not been so troublesome and discouraging in any age so is this a season wherein the faithful Orthodox Labourers are few very few in comparison The age before this late Reformation was a very wasting age by reason of Episcopal tyranny many that were conscientious diverted their Studies of those that engaged in the Ministry multitudes were hunted out of this Nation into forein parts where half of them lost their last breath and not half of that half remaining are returned amongst us again It is also with us now as in the first reformation the Popish then so the Episcopal dis-affected Ministers now have necessarily been turned out of this imployment so that such is the scarcity of well-affected and able men to carry on this work that many Parishes throughout the Nation lye vacant and are as sheep without a Shepheard especially in the remoter parts And where it is otherwise and places better furnished the number is not sufficient no not in the City of London or the Universities to preserve their people to the intrest of the present work of Christ but are more and more prevailed upon and infected with the old Leaven of Popery and Superstition and the wretched Principles of the Episcopal malignant Party which daily increaseth every where And the reason of such Apostacy I conceive to be this Many superstitious and ill-affected still hold their places and Livings by the intrest of friends or having been wary and kept without the reach of the Ordinance and those more open who have been ejected creep into the empty and vacant places and having no legal maintenance are not nor are the people that receive and maintain them within the reach of any Law as yet established so that it is to be feared such persons upon one account or other are a greater number than the sound and godly and those that ingage thorowly in this work This being so the faithful and well-affected Ministers of the Gospel should not at such a time especially but for very great unworthiness be ejected and put out of their places There is too much ground to fear that some one such imposition as in THIS CASE and rigorously prosecuted upon such as cannot conform will give the Malignant party the day they look for and those that doe conform and keep their places will be so overtopped by Malignants and their followers as they will not bee able to do much in reforming of their people any where The common sort of men in all such changes being ordinarily found very brutishly to stick and hold to old Customs and then most of all and with most zeal when there is an endeavour by wholsome Laws and constitutions to direct and put them on to a more Gospel and Spiritual way of serving the Lord. §. 12. It is thought and said the differences and contest about Church-Government and the like matters that have unhappily faln out amongst those that are well-affected hath been a great advantage and strengthning to the other party And very likely it hath been so and therefore the more heed ought to be lest some new matter of controversie be started that may occasion further differences amongst the godly Our adversaries never have such advantage of the different opinions or practices that are amongst our selves as when for such differences wee drive one another out of the field Though differences are and have bin between Presbyterians and Independents yet each keeps his station and fights in different regiments it may bee against the same common Enemy But by such penalties of ejection and silencing we drive a considerable part of our own out from us when our common enemy is already too strong for the whole The Popish party had no such advantage by any differences amongst those that opposed them in the first reformation as when the brethren so differing came by the severity of Governours to bee distinguished by the sir-names of Conformists and Non-Conformists and the one upon that account cashiered and droven out of the field by the other And I have been very apt to conceive this to be the cause why that first reformation prospered no better we know that in near a hundred years it gained little upon Popery and superstition more than was gotten by the first assault nay it decayed and Popery grew under it so fast as at last wee were almost returned into the same condition that we were reformed from this I say may be the cause There was the like severe impositions and Lawes made as in this case upon occasion of differences amongst themselvs and then advantages were taken thereby and many put out of the Muster-roll for Non-Conformity who were of greatest courage and most faithful resolution against Popery and Superstition the then common enemy The silencing and ejection of Ministers in Q. Elizabeths days reformation being newly begun the enemies to it many the friends and those that faithfully engaged few was looked upon by the godly prudent of that age as very unseasonable yea though their crimes had deserved it because of the scarcity of Preachers at that time There is nothing more frequent in our suffering Brethrens writings that were