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
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
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
Mass Book the truth is this there are several Prayers of Antient Fathers used before Popery was in the World which the Papists corrupting and abusing in their Mass our first Reformers purged out what corruptions the Papists had brought in and did retain those antient Prayers according to their Primitive Institution All this will be readily acknowledged by them that judging this book unnecessary and inconvenient do desire a Reformation therein and is there any thing in all this that shall so affright good Christians out of the Church Concerning the charge of Antichristianism it is so common a word in the mouths of all that list to rayle that it s no scandal to any till the thing be fully proved if Bishops and Ministers c. be judged by any to be Anti-Christian I shal send them to that most excellent piece of Dr. Moore his Mystery of Iniquity where they may see the Idea of Anti-Christianism opened and thence be informed whom this censure best befits IV. Take heed of pretending to greater purity and strictness about Church Communion and Administrations then the Word of God commends or the examples of Christ and the Apostles and the Primitive Church do commend nor be so extremely rigid as not to bear with things that they have Tolerated It is an observable rule laid down by wise and eminent Divines that too much strictnesse and severity often doth injury the Church more then profite it it s the way to overturn Churches not to reform them especially this severity is unbecoming private Christians who having no Authority yet complain such persons and such things are defilements they must separate from them they must not touch the unclean thing such should take heed that they be not righteous over much and not dare to be wise above what is written lest their too much affected purity and misguided zeal hurt more the Church of Christ and their own Souls then the corruptions they so much complain of Calvin adv Anab. Art 2. Cum sub specie studii perfectionis imperfectionem nulam tollerare possumus tune Diabolum nos tumefacere superbia et hypocrisi seducere moneamur V. Have publick Spirits and look not so much on such things as are most desirable in your eyes and conduce to your interest as on what tends to the furtherance of the Gospel and the good of the Church in generall There have been very few in our unhappie dayes but have been so eagerly contending for their private opinions and wayes that the publick interest of the Christian Religion and of the Churches peace and welfare hath been almost forgotten by them from whence have come in such an inundation of Errours Heresies Profanenesse and Atheism that the Church hath been almost ruined thereby In vain do we contend about the greater purity and perfection of the Christian Religion when the verie being and life of it by our contentions and divisions is indangered what will become of our contests for greater reformation in Discipline Worship c. If the Christian Religion it self be lost They are the best and wisest Christians that have most indeavoured that the main Fundamental Doctrines and duties of Religion may be preserved though in the mean time they yield in small matters that concern the beautie and perfection thereof waiting in a wise and peaceable manner til the Lord will grant them their desires therein also in his own way and time VI. Take heed of running into manifest sin and evil upon fears of what is only supposed to be so viz. Of casting off Ordinances neglecting of the publick Worship of God breach of the peace of the Church c. Upon pretence of supposed evils in Communion The commands of God for his Worship and Ordinances the Church peace are clear and cogent the matters excepted against are dark and disputable points of controversie and the far greater part of the Churches of Christ on earth have approved of them therefore be afraid while you would shun an evil supposed you run not into another that is a real and far greater evil A truly tender conscience should fear evil on either hand and on this side rather then that VII Charge not on your selves other mens sins but look to your own wayes and duties If you judge Superiors to sin in their impositions or Bishops in any Command or Ministers in their Conformity if you find sin in laxnesse of Discipline in loose admissions to the Ordinances c. It 's not your sin who still Communicate in the Ordinances of Christ provided you do your parts and Office It were sad living in any Church in the World if the sins of others should be charged on such as have neither calling not power to reform them fitter it is by far to mourn and pray for Redressing of such evils then to run out of the Church for them VIII Take heed of that great and common mistake that nothing is to be admitted in and about the government and administration of the Church of Christ in the least Circumstantials thereof but what is particularly and clearly held forth in the Scriptures This mistake hath occasioned many needless scruples in the minds of weak Christians and much promoted groundlesse separation It is a Rule laid down by a whole Assemblie of Divines Assem Conf. of Faith c 1. many of them not much affected to the present establishment That there are some circumstances concerning the Worship of God and Government of the Church common to humane actions and Societies which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence according to the general Rules of the Word And the same is practised among all those that are most averse to the communion of the Church of England who retain amongst themselves many things that they can produce little true-Scripture-proofs for but only practise them prudentially as best conducing to the welfare of their Churches and as they judge to the Order of Gods Worship therein and some have ingeniously acknowledged as much If you search the Scriptures impartiallie concerning Church-government you will finde therein little besides the main Essentials of it as that the Church is to be Governed and that by its proper Officers and directions how they should be qualified and set apart for their Office what the severall duties belonging to their Office are and some general directions about the management thereof All which may sute with the several forms of Government that have been competitors amongst us wherein the power of Christs Officers is further extended or more restrained Stillingf iren pt 2. c 4. c 8. wherein some act in a superior others ina coordinate way and therefore very many learned and godly men have judged that no one form of government was prescribed as necessary in the Church but it 's left to be suted to the condition of those Kingdoms and Nations where the Church shall be planted The like may be said concerning Gospel Worship The main