afflictions and persecution and follow him in a way of holinesse purity in the straight way And then he will give him a Crown of life he shal have an hundred fold in this life with persecution that is the comfort of an hundred fold if he misse of such increase in the same kinde and eternall glory in the World to come Now we must sit down consider what we do as Luke 14.28.31 Christ teaches by the parable of him that builds a Tower and of the King that goes to warfare Now thus to chuse our Religion to espouse the Christian Faith for better for worse to take the sweat with the bitter the Cross with the Crown This is another Act wherein this choice stands 3. Act is a setled purpose and full resolution to live and dye therein to adhere and cleave thereto even to the end to be faithful to the Death to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart as we read Joshua his resolution I and my house will serve the Lord we are resolved who ever depart from Jehovah we will cleave unto him And as the Disciples John 6. when many forsook Christ and the Christian Religion their Lord saith unto them and will ye also go away Peter answers in the name of the rest whether shal we go for thou hast the words of Eternal life Alack if we draw back from the Lord his soul shall have no pleasure in us we draw back unto perdition but if we continue in the faith we shal then have the Crown of life Life and Death are before us herein as Moses told the Israelites if we serve the Lord and fear him and cleave unto him then life but if we turn from him and his truth and wayes then Death all a mans righteousnesse shal be forgotten he shal dye in his sins Thus in these three Acts stands the right chusing of a mans religion CHAP. III. Considerations evidencing it a principal point of wisdom for a man to make a right choice of that Religion he professes in the World and ventures his Eternal Salvation upon HAving shewed wherein this wise chusing ones Religion stands and what Acts must concur thereto We come next to demonstrate it to be such a principal point of wisedom for a man to make a right choice of his Religion he professes in the world and ventures his Salvation upon This may be evinced from the ensuing Considerations 1. The Necessity for a man to be of some Religion and if so wisedom should direct to make choyce of the best Now it 's necessary to be of some Religion We cannot live without God Acts 17.28 In him we live move and have our being And is it not fit then we should acknowledge God and worship him in the very framing of the nature of man there are such principles of Religion ingraven in him that cannot be razed out that have taught the very Heathens to worship a Deity so that we should be worse then Heathens yea become very beasts and below men if wee should not be of some Religion Besides it is the expresse command of God by his written Laws given to the Sonnes of Men that they adore worship and serve him he expects it as an homage from them and will not loose his glory Such Atheists are accursed by him as cast off all Religion live without God in the World And though some such Atheists have been found who in their prosperity forget God whilst they can better shift without him yet in their miseries and dangers they have been forced to acknowledge God and call upon him as the Mariners in the Ship with Jonah c. Now if it be so Is it not fit to chuse the true God and the true Religion 2. There are many false Religions in the World and we may soon be imposed on and deluded if we make not a wise choice of our Religion There be many Lords and many gods so called saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 8.5 though to us there is but one living and true God ther 's many wayes of Religion Heathenism Mahometanism Judaism and Christianity and amongst Christians how many different wayes this day scarce to be numbred and therefore we had need to make a good choice The greatest part of the World were deceived in former times of old the whole World almost followed false gods except Israel At this day some observe if the World be divided into thirty parts nineteen of them are Heathen Idolaters six be Mahometans some though inconsiderable Jews and only the other five parts of the thirty be Christians and how many different wayes be amongst them Protestants Papists Muscovites Greeks in Europe besides multitudes in other parts of the World And these admitting many subdivisions amongst themselves Therefore we had need to make a wise choice 3. It 's that whereupon our greatest interest depends on the right chusing ones Religion or our mistakes about it eternall happiness or misery life or death depend Deut. 32.46 47. in things of great importance men use much deliberation and make the wisest choice they can how necessary is it here That opinion or dream that every man may be saved by his own Religion if he be true to it is more becoming Turks then Christians They say there are three Banners whereby men are conducted to Heaven Moses's Christs and Mahomets but we Christians know no other way to Salvation but one viz. by faith in Jesus Christ for there 's no other name under Heaven to be saved by but by the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4.12 Indeed many lesser differences may be amongst them that hold that one Faith They may hold the head Christ and yet differ in smal things with safety to their Souls if they build on the foundation and corner-stone Jesus Christ heartily believing the principles of the Christian Faith and living according to them though they add thereto the Hay Stubble and wood of smaller errors they may be saved notwithstanding these 1 Cor. 3.15 Salvation may be had amongst several forts of Christians that all agree in the great Articles of the Christian