worse case than many of the Heathens or in a great abatement of their hopes who perhaps never had the opportunity of joyning themselves to the Church of God and maintaining one Uniform Worship with it And now if possibly these Men should affirm themselves to be the true Church and so think to remove this Consequence from them it is very demonstrable that our Church is not only the most reasonable Institution of a Church which may be even defended in a rational way without the advantage of Antiquity but the very Ectype from the Apostles or the nearest resemblance of their Platform and the most Apostolick in the World which none can deny without betraying a lamentable defect in Primitive History And if they should still defend themselves that their Differences to us does not amount to a Dis-union from us or from our Apostolick Church but that notwithstanding they may be still accounted in Fellowship with it it is too apparent that those who do not consent in that particular Order Government and Ministry which God has ordained in his Church but innovate in some of these respects that is who either will not Conform with an Episcopal Church or Christian Society governed in the most Primitive manner by Bishops whom St. Cyprian so often styles the Principles of Unity or that which makes a Church when it is conjoyned to one Bishop as the visible Head of it And therefore the Novatians Donatists Meletians who maintained another Head of Union namely the Martyrs were all accounted Schismaticks by him and other Fathers or those who will not submit to the Primitive Discipline of the Church which was setled and instituted by the Apostles they may well be said to renounce and recede from their Church because in this Obstinacy or incomplyance they promote Factions and Discord in the Church and so violating that indispensible Charity which ought to be in it they lose their Christian Rights or cease to be of it Especially those that will not Communicate in the Sacraments of the Church these being the essential Bonds of of its Communion they must needs be accounted as divided Branches and not of that Society indeed they have no publick badge to maintain themselves Christians from and if they triumph in a good Life as many of them do they may rather be reckoned for a sort of Moral Religionists then such as can pretend to Christs Name or the Religion that he founded And now after all this if we consider the Apostles account of Schism which more plainly expresses the danger thereof seeing it has the same relation to our Church or ours being specifically the same with that which he sounded it may be more affecting and more inforce a Reformation Gal. 5.19 where he reckons up Strife Seditions Heresies with those other abominable works of the Flesh that does exclude from the Kingdom of God and then he shews the particular Character of this Sin 1 Cor. 3.3 Whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men And St. Jude saith the same thing that those who separate themselves are sensual having not the Spirit vers 19. and to speak plainly 't is evident that either Pride which has always Obstinacy a Concomitant of it that they would be accounted gifted Men and have the credit of a special acquaintance with the Spirit which they think cannot consist with a set Liturgy although never so well composed both as to the extent of Prayer or good things that we should request for and proper expressions of Devotion to promote a due Affection in us it is this same Pride or Covetousness and some secular advantages from it that affords the reason of all Dissenters which indeed are as carnal things as Intemperance or any other bodily enormity can be There can be no Plea of Conscience for it at least in the more knowing of them and when they urge this they either in their proper art of dissimulation speak against their own Conscience and true Notions of things and so deceive some other honest People or they have contracted an habitual prejudice from one of these two Vices and their Indulgence in them and so are under a Self-delusion or deceive themselves in the case And I am confident that if our Non-conforming Brethren should honestly examine themselves in their own minds they would find where profit does not determine a great Preference of themselves and mean Opinion of other Christians who live in the sober use of their own Faculties and the common means of Grace without any pretentions to Miracles or the extraordinary gifts of Gods Spirit I say they would find this Spiritual Pride in them which indeed makes them what they are or Dissenters from us as also hinders them from a due Confession of their Sin and returning to us This I am confident is the predominant Principle in all those that separate from us however they began their Separation whether from themselves or had it more excusably derived to them through Education yet this is in them namely a Self-applause and contempt of others and indeed the Apostle resolves it into this Ephes 4.2 3. as will plainly appear from a due reflection on that place and therefore I believe the best method with them is first to subdue this unreasonable Swelling or Imposthume of theirs to advance