But we muft always be careful to govern our Zeal for the Truth by the Laws of the Gofpel, and to animate our Oppofition to Hereticks by the meek and lowly Spirit of Jefus Chrift; and this will manifeft the Purity of our Affections, and that it is a difinterested Love to our Saviour, and Value for the Knowledge of the Son of God, and not Pride and Vanity, nor an imposing uncharitable Temper, which move us. Let us therefore by our whole Conduct, even to Backfliders and to Infidels, fhow how paffionately we love their Souls, with what a tender Compaffion their wilful Errors and hardned Obftinacy affect us, with what Pleafure we would contribute to their Recovery and to their true Happinefs, and with what open Arms we would joyfully receive them did they return to the Faith of the Gofpel. By thefe Methods we fhall fhow our felves valiant Soldiers of Chrift, and worthy of the Name we bear; and in this way we Thall give acceptable Obedience to the important Injunctions of our Religion, To contend earnestl; for the Faith once delivered to the Saints (a), To hold fast the Form of found Words vihich we have heard in Faith and Love which is in Chrift Jefus (b): And yet being moved with a Zeal according to Knowledge, to be gentle unto all Men, apt to teach, patient in Meekness, inftructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth (c). We may meet with Difcouragements in a World, where Darknefs and Error fo much prevail; we may be expofed to the Hatred, Difefteem and Derifion of vain fcornful Men: And it can't mits to fill our Hearts with Grief, and embitter our Lives, when we fee the most precious Truths vilified and trampled on by the Enemies to the Cross of Chrift, and Herefie fpreading its Conta gion; this will make us figh out, Wo's us that we should inhabit the Lands of Mefech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar (d). But let us think upon the Mafter whom we own, and the Excellency of the Caufe which we efpoufe; let us raife up our longing Eyes to the Dawn of the everlafting Day, and to thofe native Regions of Light and Purity, where Truth ever appears in its eternal Charms; and the Myfteries of Salvation are admired and gaz'd at with the moft affectionate Wonder, which is animated by the Divine Beauty and Excellency; where the Lovelinefs and Harmony and Im portance of them are never difputed, and they are fet in too bright a Light for any Inhabitant to fancy that they are Intricacies of Speculation, and not far different from the oppofite Errors: And let us raife our enlarged Thoughts to the Expectation of that mighty Day when our earnest Contention for the Truth, will meet with the loud Applaufes of Myriads of Angels, while eternal Shame and Hiffings will accompany the ignorant Defpifers of the Faith of the Gospel. It (a) Judo v, 3. (6) 2 Tim, 1, 13, (c) 2 Tim, 2.24,25, (d) Pfal. 120.5. It may perhaps be thought that on this Head the Perfon and the Manner of the Writer have been often changed, and that the Açcuracy of Method is neglected, but a fincere Concern for the Souls of Men, and a Grief of Heart for the unhappy State of Religion amongus, could not eafily keep to artificial Rules in venting themfelves. We are indeed confidently told that 'tis no great Matter what a Man believes, if fo be he is endued with Sincerity, and hath a holy Practice: I never yet could fee (fays an often quoted Au66 thor) a Lift of Fundamentals in Chriftianity.--- --That only in my Notion is a fundamental Mistake in Religion, which is inconfiftent with a good Heart and a religious Converfation (a) We hope we shall always put the highest Value upon a holy Life: But to fuppofe there is nothing of Importance in Religion, befides that Sobriety and Goodnets which at leaft other Men can judge of, and that the Doctrines of the Gofpel may in that Cafe be disbelieved without great Hazard, is to overturn the whole Scheme of Chriftianity. For what? hath not that Morality been found amongst the Heathens; and before the Coming of our Saviour, the Moral Law, which governed Practice, was promulgated by God himfelf: And therefore the Doctrines of Religion are the diftinguishing Glories of Chriftianity, and its Excellency above the Mofaick OEconomy. For the Law was given by Mofes, but Grace and Truth came by Jefus Chrift: No Man hatb feen God at any Time; the only begotten Son which is in the Bofom of the Father, he hath declared him (b). Befides, thefe Truths which are the Objects of our Faith are not Myfteries of Speculation, but defigned to promote Holiness in the Lives, and to purifie the Hearts of Chriftians; they are a Doctrine according to Godliness, and as the Apostle speaks to the Coloffians, The Word of the Truth of the Gospel, which is come unto them as it is in all the World, bringeth forth Fruit, as it did alfo in them fince the Day they beard of it, and knew the