Faith and live piously and charitably whether Lutherans Calvinists Arminians Anabaptists Episcopal Presbyterian Independent c. These are not different Religions but different forms of the same Religion wherein the children of the same Father are dressed up in different habits But where any differ in fundamentals and even turn to another Religion to another Gospel or Christ as the Apostle speaks to the Galatians as too many Sects amongst us are found to do viz Papists Socinians Quakers c. Those I mean who are throughly such not all that ignorantly adhere to them it would be foolish charity to flatter them with hopes of Salvation in such wayes if living and dying according to those corrupt principles because they are in the number of those Damnable Heresies the Scripture speaks of Now this being clear that Salvation dependeth upon espousing the right Religion What
venture their souls on a sure bottom Consider as men and make a wise choice of that Religion you venture your Salvation upon It s not sufficient that it be delivered to you by Tradition from your Ancestors that you yave learned it by education from Godly Parents that it is commanded by the Laws of the Land wherein you live and commended by the practice of wise and pious persons whom you reverence but make a wise choice for your selves Labour to understand distinctly the several Doctrines and mysteries of Faith and duties of Godlinesse contained therein and to know the verity and excellency of it and so take it up upon deliberation weighing both the conveniences and inconveniences so it Comparing the sufferings losses reproaches persecutions you meet withall with the reward and Crown promised and so make a wise choice of your Religion resolving to live and dye therein to adhere to it to the end and be faithful even to Death This is a duty necessary and seasonable to be pressed some have not yet chosen their Religion It 's to be feared ther 's too many not only of the younger sort but of the more antient who according to the proverb have their Religion to chuse Some have made some kind of choice but need to be confirmed and established therein upon good grounds and to be stirred up to be true to the true Religion they professe even to be serious thorough and constant Christians Make this choice then speedily for this is the businesse you come into the World about to know and acknowledge to worship and glorifie God and your Salvation depends upon it Live not without God any longer but acknowledge him that made and redeemed you that feeds and preserves you and learn how to serve him acceptably Do it wisely lest you be deluded there being such diversities of Religions and so many false wayes in the World you had need to have your eyes about you erring herein will not stand with the safety of your souls your external hapinesse or misery depends upon it And then be True to that Religion you chuse play not fast and loose with it It 's a businesse of highest concernment to be serious in Religion what ever you trifle in be not false herein what ever you be faulty in Let the Doctrines and mysteries of Faith you receive influence your hearts and lives sanctify and change them rest not in the form of godlinesse without the power of it Men may as well miscary in the true Religion as in a false if they be false unto it Quest But here a question must be resolved in order to the practice of this duty which is this Some may say Seing there are such diversities of Religion in the World How shal we be able to make a right choice amongst so many of the true Religion especially such of us as be weak and ignorant when great and learned men differ so much about it amongst themselves Answer This is a question of very great importance and indeed deserves a serious Answer I shal speak to it in two particulars 1. It is a mistake to think because of the differences of opinions amongst men that there is such a multitude of Religions in the World for every different opinion is not a different Religion There are to speak properly but four Religions in the World although there be different Sects parties amongst each of these viz. Heathenism Mahometanism Judaism and Christianity Indeed these four disagree much amongst themselves In Heathenism some worship one God some another some multitudes joyntly as may beseen in Scripture and in all Histories In Mahometanism all follow that Impostor Mahomet but yet there are great differences amongst themselves so that they are at deadly Feud often one with another for their Religion sake as is storied of the Turkish and Persian Mahometans In Judaism all worship the true God the maker of Heaven and Earth and receive the Law from Moses serving God according to the Ordinances thereof yet have they different Sects amongst themselves as the Pharisees Sadducees Essens c. In Christianity all worship God in Christ although there be diversities of Sects and Heresies amongst them So that indeed there are but four Religions in the world 2. There 's a great difficulty to discern which of these four we should chuse for our Religion even the weakest understanding that indifferently weighs them may be convinced 1. For Heathenism It s evident to reason their Religion is not true to worship so many Gods and them also creatures as the Sun and Moon yea mortal men that are dead such as Jupiter Juno Saturn c. Yea the worst of Men Their own Poets have branded them with black notes of infamy for Adultery Theft Murther c. It was Gods just judgment as the Apostle observes Rom. 1. To give them up to such delusions to worship such gods because when they knew the true God they did not glorifie him as God Many of their own Religion were convinced they were not in the right and therefore Cicero in his Book De naturâ Deorum saith I would