then published against the Hierarchy than a bemoaning the great losse to the cause and people of God thereby I will mention but one Considering the season saith Mr. Parker though wee were worthy yet should wee least be deprived now when Popery Episcopacy and malignancy wee may adde riseth like the swellings of Jordan yea maketh invasion like an armed man when there are wanting many this is truly our sad case at present On the other side in many Parishes to stand up in the gap against it Doth not the Canon Law it self spare depriving for greater faults when there is PENVRIA sacerdotum quando utilitas eccelesiae exigit Park of the Crosse cap. 5. § 16. CHAP. VIII Schismes and Divisions amongst the people of God occasioned and continued thereby is another fruit See Pa. 101 120 or evil consequence of such penalties §. 1 SUch Impositions and Penalties are a means to fix and hold up the differences that are in mens judgements about the things of Christ and alienate affections in those that differ and so occasion Rents and Schisms amongst the people of God Love is the bond of perfection by it the members are Spiritually united to the body as they are by faith to the Head Christ Jesus Heresie divides from the head Schisme from the members it being a loosening or breach in that bond love hath its seat and foundation in TRUTH 2 John 1. Whom I love in the truth 2. For the truths sake which dwelleth in us and shall bee with us for ever As Saints and especially Churches have their love and compactnesse maintained in being of the same mind and judgment in Truths so Schisms usually begin from differences in that respect Rom. 16.17 §. 2. There are truths known and generally received there are also truths not or not so fully
lives for uniformity Bellarmine disputes to have the Service in the same Language in all the Popes Dominions for uniformities sake and what thing be it ever so absurd but may bee brought into this List Where Councels or Convocations have a minde to bee rid of those of more conscientious and uncomplying spirits tempting them by this means to that which they will call Schisme and separation they may thus easily compass their designes Ob. 6. Wee are bound by Covenant to uniformity in the Worship and Service of God and in particular to an uniformity in Catechising Answ I doe not beleeve the Covenant did or doth binde us to any thing in the Worship of God but what in conscience and prudence we were bound to practice and doe if there had been no Covenant neither are wee bound to any other uniformity but what was but even now mentioned 2 The former part of the Dispute in this Argument must bee refuted before wee can thus reason for if it bee a sinful and unwarrantable addition in the Worship of God besides or against the Word of God The Covenant cannot make a crooked thing strait Eccl. 7.13 or an evil thing good a Covenant brought in so lately cannot make voyd any branch of the Covenant God made with his Church so many hundred years before it And therefore it is added in our Covenant according to the Word of God 3 There is no Uniformity in any administration mentioned there but such as is necessary to such an end as is there also proposed namely that wee and our posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us which certainly will better bee accomplished without such an external mould of conformity then with it There was faith and love and peace amongst godly Ministers when Catechismes were and were used in greatest variety 4 We are bound by the Covenant to no stricter uniformity in a Catechisme then wee are in other parts of Worship now in no part of the Directory or Worship there mentioned are we bound to method and words as appeareth evidently throughout the Directory no nor are wee bound to the Directory further then is explained in the Preface to it for that was stood upon by a considerable party in the Assembly and assented unto by the whole and mentioned in the Committee of Accommodation as a foundation of an agreement p. 4. which Preface professedly holds forth the intent of the Assembly in matters of Uniformity thus Our meaning therein being only that the general Heads the sense and scope of the Prayers and other parts of Publique Worship being knowne to all there may bee a consent of all the Churches in those things that containe the substance of the Service and Worship of God and the Ministers may bee hereby directed in their Administrations to keep like soundnesse in Doctrine and Prayer and may if need be have some help and furniture And yet so as they become not hereby slothful and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Christ in them But that each one by meditation by taking heed to himself and the Flock of God committed to him and by wise observing the wayes of Divine Providence may be carefull to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials of Prayer and Exhortation as shall bee needful upon all occasions 5 It is not to an uniforme Catechisme but uniformity in Catechising in the Covenant wee may be uniforme in Catechising