Grace of God in Truth (c). Thefe great Articles of our Faith, concerning the Satisfaction and Righteoufness of the Meffiah, the Imperfection and Infufficiency of all our Performances, and the Grace and Love of our Redeemer, are all calculated to add Force to the Law, and both exalt and invigerate our Obedience. Our Obedience is a rational one, all the Parts of a holy Life must, as well as Zeal, be according to Knowledge; and therefore 'tis in vain to pretend to real Purity of Heart or Life, without a Belief of the Truth: But in fo far as Error clouds the Understanding, a Corruption of Manners will fully the Converfation, efpecially with refpect to the nobleft Part of Religion, thofe Acts of it which have a regard to God. How is it poffible that the Man can be really good, who is conftantly offering the higheft Affronts to his Maker, and by a Disbelief of the plain and important Articles of Faith, (a) Occasional Paper, Vol. II. N° I. p. 24. (b) John 1. 17, 18, (c) Col. 1. 6. Faith, is loudly proclaiming him a Liar? He that believeth on the Son of God hath the Witness in himself, he that believeth not God bath made him LIAR, because be believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son (a): Nor can we feparate what God hath joined as the neceffary Means of our eternal Happiness; Because God, faith the Apoftle to the Thefalonians, bath from the Beginning chofen you to Salvation through SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, AND BELIEF OF THE TRUTH (1). When therefore we reflect on the foregoing, and innumerable other Confiderations to endear the Truths of God to our Souls, and awaken our Zeal for them, how can we poffibly look on thofe as our Brethren in the Lord, who have denied him? Or receive fuch as are fufpected of Herefies, and decline to give a Reafon of the Hope that is in them, into the Communion of the Church? when befides the Nature of the Thing, and the Purity which God requires in all the Societies of his People, we could never reconcile fuch a Practice with an Honour for Truth, and the exprefs Declarations of the Gofpel. For what Fellowship bath Righteousness with Unrighteouf nefs? What Communion hath Light with Darkness? And what Concord hath Chrift with Belial? Or what Part bath be that believeth, with an Infidel? And what Agreement bath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God: wherefore come out from among them and be ye feparate, faith the Lord,and touch not the unclean Thing, and I will receive you (c). And how much lefs can we fubmit to a Man as our Minifter, who hath erred in any important Point, and refufes to give a clear and full Declaration of his Orthodoxy? for which Purpose we have proved that Creeds and Confeffions are abfolutely neceffary. What a Grief and Disturbance of Soul muft poffefs us, and with what Horror muft we be feized, if we fhould have no Affurance, but that in going to the Temple of God, in ftead of the Light of Heaven, we should have the Clouds and Mifts of Error overfha dowing us from the Pulpit? That our Attendance upon Ordinances difpenfed by him, in ftead of promoting our Salvation through the Belief of the Truth, would tend to quite contrary Purpofes And that by fuch a Conduct, we were willingly expofing our felves to the Snare of the Devil; and fubmitting to fuch Paftors, to whom perhaps might be applied the Apoftolical Injunction, He that abideth in the Doctrine of Chrift, be bath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive bim not into your House, neither bid him God Speed: For be that biddeth him God fpeed, is Partaker of his evil Deeds (). To prevent all which Evils we think Confeffions highly useful, and upon that Account retain a Value for fuch Compofures. Befides, it is reprefented to us in the Scriptures, as one immediate Defign of the Inftitution of the facred Office, that thereby the Unity of Faith, and Fellowship of the Saints in the Belief of the fame (a) 1 John 5. 10. (b) 2. Thess, 2, 13. (6) 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15, 16, 17. (4) 2 John 9, 10, II. fame Principles of the common Salvation, might be gradually advanced, and at length perfected. And he gave fome, Apofiles; and fome, Prophets; and fome Evangelifts; and fome, Paftors and Teachers: for the PERFECTING THE SAINTS, for the Work of the Miniftry, for the edifying of the Body of Chrift: Till we all come in the UNITY OF THE FAITH and of the KNOWLEDGE of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Chrift (a). How can this End be gained in a Church, by Minifters who do not themselves maintain the Unity of the Faith, but patronize Diversities of Opinions, even in Matters of Importance? And how can we be anfwerable to God and our Confciences, if due Care be not taken of this Matter nor the proper Means ufed, that, in fuch Points, the Paftors of the Church all