I could as well finde out the true Religion as convince others to be false 2. For Mahometanism though it hath spread far over the World yea further then Christianity is spread at this day yet it s most easie to prove that to be a false Religion Their Prophet was a deceiver and a very flagitious person and wrought no miracles their Alcaron is most barbarous and without sense their Doctrine impure as wel as their Lives their Religion promises a carnal Paradise in the world to come full of sensual pleasures not spiritual and suitable to rational immortal souls It was propagated in the World by the Sword and maintained by ignorance and suppressing all humane learning 3. For Judaism the third Religion in the World That was indeed of God confirmed in the Old Testament But it was to continue for a time till Christ came of whom Moses and the Prophets witnesse abundantly then at the time of Reformation it was to be abolished Heb 9.10 Their whole worship Ceremonies had respect to him on whom because they would not believe but rejâ—cted and crucified him the wrath of God is come upon them to the uttermost They and their Temple was destroyed and the worship of it abrogated and to this day so continues 4 It remains therefore that the Christian Religion is the true Religion or else there 's none in the World And it indeed is witnessed to both in Mahomets Alcoran and in the Jewish Old Testament which speaks fully of Jesus Christ his birth and parentage with the circumstances of time and place his death resurrection c. This was confirmed by many signes and wonders and real miracles wroght by the first planters of this Religion Heb. 2.4 By the means and wayes of propagation of it by weak and unlearned men by whose preaching it soon overspread the World and
up and professe in the World that he intends to live and die in to venture his eternal Salvation upon CHAP. II. Shewing wherein this wise Chusing our Religion stands what acts concur thereunto HAving laid down the proposition which is the ground of our Discourse in the former chapter we come now to inquire concerning the nature of that choice wherein it stands and what things necessarly must concurre to make a wise choice of that Religion we intend to profess in the World Election or chusing in a generall sense is an act of the will proceeding from the previous knowledge and judgement of the understanding whereby amongst diverse wayes or means propounded for the attainment of some End it doth resolve upon some one above the rest that it will ad here unto and make use of for that purpose In particular Chusing ones Religion is also an act of the will arising from the previous knowledge and judgement of the understanding discerning the nature of the thing whereby amongst the many different Religions or wayes of serving and pleasing God and of attaining unto happinesse with him that are found in the World a man doth pitch and resolve upon one above all the rest and with rejection of all others with full purpose to adhere unto it to live and die in it and even venture a mans salvation and happiness on it Here are 3 Acts wherein this right chusing ones Religion doth stand to be explained in order 1. An act of the understanding judging and discerning the nature of the thing that the will chuseth and its excellencie above al things that come in competition with it for to a right choice of the will the understanding and judgement must proceed it must know the nature of it and discern it good or else it s but a blind choice not becoming a reasonable creature and a man may else imbrace evil as well as good The will when is acts regularly follows the Dictate of the understanding this tells what is good and then what chuses as the Palat judgeth of what it tasts and then the stomach or appetite craves it so must the understanding go before her discern the nature verity and goodnesse of that Religion as also the falsnesse vanity and dangerousnesse of other Religions before the will can make a right choice of it Man being a religious creature by the common instinct of his naturall conscience is moved strongly to worship and serve a Deity as we see in all Nations of the Earth much more when he is further stirred up by a divine instinct Now we should consider as men as the prophets phrase is and not exert actions of highest importance without understanding and reason worshiping we know not what as Christ taxes the Samaritans John 4. but give God a reasonable service knowing what God we serve and what Religion we take up and not taking up the next at hand at adventure as most men do that Religion professed where they live commended to them by Education example c. but understanding what we do therein And therefore men that act according to reason will look into the Religions in the World and judge which is best among them or rather into the Word and Oracles of God himself for they best discover what God is and how he will be worshipped Therefore if there be any such thing as Divine Oracles in the world wherein God hath revealed his will concerning matters of Faith and worship we should have special recourse unto them Now that the holy Scriptures commonly called the Bible are such that is the Oracles of the God of Heaven wherein he directs us in the knowledge and worship of himself and in the way of Religion This may appear even to those that have not yet taken upon them any profession of Religion by such Infallible demonstrations as reason cannot contradict viz. From these characters imprinted on them which shew them to be of God from the miracles wrought to confirm them from that spirit of holinesse seen in such as seriously believe them from the accomplishment of a great part of those things revealed therein even such things as were utterly invisible and