those fundamental and Catholick truths of the Christian Religion about which there is no dispute amongst us and let them be so believed that they influence their hearts and lives and sanctify them And also that they would conscionably practise those known and confessed duties that all are agreed in and then there will be no cause to question their salvation and eternal happinesse But it is unseasonable to be contending violently about disputable points of Faith and external forms and modes of worship and discipline and such like questions about things not so clearly revealed in Scripture no◠imbraced so generally by all true Christians and Churches nor indeed easie to be comprehended by the weaker sort of Professors whilst those weighty things before nam'd are neglected and disregarded Such will hardly evade the imputation of Hypocrysie being so like the Pharisees that Tithed Mint Annise and Cummin and neglected the weighty things of the Law CHAP. VI. Other Directions in points of a Secondary nature that are not so clearly laid down in Scripture nor unanimously received by all Christians but are Problematical and yet there is a necessity to be of the one or other perswasion How to make a right choice in such a Case Four Rules about this But what Are not the least truths of Religion worth contending for and the smallest circumstantials of Faith or worship Doth not God stand upon smal matters in his service Yes verily in their due place and after a Christian manner we may and ought to inquire after them When we have yielded that Faith and obedience that is due to the great and more necessary points of Salvation We are then to study the mind of God in other things of a secondary and more inferior Nature nor is the most minute truth to be despised or neglected by us That therefore we may make a wise choyce of the true and right way in such circumstantial and lesse necessary points as truly pious and wife Christians differ in which are marters non fideì sed questìonum Aug de peccat orig chap. 23. as St. Augustine speaks not properly points of the Catholick Faith but problematical and disputable in the Church and yet are necessitated to be of the one or other perswasion I come in the next place to give some directions about them for which end observe these few Rules which will be usefull to us herein 1. Humhly seek God by daily and fervent prayers and supplications to make his mind and will known to you herein Lean not to your own understanding and wisdome but confesse how weak you are and full of error and darknesse Beseech him to take away the vail from before your eyes to give you understanding and teach you good judgment and knowledge that what you see not he would teach you and wherein you are otherwise minded he would reveal the truth unto you Plead his promises of leading you into all truth that you shall be all taught of God that he will reveal his secrets to such as fear him and guide the meek in the way and lead you by his Spirit Hang upon the Lord daily for his guidance in such difficult cases as you are at a loss in 2. Search the Scriptures John 5.39 and look well to them they are your chard and compass to steer your course by try all things by them to the Law and to the testimony Take nothing on trust from men for the best of men may err I think there is hardly any error in Doctrine or corruption in Worship but hath been brought into the Church by following the opinions and practices of some reputed godly men more then the Scriptures when a Peter shall Judaize and not walk uprightly he may not only seduce by his example many ordinary Christians but a Barnabas also may be carryed away from the truth by his dissimulation Gal. 2. Hold close therefore to the Scriptures those infallible Oracles the word of truth and inquire daily into them 3 If yet after prayer and searching the Scriptures we find not the minde of God insome opinion or practice because it is but darkly laid down in Scripture or at least through the darknesse of minde in godly men who cannot so well discern it Then observe this further Rule There are some general criteria or marks whereby we may discern any Doctrine or practice whether it be of God or no We shall find them laid down in the Scriptures and may thereby try any Doctrine or practice when we can not so clearly see them in the particulars viz. 1 Such Doctrines and practices as are not repugnant to but agree and correspond with the fundamental Articles of the Christian Religion or the first principles that be according to the proportion or Analogy of faith Rom. 12.6 They be of God receive and imbrace them but if they be not consonant thereunto then reject them 2 Such Doctrines and practices as tend to holiness Tit. 1.2 Doctrines according to godliness they are of God for he is a God of holiness follow them But such as tend to loosenesse and profaness are to be shun'd as not of God This mark discovers the evil of such opinions as teach men to cast off Sabbaths Ordinances Scriptures family and closet devotions and other libertine principles yet here beware on the contrary of a pretended holinesse above what is written of being righteous over much above and beyond the rule of the word this was the occasion of Monkish or solitary living amongst the Papists of their pretended holy Orders Vows c. And amongst others it hath caused Separation Superstition and many other irregular Actings 3 Such Doctrines and waies as tend not to division and faction but to peace love and union amongst such as fear God those are of God and to be followed by us 1 Cor. 1.10 Phil. 2.1 2. Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. But the contrary to be shunned and avoided Rom. 16.17 4 Such things as tend to edification and to further the Salvation of our souls are to be received as of God 1 Cor. 14.26 Rom. 14.19 But those things that Minister Questions and cause strife and contention rather then godly edifying are to be avoided 1 Tim. 1.4 5. 5 Such Opinions and practices as tend to the glory of God and of Jesus Christ and to the setting up his righteousness and grace and to the humbling and debasing of man and casting him down from all high thoughts of his own excellency and abilities they are to be received as from God for this is the great design of the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. a fin but the contrary is to be rejected These general Criteria or Marks may be some guide to find out the right and safe way in some Doctrines and Practices that you are at a loss in because you cannot read them so plainly in the word of God Rule 4 After you have thus done the utmost you are able to find out the mind of God in these controverted
