A collection of the works of that holy man and profound divine, Thomas Iackson ... containing his comments upon the Apostles Creed, &c. : with the life of the author and an index annexed.

CAP. IV.

Shewing the Mean betwixt the two Extremities.; the one in Excesse, proper to the Papists; the other in Defect, proper to the Anti-papist.

1 IT is a Rule in Logick, that Two contrary Propositions (for their form) may be both False; And hence it is, that many Controversers of our times, (ei∣ther in love to the Cause they defend, or heat of contention) not content on∣ly to Contradict, but desirous to be most Contrarie to their Adversaries, fal in∣to Errour with them. No Controversie (almost) of greater moment this day extant, but yields Experiments of this Observation, though none more plentiful then this in hand, concerning the visible Churches Authoritie, or Obedience due to Spiritual Pastours.

2 The Papists on the one side demand Infallible Assent, and illimited O∣bedience unto whatsoever the Church shall propose, without examination of her Doctrine, or appeal; which is indeed (as we shall afterwards prove) to takeaway all the Authority of Gods Word and to erect the present Churches Consistorie above Moses, and S. Peters Chair. † On the other side, sundrie by profession Protestants, in eagernesse of opposition to the Papists, affirm, that the Church, or Spiritual Pastors must then only be Believed, then only be Obeyed, when they give Sentence according to the Evident, and Expresse Law of God, made evident to the Hearts, and Consciences of such, as must Believe and Obey them. And this, in one word, is to take away all Autho∣ritie of Spiritual Pastors, and to deprive them of all Obedience, unto whom (doubtlesse) God, by his written Word, hath given some special Authoritie and Right, to exact some peculiar Obedience of their Flock.

Now if the Pastor be then only to be Obeyed, when he brings evident Commission out of Scripture, for those particulars, unto which he demands Belief or Obedience; what Obedience do men perform unto Him, more then to any other man whomsoever? For whosoever he be that can shew us the ex∣presse undoubted command of God, it must be Obeyed of all: but whilest it is thus Obeyed, It only, not He that sheweth it unto us, is Obeyed. And if this were all the Obedience which I owe unto others, I were no more bound to Be∣lieve, or Obey any other man, then he is bound to Obey or Believe me: the Flock no more bound to Obey their Pastors, then the Pastors them. Yet certainly God, who hath set Kingdoms in order, is not the Author of such Confusion in the Spiritual Regiment of his Church.

3 Seeing then, it is most certain that the Romanists do foully Erre, let us see how their Errour may be fully Contradicted, not strive to be most Contrary unto them, but rather to seek out the mean between these two Er∣roneous Extreams.

4 Infallible Assent, and illimited, unreserved Obedience we may not perform to the present Church, or any visible Companie of Men; but to the Scripture only, made known, and evident to our Consciences. This Assertion is direct∣ly, and fully Contradictorie unto the Papists.

5 Conditional Assent, and cautionary Obedience we may and must perform to our spiritual Pastors, Overseers, and Governours, albeit we see not ex∣presse Commission out of Scripture, to warrant these Particulars, where∣unto they demand Assent or Obedience. It is sufficient that they have their general Commission for Obedience, expresly contained in Scripture. This Assertion directly Contradicts the other Extream, or contrary Assertion, and of all the three onely doth not Contradict the Word of God, which expresly teacheth, that Some peculiar Obedience is due unto Spiritual Governours. Un∣lesse we hold, that when Christ ascended on High, and led Captivity captive, his Donation of Spiritual Authority, was but a donation of bare Titles, without Realities answering unto them. To some He gave to be Aposiles, to some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Teachers, Ephes. 4. 11. Though Prophecying in some degree hath ceast, and the Eminencie of Apo∣stleship be dead with the Apostles; yet Pastors remain, and Teachers must continue in Christs Church unto the Worlds end. If Pastors we be, then must we have our shepherds Staff: if Teachers, a Rod to keep our Schol∣lers in awe. The same Apostle from these grounds thus exhorteth the flock. Obey them that have the oversight of you, and Submit your selves: for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you, Heb. 13. 17. What manner of Submission, or what kind of Obedience doth he here exact? On∣ly Spiritual will the carnal Gospeller reply. But what manner of Obedience is this Spiritual? the least of all others? It is doubtlesse in their esteem, which fear no losse, but what is sensible for the present, nor know not the Vertue of any thing, but what is palpable: unto all such, to be Spiritual, is all one as to be In∣visible, and to be Invisible, is all one as not to Be at all. This is the last Resolu∣tion of most mens Conceit of all Spiritual Authority in our times. But such such as dread the Majesty of that Invisible God, and fear to grieve his Holy Spirit will be most afraid of contemning Spiritual Authority. Disobedience to it, though in a Prince, is as hateful to the King of Kings as the sin of Witch-craft: for no Subject is more bound to Obey his Prince in Civil Actions, than his Pastors in Spiritual. He that said, touch not mine Anointed, said also, do my Prophets no harm. Of Princes it is said by the Apostle He that resisteth them, resisteth God. To Pastors it was said, (by the Wisdom of God by whom Princes raign) ‖ He that heareth you, heareth me, he that despiseth you, despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me, and else-where, † 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hose sins ye remit, they are remitted, whose sins ye retain, they are retained. These are Prerogatives of Priests, and were not esteemed as words of Course, or Formality, in the Ancient and Primitive Church. It was the just fear of Disobedience in the Flock, which first gaue occasion to Pastors, to usurp this Tyranny over them, which now they practise. For as Idolatry and Superstition could not have increased so much in the old World, unlesse there had been evident Documents of a Divine Power in Ages Precedent: So neither could this extreme Tyrannie over Christs flock have been either usurped in the middle, or continued to the later Ages of the Christian world, unlesse the Flock had made it a main matter of Conscience to Disobey their Pastors, and Overseers, whose Authority they knew from those places of Scripture, then well expounded by the Practise of Holy Men, to be exceed∣ding great.