improbable to created understandings c. And therefore there should be an exact consideration in the judgement and understanding of a man of that Religion revealed in the Scriptures He should 1. Take a particular view of the principal Doctrines the great mysteries of faith and duties of godliness taught therein not taking all in the lump together but having a distinct knowledge of them He whose Religion is in the gross only and hath no distinct apprehensions of the particular doctrines of faith and duties of godlinesse which that Religion teaches he hath no Religion at all for how can these Doctrines influence his heart and life to make him fear and love God truly and lead him to the power and practice of godlinesse if not distinctly known and discerned by him Then 2. Hee must discern the verity and certainty of these Doctrines that he may venture his soul upon them knowing him in whom he hath believed for which and it 's exceeding necessary to be conversant in those Treatises which prove the verity of the Christian Religion and of the Scriptures wherein it is set down of which many be extant in our own Language Without this a man shal never hold fast his Religion especially in trying times 3. He should know the excellency thereof that its such a Religion as tends most to the magnifying of God and giving glory unto him to the advancement of man to true happiness in the love and favor of his God and nearest communion with him and fullest conformity unto him He should often look upon the sublimity of the mysteries the purity of the precepts excellency of the rewards and dreadfulness of the punishments And thus the understanding preceeding in discerning and judging the Religion which is to be chosen is one Act in this Election 2. Act After the understanding doth thus present the true Religion before us in the certainty glory and excellency of it Then the next Act is for the Will to elect chuse and imbrace it solemnly to espouse this Religion and say It shal be mine It 's that I am resolved to professe and to venture my eternal salvation upon what ever inconveniences I may meet with in the profession thereof what ever disgraces reproaches losses Persecutions c. yet this Religion I will be of and this God I will serve We must sit down and consider what it will cost us to be Christians and then espouse the Christian Religion and take it for better for worse embrace the crosse it threatens as well as the Crown it promises For so our Lord warned his Disciples telling them He that will come after me and will be my Disciple must deny himself in his dearest lusts sins nay in his estate and life sometime and take up his Cross of
wisedom is it to make a good choice 4. Because else if one should happen on the true Religion he would never be True unto it unless he take it up on such a right choice as before was spoken of we cannot be Serious Christians nor through Christians but by halves only nor Constant holding out to the End without this right choice 1. Not serious Christians Such as take up a Religion they know not what and on grounds they know not why will be but sleighty and formal in it a little of outside profession they may have but the power of it will be wanting Thus the common sort of Christians that take not up Religion on a wise choice understanding what it is and discerning the verity and excellency of it but because it is professed in the countrey where they live injoyned by the Laws of the Land and commended by the example of Others whom they esteem wise and holy alack how formal and sleighty are they therein not considering the glory of the great God that made them and redeemed them is concerned therein and that the Salvation of their own souls depends on it Whereas such as make a wise choice out of knowledge and discerning serve God with all their heart and strength and soul they rest not in the former but labour in the power of godlinesse Religion is their main business in the World 2. Nor thorough Christians but only by the halves as Agrippa almost perswaded to be Christians They will follow Christ a little way and perform some of the out-side and easie parts of Religion but when they hear some hard sayings as the Capernaits or some difficult duties pressed on them that cross flesh and blood and worldly interest they will except them and say in this thing the Lord be merciful to me c. These are like the Scribe not farre from the Kingdome of Heaven but never shall come there like Herod that reform many things but not at all will pick and chuse where they please Oh that this were not the case of many called Christians And this because they understand not aright what the Christian Religion is and take it not upon good grounds therefore they fall short whereas he that understands what an holy Religion it is and what great duties it requires and casts up before hand the inconveniences losses andl sufferings he may meet with comparing them with the recompence of reward the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory he will go through-stitch will follow God fully and will be altogether a Christian 3. Not Constant but turning away from it upon every Temptation Such are ever wavering and halting betwixt two as the Israelites of old betwixt Iehovah and Baal If heresie seducement and the power of delusions come amongst such how do they turn away from that Religion they have imbraced by companies and turn Runnagados or if the heat of persecution scorch them they wither away because they have no Root Mat 13. We have had too sad experience of this amongst the giddy unstable sort of Christians in our times when God had let loose errors and heresies amongst us to try who were sound and sincere and who not how many were carried away as with a flood And if Popery should