took such rooting that the power craft and malice of men and Devils cannot root it out It s evidenced by the purity and spirituality of its Doctrine By the sublimity of the Mysteries revealed in it wherein the highest wisedom of God shines forth By the greatnesse and excellency of the rewards punishments By the holy Spirit appearing in the serious professors of it such a Spirit of holinesse as is no where else to be found in the world And by the design it hath to glorifie God and to humble Man c. By these and the like evidences the weakest may easily be convinced That the Christian Religion is the only true Religion of all others in the World and so be directed to make choice thereof CHAP. V. Further Directions how to chuse the right and safe way amongst such diversities of Sects and opinions as be amongst Christians A discovery of the fundamental Doctrines of Faith and practical duties of Godliness generally imbraced by al Christians in al times and places with advice in reference unto them HAving inquired into the several Religions this day professed in the world and found upon good evidence the Christian Religion to be the only true Religion men may venture their Salvation upon Wee meet next with no small difficulty whereby weak and ignorant persons are perplexed occasioned by the diversity of Sects and opinions which are found amongst Christians viz. Quest To know after they once be resolved to be Christians how to chuse the right and safe way amongst such various Sects and different perswasions of those called Christians unless a man might be saved in any of these Sects and wayes What directions are there for the safe conduct of such as are at a losse herein Answer Because this is a grand case wherein very many in these sad times of Division greatly need Direction I shall guide them to a safe way wherein they may securely walk and venture their Souls without fear of miscarrying And it is this Let them labour to understand clearly and to imbrace heartily those Fundamental Catholick verities of the Christian Religion which are more clearly laid down in the holy Scriptures and have been owned by the Churches of Christ generally in all ages places ever since the Apostles times to our dayes and transmitted to us in their Creeds and Confessions of Faith and are now owned by all worthy the name of the Christians without dispute through all the Christian World let them so believe them that they influence their Hearts and Lives throughly And also all those Confessed duties of godliness that all Christians are agreed in and walk up to the practice of them and their Souls shall certainly be secured Know that notwithstanding these diversities of Sects and varieties of opinions which are found amongst Christians from which they are not privileged as neither are those other three Religions Heathenisme Mahometanism and Judaism as before was shewed nor shall be fully whilst we be imperfect and know but in part and are in part carnall as well as Spiritual whilst the envious one shall fow Tares in the field of the Church and it shall be the pleasure of God to suffer these things to be that they which are approved may be made manifest Yet know That there are some fundamentall and Catholick verities of the Christian Religion which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 points generally believed of all having antiquity universality and consent concurring with them which the Scriptures call the foundation 1 Cor. 3.10 11. The principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6.1 The form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 Rom. 6.17 The proportion or Analogy of Faith Rom. 〈◊〉 6. Which have been conveyed down from the Apostles even to us in this last age of the World nor could the gates of Hel ever prevail so far as to extirpate them And these are such Confessed duties of godlinesse as none that have pretended to be Christians have dared openly and directly to gainsay Now these are the points that have greatest influence on our hearts and lives to sanctifie and change them and to promote the life and power of godlinesse and rarely those questions and matters of dispute that are so hotly contested about and these avail to the saving our Souls upon our hearty imbracing and receiving these or our renouncing of them either in heart or life depends our Salvation or Damnation We had need therefore to set our hearts on these things that we cordially believe these Doctrines and practise those Duties and so doing we shall secure our eternal Salvation Now for further improvement of this advice we shal more particularly inquire into these great and necessary Doctrines of faith and duties of godliness and lay down some brief account of them in order to our belief and practice and so consequently to Salvation 1. For the Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion Not that I undertake to give an exact account hereof for to determine this saith a learned man is the master-piece of all the Divines in Christendom but only do declare those truths which being more clearly laid down in Scripture have been generally imbraced by all Churches worthy the Name of Christians setting aside controverted points wherein so much truth is contained as being joyned with holy obedience may be sufficient to bring a man to everlasting Salvation This being premised they may be reduced to these four Articles 1 Concerning God That there is one God of an infinite perfect and spirituall nature Subsisting in three most glorious persons the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost who is the maker preserver Governor of all things and intends his own glory in all his Works That the greatest concernment of reasonable creatures is to know acknowledge this God to fear love adore and glorify him and their chief felicity stands in his love and favour in fullest conformity to his Image and nearest communion with him and in no earthly good separate from him This is one Article of Religion necessary unto Salvation to be known and believed and not controverted amongst Christians Believe this throughly and let it influence your hearts and lives so as you study to know this God and to get acquaintance with him to fear love and serve him to own him for your Soveraign Lord chief good 2 Concerning man That God made man at the first in a very holy happy estate from which he soon fel through Satans Temptation and all mankinde became plunged into sin and misery That we are all hainous offenders against the God of Heaven under his dreadful wrath and the curse of the Law barred out of Heaven and happiness and lyable to eternal torments if not speedily reconciled to God and pardoned and by renewing grace sanctified and converted which neither we nor any meere creature is able to do for us This is another Fundamentall Article of Faith so clearly laid down in Scripture as it 's beyond all controversie