though we use not a Catechisme the same for matter and words we may bee uniforme in preaching though we bee not bound to the same Homily the same forme of words nay though not use the same method as to preach constantly by Doctrines Reasons and Uses which is expresly asserted in the Directory for Preaching And such were the Directories of reformed Churches as before was instanced where I hope was Uniformity Yea in Scotland it self the Uniformity stands not in being held to a sameness of words Habemus quidem nos etiam in Ecclesia saith a Learned Scotch-man agendas ordinem in sacris celebrandis servandum Alex. Dâ—â— sed nemo alligatur c. proponuntur tantum ut paradgimata quib precum materia forma quo ad substantialia indecantur non ut eisdem verbis astringantur ministri totos ego tredecim annos quibus functus sum ministerio sive in Sacramenta sive in aliis sacris celebrandis precib aut Exhortationibus quae extant in agenda unquam usus sum sic etiam aliis cumplures omnibus etiam liberum idem facere That this is the use of a Directory in the reformed Churches appears in the words of Mr. Hooker in his Eccl. Pol. Wee hold it much better with the Church of Rome to appoint a prescript forme which every man shall be bound to observe then with them the reformed Churches to set downe a kinde of Directory a forme for men to use if they list or otherwise to change as it pleaseth themselves There was an uniformity in blessing the people yet if you compare Numbers 6.23 2 Cor. 12.13 2 Thess 3.17 18. Heb. 13.20 21. Jude 24 25. together you shall not finde their blessings the same for matter and words no nor in that which you call the Lords Prayer if you compare Matthew 6.9.13 Luke 11.2 3 4. Ob. 7. It may be yet further argued it will be an advantage when the younger sort remove out of one Parish into another as we finde in using the same Grammer and other Bookes it is an advantage when Children remove from one Schoole to another Ans Formes beget a forme but as they have little so work little of the power of godlinesse the scope of Ministerial instruction is not only to fasten in the Memory and accordingly by rote to repeat it thence but to beget a grounded understanding whether wee carry away the words or not if variety of Catechisms and all sound and according to the Analogie of Faith the Doctrine is the same though the words be not and if it be received with understanding wee shall acknowledge truth in what method or form of words soever wee meet with it if it be not the same but another Catechisme containing some few other truthes yet such possibly as are useful and necessary to be known as those in a former Catechisme and so a means to increase knowledge CHAP. V. The second Argument Of Christian Liberty things indifferent the particular Catechisme designed not so desirable for this use and how many wayes our Ministerial Liberty is prejudiced by the imposition of it SUch an imposition of a set Catechisme cannot bee submitted unto and our Christian Liberty preserved This was another Argument brought by our suffering Brethren against former impositions in the Worship of God in the Episcopal times How much wee ought to stand for the preservation of such a Liberty they declare from these following Scriptures Galath
known but doubtfully assented to Truths nourish love no further than mutually beleeved and agreed in hence ignorance weaknesse in judgement dubiousnesse and the like or what keeps us from a clear and full cloze with truth are very prejudicial to love and intirenesse amongst brethren Truths also are either about what is of necessity and a Christians duty or what is indifferent and a Christians liberty Where these are not held distinct and weight laid upon them accordingly but matters of duty in a liberty or indifferency or things left to our liberty held to and required in our practice as necessary Herein so farre as wee divide from truth in our apprehensions in like proportion we are disposed to divide one from another in our affections Ignorance Error mis-apprehensions alienation in affections these and the like dispose us to Schisme and Divisions Aquinas 2◠2◠q. 39. yet Schisme is a sin distinct from each Wee must propria sponte intentione separare ab unitate quam CHARITAS facit before we become Schismaticks Knowingly and purposely to take up or impose that for duty which is not so or to make such things indifferent that are necessary To bee wilfully ignorant or through sluggishnesse and indisposednesse to search to take upon trust with a party and thereupon endeavour a wilfull separation and dividing from our brethren this whatsoever other thing besides it may justly bee termed Schisme And it is then most visibly and properly schism when it is a dividing where a more visible and professed union as in or from Churches as Sedition is most apparently such when it is a faction in a formed Common-wealth §. 