prevail again or Mahometanism through the conquering Sword of the Turks one may tremble to think whither such ungrounded Christians may be carryed Whereas on the other hand the Christian that takes up his Religion on good grounds through a wise choice knowing what and in whom he hath believed wil through grace stand strongly as the House built upon the Rock Mat. 7. When the Winds blew and the Waves beat he stands The gates of Hell shall not prevail against such Therefore we see what a great point of wisdom it is for a man to make a wise choice of that Religion he takes up else he will not be true unto it he will not be a serious Christian nor a thorough nor a constant Christian and then as good be none at all It will nothing avail them unto Salvation to imbrace the true Religion no more then it did profite the Israelites of old to have the Temple of the Lord amongst them or the Philistims to have the Ark of the Covenant with them it will but increase their condemnation These considerations are sufficient without insisting upon any other to evidence the truth of our proposition and to commend to us this great duty viz. The wise chusing of that Religion we professe in the World that we mean to live and dye in and to venture our Eternal Salvation upon CHAP. IIII. Wherein the Practice of this Duty is insisted on and Directions given how to chuse the true Religion amongst so many as are in the World All other Religions being rejected The Christian Religion is evidenced to be the only true Religion WE are now come to the practicall part of our discourse to shew how this may be reduced into action that we have been treating on but in words hitherto let every one that God hath given the understanding of a man unto be induced to make a wise choice of that Religion he ventures his eternal Salvation upon This discourse is intended only for such as be resolved to be of some Religion and will not live as Atheists As for them that will not be of any Religion at all but live without God in the World only live to eat and drink and work and sleap and mind their sensual pleasures they degenerate from the Nature of Men and are even turned unto Beasts foolish are they and ignorant to use the Psalmists words Psal 73. and even in this point as Beasts as far below men as Nebuchadnezzar was when he did eat grasse as the Oxen and couched amongst the Beasts for such violate the very Law of Nature which hath taught all Nations however rude and barbarous to take up some profession of Religion They transgresse also the written Law of God which he hath given in his Word and will judge men by at the last day which requires solemn worship and service from the Sons of men They bring themselves directly under the curse or imprecation Jer. 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen and upon the Families that call not on thy Name The wicked shall be turned into Hell with all the Nations that forget God Psalm 9.17 As they say to God now depart from us we will not know thy wayes so they shall hear God say to them shortly Depart from me ye cursed c. Nor do I speak to such base and low Spirits as take up their Religion on trust from others and pinne their Faith upon the sleeves of those to whom they have subjected their judgements and consciences upon account of any worldly or corrupt interest But to such noble Spirits as with the Bereans will take pains to fearch the Scriptures and use all Gods appointed means to inform themselves that they may
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
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
where would it be found in the whole World seeing there 's no Church on Earth but hath some corruptions 6. Let it be considered how unchristian it is to depart from the solemn Ordinances of Gods worship in those Churches where the presence of Christ is yet continued in them have you any warrant to leave them before Christ leave them when God was greatly provoked by the Jewish Church so as he was about to remove from his Sanctuary and stood at the Threshold ready to leave them we finde many godly ones mourning for the abominations of the times but none hastening to depart from that Church before the Lord departed Now can you deny the presence of the Lord in the Assemblies of the Church of England wherein as before was shewed the essentials of Faith and Worship be preserved if God should be as unmerciful as man is uncharitable then wo to all the Churches of Christ throgh the World nay wo to your selves But I question not but there are thousands can seaâ— to the presence of Christ in the Congregations of England at this day as well as in former times wherein the same Corruptions at which so much offence is taken now were urged to plead for a separation then Let such as cry out so much of Popery in others beware of that miserable Popish error they restrain the Church and the priviledges thereof the presence of Christ and Salvation c. to their own Sect and Party and in the mean time casting off the far greater part of the Catholick Church that maintain all the Essentials of Faith and Worship 7. I might enumerate the many great mischiefs that follow upon such unwarrantable Separation It plainly tends to the dishonor of Christ and the reproach of the Christian Religion so the hinderance of the success of the Gospel and the Salvation of Souls so overthrow the Worship of God and to open a Gap to Atheism and prophaness to Heresie and Popery c yea to the utter ruine of the Christian Church Mat. 12.25 But it may seem needless to spend more words in so clear a case nor should I have said thus much had not I been compelled thereto by the uncatholick nay I confidently call it unchristian practice of many well meaning people through their too great prejudice in