some Sobriety in them and a just Opinion of themselves which only will make them capable of Conviction or Reconcilement to the Church For while they continue in their Pride they continue in their Prejudice also this being one effect of it and have no free use of their judging Faculties And therefore this Mountain is first to be removed which indeed is a Moliminous enterprise before we can do any good with them And then he may also offer the civil sin of Separation or Disobedience to Lawful Authority in dividing from a National Church to which Uniformity is absolutely necessary all difference of Worship by ranking Men into several Parties and promoting several Opinions and Assections in them inevitably making if not an actual Disturbance a most certain disposition for it in the State And this is the Eternal reason of Penal Laws in Religion to secure the External Peace of any Kingdom And therefore the Minister must inforce the indispensible Obligation that those of any Society or Government are under to conform with the publick expression of Religion or the practice of the Church there and nothing can justifie a Division from it but only sinful terms of Communion with it which I am certain none can charge with any colour of Argument so as to satisfie an Impartial Spirit in the thing upon the most Pure and Primitive Church of Christ in respect of outward Form and Discipline as we may well maintain ours to be And then he may farther represent the great Blessings of Vnity which in their Separation they deprive themselves of when the Publick Service is an Vniform
thing and our Prayers are sent up from an unanimous Consent which gives the greatest prevalence to them according to that of the Psalmist comprehending the true Church of God whether Jewish or Christian Psalm 133. Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity It is like the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the Mountains of Zion for there the Lord promised his Blessing and Life for evermore And moreover it is not only very decorus but there seems to be a necessity for it that they should maintain an inviolable Peace and Uniformity among themselves who all pretend to be of one body or Christian Community all lay claim to one Spirit the Eternal Comforter all are called into one hope of their calling all acknowledge one Lord the Head and Redeemer of his Church one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in as all as the Apostle argues Eph. 4.3 And in all this management I am apt to think that although Pride and Prejudice or Interest in some Persons be the whole account of Separation which would almost put one out of temper to dispute with those People yet a due Candor or Argument managed in a courteous manner is the most effectual means to reclaim them and convince them of their Error as indeed it is to convince any Ill Language or fixing Names upon any Person will never work a Conversion in him but rather engage him in a bold defence of himself and his Errors both together that he may thus remove such an Aspersion from him this indeed is very dis-ingenuous but I believe 't is Natural to most Men and therefore Railing whether in the Pulpit or other places and Conference with Men as it is a very Unchristian thing and a great Trespass upon Charity especially that most Charitable Office of Preaching or Beneficence to Souls so it is a very improper proceeding to convince any or make them Proselytes to a good Cause nay one may easily observe in a due reflection on Humane Nature that it will rather set them at desiance from it And therefore those Unchristian Preachers that use Railing in their Sermons besides a base Temper they have antecedently in them they are rather guilty of fortifying People in their ill Courses than doing any Service to their Conversion And I wonder how they can satisfie themselves in this deportment There is a duty of Humanity incumbent upon us towards all Men how Wicked and Perverse soever and we must treat them with the proper respect of Humane Creatures if we should find them no Christians so that this thing of Railing is a casting off the Manhood it self with the necessary Civility that is in it and belongs to it as well as the Candor of the Gospel which adds a farther degree to this Civility And therefore that advice of the Apostle is both upon a Natural account and a Christian Eph. 4.31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and we read that Michael when contending with the Devil himself he durst not bring a railing accusation against him Jud. 9. And the other Angels did behave themselves in the same manner 2 Pet. 2.11 so that to bestow ill language upon any besides the inefficacy of it to any good Purpose can never be justified in any Person and perhaps this being so contrary to Charity the great distinguishing thing of the Gospel argues a worse disposition in him that uses it than any he can meet with in other People And therefore fairness of Speech and Argument is the best method both for our selves and those we converse with in order to promote a due advantage to them in our Discourses with them But then a Minister in all his Candor of Language with this Party