Entertain it not in the notion only but let it be so digested that you feel your sin and misery at your heart and dare not to continue a day longer without reconciling and pardoning mercy and renewing and sanctifying grace lest you perish that you despair of any creatures help and feel your selves eternally undone if the God of Heaven help not 3 Concerning Jesus Christ our Redeemer That the Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God coessential and coeternal with his Father upon the appointment and designation of his Father voluntarily undertook the office of a Saviour and Redeemer to Mankinde being made Man took on him our sins and the curse of the Law and giving himself up a Sacrifice and an offering to God for us purchased by his death all things conducing to grace and glory and having by his own power arisen from the dead and ascended into heaven he is become an alsufficient Saviour and will effectually confer pardon grace and Salvation on all those who shal truly believe in him And that there is no other name under Heaven to be saved by but by the name of Jesus Christ This is a great and necessary Doctrine of Salvation so clearly held forth in Scripture that it 's beyond controversie 1 Tim. 3.16 Let this Catholick verity be received not in the Nation only but dwel in your hearts that you may see the infinite worth and excellency of Jesus Christ prize him as the only Savior close with him on all those glorious accounts and end she was sent upon by the Father and yield up your selves to be saved by him in his own way and upon his own Terms 4 Concerning the application of Redemption That our Redeemer the Lord Josus Christ having all power in Heaven Earth given to him hath made a new Law or Covenant of grace caused it to be proclaimed to the world wherein he promises pardon and Salvation to all that shal sincerely accept and own him for their Saviour and Lord Redeemer and tâ—uly repenting of their sins shall rest on his death and merits alone for life love him above all things and sincerely obey his Gospel Laws and Commundments shal persevere in these duties to the end And after he shal have sent his holy Spirit to work Faith and conversion in his Elect He will certainly come again from Heaven in the glory of his Father with his mighty Angels and by his mighty power shal raise the dead and convene all both Quick dead before his Judgment Seat and then such as did truly repent them of their sins and sincerely believed in his Name and obeyed his Gospel he will adjudge to Eternal glory and happinesse with himself and his Father and the holy Angels but unbelievers and impenitent persons to eternal torments in Hell with the Devil and his Angels This is an unquestionable Article of the Christian Faith expresly delivered in the holy Scriptures and imbraced by the Catholick Church Let this truth be received not notionally but heartily Let it influence your hearts and lives so as you sincerely obey the Gospel and live in the dayly expectation of the coming of the Lord and give deligence to be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse I shal add no other Doctrinal verities besides these fundamental Articles They are the very substance of the Christian Creed imbraced by the Church in all ages and places 2. For those Practical Duties in which all true Christians are agreed for as there are in points of Faith fundamental Articles so there are in the point of practice fundamental Duties Now these are either 1 Those Moral duties of the Law or Ten Commandements promulgated on Mount Sinai and written by the finger of God in two Tables of stone which Christians are obliged to observe as well as the Jews though the Ceremonial Law which was altogether typical and shadowed good things to come be abolished Yea wee are bound to keep it in a more strict and spiritual manner then the Jews did interpret it formerly as appears by Christs Sermon Mat 5. This contains all duties of piety toward God immediatly required in the first Table viz. to take and accept the God of Heaven that made us and gave us Life and breath and beeing for our God alone to know and acknowledge him to fear love and trust in him and seek his glory to give him that external worship he requires in his Word publick private and secret as invocation of his Holy Name by prayers and praises hearing and reading meditating and conferring on his Word receiving his Sacraments sanctifying his Sabbaths Doing all this in an Holy reverent manner so as Gods name may be sanctifyed by us in his ordinances as also in our ordinary communications and conversations It likewise contains all Duties of righteousness and charity towards Man required in the second Table viz. The preserving as well as not injuring of the honour and authority of the life and chastity of our neighbour in thought word and deed as also his estate good name c. And loving him even as we love our selves doing good unto all c. These are general Duties all Christians are agreed in Make Conscience to practise these 2 Those Evangelical Duties or Commandements of the Gospel For besides these Moral Duties of the Law which the Gospel doth inforce also by renewed and more indearing arguments there are peculiar duties required by the Gospel as True repentance for every sin and transgression of Gods righteous and holy commands for the Law gives no place to Repentance but threatens death for every offence Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon through his blood and Salvation through his merits Fervent love to God and the Redeemer who loved us and gave himself for us who hath washed us in his blood made us Kings and Priests to God and his Father Sincere indeavours to promote his glory upon the new obligation of Redemption and living to him as his peculiar People being not our own but his bought with a price Love to all the Saints and Members of Christ and communion with them as we have opportunity on account of that near union in Christ which should make us bear with smaller differences that do not violat the bond of union whilst they hold of Christ the head and are of the same body c. These are confessed duties all Christians are agreed in Practise them Conscionably The Apostle gives us the sum of all these together Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world This then is the Counsel I would give to such as are resolved to be Christians but are stumbled at the variety of opinions and perswasions amongst the professors of Christianity that they know not what to believe or what to practis That they would believe
