefes draine not but rather encrease with augmentations the Fountaines of Learning and Religion if these be once dried up a drowth of Truth will follow and a deluge of Miseries when Barbarisme and Atheisme with other horrid impieties shall abound in this Land and overthrow the Church * Vid. Midden dorp de Academiis li. 1. c. 4. 8. whose wellfare is contained together with the Common-wealth's in the preservation of Learning Arts and Sciences which I could prove more at large did I not feare to load the Presse and tire the Readers patience I shall conclude this first Quere with an open confession that in these tumultuous disordered Times some dirt has gotten into our Fountaines and mingled it selfe with our pure streames but what was ever in all Ages wee hope will not with aggravations be charged upon us as the onely fault of ours And I trust that those Bedfordians who clamour against the Vniversities will be laid to sleepe and silenced by higher powers neither doubt wee but that those who have made such loud cries and protestations for Truth will not now at length after so much spilling of blood in the defence of the Gospell as was pretended give themselves the stab of a lie by doing that which will overthrow and lay Truth in the dust and setting up Falshood with a painted Face coloured with shewes of piety and pretences of Godlinesse Quod averruncet Deus As for my part I shall ever beg of God and it is a piece of my daily devotions That hee would open the Eyes and mollifie the hearts of the seduced and obdurat Seducers in this Age That being reduced to the saving knowledge of the Truth they may have good wills joyned with their great power to preserve the keriothsepher the Vniversities and other Schooles That from thence may come knowing men of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys sound Opinions and incorrupt lives whereby they may outshine Hereticks and be able to refute and stop the mouths of Heresies Men well learned of good Lives and lawfully ordained Ministers have a speciall call to so great a worke they have a blessing promised on their labours and may such be ever blessed who are lovers of Peace and Truths defenders Mat. 28.20 I am with you The second QUERE Who is an Heretick and what is Heresie AMongst many convincing Arguments to prove the greatnesse of the evill and danger of Hereticks some have been drawn from the great paines and cost which the primitive Church imploid and spent to extinguish the flame or fire of Heresies wheresoever and whenever it was unhappily kindled This is attested by the learned * Ep. 3. ad Armand Iesuit Chamierus in an Epistle to Armandus Scimus quantis olim sudoribus Episcopi Catholici Hereticos redarguerint quantis sumptibus orthodoxi Imperatores eos represserint Thus from the great care and solicitude of the Physician from the price and cost of the Physick or remedies wee may judge of the grievousnesse and danger of the Disease Againe another argument to prove the greatnesse of this evill may be deduced from the raging Anger and impatient wrath which ever appeared and brake forth in those ancient Christians who were patterns of humility and rare examples of meeknesse yet being falsly accused of Heresies and branded with the name of Heretick could not with any patience heare and endure it Wee read in the * Part. 2. de Patient humilit lives of the Fathers of one Agatho whose name speakes him as hee was a good man and most devout that having held his peace in imitation of his meeke Saviour at the proposall of many crimes falsly objected and maliciously laid to his Charge yet at the name of Heresie being called Heretick he was very much moved and most wrathfully displeased This made Ruffinus as hee is cited by * Part. 1. c. 6. Defens Auglic Eccl. Bishop Jewell say Non est Christianus qui notam haereseos dissimulat i. e. Hee is no Christian that can endure to be called Heretick To this purpose is that of S. †Ep. 6. ad Pammach Hierome Nolo in suspicione haereseos quemquam esse patientem It becomes every one with the greatest care and industry to avoyd the very suspition of Heresie Thus a meere imagination and false apprehension of being reputed and named Hereticks exasperated of late the Spirits of some well-meaning Christians and moved them to breake through all bounds of modesty by a publick demand of mee before the Congregation in Swacie neer Cambridge Octob. 3d. 1652. to deliver my thoughts concerning Heresie and Hereticks To whom after a short Preface to our
ensuing conference I thus replied with great affection to their soules and in obedience to the Apostles command Gal. 6. Gal. 6.1 Yee which are spirituall restore c. with as much meeknesse as I could lest that in the flame of Passion and heat of contention Truth should singe her winges as too oft shee hath done and take her flight leaving the parties wholy unsatisfied Who is an Heretick First to avoyd all needlesse questions and endlesse disputes wee must distinguish between these two Things To be an Heretick and to embrace an Heresie or an Opinion that is erroneous For not every one whose Opinion is hereticall is to be reckon'd and listed in the black role of Hereticks but onely he who having been baptiz'd into the Christian Faith shall stifly maintaine and obstinatly defend an untruth against it By the Christian Faith wee are not to understand in generall the Word of God in it's whole Latitude viz. The Propheticall and Apostolicall Doctrine contained in the Bookes of the old and new Testament For not every false Interpretation of any one place in Scripture nor every Opinion resulting from that place so interpreted falls under the name and notion of Heresie as S. Hierome seemes to assert in his comment upon the Galatians C. 5. v. 20. but by the Christian Faith The foure Principles of our Faith and Religion wee meane those foure Principles of our Faith which are the foure kindes of Fundamentalls the deniall and opposing any one