of Men must be sure to maintain his Ground still or the Injunctions of the Church and make no Condescentions from them in any thing indeed in respect to a good Conscience he cannot do it and whether it be advisable in the State 't is not for me to determine The example of St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.20.21 who was a Jew in some instances and Conformable to the reasonable Worship of the Heathens in others does not at all comprehend our Case He might do that when the Church had not set her Authority upon any certain Form of Worship or when the Publick Service was more free and unsettled which we cannot do who live under a legal Establishment of Religion and a Canonical Obedience to that And I dare say that St. Paul was as punctual an Observer of the Decrees of that first General Council held at Jerusalem Acts. 15.20 as any of us can be of those of our own National Church and therefore when this Method of Gentleness will not prevail upon them then it is necessary that he proceed to that extream thing of Ecclesiastical Censures or the Discipline of the Church as our Saviour lays down Mat. 18.17 which was the constant Practise of the Apostles and at least approved by God from the custom of the Jews if not positively instituted by him And indeed this is the most proper Method to reduce and reclaim an Obstinate Sinner who most likely in a due Punishment may have his prejudice much abated or come to a free consideration of things which will certainly produce a Reformation in him or if this Effect fail upon himself through an inflexible hardness yet his circumstance may be very Beneficial to others to deter them from the like Offences and if his Guilt be so aggravated in an exclusion of Civil Commerce to hinder the Influence of his Vices And I am Confident that our indulgence to obstinate Sinners whether in the Church or Dissenters from it who through their Obstinacy have almost lost their right to our Christian Charity or have no farther Plea for fair means I am confident that our Indulgence or neglect of Censures towards them which are the Weapons of our Warfare in this respect and which makes the Church of God as terrible as an Army with Banners casting out every thing that defileth or worketh Abomination from that Holy Communion this is the Cause of that great Atheism and Profaneness that is in the Church and that numerous Separation from it and we shall never deliver our selves from these two till we reassume this Primitive Discipline and only Remedy of them This is the Province of a Preacher and these good things or these Precepts of Holiness he must inculcate upon his Charge not after the manner of Men or with that remisness that is commonly used in indifferent matters but with a proper importunity and earnest Perswasion so as to signifie the moment of that concern he is then about which is no less than the Salvation of Souls one whereof is of more account than many worlds He must like the Apostles
or give sufficient notice of Sin and Judgment Sleeping lying down loving to slumber which are all to denote a careless Pastor But let such Shepherds know that God will certainly be against them and require his Flock at their hands But Seventhly Supposing that a Vicious Man could be sound in his Principles and industrious in his Calling with the other requisites of a Minister that I have here mentioned which I believe is morally impossible yet his ill Example will much hinder if not wholly disappoint the good effect of his Doctrine The Examples of Governours whether tending to Vice or Vertue have a very large and prevailing Influence This is a thing of familiar Observation and every Age does abound with fresh instances of it but the worser Examples because of the depraved Inclinations of Humane Nature which we have either wholly contracted or much improved upon us these Examples are more spreading Most Men are willing to gratifie their sensual Appetites and are very glad when they can meet with any small Argument to that purpose but no Examples are of more pestulential consequence than those of the Clergy For those things that should aggravate and heighten the sense of their Crimes create a stronger detestation of them namely their Sacred Function and larger Knowledge of Divine things these prove great perswasives and encouragements to the same Impieties For they will say at least the more ignorant sort of People or the more habitual in their Vices these having more Understanding than we have are also obliged to a greater Sanctimony and strictness of living Why therefore should we deprive our selves of those Liberties and Pleasures those necessary recompenses of a careful Life which they enjoy especially when 't is probable that our scant knowledge and notion of things does only restrain us For if either of those Actions were sinful which we suppose so or were attended with such dismal consequences then certainly they whose Lips must preserve Knowledge and who are as nearly concerned in the case as we are would perceive it and live otherwise And thus the more eminent their Station the more solemn their Charge is the farthey will their ill Example dilate and carry a more spreading