other Temptations who do totally withdraw themselves from the publick Congregations in England and the true Worship of God therein 2. Having given my advice to hold Communion with the Churches of England in the True Worship of God notwithstanding the corruptions supposed to be therein I do next advise on the other hand not to communicate with her nor with any Church in the World in any evil but if any thing professed or practised therein be found really sinfull which may be supposed of any Church upon Earth in that thing to withdraw and have no fellowship in it to keep your selves pure from the same yea I shal add further if there be any thing that shall but appear sinful to thee thy Conscience after humble and diligent searching of the Word telling thee this is sin then to suspend thy consent or practice in that particular till it appear otherwise to thee I would be here so far from urging any to do that act that a truly tender Conscience upon probable grounds may scruple as sinful that I would rather perswade such to suspend their acting therein till they be better convinced of the lawfulnesse of it * Sanders de Juram p. 84. The dictate of Conscience whether right or erroneous ever bindeth not to act against it and supposing it be a thing not in its own nature necessary but among things disputable and tolerable I would rather become an humble Suitor to Authority could my intercession any whit avail herein for Indulgence in such a case then to be a violent inforcer of any by Terrours or Punishments of the Law to go against their Consciences to please men 3. Yet because Conscience may be deluded and my call that sinfull which is lawful and a duty and so induce men to withdraw in such Acts of Communion as neither the Law of God nor men will allow them to withdraw from for possibly the Devil may get into the Consciences of men and delude them And the Conscience may tell one he must separate from Baptism because Infant-Baptism is Anti-Christian Another he must withdraw from the Lords Supper because of mixt Communion therein A third from the hearing of the Word because the call of Ministers is Anti-Christian A fourth he must cast off Sabbaths yea Scriptures and all Gospel Ordinances because abolished All this we have too sad experience of in our times Let therefore every good Câ—â—istian labour for a due information of his Conscience in such points as he Scruples Communion in and not think his bare plea of Conscience wil warrant his total neglect of any duty Though his suspending his own actings till he may satisfie Conscience about them may be granted yet possibly a total neglect in some things will not be granted Impune by the Law of God or man * An erring Conscience cannot discharge any from a duty being not a Law-maker but subject to the Law Parisiens Now here it may be expected I should offer my help toward the satisfying Conscience in such Scruples as commonly do occurr this day to those that withdraw in whole or in part from the Communion of the Church of England in its present State and Administrations But to do this fully would too much disproportion this part of my discourse to the other parts aforegoing I rather chuse to send them to those Treatises of such eminent Non-Conformists as have written fully on this subject-especially to Mr. W Bradshaw's Book of the unreasonableness of separation prefaced to published by Dr. Ames and to Mr. Jo. Ball his tryal of the grounds tending to separation * only recommending a few general Rules which being observed may be useful in order thereunto and so conclude my Discourse * The Reader is Advertised that there is Published in Print an Aswer to that part of Mr. Ball 's Book which is a Discourse of the lawfulness of a stinted Liturgy and set forms of Prayer under the name of Mr. Jo. Cotton The Answer is highly valued by some but by comparing the Discourse and the Answer together it may be seen that great injury is done to Mr. Ball and to Mr. Cotton both and also that the Reader is grosly abused by it for it is not that Discourse Printed at Cambridge 1640. which is therein answered but probably some imperfect Notes before that was published which is evident not only because the number and order of the Arguments answered do differ from those laid down in that Discourse But especially because the principal things given in answer by Mr. Cotton are so fully spoken to by Mr. Ball herein by way of reply to Johnson Greenwood and others that formerly objected the same
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
duties and Ordinances of it are prescribed and those things wherein the Essence of them stands are more fully and clearly expressed but their circumstances and manner of performance are only couched under general Rules This may be shewed abundantly by instances in the several parts of Worship as Prayer Preaching Sacraments c but it is done by others sully and must be omitted here because of the brevity of these Rules Nor doth this derogate from the sufficiency of the Scriptures nor argue want of wisdome and faithfulnesse in Christ as some plead if he should not prescribe every Particular as Moses did even to the Pinns of the Tabernacle for the Scriptures are sufficient for that end God gave them to make wise to Salvation and in order thereunto to instruct us in all necessarie points of Faith and Practice and for Church-government and Worship there 's enough in these Essentials laid down in Scripture for the preserving the welfare of the Church in the World and securing of the true and pure Worship of God among men those being duly observed And wherein then are the Scriptures to be argued of insufficiencie if they leave some particular circumstances undetermined And for the charge of unfaithfulnesse in Jesus Christ if he