whereof with pertinacy entitles a man to the guilt of Heresie and the name of Heretick The first of those Fundamentalls is placed in the Apostles Creed The second in the Decalogue or ten Commandements The third in the Lords Prayer The fourth in the two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper Thus the Reverend and Learned Bishop Davenant determines the case in that most judicious and Schisme-confounding worke of his entituled ad Pacem adhortatio So then hee that shall perversly deny an Article of the Creed which is Christianorum fidei spei formula Veritatis summa ac fundamentum To use the termes of the Tridentine Catechisme The forme of a Christian's Faith and Hope The Epitome and Foundation of Truth Hee that shall likewise wilfully erre in principiis moralibus in the Principles of manners or good living Hee that shall believe or maintaine the contrary to any precept or morall command as that simple Fornication is no sinne which is the Opinion of the * Vid. Kinchi in Psal Iewes and Papists That it is lawfull to worship an Image the worke of mens hands or the like Hee that shall overthrow the Doctrine of the Sacraments either denying the exercise or use of the Sacrament of Baptisme or not Baptizing according to the tenour of Christs Mat. 28. v. ult injunction In the Name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost or not celebrating the Eucharist according to our Saviours institution by denying the Cup to the People or the like Lastly He or They that erre in the Fundamentall Doctrine concerning Prayer making their addresses to any one but to God alone through the mediation of Christ his Sonne by Faith in whom and being knit to them in love wee are bold to call God Our Father c. Hee that shall obstinatly persist both in Opinion and practice against any Precept or Doctrine in these foure kindes of Fundamentalls hee cannot be exempted from the number of Hereticks whose names are not registred in the Booke of Life into which none shall enter that worke abomination or make a lie Rev. 21.27 Such workers of mischiefe are those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as †Cyril l. 1. in Ioh. cap. 4. Cyrill rightly tells them men that are Leaders and Abettours of an Haeresie Such men whom we may call Daemonice Meridiana as S. * Hieron Apol. adversus Ruffin lib. 2. Hierome once called Arius men blown up with pride and infected with a Diabolicall daring Spirit you must decline as you would those that have the Leprosie or Plague Haeresie is a catching disease and hardly to be cured it enters into the Soule by the Eye and Eare when you either reade the books or heare the Sermons of Haereticks and entring thus in it brings Death and Destruction as its attendants with it S. Paul was not ignorant of this as appeares by his wholsome and seasonable exhortation for these times Rom. 16. Ver. 17. I beseech you brethren observe the Apostles earnest supplication grounded upon the danger of Hereticall infection mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them †Ver. 18. For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their owne bellies They are commonly Covetous and Luxurious persons given over to their Appetites They are dissembling Hypocrites for as it followes there with faire Speeches and flatteries they deceive the hearts of their simple followers and Auditours 2 Joh. 10. If there come any such unto you and bring not the Doctrine of Christ but that which is contrary to it receive him not into your House neither bid him God speed i. e. have nothing to doe with him neither shew him any signe of familiarity or respect lest under the guise or fleece of a Lamb-like Teacher you meet in the conclusion with devouring Wolfes proud Anabaptists or Soul-murdering Jesuites Who now like their great Master the Prince of darknesse goe about seeking whom they may destroy with their Antiscripture Antichristian infectious Tenets or Haeresies None more then these grand Impostours are pleaders for Conventicles that so they may with more security open the fardall of their Masse that * So called in the Confutation of the Papists Catechisme pag. 29. maze of Idolatry amongst themselves and draw poor deceived Souls from the love of the Church and their Ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marke with diligence those that preach this Doctrine and conclude with your selves that they are either immediately sent from Rome that Antichristian Synagogue or seduced by the Romish Agents whose onely aime in these times is to blow the Cole of Division using the †Doctor Crakanth in his defence of our Church does call them fitly Flabella Jesuitarum Separatists as his bellowes for this very purpose and to draw mens mindes from the love of the Truth and Learning knowing full well that the fabrick of their Superstition and Idolatrous worship relyes onely upon the rotten pillar of Ignorance the onely prop too of the Pope's greatnesse For as that examinatour of the Councell or rather Conventicle of Trent saies well Gentillet ut bonarum literarum instauratione facessere caepit ignorantia c. So soone as the cloud of Ignorance was dispelled by the bright beames of Learning the Authority of the Pope began presently to faile and suffer a great diminution Therefore I exhort you againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to marke those who are sometimes of