matters which yet are disputable amongst the wise and godly and you shall be necessitated to be of the one or the other perswasion or way Then let every one do that which he is fully perswaded in his own minde to be best and most pleasing to God nor daring to go against the dictates of his own Conscience See Ames Cas l. 1. c. 5 q. 1. Sanders Lect 3. de juram Sect. 10. which God hath set up as his Vicegerent in the Soul nor subjecting himself to the judgment or Authority of any other as Lord of his Faith I say Believe and imbrace that opinion and walk in that practice But yet to this 1 Humbly with a due sense of your own weakness and ignorance not proudly censuring and contemning such as differ from your perswasion but ever ready to hear what shall be offered for your conviction especially if it be from the wise and learned and those which by Gods providence are in place of eminency in the Church being rather matter of Affliction to you then of exalting your self that you should differ from them 2 Peaceably and without all Faction and Schism not making parties for you and renting from the Communion of those with whom you agree in the most weighty and necessary Doctrines of Salvation and so disturbing the peace of the Church where you live The evil of which can never be repaired by a violent contention for any truth or practice not fundamental and necessary unto Salvation Here the counsel of the Apostle is seasonable Rom. 14 If thou hast faith have it to thy self and Phil. 3. Whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us minde the same thing if in any thing any be otherwise minded God wil reveal even this unto them In all those principal points of faith and practice wherein is such perfect harmony it 's a manifest duty to hold communion only forbearing the same in these lesser matters wherein according to the present apprehension the sin and error lyeth 3 Chearfully and confidently not troubling and perplexing your selves about such a perswasion and practice with fears arising from a scrupulous Conscience which are like Stones in the shooe troubling the Feet of him that walketh But with a comfortable perswasion that God is well pleased with you seing you do the utmost you are able to find out the minde of God in such a particular and therefore if you be in the right he will accept it or if through weaknesse there be a mistake yet he will graciously pardon it and in his good time reveal even this unto you For if even earthly Parents or Masters when their Servants or Children do their utmost to know their minds and to do their business so as to please them will accept their indeavours and take all in good part though in every punctìlio they have not done what was expected much more will the gracious God accept of his Children and Servants that desire to please him and pardon what is amiss in them And indeed if not no flesh living could be saved for who is there of the highest form of Christians that are ascertained that in every particular Doctrine and Practice in those things controverted amongst the godly and wise that they be in the right seeing the best of men are imperfect and may and do err offend Therefore go on chearfully with full assurance that the Lord accepts you This Rule the Apostle fully layes down Rom. 14 upon occasion of controversies about points not necessary to Salvation viz. Meats and Drinks and Dayes He bids let every one be fully perswaded in his own mind and act accordingly not judging and condemning others nor breaking the peace and then he should be accepted of God approved of men Thus have we a safe Conduct to lead us in the right way in matters circumstantial controverted amongst pious and wise Christians in points less necessary unto Salvation as well as in matters of Fundamental and of absolute necessity thereunto CHAP. VII A closer Application of the foregoing Discourse to the present State of the Church in England with particular Advice in reference to the different Wayes and professions found amongst us HAving given a more generall advice sutable to all times and conditions of the Church in all places It will be expedient next in behalf â—f those for whose benefite this discourse is principally intended to apply the former directions to the present state of the Church here in England and those many different Perswasions and wayes that are amongst us We are a people that generally do profess the Christian Religion which hath been of long time transmitted down to us from our Ancestors wherein we are deeply ingaged by Education the Laws of the Land and manifold Obligations But it is much to be desired that the Common sort of Christians were better instructed in the grounds and Reasons of the entertainment of this Religion rather then of the other three before mentioned Heathenism Mahometanism and Judaism and that they might gain a clear and distinct knowledge of the great and fundamental Articles thereof and be throughly grounded in the certainty and excellency of it A thing which is much wanting in the vulgar sort through their too great negligence and carelesnesse about things spirituall but of exceeding dangerous consequence to their Souls as exposing them to profaneness and Error if not to totall Apostacy And therefore this duty though before hinted deserves to be reinforced with the strongest perswasions But although we all be Christians in profession We are sadly crumbled into such Diversities of Sects and perswasions occasioned much through the licentiousnesse of War relaxation of Government amongst us of which occasion Satan and our corrupt natures have made too great improvment That is it most difficult for weak and ignorant persons to find out the right and safe way amongst them and to joyn themselveâ— unto This temptation having led very many into errors by-wayes pernicious and others into Atheism We shall therefore attempt to give some directions what course to steer herein what opinions and Sects to shun and avoid and what people and principales we should close withal For it would greatly conduce to the peace and welfare of the Church and to the safety of mens souls to be duly informed What Christians or Societyes of Christians they be with whom communion may be held and how far as also who they be that are utterly to be avoided it being usual with the vulgar sort of Christians who sometimes abound in zeal but are much wanting in knowledge to close with the most pernicious Principales and Wayes where any stronger temptations insinnate themselves then with those that are far more sound and Orthodox if they have taken up a prejudice against them and so have the faith of Christ with respect of persons We shall therefore take a Survey of the different perswasions wayes amongst us which may