Contagion along with it And hence we read in the Canons of the ancient Church that Priests were often deposed for small Offences not from this Opinion that such being so indisposed for Holy things did frustrate the event of them for 't was only one particular Sect of the Donatists who maintained the Piety of the Minister as necessary to the efficacy of his Ministry or the Sacraments administred by him but especially to prevent the great prevalency of an ill Example upon those below them by shewing some remarkable instance upon them And now to conclude If the Good Man only be Sound and Orthodox in his Principles if he be an Universal Teacher both to dissuade from Vice in general and exhort to every particular Vertue if he be the most perswasive and prevalent Orator if he hath that holy boldness from his own innocency to be affrighted with none Affronts or terrors of wicked Men if he hath a vigorous love of God in his Spirit and fervent Charity towards his Brethren which is only another branch of it so that he will refuse no labours or troublesome enterprises whatsoever for the advancement of Gods Glory and the Salvation of Souls which are only two notions ill divided and the same thing if he transcribe his Doctrines into his own practice and shew himself a pattern of good Works and by this means in a Vertuous Life has gained a great Veneration among all People so that he carries a kind of Authority along with him those of the contrary part being ashamed having no ill thing to say of him If the Good Man hath all these gifts and qualifications in him then he must needs be the most successful Preacher and the Gospel will best thrive and prosper under his endeavours And if a bad Man want all these then he is never like to promote Religion in the World or bring any advancement to Christ's Kingdom And therefore as many of us as have this sacred Imployment upon us to be Labourers in Christs Vine-yard must cleanse our selves from all silthiness both of flesh and spirit persecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. We must be spotless and irreproveable not only for our own sakes but for the sakes of the People among whom we Converse and Live we should ascend to some eminent degrees of Vertue and Holiness Our grent calling requires it from us not being contented with the common measures of the World however we must preserve our selves from any thing of Scandal or open Impieties lest we bring a disparagement to the Gospel and hinder the influence of it in the minds of Men they are in a great mistake that think themselves only fitted for the Ministry by their Learnning which indifferently is an Instrument either of Good or Evil according to the hands it happens to fall into And I dare boldly affirm That abstracted Learning when 't is separated from Goodness is the most pernicious thing in the Christian World and has produced the greatest mischief in it How came so many Heresies and base Notions among us which always have ill Practices founded upon them but only that some Vicious Man through his Parts and acquired Knowledge became able to defend his Vices and recommend them to the World under the specious habit and appearance of Vertue It is extreamly better to want Learning when it is not directed by Vertue than to have such an ambiguous thing in us which may easily produce such an ill consequence of it And therefore we must especially endeavour after a more signal Holiness as a just qualification for the Ministry which is also the best method of attaining to true Learning Others may spend their time in trifling Notions and pretend to an Universal acquaintance with all Nature as if they had been at Counsel with the Almighty when he made the World yet if they 'll deal but ingenuously with themselves they must still confess that there are abundance of occult qualities even in the most ordinary things and that they cannot presume to the true Philosophy of one Single grass-pile but the Good Man is the only Scholar his Learning is in a better kind and of a more useful consequence both to himself and the whole World for he hath Gods Blessing in all his Studies and is directed and assisted by it If then we would not only fit our selves for the more sacred Character of the Clergy but also be good Proficients in true Learning we must begin at Vertue and found all our endeavours upon it or manage them all in a joynt exercise of it and then we shall attain to the most concerning Knowledge or the best Improvements that we are capable of which others can never do in all their unsanctified Labours according to that of the Psalmist The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do thereafter And if we do not then so minutely know the several motions and designments of Nature in her smallest Operations which some fondly pretend to the happier we this argues that we are better imployed and that our more useful Contemplations are not interrupted with insignificant and empty subtilties such as have no influence upon the Mind towards any Moral improvement of it That we may all of us proceed in this method to improve our selves and serve God in his Holy Church God of his Infinite Mercy grant c. FINIS