3. These and the like Roots of Schisme lye many times secret and under ground our darknesse as well as our light may be under a bushel our infirmities and mis-apprehensions yea want of Love it self is sometimes covered with love so that differences break not forth to an open contest and professed disowning either of opinion practices of persons But when the matter of such differences falleth under an IMPOSITION Governours thinking to bring all into unity by an enforced uniformity These differences then that before were private or in a lesse compasse are scattered as it were and carried forth by the hand of these Lawes and injunctions become more publick and professed Yea what before was of infirmity and weaknesse grows up apace to wilfulnesse and stifnesse at least so judged by one of the other in the opinion of each party respectively In matters that are indifferent and granted to be so by the imposers or if necessary yet when not evidently so but doubtful and disputable let it be in Worship or Discipline there is no severity of the Civil Magistrate or Censure of the Church can reduce all no not all that are holy sober and judicious into an uniformity The experience of many years and the extremities and sufferings upon this account of many precious learned men doe sufficiently confirm it And if by such severity unity and uniformity bee not obtained divisions distractions and differences will from thence arise and grow more open and fixed by reason of such impositions And this cometh to passe many ways §. 4. ¶ I SUch matters though in themselves indifferent and arbitrary or if otherwise yet if not clearly but doubtfully so by an imposition of this nature are evidently held forth and as it were asserted to bee both clear and necessary and this hath ever been a foundation of great breaches 1 Necessary and a duty For what is imposed by wise and righteous Governours with such enforcements as if it bee not submitted unto the most necessary duties of the Ministerial Function as Preaching Sacraments c. Abridg. pag. 38. must bee omitted at least by the most tender and conscientious Ministers throughout the Nation it was so argued in the Case of Ceremonies questionlesse whatsoever shall bee so imposed Bradsh 12. Arg. arg 1 interprets it self thereby to be equally necessary with some or all these Ministerial duties And in my submission and practice in respect to such imposition I own them to be of the same necessity and there is no means to give testimony to the contrary and to what I judge the truth but by Non-Conformity and submitting rather to the penalty For where there is an opinion of necessity say our Brethren known to bee annexed unto that which in my Conscience is not so it is a part of that Confession which every Christian is bound to make of his Religion Abridgement pa. 38. to reject them and this reason for it is given by them The yeelding obedience in using such Forms or Ceremonies or what is of an indifferent nature in it self wherein others place holinesse or necessity is an occasion of confirming and hardning such Governours or others in their errours Again 2 Such a penalty as silencing or ejection implies these commands to have very clear evidence and undoubted warrant from the Scriptures at least in the opinion of the Governours that inflict it otherwise it were great injustice to require submission upon such terms He that cannot clearly know his Masters will should not be chastised with such stripes If we refuse to submit though it be out of tendernesse and fear to offend the Lord being doubtful yet such commands speaking these things not only necessary but evidently so Wee shall suffer under the reproches as our Brethren formerly did of persons that were proud Powel in his Consider wilful obstinate disobedient to Government disturbers of the Church Schismaticks and the like §. 5 Our differences being thus heightned by impositions and becoming greater by prejudice misinterpretation upon that account than what indeed they are in themselves The persons engaged are accordingly judged of and Censured and a distance kept as if they were guilty of wilful disobedience or neglect in some great and necessary matters of the Worship and Service of God and accordingly we hold off from one another and abate in affections When the foundation is removed when TRUTH hath changed its station LOVE that is built upon it must needs vary if not vanish quite away And that party which soever it is that from any consideration interprets up those lesser matters to such an odious height will bee judged by the other to be the first that declines in affection and that is the beginning of all breaches and schisms The load of that reproach was laid by the Episcopal Party on the Ministers that left their Charges who in Conscience were not able to conform Offer of Conf. p. 5 But with a great deal more reason our Brethren that suffered charged the Schisms and disturbances in the Church upon Episcopal severity and rigour of their power in keeping on and heightning penal impositions upon Ministers and taking advantage thereby to suspend some and weary others out of their places And if then such a decession of Ministers from their Churches were a Schisme the