be branched into these two 1. The Way profession which is publickly owned by Authority and hath the Law of the Land for its Sanction 2. Those Perswasions or Wayes that are taken up by private persons conâ—â—ary to the Law of the Nation For these latter beginning there first They are as exceeding many so of a very different nature some retaining the Fundamental Principles and Duties of Christianity necessary unto Salvation and differing only in lesser matters controverted in the Church of Christ others that overthrow the very Foundation it self Those that overthrow the Foundations of Christianity and differ about points necessary unto Salvation are too many In which rank we shall place the Papists first of all because most considerable and above all others most formidable It s true indeed There hath been in the Popish Church all a long to this day continued such a System of saving Truths which God hath of his great mercy preserved in the greatest Anti Christian Apostacy as being truly believed and obeyed other Soul-destroying errours in the mean time either not known or not cordially imbraced might be effectuall to the Salvation of many that lived and dyed within that Church But yet Popery it self understanding thereby that Religion which consists of so many new Articles of Faith utterly unknown to the old Church of Rome in its purity but now ratifyed in the Council of Trent and required to be recieved of all men upoâ— pain of Anathema which plainly overthrow many of the great Articles of the Catholick Faith as also of such grosse Idolatries and Superstitious Fopperies c. This I say is such a Religion that none that love their Salvation should close with This Babylon we shold have no communion with lest we communicate in her Plagues As saith the voice from Heaven Revel 18 4. Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues The grounds of our withdrawing from that Religion are 1. Their many dangerous errors in matters of Faith overthrowing directly the very Foundations of Christiantie To instance in some Their Doctrine of Transubstantiation over-throweth the truth of Christs humane Nature Their proper Sacrifice his only Sacrifice for sin offered once for all Their Doctrine of merits plainly destroyeth the merins of Jesus Christ The multitude of Mediators amongst them deny That only Mediator betwixt God and man the man Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 2.5 Their Sacrificing Priests overthrow Christs Priestly office Their vilifying the Scriptures and setting up their unwritten Traditions to be received with equall reverance with them c. Overthrows Christs Propheticall Offices The Kingly Office of Christ is overthrown by the Popes usurpations dispensing with the Laws of God and setting up other Laws of his own devising and Lording it over the Consciences of Men. The great Article of Remission of sins and free Justification through the grace of God in Jesus Christ is overthrown by their Pardons Indulgences and Doctrine of merit and humane Satisfactions 2. Their abominable Idolatries in point of Worship as Angel-worship Saint-worship Relique-worship Image-worship c. 3. Their prophane Sacriledge robbing the people of the bread of life the holy Scriptures the Cup in the Lords Supper Nay almost of the whole Worship of God causing it to be performed in a Language the Vulgar understand not 4. Their cruelty and blood shed wherein Rome Papal exceeds Rome Ethuicall 5. Their Spiritual Tyranny in exacting blind obedience in matters of Faith as the Philistims pulled out the eyes of Sampson and led him whither they would In burdening Christians with innumerable Ceremonies and Superstitions destroying the substance of Religion 6. Their proud usurpations over Kings and Princes 7. The Notorious Schism they are guilty of worse then that of the Novations and Donatists of old whereby they not only cast off the Reformed Churches but the Muscovites and Grecians in Europe The Aegyptian and Aethiopian Churches in Affrick all these great companies of Christians scatter'd all over Asia even from Constantinople to the East Indies Because they are not the Popes subjects they wil not account them Christs for they declare determine and pronounce it s of absolute necessity unto Salvation for every humane Creature to be subject to the Pope of Rome 8. Add hereunto their unsufferable wickednesse overspreading that Church and their allowance thereof by giving Licences to uncleanness Sodomy prostituting pardons for mony dispensations with Gods Laws c. In all which the Romish Church is incorrigible pretending unerring Infallibilitie and the Pope himself wil be supreme Judge alone in all these Cases For these and the like grounds which cannot all be here enumerated Its necessary for all good Christians to beware of Popery and have no Peace with Rome till she return to her antient Primitive puritie Others there are also that err in Fundamental points and necessary unto salvation as Anti-trinitarians Anti-Scripturists Arians Socinians c. The last of which Sects is esteemed by the learned the very Sink into which all Heresies of former and latter times have emptied themselves and directly leades men to Mahometanism Judaism or Atheism These deny the Doctrine of the Trinity a fundamental Point and necessary to Salvation and the Deity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost Reject the Satisfaction of Christ and maintain Justification by works Refuse such Articles of the Faith as they cannot comprehend with their Reason c. These Sects as almost all Churches former and latter and Divines in their Syncretisms have banished out of the Lines of Christian Communication so it becomes all persons to avoid them as pests and enemies of Christianity and to have no followship with them I shal instance only in one Sect more of such as err in Fundamental points who in respect of their want of learning and outward accomplishments are contemptible yet in respect of their number and their singular obstinancy in their way whereby they amuse the Vulgar are not to be passed by viz. The Quakers although Quakerism cannot properly be called a Séct of Christians but rather it 's a totall Apostacy from Christianity for excepting it be they have the name of Christ in their Mouths they scarce retain any Article of the Christian Faith The light in all men they extoll as the only sufficient rule to walk by to the apparent slighting of the Scriptures and Preaching so that if the Question be asked what advantage hath the Christian above the naked Indian We cannot answer as the Apostle Rom. 3.2 Much every way chiefly because unto them is committed the Oracles of God The Doctrine of the Trinity they openly deny The Person of Jesus Christ as to his humane Nature with all his Offices assigned to him by his Father they utterly reject though this is an Arcanum that is kept hid from their Novices They call not upon God in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ They trust not in his death