speak the fame Things? And I hope 'tis a received Maxim, That they ought to speak because they believe; and especially that what is immediately fubjoined by the Apoftle be obferved, That henceforth we be no more Children, toffed to and fro, and carried about with every Wind of Doctrine, by the Sleight of Men, and cunning Craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (b). It can't alfo but animate our Zeal and Efteem for Confeffions, when we confider the unhappy Effects of defpifing and abandoning them, and the Perfons who are their moft furious Adverfaries. That a Neglect and Contempt of them hath been too much accompanied by a Difefteem of the Doctrines of Salvation, and a cold Indifference as to the Concerns of Truth; and that having thus frozen the Spirits of Mankind, and fhaken loofe their Faith, they have laid them open to the Impreffions of Error, and Herefy makes an eafie Conqueft of them. It feems evident from Experience, that none raise a more noify Clamour against Confeffions, and load them with greater Calumnies, than the declared Enemies of all revealed Religion, and the infolent Defpifers of our Saviour and his Gofpel: They are highly gratified by all the Affronts that are poured upon Creeds; and with Pleafure behold a pretended Liberty, and Right of private Judgment, the Perfection and Perfpecuity of the Scriptures, and the Proteftant Principles perverted, and artfully made Ufe of to break down all the Boundaries of Truth and Bulwarks againft Error. This raifes our Efteem of thefe Compofures, and gives us Ground to fufpect that there must be fomething very good in them, and that they are very useful to the Caufe of Chriftianity; when we fee Deifts fo angry with them, and Infidels rejoice at the Profpect of their being difpoffeffed of their Authority. When they fee Perfons of fuch a Complexion fo extremely zealous in this Difpute, would to God that our Brethren, who, we hope, retain a fincere Value for the Truth, and a cordial Efteem and Love of our Redeemer and the precious Doctrines wherewith he hath enlightned the World, would feriously confider whofe Caufe they are ferving by that violent Oppofition, which hath of (a) Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13. (b) Eph. 4. 14. late ate been fo unreasonably made to the Authority, that Creeds have In all Ages and amongst all Sorts of Chriftians obtained in the Church: And if it will be a Spring of lafting Joy to them, fhould our Scheme be baffled and theirs prevail in the World; when their Victories would only furnish Matter for Triumphs to the whole Tribe of Infidels, and any Beginnings of them are huzza'd with fo loud Acclamations, by none fo much as by the obftinate Rebels against their heavenly King and Lord. Liberty, Charity, Moderation, &c. are very fine Things and great Names. But as to the prefent Application of them, and when they come from the Mouths and Pens of fuch Perfons; may we not prudently fufpect that they are indeed levelled at the Ruin of our Religion and only gild over a deadly Poifon? And to prevent the unhappy Fate of Troy, fhould we not act with respect to them, according to the wife Advice of Laocoon, which the Multitude fo foolishly neglected? ----Ulla putatis Dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulyffes? Infpectura domos, venturaque defuper urbi; Aut aliquis latet error: equo ne credite, Teucri, Quicquid id eft, times Danaos et dona ferentes (a). All the Beauties and Excellencies of Truth, the Sweets and Advantages of Peace and Union in Societies, and of a fervent Love, mutual Efteem and Harmony among Chriftians, concur to imprefs us with very favourable Notions of Conteffions which we think fo well adapted to fecure thete Bleflings to a Church: As on the o ther Hand, the Deformity and Danger of Herefie, the fatal Ef fects of a Flood of Errors breaking into a Church, the grievous Plague of Animofities, Divifions and Difputes among the Members and Minifters of it, every one of them, with Uncharitableness, Heat and Obftinacy propagating contradictory Opinions, and the melancholy Influence fuch Queftions and Speculations have on practical Godliness and the moft amiable Graces of the Chriftian Life, make us look with Sorrow and Regret upon thofe Schemes, whereby all Reftraints of Order and Government are destroyed, and a wide Breach made for all thefe Evils and Calamities to enter, and both pollute the Church and lay it wafte, In the laft Place, we cannot mifs to take Notice that a great Force is added to all thefe Confiderations, from our own Experi ence and the fenfible Proofs we in the Church have enjoyed of the excellent Advantages flowing from a well regulated and duly li mited Authority of Confeffions. That by the Means thereof, through the Bleffing of God, an uncommon Harmony, in what we are per (a) Virg. AEneid, Lib. II. 1. 43. |