should not particularize those things it 's strangely presumptuous Such should rather shew where Christ hath particularly determined all those circumstances then impute unfaithfulnesse unto him if he do not what they wold have to be done There is not the like Reason to determine all circumstances in the Christian Churches as was in the Jewish Church the one being in its Minority the other grown up to a state of greater libertie and perfection Gal. 4 1 2 3 4 5 10. A Boy that goeth to School hath his Lesson set him and in every particular he is stinted to his work but when he goes to the Universitie he only hears Lectures hath general Rules for his study and is left to his own disposition for order and manner of his studies Besides the Jewish Church was confined to one Nation that had its civil government and Laws from God as wel as its Church instiutions but the Christian Church being to spread throughout the World under different civil governments different circumstances might best sute with the state and condition of different People IX Take heed of Resisting the ordinances of God whilst you profess to oppose the institutions of Men. My meaning is whilst you withstand humane inventions as you suppose them in the Worship of God beware you oppose not lawfull Authority which is the Ordinance of God in what they injoin in and about the Worship of God according to the power given them of the Lord. That Magistrates have the care of the Churches in their Dominions committed to them should see to the due administration of the Worship and Ordinances of God therein as well as to the outward peace and prosperitie of the civil State may be manifest to all that are willing to see it by the laudable examples of godly Kings in former times such as David Solomon Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. Whose chiefest care was about Religion and the Worship of God in their Dominions Indeed they are not to make any new institutions of Worship nor alter any thing that is particularlie injoyned in the Word of God But they are to see that all things be administred according to the same And in the particular circumstances undetermined by God they have a power to order and settle things according to the generall Rules laid down in the Word and however you plead you are not to be the Servants of Men you must be therein subject to them in the Lord. It hath been a Notion taken up by some That as in former times the Saints have suffered in giving Testimony to the priestly Office of Jesus Christ so they must bear witness to his Kingly Office what ever they suffer and not yield to any Commandments of men in and about the Worship of God But let such take heed that they oppose not his Kingly Office when they seem to stand up for it For if Magistrates and Rulers be his Vice-gerents as certainly they are and there is a care of his Worship delegated unto them and some power for ordering affairs in his Church in matters of outward conveniency and order where he hath not expresly determined in withstanding them in such things they may resist Jesus Christ himself Indeed it may be a further Scruple in case Magistrates injoyning things inexpedient and inconvenient and so swerve from those general Rules that they are to go by whether they are to yeeld to them in such things or no But if the judgement of Non-Conformists may be taken herein Baxt. five Disp p. 460 c. they determine in such cases it's better to obey then to withstand they may sin in commanding such things and yet subjects not sin in obeying them when commanded they are Judges in such particular cases to determine what is expedient as the Word of God determines what is necessary and herein they follow the judgment of Calvin Ep. 379 which have been ever approved by them who speaking of things of this Nature Saith some things neither right nor profitable but scandalous and drawing evil Consequences with them yet not being repugnant to the word in any express determination of it must be borne of the godly Brethren when they cannot help it and the Churches of Christ not forsaken And indeed if this should not be admitted but so often as any shall judge such or such matters inexpedient they might withstand the Axe seems to be laid at the roots of all government and there wold be little order in the Churches of Christ There is no society in the World but a yielding in some things is necessary for the peace and welfare of that Society X. Let not any principles or practices that you have inconsideratly taken up so far ingage you as to make you loath to teturn to wayes of Truth and soberness Some have it may be unwillingly and with reluctancy only through the violence of some of their own party been led into the wayes of rigid separation to condemn all other Churches but their own however sound in all the main Fundamental and necessary Doctrines and duties of Christianity and to refuse any Communion with them though this hath been condemned by the most wise and knowing â—o their own profession T. G. Mr. Cotton stiled by some the bitter root of separation the way God nere blest with peace and holiness c. And now to return to wayes of sobriety and own such as they have formerly so hotly contended against they know not how to do it There is naturally in man a tenaciousnesse of those wayes and opinions they have once professed that they are loath to recede from them especially if they have contended for them this is a great piece of denyal Men would rather yeeld