for pardon and Salvation but in a pretended sinless perfection they deny any necessiy of the Special grace of the Spirit to Conversion and Sanctification saying I charge not every particular quaker with all these Errours for many understand not what they hold But mention what I finde asserted in their printed Pamphlets the Light within them is sufficient hereunto and scoff at them that pray for more bidding them heed that only and it will lead them from sin to God Sabbath and Sacraments and all instituted Worship they cast off the great Doctrines of the Resurrection Last Judgement Heaven and Hell they turn into Allegories c. These and other things considered it appears that they plainly overthrow the foundations of Christianity therefore Christians can have no Communion with that way Thus where differences are in Points destructive to the Foundations of Religion and against the Essentials of Faith worship and obedience There can be no closure and agreement but a total withdrawing is necessary so far as civil Relations and Offices will permit We come next to consider these other Perswasions and Parties among us that agreeing in all the necessary points of Salvation yet differ in things that be less necessary though some be of greater and some of less moment then others These differences be either in Points of Doctrine or â—n matters of Worship and Discipline In Poiâ—ts oâ— Doctrine we have Arminians Antinomians c. In matters of Worship and Discipline we have Anabaptists I mean such as be sound in the main Doctrines of faith but err only in the point of Baptism Independents Presbyterians c. Now about these differing wayes Take these brief Directions sutable to those generall Rules before lay'd down 1. Account them all as Christians if they be serious in the matters of Religion and their lives answerable let not any evil representations of their opinions or waves or odious and invidious consequences drawn from their Principles but disowned by them so far alienate your hearts from them as not to account them Christians Brethren seeing they retain the Fundamentals of Christianity and hold the head Christ though they build on the precious Foundation Wood Hay Stubble Who is in all things free from Errour What Church or person upon Earth 2. Have the greatest respect and the most intimate friendship for those in whose Principles is greatest purity that come nighest the rule and who most follow after peace holinesse and lay out themselves more to promote the greatest truths of the Gospel and the power of Godlinesse then their private perswasions But as for them who with the Wilde fire of their Zeal will set the Church on a flame and are more for making Proselytes for their own way then for seeking the welfare of the Church and the edification and Salvation of souls avoid them 3. If God cast your lot into these places or Countreys where those Professions or Wayes are set up you cannot enjoy that way of serving God that you approve as most pure it s an unqueâ—â—inable duty to hold Communion there in France Holland with the Presbyterians in Germany with the Lutherans in other Countreys with those other perswasioÌ„s before named provided the condition of thy communion be not to give thy allowance to any thing that is evil but in that particular thou mayest be forborn Communion with such Churches where many corruptions and abuses are if the foundations of faith and essentials of worship be preserved ought to be maintained with a due care to keep our selves only from the sins of such a Church else the Apostle would have enjoyned separation from the Church of Corinth for the corruptions found there and the Novatians Donatists and others in the antient Church were unjustly taxed for withdrawing from her Communion for laxness of Discipline or other corruptions which they apprehended to be therein This duty our Church of England hath taught by her own practice who hath ever owned the reformed churches beyond Sea for Sister-Churches given them the right hand of Fellowship though differing from her in some matters of an inferiour nature CHAP. VIII Wherein the great controversies of Communion with or Separation from the Church of England is discussed A view of what is therein praise-worthy and what is disallowable in the judgment of those that scruple Communion Directions suted thereunto WE have spoken of those different wayes and perswasions found amongst private persons without and against the owning and approbation of Authority and given advice in reference to them We are next to consider of that proâ—ession publickly set up by Authority and â—hat hath the civil Sanction of the Laws of â—his Land No sober person can gainsay But this deserves a most serious and impartial consideration partly in respect of that Duty we owe to those in Authority to whom God hath committed the care of Religion and the settling of it in their Dominions in such a way as they think most agreeable to the Rule of the Word and hath injoyned us obedience to them in the Lord partly in respect of our own welfare who may else suffer the penalty of the Laws and had need to see to it if we obey that we do it with a good Conscience and if we suffer that we suffer for the Truth and not as evil doers And partly in respect of the peace and welfare of the Church that we do not groundlesly make a Rent therein and thereby as much as in us lyeth to procure the ruine thereof for all Division tends to Destruction It would therefore seriously be inquired Whether it be a duty for Christians to hold Communion with the Church of England according to its present state and administrations or Whether Separation from it is warrantable and necessary and how far For the Resolving of which Question we shal take an Account of those things that are commendable in the said Church in the judgment of those that scruple Communion with her and also of what things they disallow and dislike in her And then cast up Whether it will warrant separation or how far according to the same Rules of Concord we have proceeded upon with those of the other Professions before named And first it will not be denyed by all Dissenters that have understanding and sobriety in them But that here is to be found 1. A clear profession of all those Fundamental points of Faith which are accounted amongst Christians necessary unto Salvation yea such a poor Confession of other points of a Secondary and more inferiour Nature as that there 's scarce any other Church in the World that God hath blessed with a greater purity in point of Doctrine then the Church of England 2. Here also is the Christian Sabbath imbraced with much greater honour then in many other Reformed Churches Homily of time and place of Prayer Part 2. the publick Ordinances of preaching Prayer Sacraments administred and all the Substantials of
