AN ADVERTISEMENT TOUCHING THE CONTROVERSIES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (a). This was first published in the year 1641, without the author's name (b). The following is the title: A Wise and Moderate Discourse, concerning Church Affaires, As it was written, long since, by the fa- derations, which seem to have some reference to this, Now published for the common good. Imprinted in the yeere 1641. It was next published with the present title, in the Resuscitatio. (a) Page 28 of this volume. (b) There is a copy in the British museum, and MSS. In Blackburne's edition, vol. I. 192, he thus notices this tract: "Next follows an Advertisement touching the controversies of the Church of England, p. 418. This treatise was originally printed in the year 1641, without the author's name and under a different title: called, "A wise and moderate discourse concerning Church affairs; as it was written long since, by the famous author of those considerations, which seem to have some reference to this." It is plain from p. 428, that it was wrote in the reign of Q. Elizabeth. Dr. Sancroft had collated and corrected this piece in more than an hundred places and I am to ask the reader's pardon for mislaying the copy containing these his farther emendations. In this tract upon Church Controversies, an arrangement, although not formally declared, may, as in the Sylva Sylvarum, (c) easily be perceived. (d) The method, with a few extracts well worthy the consideration of ecclesiastical controversialists, is as follows: So that I conceive abundant justice is done to this part of our noble author's works. (c) Dr. Rawley, in his address to the Reader, in the Sylva Sylvarum, says " I have heard his lordship say also, that one great reason why he would not put these particulars into any exact method, (though he that looketh attentively into them shall find that they have a secret order,) was, because he conceived that other men would now think that they could do the like." (d) The following is an analysis of this subject, at all times of importance but particularly to a Christian in Christian Controversy. 1. Religious controversies will exist, and particularly in times. of peace. 2. Nature of Religious Controversies. 3. Virtues of Religious Controversies. 1. Christian Forbearance. 2. Christian Demeanor. 3. Christian Language. 4. Vices in Controversies. SI. 1. RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES WILL EXIST, AND PARTICULARLY IN TIMES OF PEACE. When the fiery trial of persecution ceaseth, there succeedeth another trial, which, as it were, by contrary blasts of doctrine doth sift and winnow men's faith. § II. II. NATURE OF RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES. 1. High nature. The high mysteries of faith 29 30 The great parts of the worship of God 2. Minor nature, ceremonies, and things indifferent, or those parts of religion which pertain to time, not to eternity § III. III. VIRTUES IN CHRISTIAN CONTROVERSIES. "Qui pacem tractat non repetitis conditionibus ⚫dissidii, is magis animos hominum dulcedine pacis fallit, quam aequitate componit." 30 32 1. CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE. Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath 29 3. CHRISTIAN LANGUAGE If we did but know the virtue of silence and slowness to speak, our controversies of themselves would close and grow up together 30 - 31 Brother, if that which you set down as an assertion you would deliver by way of advice, there were rever. ence due to your counsel, whereas faith is not due to your affirmation. A feeling Christian will express in his words a character of zeal or love: although we are not Impropriety of wit in Religious Controversy, "Non est major confusio, quam serii et joci." (b) A fool should be answered, but not by becoming like unto him 32 333 § IV. IV. VICES IN CONTROVERSIES. 1. IN THE OCCASIONS. 1. The Vices of the Clergy The imperfections in the conversation and government of those which have chief place in the Church, have ever been principal causes and motives of schisms and divisions. For whilst the bishops and governors of the Church continue full of knowledge and good works; whilst they deal with the secular states in all liberty and resolution, according to the majesty of their calling, and the precious care of souls imposed upon them, so long the Church is "situated" as it were upon an hill;" no man maketh question of it, or seeketh to depart from it. The humility of the friars (a) Fuller says, "The Holy Ghost descended not in the spirit of a vulture, but in the spirit of a dove." (b) See Essay of Discourse, Vol. I. p. 113. did, for a great time, maintain and bear out the irreligion of bishops and prelates 2. Prejudices of particular men The universities are the seat or the continent of this disease, from whence it is derived into the 3. Detestation of former heresy 37 40 41 42 This manner of apprehension doth in some degree possess many in our times. They think it the true touchstone to try what is good and evil, by measuring what is more or less opposite to the institutions of the church of Rome, be it ceremony, be it policy, or government; yea, be it other institutions of greater weight, that is ever most perfect which is removed most degrees from that Church; and that is ever polluted and blemished, which participateth in any appearance with it. This is a subtile and dangerous conceit for men to entertain; apt to delude themselves, more apt to delude the people, and most apt of all to calumniate their adversaries 4. Imitation of Foreign Churches 2. IMPROPER EXTENSION OF CONTROVERSY. 1. Conduct of Reformers 2. Conduct of Anti-reformers Again, to my lords the bishops I say, that it is hard for them to avoid blame, in the opinion of an indifferent person, in standing so precisely upon altering nothing: "leges, novis legibus non recreatæ, acescunt;" laws, not refreshed with new laws, wax sour. "Qui mala non permutat, in bonis non perseverat :" without change of ill, a man cannot continue the good. To take away many abuse, supplauteth not good orders, but establisheth them. "Morosa moris retentio, res turbulenta est, æque ac novitas;" contentious retaining of customs is a turbulent thing, as well as innovation. A good husband 2 43 44 47 48 |