in their patrimony saith Bucer then in their opinion Besides they may undergo the heavy charge of Apostacy Ep. to Jo a Lasco and deserting the Truth and changing their Religion c. and this deterrs many from wayes of truth and Sobriety But it would be considered it 's no discharge for the wisest holyest and most learned Men to retract in some controversal opinions or practices Augustine who was esteemed the most learned of the Fathers Writes several Books of Retractations and Jerome to Ruffinus saith never blush Man to change thy opinion for neither you nor I nor any Person living are of so great Authority as to be ashamed to confess that they have Erred And as for the charge of Apostacy and changing your Religion in such a case as this is it 's a great mistake to affirm this for if you search the Scriptures Apostacy is a falling away from the main Fundamental confessed Doctrines of the Gospel and duties of godlyness into manifest heresie or wickednesse not the changing a mans judgment or practice in some points disputable amongst the godly and Orthodox saith Mr. Baxter in his Catholick Vnity Be it known to all the Papists in the World that our Religion is not changed at all our Worship is the same whether within Book or without our Prayers are the same for matter with those in the Common Prayer Book and if I shold one day use the Common Prayer Book and another day forbear it I should not change the Worship of God to pray is part of his Worship but whether it be in a Book or out of it is no part at all but a mode or circumstance which may be altered as occasion serveth Elsewhere the same learned and pious person sheweth what yielding in things lawful the Scripture recommendeth to us from the example of St. Paul Five Disp p. 488. when he circumcised Timothy Act 16.3 And when he took the men and purified himself with them in the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the dayes of Purification c. Act. 21.26 27. So also from what he saith 1 Cor. 9.19 20. I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some and this I do for the Gospels sake XI I add but one Rule of Caution more against a very common but dangerous mistake which is an occasion to many of running in to Error and Heresie as well as into Schism and Separation viz. Take heed of setting up your own apprehensions and conceits of the sense of Scriptures about controverted points as infallible Oracles that you trust so confidently to that you will indanger the Churches peace and your own safety for the maintaining of them where you have not all those necessary helps and means that are requisite to the finding out the minde of God therein Some that have their minds fore-stalled with an opinion or perswasion getting a Bible into their hands presently conceive what ever they meet withall to make for their opinion and begin to be more confident then an hundred wiser and more discerning persons dare to be who know their own darkness and ignorance and the mysteriousness of the things controverted though they have far greater evidence of Scripture and reason for them This carries men into such wilde fancies strange delusions sometimes as bring them under the just censure of Fanaticism a name which is too unjustly applyed to others more sober and pious Christians Though the Fundamental and necessary Doctrines and duties of Christianity are so plainly laid down in Scripture that the weakest Christians may understand them and therefore have much profit by holy and humble Meditation in the Word of God day and night yet Points controverted are oftentimes hidden from ordinary understandings that know not the Languages and proper Idioms of Scripture and customs of the Church and other advantages of learning that its ordinarily impossible they should find out the minde of God therein It 's a vain delusion to think that the Spirit that some pretend to more confidently then they have cause should discover all deep mysteries and obscure points of controversie to those that have but ordinary understandings and are wholly destitute of outward necessary means and hopes for the gaining knowledge thereby the Spirit of God teaches not by such immediate Enthusiasmes but by irradiating the minde and elevating the reason that is exercised in searching the Truth in all Gods appointed means and doth also help the weak to understand savourily all those plain and necessary Truths that tend to godlinesse and to conform their hearts and lives to the love and obedience of them It were more becoming weak Christians in matters disputable to consult with the Writings of able and learned Expositors that have al those advantages which themselves want and not to presume too much on their own understandings in such things which would be accounted unsufferable presumption in other Arts and Sciences and cannot be less in Divinity wherein the greatest mysteries are contained Other Rules of Caution might here be laid down which to avoid prolixity I forbear to enumerate recommending the serious consideration of these things to the sober and humble Christian as greatly conducing to keep him from the by-paths of unjust separation and here conclude with my hearty Prayer to God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant to the Professors of Christianity in all Nations both Rulers and People to minde more and to be more zealous for the great and Fundamental points of Faith and Worship necessary to Salvation and to contend less about things not in their own nature necessary that high impositions might not occasion violent oppositions nor these again produce further impositions But we may love one another unfainedly for the great things we are united in bear with one another mâ—re in things wherein difference is tolerable and all may seek the unity peace and welfare of the Church and the good of one another c. Then should Religion flourish the Gospel be advanced the fame of God be honoured the Souls of men edified and all may walk in the fear of God and comfort of the Holy Ghost unto which let every good Christian say Amen FINIS