Worship owned viz. That God only is to be Worshipped no Creatures Saints or Angels That he is to be Worshipped only in and through Christ as our only Mediator and Advocate that he is to be Worshipped in Spirit truth to be Sanctifyed of them that come near unto him 3 As for Fundamental Duties and Points of Practice here is a Profession of Faith in Jesus Christ alone for Salvation of Repentance from dead works and love to Jesus Christ and to all that are his and obedience to the Moral Law of the Yen Commandements Here is a professed Renuntiation of the Devil the World and the flesh with all their sinful works and Lusts All these call for an ingenuous and candid acknowledgment How would our fore-Fathers that lived in former times of Popery have rejoyced to have seen such things in England We should bresse God that hath vouchased such a mercy to us Honour our Defender of the Faith under whose protection this Profession is made and shew more Reverence to the Church then many do who will pettishly slight all this because they have not all they would have Secondly we are next to consider those things that are disliked by such as scruple Communion which are especially reducible to three Heads 1. Government and Discipline which though it be various in the Reformed Churches yet notwithstanding they hold mutual Communion with each other as Sister-Churches and many particular wise and godly Members of those Churches hold Communion in the Ordinances of God administred in the Churches of different wayes occasionally when they reside amongst them 2. Forms of Prayers and Ceremonies concerning which some disallow all set and imposed forms whatsoever others only dislike the form by law established accounting it inconvenient disorderly and defective and rejecting the Ceremonies yet wise and sober persons generally Non-Conformists as well as Conformists reckon external forms and modes of Divine Service not of the Essentials of Worship but adjuncts thereunto belonging Ames Cas l. 4. c. 14 c. 17. Prestons daity Exercise E. G. The Essence of Prayer lies in lifting up true desires to God in the name of Christ for things agreeable to his will in the elevation of the heart or mind to God c. Words are but the outward clothing of these desires and holy affections or the Chariot wherein they mount up to Heaven And for the Ceremonies used in England they are utterly denied to be any parts of Worship and declares only circumstantial appendants thereunto see the Preface to the Common Prayer and Canons c. 3. Corruption in manners and that both in People and in Ministers which when found in the latter makes the offence far greater as when the Sons of Eli were wicked they made the offerings of the Lord to be abhorred These things premised We shall now offer our advice in this great Controversie and annex such Reasons thereto as shall evidence it both safe and profitable We lay it down in three particulars 1. To beware of a Total withdrawing from the publick Assemblies in the Church of England and the worship of God therein whilst the Fundamentals of Faith and essentials of Worship are therein maintained because you apprehend therein some corruptions defects additions or errors which are circumstantial This advice though it might be urged with manifold arguments yet the Brevity I intend in this Discourse requires me to give but a few 1. If you will make the Scripture your Rule herein you may see so clear a Beam of Light all along through the same witnessing hereunto That it is a wonder any should be found to Question this duty Consider the Prophets and people of God in the time of the Old Testament did they separate from the true Worship of God in the Jewish Church or teach any to do it when there were very great defects corruptions therein There was at some times a defect of some Solemn Ordinances for a long time together as Circumcision the Passeover c. Some Monuments of Idolatry remaining amongst them and the People many of them defiled therewith Very great corruptions of manners not only in the People but in the Priests as in Eli's Sons c. Yet whilst the true Worship of God was continued amongst them there 's neither precept or practice to be found of total withdrawing therefrom Indeed the godly Levites People did withdraw from the Idolatrous Worship of Jereboams Calves leaving their dwellings and going to Jerusalem 2 Chro. 11.14 16. but no mention is made of withdrawing from the true Worship of God for such causes as were before named About the time of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles the State of that Church was greatly corrupted by many degrees more then any sober person can judge the present Church in this Nation now to be The Interpreters of the Law had taken away the Key of knowledge and that little knowledge that remained was miserably corrupted not only with the Leaven of the Pharisees but with the damnable Heresie of the Sadducees The Worship of God much prophaned and the Temple polluted and made a Den of Theeves A multitude of Superstitious Ceremonies introduced that were a burden too heavy to bear The power of godliness subverted whilst small things were exactly minded the weighty things of the Law as Judgment and the love of God were neglected a general over spreading of sin not only amongst the Vulgar but the Priests themselves and that in their Ministration and calling as well as in their Lives c. Yet did not the Godly withdraw from the Communion of that Church for the same We read that Simeon Anna and Others continued in the Temple Worshipping God daily Holy Zachary forsook not his Priestly Office but Ministred in his course in the Temple And Christ himself was circumcised and presented to the Lord in the Temple with the accustomed Sacrifices offer'd for him according to the Law of Moses he kept the Passeover and other Feasts of that Church was frequently in the Temple and in the Synagogues with his Disciples allowed of the hearing of those that sate in Moses's Chair only gives caution against their Errours and bad lives sent divers to the Priests to Offer their accustomed Offâ—rings required in the Law Nor did he in the dayes of his flesh wholly forsake the Communion of that Church nor his Disciples after him untill the Jews did contradict and blaspheme the Truth obstinately refuse to owne the Lord Jesus for the Christ and persecute to death the Professors of the Name of Christ In the Churches of Corinth Galatia c. We read of great and dangerous Errors in Faith grievous pollutions in Worship sad miscarriages in Manners yet concerning withdrawing from these Churches we find not a word but many reprehensions of their Schisms and Divisions In the Churches of Asia there were several things they were blamed for as well as some things commended in them But no hints of Separation from