6 Saint Peter foresaw, that this Antichristian Authority was likely to spring from the Peoples Reverent Conceit of their Pastors Authority: and because the Fock was bound most strictly to Obey them, he willeth the Pa∣stors

not to be too Lordly in their Commands. † Feed the flock of God, which dependeth upon you, caring for it, not by constraint, but willingly: not for fil∣thy lucre, but of a ready mind: Not as though ye were Lords over Gods Heritage, but that ye may be Ensamples to the flock. So doth Saint Paul, ‖ Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own bloud: for I know this, that after me departing shall grievous Wolves enter in a∣mong you, not sparing the flock. Unlesse the Flock, for their parts, had been bound to strict Obedience, Usurpation of Lordship over them had not been so easie, especially when there was no Power beside the Pastoral staff to keep them under: nor could their Pastors have had any such opportunity to attempt it, as might justly occasion these Caveats from these two Apostles, which by their moderate Carriage had prescribed a contrary Example to their Suc∣cessours. Easie it had been for the Flock to have spared themselves, or kept aloof from such mercilesse Overseers: whose Designes, though they could not with safe Consciences contemn, Avoid they might, by circumspect and carefull attending to other true Shepherds voices, who by their skill in Scri∣ptures, and true knowledge of the Apostles Rules, knew how to limit the former large Commission, directed to Pastors, after they begun to degene∣rate into Wolves. For this cause, neither of these Apostles direct these Ad∣monitions to their flock, as if it were permitted them to limit their Obedi∣ence at their pleasure, but unto their Pastors. And Saint Peter in the words immediately following this Admonition unto Pastors, exhorts the Flock un∣to Obedience, Likewise ye younger, Submit your selves unto the Elders; without any the least intimation, that they might Disobey, as soon as the other began to Dominier. Not that the flock may not refuse to Obey their Overseers in some Cases; but our Apostles did foresee, that the People would be alwayes most prone to disobedience, upon lesse Occasions then was requisite: and yet Disobedience, unlesse upon evident, and just Occasi∣ons, he knew to be as dangerous, as blind Obedience in matters Unlaw∣full; the one usually is the forerunner of Superstition and Idolatrie; the other the Mother of carnall Securitie, Schisme, and Infidelity. And, according to our Apostles fear, did it fall out in the Church of God. The first Mischief, which befell her in her Prime, was from the want of due Reverence, and awfull regard of Ecclesiastick Injunctions, and Constitutions. Hence did He∣resies spring in such abundance; Sathan had sown their seeds in proud hearts; and the Civil Magistrates facility to countenance every prating Discontent, or Forth-putting Vocalist, in preaching what he list, though contrary to his Governours Constitutions, was as the Spring-Sun to cherish and bring them forth. And as the Romish Church, upon the depression of such rebellious Spirits, did raise her self above all that is called GOD: So in truth it can∣not be denied, but that many in reformed Congregations, by seeking to cure her Diseases, have cast the Church of God into a Relapse of her former Sick∣nesse: which was the Usurpation of too much Libertie in her children. For the Avoidance whereof, we are now, as God hath enabled us, to Advise.

Notes

• The s••st ••••••∣tremitie held by the Papis••••.
• †

  The second held by the Anti-papists.
• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• Rom. 13.
• ‖

  Luke 10. 16.
• †

  Joh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 23.
• V••d•…•…l•• 1 cap. 12.
• †

  1 Pet. 5. 2, 3.
• ‖

  Acts 20. 28, 29.
• 1 Pet. 5. 5.