who labour to draw the people's mindes from the love of the publick Congregation and engage them to their private meetings whereby they commonly intangle them in their errours and Haeresies Therefore if they say as the Vid. August Ep. 48. Donatists once did that Christ is onely amongst them in their Crypts and Conventicles beleeve them not for they doe contrary to the precept and practise of Christ He wills or enjoynes us to †Luk. 12.8 confesse Him and his Truth before men i. e. to make an open profession of our Faith both in times of persecution and peace He himselfe ever * Joh. 18.19,20 taught publikely as he witnessed of himselfe before Pilat He †Luk. 4.15.44 did so to teach us this lesson That Truth seeks not corners but loves the light therefore it is sometimes called light in the Holy Scriptures Eph. 5.8 Walke as Children of the Light Vid. Act. 26.18 But they that * Joh. 3.19 Men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill hate the Truth delight in darknesse dare not say that in an open Congregation what they spawn and vent in a Conventicle or private meeting Therefore avoyd them joyne not with them beware of making a Schisme in the â—hurch or making that rent wider which was first begun of late by the Presbyterians Adhere not to Schismaticks whose portion without a deep repentance for so great a sinne as wounding Christs Church shall be after death in the Land of darknesse because they loved darknesse rather then light I never read that saying of August Aug. Ep. 204. but with horrour and dread when I considered the common guilt Foris ab Ecclesiâ constitutus separatus à communione unitatis vinculo charitatis aeterno supplicio punireris etiamsi pro Christi nomine vivus comburereris i. e. He or She that out of pride or peevishnesse separates himselfe from the bodie of the Church whose members are knit together by the ligaments of one faith and bond of love that man shall be punished with everlasting torments although he should die in the flame and be burnt for the name of Christ Such biting Truths as these are the cause why Schismaticks and Hereticks love not to read the Fathers nor vouchsafe so much as to name them in their Sermons or writings Therefore let no man deceive you with vaine words for for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of Disobedience Be not then companions with them for ye were sometimes darkenesse but are now light in the Lord walk as Children of Light Eph. 5.6,7,8 And conforme your selves to the * Christi actio nostri debet esse instrinctio Aug. example of our Lord and Master Jesus who †Luke 19.47 preached in the Synagogues and the Temple notwithstanding they were places full of disorder and corruption He * Mat. 21.13 called the Temple a Denne of theeves and are there not too many in ours †Mat. 15.3 The Doctrine of the Law was then corrupted by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees is not the Doctrine of the Gospel as much corrupted by ours Besides all this they were loose and wicked in their lives witnesse that charge of our Saviour to his followers and Auditours against the Jewish Doctours Mat. 23.23 Doe not after their workes c. Notwithstanding all these corruptions and deformities in the Jewish Church yet our Saviour Christ made no separation from it but came and preached in those places of publick concourse where the Seducers and false Teachers were If this example and practise of our Saviour will not convince and startle into feare and obedience the Separatists of our age both Teachers and Disciples I know not what will doe it Area Dominica nondum ventilata est sine paleis esse non potest Nos eremus atque agamus quantum possumus ut palea simus Aug. Ep. 203. If Christ should have trodd in their steps been led by their fond opinion he would have made a Separation and fled from the Society of the Jewes and not so much as once gone into the Temple or taught in their Synagogues but he did otherwise and from what he did we may conclude that the practise of those Phanaticks who separate themselves from all Assemblies or publick places of Gods service pretending either a want of gifts or a defect of holinesse in the Ministers I say the practise of such men doth speake them to be those Antichrists which the Apostle S. John mentions in his first Epistle 1 Ep. Ioh. c 2. v. 18 19. Now there are many Antichrists whereby we may know it is the last time They went out from us c. i. e. They turn'd Separatists therefore Antichrists because they went flat against the practice and precept of Christ who commands us by his Apostle Phil. 1.27.2.2 to be of one heart and of one minde to thinke and speake and doe the same thing in good to love as Brethren who forsake not one anothers company and desert not their family when they discocover any infirmity in their Father or any deformity in their Mother but keep close to both in observance and humble duty We may have communion or fellowship with mens persons in publick worship and not partake in the guilt of their Sinnes I lle communicat malis qui consentit factis malorum Aug. Ep. 171. He communicates with the wicked that consents to their wickednesse abhorre and forsake his sinne then maist thou without feare or danger communicate with a wicked man Si malos odistis vos ipsi mutamini à Scelere Schismatis Si malorum permixtionem timeretis Optatum inter vos in apertissimâ iniquitate viventem per tot annos non teneretis Thus Augustine bespeakes the Donatists So may I the men of our times If you hate the ungodly shew your hatred towards your selves by repenting and turning from your Schisme and Heresies And if you feare the mixture or company of the wicked shun the Society and abhorre the persons of your Leaders by whom you are seduced and corrupted To conventicle on the Lords day a breach of the fourth Commandement A third Argument against such meetings in private on the Lords day may be deduced from the intent and scope of the fourth commandement whose morality in the judgement of all both Fathers and moderne writers consists in this that God be worshipped in the Congregation with publicke service in an open confession of our Faith and a profession of our love and thankfulnesse to him for all his mercies and blessings those which concerne our Soules and those which respect our bodies c. But to wave this and other Arguments which might be produced to confirme my former Thesis I proceed to reasons against Conventicles First Reason suggests this Truth to our Spirits that our Soules being as it were so many sparkes of the