things that there seems nothing more requisite to be said by way of reply thereunto Thus much was needfull to be certifyed because some have slighted Mr. Balls Book not deeming it worth reading because sufficiently answered by Mr. Cotton whereas indeed this Book may serve for a sufficient reply to his Answer CHAP. IX Wherein are laid down some general Rules of Caution to preserve Christians from rash and unjust separation The Conclusion of the Discourse ALthough the answering all objections and satisfying every scruple that may occurr about this point of Communion with the Congregations in England is a work too large to be undertaken in these Papers and indeed needless in respect of that abundant pains taken therein by those Writers before referred to yet because I may not leave the sober and humble Christian altogether without help that is desirous to find something here that may satisfy his Conscience about the premises I shal lay down some general Rules of caution which being duly considered and improved may through the blessing of the Lord much conduce to prevent or heal rash and unjust separation which are these that follow 1. Do not rashly separate for such things as have been found in almost all the Churches of Christ upon Earth both in former and latter times the reason is because though we say not the Church is so absolutely Infallible that it cannot err in the least particular yet we may easily defend That the Universal Church in all places and ages cannot err so dangerously so as good Christians ought not to keep communion with her but are bound to make separation from her for this would inferr that she hath wholly fallen from Christ and her bond of Union with him is dissolved and he is no longer present with her for till then Christians are not wholly to separate from her yea that Christ hath no Church in the World c. And if so what will become of the promises of Christ that Hel gates shal not prevail against her that he will be with her to the end of the World that he will send his Spirit to lead her into all Truth and it shall abide with her for ever which promises though directly and primarily they were made to the Apostles who had the special presence of Christ and the guidance of his holy Spirit in the most eminent manner yet were made to them for the behoofe of the Church Universal and shal be verified to it This duly considered would much prevent the scandal taken at Bishops at forms of Prayer c. For who is there if acquainted with the State of the Church that knows not that Bishops even in a superiority of power and jurisdiction over other Ministers have been in the Church of Christ almost universally from the Apostles times to our dayes and that set Forms of Prayers have been of exceeding long continuance in the Christian Curches through the World Therefore such as separate for these things now must have been led by the same principle to have separated from almost all the Churches of Christ upon Earth which thing how dangerous it is needs not much to be spoken to her to manifest the same 2. Let not inconveniences defects additions or errors Circumstantial cause you to withdraw Communion wholly from the Churches of Christ in the substantial duties of Gods Worship where the essentials are preserved though some lesser evils may be found do not utterly refuse Communion there The Lord Jesus wil not reject such Churches therefore do not you Ames eas Lib 4. Cap 24. This hath passed for good Divinity generally amongst Non-Conformists who acknowledge Communion may be maintained where some divine institutions are wanting and some humane additaments meerly extrinsical are joyned to Divine Worship Commis papers p. 3.12 They say that where the substantials of Worship are preserved Bayne on Eph 2.15 though the external forms and modes be more inconvenient disorderly and defective Hilders on Ps 51. Lect. 35. yet it s lawfull yea a duty to offer such Worship to God rather then none at all That what ever is not in our power to reform it shall be our zeal and piety to tolerate and with patience to bear in such Churches there may be more cause to rejoyce then to grieve Indeed the contrary practice would lead to separation from all the Churches of Christ upon Earth for which of them all is perfect 3. As Christians should fly from what is really Idolatry Will-worship Antichristianism Popery c. So let them not be affrighted with those names when imposed on things without good grounds lest they be scared from necessary duty and Worship for these terrifying names have been abusively applyed to deterr weak people from the true Worship of God E. G. Idolatry Will-worship imagery hath been charged upon set forms of Prayer and they have been censured to be forbidden in the second Commandement But what Christian not prepossessed beforehand with prejudice against them can finde them therein condemned or in any of the Commentaries of the Prophets or Apostles or in any Exposition of antient or modern Writers till some few of latter times May not any simple plain hearted Christian to whose apprehensions the Scriptures are suted in all necessary duties Psal 19.7 profess he is not able to see any such thing but on the contrary he findeth set forms not onely used and prescribed in the Old Testament but also in the New he finds Jesus Christ giving a form to his Disciples as John did to his and how can he then resent those charges of Imagery Idolatry Superstition but as meer Scare-crows The like may be said of the charge of Popery drawn up by some against the present forms of Prayer by Law established that they are taken out of the Mass Book are Popish Prayers c. which affrights some poor weak Christians they are afraid to come near them When as it cannot be denyed that 1. they were compiled by sundry godly men of the Reformed Religion some of them afterwards Martyrs in Queen Marys dayes were ever highly valued by them 2. The Papists have ever had them in detestation Queen Mary is reported to have razed them out of the Parliament Records so as it could not till some hath late Acts passed be well known which was the authorized Book and Harding their great Champion saith of it in his dispute with Bishop Jewel on Art 3. That it 's such a service as their good Catholicks cannot joyn with us in not only because it is in the vulgar Tongue but because saith he many necessary things are wanting in it and many things repugnant to the Faith and custome of the Catholick Church 3. Popery cannot return upon us whilst the said Common-Prayer-Book is kept unaltered how can their proper Sacrifice Communion in one kind Prayers to Saints c. come in whilst this is kept up and observed and as for the taking these Prayers out of the